Greetings, dear Sunny Buddies, Wishing you a happy and healthy 2024. It is so delightful to be in this winter seasonal time with you as we relax, refresh and renew ourselves, ready to live fully into our dreams for this New Year.
Over the last few weeks, we have been on a delightful Winter Dreaming Journey, and this time together culminated in us entering our inner cave of silence, stillness and spaciousness, where we revealed the dreams that were stirring within us for 2024 and beyond.
Winter Dreaming is a powerful practice that can bring us unique insights, inspiration and possibilities. It feels timely to pause, take a breath and let this time of dreaming settle within us. In January, we open the curtains of our lives after the 'holidays' and often quickly return to the busyness of our everyday lives. As a result, we can 'drop the connection' with our dreams if we move too speedily back into action.
Over the next week, I suggest you go for a walk each day and touch back into your inner dreaming experience. Let the insights you gained walk with you each time. The Wisdom of Earth is all around you. So take your time, look up, look down, stop every so often and expand your awareness to perceive more of what is around you. As you do this, new aspects may be revealed to you as you listen into the space of possibility for your life. I love the image below of being in the forest. We are on the right path! We just need to meander in the beauty around us and be open to the magic of the Divine. Mmmmm
As you walk, be open to items of nature that call your attention. It could be a seed, a leaf, a stone, an acorn, a twig, or a berry. Do not rush or feel any need to do this. Just be open. As you come across an item, take a moment to see if any messages come to you from that connection. Taking a container for your items and a notebook and pen is good for remembering what came to you on your walks.
Enjoy, and as always, dear Sunny Optimists, I would love to hear from you.
Ann
P.S. I thought I would give you a little postscript this week to make you smile as we relax into this incredible adventure we call our life.
Notes from My Couch this Morning by Joan Benner
Let me hold you said the couch As you re-member yourself into loving awareness. No more than this is needed. You, present to this moment is enough. It has always been this way. You just forget, And allow confusion, delusion, and frustration move you Into the false dreams of who you are. The very presence of loving awareness is so much more than the illusions You so often crave.
Sink into this now As you honor yourself by not getting caught in your thoughts. Treasure them, then let them fly by, Refusing to allow yourself to be dragged or tossed by their fleeting visits. Welcome the truth that this awesome awareness itself is more than enough. Embrace the expansiveness of clear boundless loving awareness. Rest in the truth of this, my precious love. Rest, only rest will lead you to your healing. The need to shine outward is over. Melt yourself back into the timeless space of loving awareness, And dance in the knowing that you have come home.
Breathe in the comfort of this place, And when ready, circle back as a wave in the ocean. Rest here in this new place where the shimmering hologram of life shines though. Take the hands offered by those who know this seamless mandala of wholeness, And acknowledge together the beautiful core of loving awareness you all share. Nod to your sameness in suffering when you forget who you truly are. Reach out to all as you bow to the deep equality you share. And pray as one that all beings truly awaken And live fully in the joy that is beyond sorrow. The dance of loving awareness is meant for all
May this be so…..
So lovely. Thank you for this, Ann. I am still listening to the dreams which are quieter this year for me too. Sinking into the couch...
Thank you for this invitation, Ann. I've not had a single inspiration come from a sleeping dream this year, but nature has certainly been speaking to me! More and more I see that I'm part of a collective dream...one that I'm finally learning to participate in. And I feel so welcome here, thanks to guides like you! Happy New Year, dear friend!