Greetings, dear Winter Dreamers,
Last week we began our time together by inviting in a 'what is needed' question. We stepped out of the busyness of our lives to listen deeply to what our Soul wishes to whisper about 'who we are' and 'what we came here for.' Our dreaming question is like the North Star. It is bright, magnetic, and magical. All we need to do is to relax into the question to let its Divine Light infuse our dreaming.
The question that came to me for moving forward in my life is, '
What is needed to move fully in the lightness of being I am experiencing now?'
Well, that was not what I was expecting, I have to say!
However, at so many levels, it works for me.
I have had a good year of finding meaningful projects to dedicate my time to, deepening and making new friendships, supporting my loved ones as they live into their lives, and moving into a new realm of healthy wellbeing. The question helped me to realise that now in my 70s, I am no longer seeking my life path. I know I am on the right path, and it is time to live into this. This understanding feels rather promising and fuels my optimism for my adventures in 2023 and beyond.
I wonder what your question is and what it might reveal to you.
As always, I love hearing from you.
Dreaming Together
‘When we view ourselves in space and time, our consciousnesses are obviously the separate individuals of a particle-picture, but when we pass beyond space and time, they may perhaps form ingredients of a single continuous stream of life. As it is with light and electricity, so it may be with life; the phenomena may be individuals carrying on separate existences in space and time, while in the deeper reality beyond space and time we may be all members of one body’
The above quotation is from the astrophysicist Sir James Jeans. As I was reading it and thinking about our Winter Dreaming time, I realised that it is important not to think of this journey as one we are doing alone. We are part of an interconnected wholeness. As he says, we are members of one universal body, and as Indra’s Web teaches us;
We are not alone.
We are not isolated.
We are connected to everything.
We are all part of the Sacred Web of Existence.
Each "eye" on the net is a beautiful, perfect jewel that pulses connection in myriad ways. We are each one of these jewels on the net. And because of this web of connection, we are constantly in a co-creative dance with the Divine and with each other. All that we realise during our Dreaming Time will take on a deeper meaning from this understanding. Our dreams, wishes, and desires are essential to Life. How we will bring them to manifestation truly matters.
Reviewing the Year Going By.
This week, we take the space to review the calendar year coming to completion. We slow down and remember. We heighten our awareness of our journey, our successes, our challenges, and our growth towards the Destiny we seek. We honour all that has occurred over the year, both the highlights and lowlights. This ancient practice of looking back over the year helps us to heal, renew and adjust ourselves as we move into the next cycle of our lives.
Here is the process that I suggest you follow over the next week.
Step 1: Create space to enjoy this time of looking back.
Spend time out in nature. Explore the sights, sounds, and smells around you that bring you into the present moment. Be kind and gentle with yourself. The insights you gather are precious ground to claim before you move into looking out ahead. Take you time to get settled and access a place of inner stillness.
Step 2: Reflection time reviewing the year
Take a broad-brush view of the year and make notes of what happened. Look at the events, situations, and experiences that felt most important to you. You can extend your remembering by referring to your 2022 diary month by month. Phone and email messages can be helpful, as can photos and your journal if you have one. Look at your reflections with compassion. Try not to get lost in any emotion of remembering. Hold the lens that it is all perfect, just as it happened. It all serves you in its unique way.
Step 3: Craft an image that captures your remembering
Once you feel complete with revisiting memories, you can move to create a visual image of the year. Taking the time to draw uses the other side of our brain. It can bring fresh insights and new dimensions to our remembering.
Use coloured pens/pencils and paper, etc., to craft an image of your year using a metaphor that works for you. For example, I have seen people draw a river, a tree, or a spiral. Whatever works for you. Collages and mandalas can work well, too. Avoid being a perfectionist with your creation. Just let it flow in ways that have meaning for you.
Step 4: Honouring the Insights that came to you
Once this is complete, sit and ‘be’ with your creation for a while. Then place it somewhere that you will see it. If you have an altar, this is a perfect place to hold it. Feel free to add to it too. Know that this process contributes to your wellbeing. It is a way to build your resilience and open a new doorway for your next round of dreams to come into manifestation.
We will do more with your insights next week.
Listening for our Life Melodies
Below is a poem that will gently take you into your time of dreaming. It is from Sunny Optimist community member Richard Candy. His gentle and evocative writing touches on the duality of dark and light. He explores the dance between despair and optimism, knowing that both are part of our life experiences. Richard encourages us to honour the cycles of life by taking the time to stop and listen to the ‘melodies’ of our lives. Mmmm, much appreciation for this beautiful gift.
The First Star By Richard Candy
It’s hard to see a deeper place
Than one had ever dreamed
That life could actually be darker
Even than it had seemed
———
And yet beyond the darkest place
Where life is silent and still
There was a shimmering twinkling sunrise
Through every windowsill
———
The morning shall be there again
With the dawn chorus that is heard
It lifts the universe with every heart
Through every thoughtful caring word
———
For there is a place beyond the dark
Beyond the depths of all despair
I had never known a deeper place
Than the sunlight shining there
———
I had never stopped to take the time
To hear melodies when I dreamed
Of all the loveliest things in life
When the early light just gleamed
———
Thank you, Ann. I love all of this. I feel myself easily slipping into a Winter Dreaming energy as we approach the Solstice. My body knows what the low Grandfather Sun is calling us into. Here is my question of the moment: How do I better tune into the harmony of the Universe, The Great Hum, to create resonance with all living things with awe and wonder.
Thank you Ann
Beautiful dreamy poem.
I love what the person before me wrote-your deep wisdom and knowing just what we need when we need it.
My thoughts too.
Love to you and David,
Healinghands