Recently there was a 24 hour period, where I witnessed a baby being born and take it's first breath and I sat in silence with a breathless deceased body. It was quite profound to be with the two edges of life in such a short space of time. For me, it affirmed the miracle that life is and it was a beautiful invitation to live life to its fullest and dive deep into the experiences it offers.


The baby's head has been born, there is a pause, waiting for the next contraction so that the body can be born and baby come fully into this world. I encourage Dad to catch his baby. There is just Mum, Dad and I present. The moment comes and baby slips into Dad's hands, Dad unravels the cord from around the baby's neck, Mum takes her daughter into her arms and I sink into the sacred, serene and sublime. Precious moments honouring the new life that had entered the world.

The following morning, I am sitting in the colourful caravan of a deceased friend, his body having been beautifully tended, lay still on the floor. Only the wind breaks the silence, adding music to the stillness. I sit alone in quiet and reverence respecting the life that was, knowing that my time to pass from this life will also come. Sitting in presence and contemplating the full life he lead encourages me to make the most of my precious and short duration.

Later that week after his funeral, my friend and dance teacher used the words "the difference is in the breath". The difference is full aliveness. As I danced that night, I was able to give my presence and breath to the dance and indeed to life. There is the beginning of life, the middle and the end. Right now, I am in the middle and feel inspired to dance with all of my beingness. 

We can opt in or opt out of life, make conscious choices or simply drift along. Viktor Frank (Auschwitz survivor) stated that “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” There is always a choice and the possibility to choose that which is in alignment with love and living.

Opting fully in to life doesn't necessarily mean bright lights and excitement, sometimes I am most fully in life when in nature or listening to gentle music. It's not easy as the mind likes to take me to other places, yet there is the constant opportunity with each breath to come back to the present moment.

I am part of the pulse of life, the breath is within and all around us - in the dance, in nature, a tree, a child playing, in intimacy, the touch of a partner, all the things that move us deep inside. Life has intensified on account of the proximity of birth and death and the affirmation of the fragile miracle that life is. And so I ask the question "How can I live my best life and live it fully?"

This current breath offers potential
The next breath something other
all can change with a breath
Transition is constant
With a pause in between

No two are ever the same,
Always changing
though amidst the variation,
the deep and the shallow, the long and the quick
a consistency forms a music
a background rhythm to our lives

The breath accompanies us through it all
The pain, the joy, the ache, 
The prayer, the dance, the hurt,
The next step, the ecstasy, 
The depth, the high, the low,
The magic, the flow, on the go,
in stillness, and in everything we know

Then the pause, the space in between
​A time to choose how to be

​Pay attention
We had our first
We will have our last
Let's savour the ones in between

So this festive season as we may contemplate the year that has past and the one that is to come, I invite you to take a deep breath and contemplate the preciousness of life and whether you are living it fully wherever you are and whatever is happening...

With deep peace and love to you, Fiona

Traditionally at this time of year, I include a Christmas advert that moves me and feels relevant. This one is a beautiful reminder that life sometimes may require a bit of work and effort, the commitment to opting in, though it's worth it for the joy and fulfilment it rewards us with. *you may need a tissue, I did! 

Some previous festive articles that you may enjoy...
Presence - it's the best gift of all
The Greatest Festive Gift you can give
What do you want for Christmas
How to best serve the world?

Here is a guided Whole Body Breathing Meditation by Tara Brach as an aid to tuning into our breath and bringing awareness to it and the present moment.

Lots of people are exploring ways to enhance their health and boost their immunity! It pays to eat a healthy plantbased diet and be aware of what we consume. For example, around 15% of cancers can be prevented by dietary factors. Optimal nutrition can help us stay healthy and enhance our wellbeing. When I contemplated this soup and the creation of it, there were many unexpected health boosting aspects to it.

The soup was made with foraged spring nettles and wild garlic, as well as cleavers, ground elder and dandelion removed from the garden when weeding.  It contained potatoes and coconut to add some creaminess and some stock for flavour. So what were the unexpected health benefits...

Be kind to your body, gentle with your heart and nourishing to your soul!

With love from my heart to you, Fiona

Like many of you, I have been feeling the unsettled energies in the world at the moment. I have been working to process what is arising and return to presence, it's not been easy. This morning I went for a walk in the glen near where I live. I was noticing that my mind kept been drawn back into fearbased thinking. I kept working to let go, surrendering my angst and asking the earth for her guidance.

There is a favourite spot where I like to sit, it's situated on a stony outcrop above a ravine. I sat there on an old tree stump and found my energy begin to calm and settle. Finally after a period of time, ease returned and I began to sing "Love is here", I sang and felt at peace. Then I noticed a squirrel appear on a branch about 3 metres away from me. He looked at me for a few moments, then he took one of his paws and placed it on his heart. He took a few more steps and I heard that he was making sounds, it felt like he was joining in with my singing. He then looked at me again and replaced his paw on his heart. He hung about for a while and then slowly made his way along the trees in front of me. Wow, thank you Squirrel!

Floating feathers, especially white ones have long been a sign of benevolence and support from the Universe for me. A few minutes after the squirrel departed I saw a large white feather float up from the ravine, it came up slowly until it was in line with me and then gradually drifted off to the side, bobbing as it floated away. My heart was so full and grateful for nature and her miraculous abundance that she generously shares with us when we open to it.

