Heroes Not Zombies

There is something dramatic about rain clouds passing through.

But what really caught my eye here was the contrast – the contrast between the dark vineyard and the blue sky with the soft white clouds, and the contrast between that part of the sky and the dark, heavy, rain-laden cloud above it.

We need contrasts……bright, fine light and deep darkness too.

The rhythm of light and darkness experienced by us all grounds our very existence not in constancy and sameness, but in perpetual change and difference.

Vive la difference!

Well, well, well, look at that! The first cherry blossom of the year (the first I’ve seen anyway).

It might not actually be Spring yet, but it must be just around the corner.

I love the Spring. It feels like such a time of new beginnings, of renewal, of re-growth, of emergence and delicate but determined first steps towards a flourishing abundant expression of the Life Force.

Bon Printemps! (“prins” from ancient French for “premier” or “first” and “temps” for a time, or a season)

(for readers in the Southern hemisphere, enjoy your emerging autumn!)

We talk about “going with the flow“, almost as if it is the opposite of “going against the grain”.

But flow is not always smooth. Flow can be soft and easy, but it can be powerful and turbulent too.

When I was walking along this beach I was aware of the flow of the air on my face, the flow of the heat from the sun, the flow of the light through the sky, onto the water and the sand making it sparkle and shine. I was aware of the flow of the tides, as the sea receded to reveal silver sand and countless shells. Then suddenly there was a surge of sound. A rushing, white, world-filling sound. I looked up from the shells to the edge of the sea and saw a wave running up fast onto the beach. The water crashed onto the wet sand, fizzed and foamed, and was gone. In that moment I was aware of the flow of energy in the vast sea.

Flow is my verb for this week, from my A to Z of Becoming.

How can we “go with flow”?

I think it all begins by becoming aware of it.

I think it can begin by feeling the flow – the flow of the air in the wind, the flow of temperature in heat and in coolness on your skin, the flow of light as it sparkles and shines and creates shadows, the flow of water in the movement of the tides, the waves and the clouds, the flow of sound in the songs of the birds, the crashing of waves on a beach, the gurgling of water in a stream, the noise of the raindrops hitting the windows, the flow of scents as you pass a bakers or stand at the edge of the ocean….

There are many ways to experience flow. Why not start this way? Deliberately, consciously choose to “look out for”, to become aware of, to notice, THE FLOW.

This week’s A to Z of Becoming verb has been “exploring” – actively choosing to go and explore something with that spirit of curiosity and open minded wonder which pretty much guarantees you are going to find something which makes you go……..”look at this!”

Well, what better kind of active exploring is there than beachcombing?

Not only are you likely to be saying “Look at this!” repeatedly, but the slow speed required to do beachcombing is so relaxing.

Why not schedule in some beachcombing in your year ahead?