Time to Play

by Jacqueline McFadden

Recently I got a lovely card from a colleague who wanted to tell me how much she had enjoyed the year working together. In the same card, she also wrote: “Don’t be afraid to have fun”. What did she mean? I asked myself. Was I not fun to be around? Was I so serious? When I stopped being defensive, I saw clearly that yes, I was rather serious – actually very serious! For the last two years life had become even more so, (due to health reasons). I then started to realise most of my life had been serious – with having many responsibilities from a young age.

Being a single parent with two children is hard, and can feel like a serious job, especially when trying to be both mother and father to your children. But that was then, and those responsibilities are long gone. My children have their own lives now; yet, I cannot seem to shake this seriousness that hangs around me and follows like a dark shadow. Continue reading “Time to Play” →

Self-Abusing – Not What you Think it Is

by Rosie Bason, Mullumbimby, NSW

I used to hear the word abuse and what came to my mind was someone getting beaten up or bashed.

To me the word abuse looked like a physical blow to the body by someone else, or the verbal abuse when someone was being spoken to like a piece of…

What I had not ever seen was that abuse in the body can mean so much more, and that it can be done by me, to myself. I wasn’t even aware that I was being abusive… self-abusing, that is! Continue reading “Self-Abusing – Not What you Think it Is” →

Cleaning my House: A Lesson in Trust and Honouring

A couple of days ago, it was Friday. On a Friday evening after work my routine has been doing the food shopping, washing the clothes and cleaning my house. I usually take my time with this, but sometimes I rush it or have a level of drive behind it because I just want to get it all done. Although there is a level of care behind my past actions, I realised I had a little bit of a rulebook approach when it came to getting through all my cleaning chores. This really means that even though I may have done things gently, I haven’t been completely listening to my body every Friday evening. Continue reading “Cleaning my House: A Lesson in Trust and Honouring” →

The Nature of Energy: A Bathtub Lesson

by Adrienne Ryan, BEd, Brisbane, Australia

Recently I drew a very full bath and when I got in, the water ended up right at the edge. It was like being in a lake – no visible bath lip, just a pure expanse of water. Then, a funny thing happened: I began to notice the effect I was having on the water and a whole lesson on the nature of energy unfolded right there in my bathtub.

I noticed how the water remained unbroken as I lay still, so much so that it became a perfect reflection of the taps, walls and surroundings.

Stillness = clarity Continue reading “The Nature of Energy: A Bathtub Lesson” →

Learning About Feeling Confident in my Expression Through heART

by Amber Goodwin, Merchandiser, Goonellabah, Australia

When I was little I was always freely expressing, I loved to make sounds and tones, and sing. I loved to move my body, music or no music, I loved to play and make things with not a thought on ‘how it would turn out’… my heart had something it was feeling confident to express and I loved this feeling.

However, after a few knocks here and there I began to believe the harsh rules, conditions, expectations and beliefs that were placed on me and I began to squash my own expression so as to not upset anyone else … and in doing so I have held my natural expression back, which has felt crippling for me ever since. Continue reading “Learning About Feeling Confident in my Expression Through heART” →

The Greatest Party Celebration on Planet Earth

by Rob Skinner, Hastings Point, NSW

Last night I attended a party celebration and what can only be described as a true celebration of the Love and Joy that we are.

The occasion was a masquerade ball organised by Natalie Benhayon, Curtis Benhayon, Michael Benhayon and Emmalee Benhayon, to celebrate the birthdays and lives of these amazing young friends, as well as ALL the guests who attended.

I have been to many functions and parties in my 48 years on this planet, and even organised some pretty flash events myself, but what I attended last night has totally re-defined for me what it is to truly celebrate. Continue reading “The Greatest Party Celebration on Planet Earth” →