Greetings, on this icy day here in Scotland.
I do love the Wintertime, where the light is cool and gentle, and the air crisp and energising. It is snowing once again, and I am called to be cosy and close-in with you today.
I am not an early riser. I have always been somewhat slow to 'come to' in the mornings. I so love to languish in the liminal space between sleeping and waking. This place is where I can touch into what is true for me. Sometimes I awake to feel sadness inside, and more often, I open my eyes to optimism. As I emerge, I never quite know what awaits me. I love the miracle of 'waking up' each day.
Today I was aware of the sadness within me, not overwhelming, more a dull sensation. I decided to just be with it for a while and not try to push it away. I took the time to think about what I am grateful for in my life and to pop these gifts into my appreciation basket. Lots came forward to help me know that I will be able to return to my sunny optimism for the day ahead.
But I also let my mind travel to what is pulling my energy down today. Like many people, I realised that I am struggling to accept the degree of separation from the people I love. I miss them so much. The lack of physical contact with them is not my choice. In this moment, I recognise that there is a resistance to control within me. I want to make my own choices about where and when I see people that I love. At coming up for 70, I am not happy with the removal of my options to the degree I am experiencing right now.
That is was my truth on awakening today. I decided not to pretend that everything is fine with me as I began to write this week's Newsletter. I saw that I wished to declare it and explore with you.
I wonder what you are feeling today.
Are you in this dance of opposites between sadness and optimism?
How do you find your way to come back to your centre?
I say this often but knowing you are there is a powerful antidote to my sadness. As I sit here at my computer, I know I am 'out in the world' with you, which helps me stay in balance.
Thank you.
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What’s is all about, Alfie?
As I was exploring the sadness this morning, a 1960's song called 'Alfie' sung by Cilla Black started playing in my head. Why do songs just pop into our heads, I wonder? I have not thought about this song in decades. Somehow it felt significant to catch this inspiration. This song might be a message from Spirit, and best to follow its lead. I smile!
The song's opening line is the question 'What's it all about, Alfie?'. It really seemed to capture this moment for me. I love questions. They expand and illuminate. They invite us to go beyond the ordinary and to open the portal for more insight to come to us.
(Click here on the photo for recording the song.)
I recognise I want to make sense of what is happening to and in our world. There is much to be concerned about. I don't want to catalogue or give energy to the chaos, complexity, and uncertainty I perceive. At the same time, I want to acknowledge that it impacts my optimism sometimes.
I find the lyrics by Hal David so beautiful. I love the way he questions Alfie's selfishness and moves us to kindness and love. Towards the end of the song, Cilla sings,
'I believe in love, Alfie.'
There in that moment is the note of optimism I am seeking. The calling that brings me back to the centre within my Self. ‘In that Self we experience our beauty, our magnificence, our peacefulness and our stillness, our unity, our joy and our love.' Diane Collins - Do You Quantum Think?
I can touch into the simplicity of believing in love. I can feel myself soften and become warm inside. I come back to the whole of me. To my Self. If I trust in love as a primordial universal life-force, then I can step out of my little fears. I can expand my awareness, wrap my arms around all of life with as much love as I can muster.
And that 'mustering' includes each of you. I had no idea where my writing would go today. Feeling as I did when I awoke, I was not sure that I could maintain my sunny optimism. I wondered if I should miss this week. I am so glad I persevered. I feel more centred and settled within myself. I hope you do too.
Thank you for being there, and as always, I would love to hear your thoughts and feelings today.
Ann
Click here for a recording of the song
Alfie
What's it all about, Alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie,
Then I guess it's wise to be cruel.
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie,
What will you lend on an old golden rule?
As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Alfie,
I know there's something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in.
I believe in love, Alfie.
Without true love we just exist, Alfie.
Until you find the love you've missed you're nothing, Alfie.
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Alfie, Alfie
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Thanks for sharing Ann! So beautifully expressed!
I recognise the feeling of sadness and even frustration and anger around the lack of freedom.
Gratitude is an energy shifter for me too and takes me quickly into my heart, dispelling the sadness.
Perspective is also useful, knowing that this too will pass. This could be incarnation no. 1007 or 17 for me. Either way this time is a blink of an eye in that wider perspective and helps to shift any fear!
The last couple of lines of the lyrics really resonate with me:
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Alfie, Alfie
For me, this is so important right now as it empowers me and I find it to be the perfect antidote to the chaos.
Connecting to the heart and the frequency of love is surely the most powerful act of defiance we can make? I sense that this is what we are being called to do - seeing, accepting, respecting and adoring the feminine to redress the imbalance that we have been living under for a very long time!
Appreciating your sharing and invitation to reflection! X
A gentle reflective piece. Started with touch of melancholy that I thought I did not want but I stayed with it and got to the song which is so ofbits time and test the lyrics are forever and for everyone. Tugs at the heart strings . Operatic in its production, shuch a strange juxtaposition in many ways.