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

It's become somewhat of a tradition that I write an article for the Festive Season. This year I have been feeling a sense of "Bah humbug!" I feel overwhelmed by the crowds, business and general mayhem in the city as people rush, cram and spend in order to achieve that perfect Christmas. Many people's lives seem to resolve around Christmas for the entire month of December, as they funnel their energy and expectations into December 25th.

I wonder where has the real meaning of Christmas gone and what the current scenario is costing us as a society? Many families struggle to make ends meet and Christmas puts huge financial pressure on already overburdened parents living in poverty. Many live alone or have lost loved ones and the happy family portrayals can heighten their sense of loneliness at this time of year. An increasing number of people are homeless and on the streets in the depths of midwinter, imagine how they must feel? Excessive consumerism endorsed at Christmas is having a huge impact on Mother Earth. There is an old saying that a picture says a thousand words and I think the one below does just that...

Over the past couple of months, I've really been struck and saddened by the destruction we are causing to Mother Earth. David Attenborough is raising awareness of this on the current series of Blue Planet II, where he informs us that there is an island of plastic the size of France floating in the Ocean, he describes a heart-wrenching scene where a mother whale carries her dead baby probably poisoned by plastic related toxicity and shows us corals that have been growing for up to 4000 years that are being eradicated by deep sea fishing. The destruction and poisoning of the sea life (and indeed all natural life) as a direct result of human intervention is massive. The exorbitant consumption that happens at Christmas emphasizes for me the extent of the absurdity. Green Peace have created this alternative Christmas advert to highlight the plastic issue...

Yet like David Attenborough, there is unquenchable hope within me. I am inspired to see so many people acting from a place of love and care. Huge numbers are working tirelessly and having a positive impact. A week ago I was out walking with my friend and her eleven year old son Zain. When he saw some rubbish on the ground, he began to pick it up and asked us to help. It was really heartening to realize what a difference picking up some trash could make. Since then I have been picking up rubbish more frequently and enjoying the resultant clear space, as opposed to grumpily judging whoever may have disposed of it in such a thoughtless manner. Thanks to young Zain I am reminded of how a little change within ourselves can make a big difference.

There is a short and well written article by George Monbiot entitled "The Gift of Death" that alludes to the harm that excessive gift purchasing causes at this time of year. While many of the gifts we buy have loving intentions, yet he highlights that 99% of purchases will be in landfill within 6 months. He recommends alternative ways of giving to others and showing our love that doesn't harm the planet "Bake them a cake, write them a poem, give them a kiss, tell them a joke, but for god’s sake stop trashing the planet to tell someone you care. All it shows is that you don’t."

Millions of inspirational things are being done to enhance the lives of others and the planet. One of millions of examples include that tonight the coldest night of the year with temperatures well below freezing thousands of people are sleeping in central Parks in Edinburgh and London in solidarity with the homeless. Hearing of such acts of kindness bring hope and joy to my heart.

Each little thing that we do makes a difference. One authentic smile or genuine act of giving can change the life of another and inspire others. We need to question what is happening within society and what best serves our needs and that of our whole system. We each need to acknowledge what is occurring and how we might challenge any apathy. "Pathological consumption has become so normalised that we scarcely notice it." (George Mionbot). Let's pay attention and notice what is happening. Chris Bohjalian said “A single, ordinary person still can make a difference and single, ordinary people are doing precisely that every day.”

So my wish for Christmas is that we can all find the love and rightness inside ourselves, may we express that into the world and be a little kinder to ourselves, one another and to the planet. May we all find the light of hope and joy within our hearts, wherever we are and whatever our circumstances. May we act from this place of love and hope, so that the world is a better place because we are in it. Here is an advert that illustrates how a little act of kindness can enhance the life of another (disclaimer: I am not in anyway endorsing Glade as a product (that would be ironic, don't you think?) I simply resonate with the sentiment in the advert :) )

Remember that "No act of kindness, however small is ever wasted" (Aesop). What can you do to feel and spread a little love, hope and joy at this or any other time of year? May you find and feel the answer within your own blessed heart.

