Light a candle

Candles evoke a feeling of peace, beauty and warmth and have been used symbolically down the centuries throughout the world.

So what is it about candle light that humans find so significant?

When you light a candle it can represent whatever you want it to represent. 

So when you light a candle this Christmas or New Year let it represent a hope, unity, truth, love, remembrance, protection or faith.

(image (c) microsoft clipart)

Everything you need...

'Everything you need is now free!' said the subject line of the advertisement email some company had sent me. I was tempted to look - I mean, could it really be true? At first glance it did look as though this might be something good: all sorts of items and products that used to cost money now being given away. Yes, that's right - just given away! No catch. Even the postage, if you ordered, would be free. There was just one problem. There wasn't anything there I actually wanted, let alone needed. Disappointed, I closed the email. Oh well!  I would obviously have to look elsewhere to find everything I needed for nothing.

Then I got thinking...what exactly do I really need? What do any of us need? And are those things to be found on sale or special offer somewhere or, if we're lucky, given away for absolutely nothing by someone else?

The world's philosophies and religions have been telling us since the dawn of time (or at least since the first time a human being realized our ability to ponder such spiritual things) that we all have, deep inside us, everything we need already. Once we've got our shelter and food sorted and found a way to keep ourselves safe from any roaming dinosaurs and lions (and I'm guessing most of us on this side of the world these days have managed that) then anything else is available to us within our own depths of mind and soul. A sense of peace. Comfort. Encouragement. Purpose. The ability to forgive, understand, keep things in perspective. We can try looking in other places for those things. We can try persuading others that these are things that they ought to be supplying us with. But the truth is...those things...the things that we really need...are already there inside us. Absolutely free and accessible whenever we choose to go 'inside' ourselves and look and experience them.
Hilary

An Ancient Peace

Poem: Carry nothing

Carry nothing but the breath inside you

As you journey don’t walk with aching arms.

Watch the birds—travel like them.

They see their burdens, see them but leave them.

Be like that.  Carry nothing.

As you go the currents of life will lift you high and drop you low.

The sun will warm your face and, light, you will smile inside.

The storms will crush you and you will fall with heavy tears;

But you will fly on.

And the oceans and skies and mountains will be there still

As you fly on.  And you will see all like the birds.

But you will fly on.

And you will have nothing to carry but the breath inside you.

Then, light and soft and tired you will find a place

And warmth and peace will welcome you home.


 (c) Hilary Hawkes 2008