Tag: kensington gardens

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Dear Diary;Love Because Love is What You Are

I had never been so close to swans before.

They’re so tall… When they stretch their necks, so tall.

I loved them.

‘I have a relationship with them now’, I said to Anadi… We were so close, they took bread from my hands (I was glad of my gloves!) in their big strong beaks and I felt such love for these creatures that came to me for food… But that didn’t matter, I was close to them and I loved them. I didn’t need them to love me back, or want me for anything other than the food I held in my hands!

I was happy to be near them.

Like the squirrels and the birds and the parakeets… So honest and transparent and true… Like we all are really; if we just dropped all the masks and the pretence and stopped looking for love – for approval, for validation, for recognition…

And instead turned inwards to love ourselves so completely, to accept ourselves, to become whole again and return to our innocence.

Our true nature, and to know that is love.

We are love.

It so easy to love a baby, a toddler a little child, a kitten a dog a horse – a sweet wild squirrel that climbs up your leg…! Because they are true, relaxed, themselves – not trying to do anything or be anything… 

Other than be themselves.

But – so often we were not accepted as little children for the way we were – but instead were shaped to the ways of others…

And so the pain began, the journey away from love.

And the quest to start looking for it all over again outside ourselves, when it is there within us all the time. 

But while we search and search, ‘the other’ can serve as the mirror – and often a magnifying class when the relating is closer and deeper – for us to see where we have become separate from our 

Self

And so we can become whole again through this outward journey when we learn again to look within… And discover that instead of love being about wanting the other to love us, instead love becomes about loving because it is fun to give love, to share love…

Whether it is a swan a squirrel the person you pass in the street – or buy your coffee from in the morning – or your partner or child or best friend or not

Love because love is what you are.

True love is without ego

True love is freedom

‘Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself you have built against it’ Rumi

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Dear Diary;Wake up and Have Fun

Anadi and I set off on another Sunday adventure…

When we arrived in Kensington gardens, I suggested a new game for our run – more fun on the run…

‘Why don’t we take it in turns at every cross roads or junction or path going this way or that -,to take it in turns to say which way we to run – and whether to walk, run or stretch out and run as fast as we can…!

It was fun, this run… Twisting and turning, jogging and racing our way around the gardens and Hyde Park… Each turn a new possibility, a new vista opening up…

Like life

Shall we turn this way or that, every moment holding multiple directions down which to travel, to create, to experience, to uncover, to discover …. 

The road less travelled

The road never ever travelled before….

The day was sunny bright warm, a beautiful October day; rich with the smell that I know as this autumn month… Heralding a shedding of the old before a time of sleep and then the re birth into spring…

It felt full of possibilities and joy… We ran to the statue of Albert and I sat at his feet… ‘It feels like a holiday again today’ I said 

Yes – Anadi replied ‘every day a holiday..’

A holy day 

When we are present , when we stay with our breath, when our mind is still then every day truly is a holy day

A holy holi day…

We sat awhile longer and a little squirrel came and scampered all about our feet, really close – he came so close we could practically touch his multi coloured textured tail, waving behind him, soft like a dandelion; then he stood on his back legs, little paws in front…

‘I’m so sorry’, I said ‘We haven’t got any food..’ Later we looked up the squirrel spirit energy – ‘Make sure you’re having fun…’ it reminded ‘Play is essential too’

Our run had felt like ‘playtime’, racing across the grass, jogging round the lake – racing once again, and then taking a walking break…

It felt like being out with my friend all day, when i was very young – playing, running about, flopping down for awhile – and then off again…

We finished at our usual watering hole… The duke of York square and as we ate our Danish pastries and drank our coffee, with the buzz of life, of love or people enjoying being together, eating together, drinking together; a wasp flew up to me – (I thought they had all gone by now!) and landed on my arm, she then buzzed around me and I could feel the flutter of her wings near my skin making a light breeze…

My next totem for the day…

In she flew…

Wasp, beautiful and perfect – with her stripy yellow and black coat – in every way…

 I looked up her meaning too…

She said ‘Wake up’… I am not sure what I must wake up to…

But I am keeping my eyes and all my senses open and aware…

Perhaps it is simply encouragement to keep on waking up… While having fun!

A wake up call for all…

Wake up to who we truly are.

In each moment 

Celebrate being here, an opportunity to heal and grow, and so create in each moment a way of being true.

Spiritual beings

Being human

All that spirit is, we can be too…

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Dear Diary; Never Never Land

Barefoot on the grass, running running running… Kensington Gardens inviting, summery delight…

Anadi beside me, adventuring, exploring new lands – that we know so well…

The Albert Hall through the branches, majestic, beauty, architectural joy through leafy veil.

Running running, Peter Pan flying to Never never land beside us; his statue forever held in his childhood state; never growing up – we too with him for just that moment…

Our own never land journey in each step, running inwards to the child we were – but the cycle of our life experience has shifted us, shaken us up…

And so now we return to the place of our childhood freedom – but know it more truly; beyond Neverland.

My inner child healed and released to play once more barefoot on the grass… Freedom

Within and so without. 

Never land not never land now…

Not searching and seeking as I once did… For the end of the journey – for the ease to come, the ease in the step, one at a time.

Is here now 

Simply experiencing and playing again like the child on the lawn, in the woods, the playing fields in the village…

No where to get to then, no achievements to be had. Play the only thing… Then.

And now.

Creativity in motion, sharing it with the world; in the barefoot step – in the written and spoken word…

Playfulness, sharing, we are the world – together we make the tapestry for all to see.

Each one of us vital, our vibrant spark of light all that is required

To shine as we are, nothing to do, or get or earn

You are loved for being your self

You do not need to earn love

Stay in the step; my feet are bare.

A woman sitting on a bench called out to us as we ran past…‘What does the grass feel like…?’We stopped and went back to her…

‘It feels wonderful’ I said.

‘I want to do it’ she said’ I am barefoot all the time in my home, but I am wary to take my shoes off here… But I want to…‘Just keep your eyes open’ if you do, I laughed… ‘Keep your eyes open and on each step’…

‘I’m going to do it’ she said ‘Before I go home, I’m taking my shoes off, and I am going to walk in my bare feet just here..’

She pointed to the verdant grassy area just in front of her…

We ran on… Another lady stopped me ‘Are you okay’ she enquired concerned, pointing to my naked feet! ‘Yes yes…’ I replied ‘I’m running bare foot, because I like it’…

She was intrigued, and asked to see the bottom of my feet – we talked for a bit.

‘It’s wonderful’ she said  – ‘Have fun; enjoy your run’ she said…

‘Have fun’…