Sally Pickard

Happiness, dear heart, is what greases the wheel of life. It’s also what opens the floodgates, marshals the forces, commands the elements, raises the sun, aligns the stars, beats your heart, heals what hurts, turns the page, makes new friends, finds true love, calls the shots, waves the wand, connects the dots, feeds your mind, frees your soul, rocks the world, and pays compound interest.

Yeah, so easy to forget.

Notes from The Universe

I may need to look at my ladybird farming practices: the nest in the corner of the sitting room ceiling is becoming overcrowded…

Any suggestions?

I don’t know whether you’re a glass half-empty or a glass half-full kind of a person, but the piece reprinted below cheered me on a day when it seems that the seat of democracy could fall, there is a to-do at St Paul’s, the bankers are calculating their Christmas bonuses (don’t let me start!) and the rest of us are taking comfort in Strictly or the X-Factor or footie, or a damned good book or DVD, or maybe even the extra hour in bed filched from last Saturday.

This message sums up my inner belief about how to view the current shenanigans going on in our crazy old world, and I hope it moves, touches and inspires you – even if you’ve heard it before. And thank you, Jill Carlisle.

Message from the Hopi Elders

“You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour; you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour and there are things to be considered.

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your Water?

Know your garden. It is time to speak your truth, create your community, be good to each other, and do not look outside yourself for the leader.

This could be a good time!

There is a river now flowing very fast.  It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.  They will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The Elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is there with you and celebrate!

At this time in our history we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!  Banish the word ‘struggle’ from your vocabulary.  All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.”

“ WE ARE THE ONES WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR!”

Venice. So, so beautiful, and being there for an infintesimal moment in her glorious history, this was the experience of a lifetime; yet there would need to be more than one lifetime to scratch more than the surface of this extraordinary city, this glorious, fading jewel in the crown that lay between the empires of east and west…

Anyone been there and NOT fallen in love? I’d love to hear about your experiences.

Moonlight by the Rialto

OK, so I’m a teensy bit in love with a Mr Blue Shoes – or is that Blue Eyes?

“Who is he?”, I hear you ask.

Well, after a lovely time spent with old friends in Huddersfield on Saturday, I spent Sunday afternoon dancing my socks off in The Harold Club near Bradford where I was taking lessons from my old friend and dance teacher, Lisa Curly Wurly Graydon, and her teaching dance partner,  Frank Blue Shoes Newton. They make a fantastic team and, as a ‘lady’ (I use that word in the loosest of terms), it was wonderful to be twirled, dipped and dropped (in a GOOD way) by a great male dancer.

If any of you out there love the slow, groovy blues dancing, look no further than Lisa and Frank for great workshops. Their Facebook group is called ‘Two Steps Ahead’, so you can follow their movements there. Movements. Geddit?

So, although it’s some three years since I last danced, thanks to Lisa and Frank – and the super guys on the workshop – the tiny toes are twinkling once more!

… the prospect of a Reiki share!

One of the most beautiful benefits from having received Reiki training is the regular sharing groups. So, it’s all about cake. No, really – although we do usually exchange our treatments before settling for a cuppa and a ‘Little Something’ (as Pooh would call it).

I mean, can you imagine? You’ve been treating yourself every day, but now it’s time to lie down on a table cuddled up in a blanket, and maybe two or more people will gently place their hot little Reiki hands on your tired head and body, and you sink into a deep place of meditation. Or is that sleep?? As Reiki only ever gives you what you need (regardless of what you THINK you need – or want) for some people it is indeed a relaxing, refreshing sleep, and for others it is a waking, enlivening experience.

And then cake. Or biscuits, or fruit, or ice-cream, or raspberries, or, or…

And a feeling of real love and care and deep connection.

Sigh…