This experience reminded me that there is always love and support, though it's not always obvious. I needed to walk mindfully, practise deep breathing and let go in order to connect. I was rewarded for my perseverence. In these bizarre times in the world, there's an invitation to meditate (however you do that) and connect deep, find the abundant love that surrounds usz

I share with you this quote from Victor Frankl a survivor of Auswitsch, who found the light and love through the most horrendous situation:

With love and deep peace from my heart to yours, Fiona

Fiona is an Active Listening therapist, reflexologist, and experienced doula. She is passionate about living true to her heart and soul and empowering others to do the same. She holds retreats at her home in Scotland and runs various workshops related to the vibrancy of conscious plant based eating and women's issues including being childless/free and loves joining women in circle. Her website is www.fionareilly.co.uk or click here for her facebook page - True Living

We each have a unique fire burning within. For some it’s a gentle, small, slow burning flame, for others it’s a big bonfire. And our fire may change at different times in our lives. However your fire is, your light is valued and has an important role in Life. The encouragement here it to find your spark and let your fire ignite. It can feel vulnerable to let yourself be seen in the world. There is the risk of making "mistakes" or being laughed at. However as Marianne Williamson said “You playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightening about shrinking so others won’t feel insecure around you. As you let your own light shine, you indirectly give others permission to do the same.”

A client today was telling me of a “near death” experience she had, where she was going towards a spectacularly bright light, before she was guided back to her life here. She realized that she was a speck of that immense light come here to express itself. This experience is common and frequently documented. So perhaps we are part of that pure light and we are here to let it shine forth. Richard Bach once said “Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself.”  So lovingly express your truth and let your light shine!

I love this video with Edgar, he’s so keen and eager to participate, though it keeps backfiring on him (no excuse for the pun!). He has oodles of fire, though is a bit clumsy in his expression. His tendency to give up trying is very recognizable. However, with a little support from a friend (and her gentle fire), they find a way to express his gifts and bring joy to the world. Edgar’s story encourages us to keep trying, to fall down and pick ourselves up again. We are also reminded that we are never alone. Support comes in many forms, it may be in the form of a friend, something someone says, a film that inspires us or a myriad of other synchronistic possibilities. Often the support comes in the ways we would least expect so remain open. Here is Edgar and his faithful friend to inspire you... "don't fight the feeling anymore!!!", let it flow and be expressed instead.
 

As the sun turns and the light returns (at least in the northern hemisphere) may you find your unique fire, aliveness and passion within and let your light and enthusiasm come forth in love and truth.

With blessings for midwinter, the festive season and the approaching new year, Fiona

The world can often feel a little crazy, we are faced with all kinds of challenges. It's useful to have some quick techniques to calm and soothe your soul when adversity arises or anxiety takes hold. When you are feeling stressed or anxious, no matter where you are, these simple techniques can help to restore calm and a sense of ease.

• Gratitude is known to be directly related to joy and so practising gratitude uplifts our souls. Simply bring to mind things in your life that you are grateful for. We can also bring to mind things that bring us joy, such as a memory of a joyful time or a person that we love. Here is an inspiring video with Brene Brown looking at her research which demonstrated that practising gratitude relates to increased joy. "It's not joy that makes us grateful, it's gratitude that makes us joyful." (Brene Brown). There are many ways through which we can practise gratitude, such as using a gratitude journal, naming things you are grateful for at certain times of the day, expressing our appreciation to others, saying grace or sharing blessings with family and loved ones.

• Spending some time connecting with nature, a walk in the woods or along a beach is extremely beenficial and restorative. No matter where you are, there will be some nature to connect with, maybe the clouds in the sky or a potted plant or the ground beneath your feet. “Nature isn’t a miracle cure for diseases, but by interacting with it, spending time in it, experiencing it and appreciating it we can reap the benefits of feeling happier and healthier as a result.” (McRobert). It's worthwhile to cultivate a sense of wonder and awe around our natural world, look at something as if it is the first time you have ever seen it. I love walking barefoot, this is also known as earthing and there is now scientific evidence showing a number of remarkable health advantages, such as increasing antioxidants, reducing inflammation, and improving sleep. So kick off those shoes!

 

• Express your unique soul's creativity - sing, dance, garden, learn something new, draw, be silly... whatever it is that encourages lightness within you. If like me you tend to procrastinate then just begin and Create Art, not excuses. Mark Manson suggests that action isn't just the effect of motivation; it's also the cause of it. By doing something we can initiate motivation within us and become inspired. You know the feeling.... brainstorm activities that bring joy to your soul and then spend time engaging with them.

 

• Be nourishing and gentle with yourself. Create a small space (or a large space is even better) in each day to do something nurturing for yourself, even if it's just lighting a candle, listening to a favourite piece of music or having your favourite mug of tea. The things you love and find comforting are unique to you, so allow yourself to indulge in them without feeling guilty. By loving yourself you have more to give to the rest of the world. The other thing that can help to soothe our souls is to help someone else, reach out to someone who is by themselves or drop some soup off with a neighbour or find a flower for someone you love.

 

• Finally (and perhpas most effectively) to soothe your soul become more present and let go of any worries or fear-based thoughts. It is a cliche though true none-the-less that the only moment we have is right here, right now. When I come into the moment, I realise that right now all is well. So if you catch yourself being tight or wound up become mindful of the present moment, tune in to your senses and what is happening around you. You may find that all is very well :)

Here's a fun video to inspire some singing or dancing or maybe both, boopa dada - enjoy!

With love and ease from my soul to yours, Fiona