With love and gratitude,

Fiona

The Greatest Festive Gift you can give
What do you want for Christmas
How to best serve the world?
The Gift of the Dead by George Monbiot
This December, it's time to put an end to the Cult of Christmas for once and for all by Sirena Birgman

The greatest gift we can give to ourselves and the world is to be our unique, authentic and beautiful selves. To express ourselves with love, truth and integrity. Can you imagine if we all allowed our light to shine and connected with the brightness and joy in our hearts? What a difference that would make. I'm not saying we should override any anger, sadness or other challenging emotions, indeed I encourage us all to explore such things deeply. Yet, beyond these things there is an ever shining light within us all.


Whatever we do to express our truth doesn't need to be big, dramatic or difficult, infact it is more about how we are being, than anything we do. It can begin with small and simple changes, as Ghandi said "Be the change you would like to see in the world"


This festive season, why not give more of yourself. Share a smile or a word of gratitude with someone you meet. Spend more quality time with family and friends. Tell the people you love what they mean to you and why you appreciate them. Notice nature and the beauty of the world around you and find the gratitude in your heart. Breathe deep. Let go of the shoulds and obligations that can be prevalent this time of year, what feels right for you? What serves you and thus those around you best? What brings you most joy - express that right now.

While I don't advocate cloning, perhaps prioritising our time and energy on what is of true value might be a more fitting aspiration, I thought this advertisement was fun and showed what is important not only at Christmas but the whole year through. The greatest gift that I can give is me! How do you want to spend your time this festive season? What do you feel to give to the world?

Keep shining!

With love, gratitude and best wishes for the festive season,

Fiona

Traditionally the midwinter festvitals were a time of joyous celebration and connection with family, friends and community as the year's work was mostly complete, the days were short and the nights long. Following the winter solstice the days would begin to lengthen again, bringing back the light and newness to the world. Still today, it is a period when people generally have holidays and spend time with their loved ones.  A period of relaxation, connection and celebration.

Christmas and the midwinter is a serene time of magic and wonder, it is a time of hibernation and inner contempletion, yet for many it has been overtaken by the matrix and it's expectations.  For some Christmas appears to highjack their lives for the month of December and beyond?   A form of stress rather than a time to relax, unwind, rest and even heal.  

Last week my hairdresser bouyantly informed me that her spare room was full chock-a-block with gifts, while someone else spoke of not wanting to go to family for Christmas, but feeling oblidged.  My friend has a three year old boy and wants to avoid consumerism and encourage him to find the joy, gratitude and creativity of the midwinter festival, yet everywhere he goes folk ask him what he is getting from Santa.  I appreciate that all of these things - gifts, seeing family and Santa are well intentioned, though I find myself asking where has the authenticity and the true meaning of Christmas gone?  

How can we balance our own rightness with the expectations of society at this or any other time of year? What about living true to ourselves and not compromising our souls? Perhaps offering gifts as a genuine heartfelt token of our appreciation for another, rather than because it is expected.  I love to make homemade cards, as I create them I feel gratitude and fondly think of those to whom I will send them, it builds positive energy.  I love to sing and Christmas carols are so joyous and familiar, they lift my heart.  

How can you engage in the festive season with joy and authenticity? What inspires your soul?  What gift can you give yourself?  I want to see the truth and beauty, love and inspiration that is all around and inside of me.  I yearn to live from my soul moment to moment, greeting each joy and challenge with the fullness of my being.  In the depths of winter, I want to find the light through and beyond the darkness.  And it's not exclusive to midwinter either, it's my gift for the whole year through!  ​

Seven year old Bobby captured the deeper meaning of Christmas wonderfully when he said"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas, if you stop opening presents and listen."  ​This touching video beautifully shows children expressing what they truly want for Christmas... love, connection and time with their parents, above any other gift!  BTW you may need to have tissues close at hand...

May you find and express your hearts desire and your souls longing this midwinter solstice period, in whatever way is right for you.  May you be full with love, joy and inspiration this festive season and into the new year.

Fiona