Wellbeing
Published on September 19, 2018
Comments 23

“Let your body be a soft & steady place for emotions to land.” Part One

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Trees will save the world #gratitude #nature #wellbeing #over50

Buttress roots holding the earth like fingers #gratitude #Australia #nature #organic #wellbeing #over50blogger @boneAndsilver

I just spent 9.30-3pm Sunday in a yurt at a Women’s Buddhist Dharma Day. What does that actually mean G? Well, it meant I got up at 6.30 to cook a spinach pie for the shared lunch, drove there too fast because I left a bit late and didn’t know where I was going, was the second last one to bumble into the serious silent sitting circle of women, and then spent hours listening to a wise elder speak about Ageing as we meditated together.

It was a great day, and such a huge gift to myself.

The day’s facilitator Carol Perry also taught at that Eco Village/Permaculture Week Intensive I did- remember that? I love her. And guess what? Because I’d almost arrived late, I got to sit next to her in the circle- I began soaking up her wisdom vibes like a thirsty sponge, hoping she wouldn’t notice the intense draining.

Last time I heard her give a presentation, she said this, which almost brought half the room to tears:

“My first Invitation to you all is that all the [emotional] parts of you are Welcome, and I have all the room in the world for all your parts.”

And on Sunday, it was the quote with which I titled this post which touched me the most. She is SO awesome; I want to find a way to apprentice myself to her. She simply creates real space for ‘Being’, and has been a Mediator and Conflict Resolution practitioner in both the community and corporate worlds for decades.

I learnt Transcendental Meditation 30 years ago, and have practiced on and off (mostly entirely off) since then. For the last year though, I’ve been trying to create a habit of meditating for 20 minutes when I first wake up, if I can resist the pull of the goddam smartphone and the naughty elf which lives inside it.

Meditating in a group brings powerful depth, and some of the women had been coming to the circle for many years; I felt like a mermaid, swimming with my shoal.

Carol talked about ‘ageing well, with grace’. At 73, she truly embodies a generous, loving, kind, humorous and attentive commitment to being alive, while retaining a visceral connection to the 3 guaranteed changes of Life: suffering, ageing, and death.

Yes indeed.

My recent trip back to England to see Mum, who is daily sliding further into her dementia, brought those 3 elements right up in my face. Mum’s Mum was diagnosed with dementia at 80, and so was Mum. My darling son ’18’ stands at the kitchen counter, fixing me with his brutal clear gaze, and says:

‘So Mum, another 30 years for you too till you start checking out?’

*sigh

Carol’s teachings and reflections were a comfort I didn’t know I needed; I will elaborate them in Part Two, so take a deep breath, and I’ll meet you here…

In gratitude for fresh air in my lungs, G xO

 

23 Comments

  1. Coyote from Orion says

    Trees are like sentinels.
    Yeah I do transcendental meditation twice daily. I don’t get involved in the local community here. I probably should look into the David Lynch foundation which actually helps marginalized groups and individuals. 4 elements according to western, 5 for eastern. I like to get above earth sometimes.
    Good on you for going back to see your mother. It may take some time to process the lessons of it. Take your time. Our mother’s gifts to us can sustain us forever.

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    • bone&silver says

      Thats’ good to know you are a meditator too Coyote; and yes, I’m definitely still processing the visit to Mum; I need to do an update on the latest events soon. Mothers’ do bring gifts of course, and also sometimes curses… but that’s a whole other subject. Have a great day, and thanks for reading 🙂

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  4. GratefulGirl says

    What a lovely experience- and a treat for your Self, to help remain grounded and to remember self-care, to make time to practice it. Looking forward to hearing the second part!

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  5. V.J. Knutson says

    It’s been so long since I’ve participated in something like this – there is nothing like it – the camaraderie, the connections, the deep-felt spirituality. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. gigglingfattie says

    I love the quote that you used as your title for this post. It’s amazing. Carol sounds amazing too. I’ve always liked the idea of meditating and I try when I do yoga at home (my app gives a 3-5 minute meditation rest at the end of each program) but my mind can never focus on just letting things go. It wanders all over the place and I keep trying to get it back by focusing on my breathing again but poof there it goes again haha

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    • bone&silver says

      Isn’t it a great quote? She’s very smart, and kind.

      That struggle you describe, of the wandering/returning/wandering actually IS the practice of meditation- the more you practice, the less you wander, and the quicker the return. Keep it up T! xx

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  8. Ann Coleman says

    I honestly believe that before another thirty years go by, we will have discovered a cure (or at least a very effective treatment) for dementia. So that’s one worry off your list! It sounds like you had a wonderful experience, though, and I’m glad. You deserved it!

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    • bone&silver says

      Haha, yes indeed I could 😊😘
      As soon as I get ’18’ through this final exams drama, I’m going to reassess my entire life’s path… and Carol could be the next direction 😊

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  10. Trace-Blogs says

    I haven’t checked in here for so long! Love Mr 18’s wisdom 🙂 my 17 just started the HSC. I need a yurt! xxx

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