Greetings Sunny Optimists,
How are things with you today? I hope the weather is being kind, and you are enjoying some balmy summer sunshine. Knowing you are out there and that we are in connection really gives me a lift each week. I sincerely appreciate you joining in this adventure with me.
Drenched in Sunlight
I am not quite complete with the subject of Love and the Light that I wrote about last time. The topic just kept percolating in my awareness.
It came to me to look out a book by Marilyn Ferguson called The Aquarian Conspiracy (Personal and Social Transformation for our Times). It was published in 1981 and drew upon ancient lore that predicted The Age of Aquarius would herald a 'millennium of love and light' and be a time of 'the mind's true liberation.' I can hear the song The Age of Aquarius by the group The 5th Dimension playing in the background. Very 1960's LOL!
I was turning 30 when I read it, and I knew it was important. It is a beautifully optimistic book that set me on the spiritual path I am on today. Two things have stayed with me since that time. The first was the lines at the end of the introduction by the political columnist of the time Max Lerner. He said
'Amidst the prevailing gloom, the news the author brings us is an open human nature in an open universe. Like the work of the people it describes, this book is drenched in sunlight.'
Even now, 40 years on from the book being published, the last three words still bring tears to my eyes. For us to be 'drenched in sunlight' makes my heart expand. It is so reassuring how sunlight, with its warmth and benevolence, inspires us to turn towards the full potential of our lives.
I loved the photo below of a child drenched in sunlight. Our children's future needs to be drenched in the sunlight of the Divine, don't you agree?
The Sunny Conspiracy
The other thing I was touched by in the book was the word Conspiracy, which means to breathe together. I see that we, the Sunny Optimists community, are co-conspirators. When we breathe together, there is alignment and attunement. There is an expanding to connect that moves us beyond ourselves. There is a recognition of the interconnection of All of Life, of Wholeness, and of Holiness.
It is this Sunny Conspiracy that keeps me motivated to write each week.
Thank you.
August : The Holiday
In the spirit of breathing together this week, I have recorded the August guided visualisation from the Dorothea Breitzer-Kings book called Meditations through the Year. I love this little book as it keeps me paying attention, and celebrating the flow of the year.
This month Dorothea takes us on holiday into both our outer and inner worlds. I really enjoyed recording this visualisation for you. It felt refreshing and relaxing in equal measure. She guides our imagination to move beyond our everyday routine and find new and inspiring opportunities for the next phase of our lives. Mmmmm.
Click here or on the photo below to listen. A huge thank you to my coach and buddy Tim Uffindell for his guidance on making the recording and for his exquisite piano accompaniment. I hope you enjoy it.
Questions for this Week
I see you on your imaginary holiday, drenched in sunlight with a heart that is full of optimism for all that you are and have. These are challenging times to be alive in, so taking time to relax and renew ourselves is vital.
My questions for you this week are;
What would be a refreshing and rejuvenating holiday for you?
Who would be part of your Sunny Conspiracy?
Is there one special book you would take with you?
As always, I would love to hear from you.
Ann
Hi Ann, Hi Mark yes I find it so meaningful when the origin of a word has a different meaning from the way that it is now used in our modern day language. So yes I am excited to CON-SPIRE together as opposed to being in a conspiracy for or against something/somebody together.
Last week, I was touched by reflecting on Metamorphosis. Remembering an early teaching in biology at school which stays with you all of your life. Then reflecting on the transformation of egg into caterpillar into chrysalis into Butterfly. Imaging the intelligence driving these changes. The miracle of life and the source of the blue print from which all life whether plants, animals or humans are born and develop. The miracle of communication between all of the atoms and cells playing their part, and all the atoms being created from the beginning of the universe (big Bang?) and the higher atomic weight atoms being produced in the death of a Star. Mmmm
Hi Ann
Thank you for the meditation on a Saturday morning with the sun shining on the Ochils. I loved the enquiry around what would I do on holiday that I don't do at home? and What would happen if I allowed it?
I feel excited about the positive spin on the word Conspiracy - I didn't know it meant to breathe together - Mmmm!