Tag: advent

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Eeeeek! #fugacious…

treesEeeeek! #temporary #brief #limited #momentary #transitory #ephemeral #impermanent #mortal #perishable #shifting #transient #volatile #interim #changeable #evanescent #fleeting #fugacious…

Trees; their forms, colours, textures, details, patterns, etc.

That’s a theme posited by a contemplative photography group that I’m linked with. To be honest, my past projects have been very ‘nature’ related and I am a tad tree-ed out at the mo. But it’s been on my mind. The group’s creations and ruminations may lead to reflections on the period of ‘advent’ that is also imminent.

IMAGES – As I say, my scrapbook is bare. I have not risen to the task… but have mulled it over.  I have not felt moved to ‘capture’ moments on camera. Instead, I have found myself occasionally absorbing and soaking up things that I may have previously tried to capture and be creative with.
So currently there’s a lack of material, but there is a tangible resonance and spirit of the temporary season we are in. Eeeek! Empty, lacking, absent, redirection…

ADVENT – Alongside this we have the season of ‘advent’. In recent years, I have followed a the vibrant ‘advent’ capers led by Brian Draper. Alas, he’s busy this year with other commitments. So no guiding twinkle. Eeeeek! Absence, loss, redirection…

I am left with thoughts of the #temporary #brief #limited #momentary #transitory #ephemeral #impermanent #mortal #perishable #shifting #transient #volatile #interim #changeable #evanescent #fleeting #fugacious…

What are your plans for Advent?
Indeed, do you ‘plan’ advent or does it just happen?

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And when the angels leave…

Then the angel departed…
Before Christmas I was asked to read a short reading at the local church as part of their annual Carol Service. Not something I have done often recently, unlike my earlier days when reading in church was commonplace. I was initially quite underwhelmed by the fantastical reading I was given; from Luke 1:26-38 ‘The Birth of Jesus Foretold’ “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent…‘Do not be afraid, …you have found favour with God. …the power of the Most High will overshadow you… For nothing will be impossible with God… ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed.”

The hills are alive…
As a treat this Christmas we took the kids to see ‘The Sound of Music’ at Leicester Curve. A remarkable show! It’s a refreshing re-presentation of something we all think we know well. But I recommend that you review presumptions and supposed familiarity.
For me the unexpected resonance came in the pull between religious peace and worldly distress, and indeed religious distress and worldly peace.
Coincidentally the backdrop to several abbey related scenes was a powerful ~20 foot square representation of the fantastical Annunciation, by Botticelli. On the painting’s original frame is’s written in Latin “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” Coincidentally from the reading above.

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Hope in a story…
During holidays (once holy) we might encounter so many other tales and stories of truth winning over doubt, hope overcoming loss, the innocence of a child’s view washing worry and prejudice aside. I’ve just sat teary eyed through The Railway Children, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and we’ve still got Watership Down, E.T. and Babe still to watch.
In our annunciative occasions above, both Mary and Maria are given situations in which they find glorious beauty amongst tiresome disease.

But after the show…
If you’re privileged as we are to have ‘time off’ over Christmas; If you’re privileged as we are to have the warmth of a Christmassy sunday sofa, snuggled children, cold meats, cheese and a sneaky dandelion n burdock; we come out of a dark month of advent, a time of pregnant anticipation and we’re dazzled by lights, reflections, impressions, illusions, projections, melody and chorus. The nourishment we find at this time of year is swamped in salty riches and cloying delicacies that might cause indegestion and even dis-ease. The obligatory celebrations that accompany the turn of the year are yet to come…

But as Maria, Mary and Caracticus Potts came to realise, when the angel departs, one has to see things as they really are, after all one “has to learn to put those dreams to some practical use, not just sit around and think about them all the time.”?

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Advent-ure

Advent: “Reaching out to grasp eternal things” (Alfred Delp)

Like when you come in from a frosty day and the warmth of the room causes tingles and a buzzing glow to your skin, the vibrancy of life can be incandescent, the warmth of true simple joy can be fervent and intoxicating;

…from the fragrant zest of an orange to the dark dearth in evening shadows, from the faces of children to the silence of a stranger, from the energy released in simple live music to the wisdom imbued in beautiful writing…

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Yeaaaa! I have recently been in a position to remove the blanket that I’ve had for the the last three years and i’ve returned my brain’s chemistry to it’s ‘natural’ {?} state.  It’s a balancing act but after experiencing an extensive period of mood-altering drugs I think they have served their purpose (for now).

I have first noticed that I am again emotionally up & down like a yo-yo in a lift – this is good as long as you can find ways to manage it.  I have also been dreaming like a trooper, like I used to do #greatfun.  While taking citalopram I very rarely remember dreaming – very rarely did I struggle to sleep.  Yes, it seems that in my daily happenings I am noticing enhanced interest in stuff, as I say emotionally up & down, and probably creatively up and down.  Having worked on developing ways of seeing things differently and of managing stuff differently, I’d rather be up (and yes down) than stuck on ‘floor three’ forever (I think).  That said, I would recommend following trusted professionals’ advice if they suggest a stint of medication is wise, it was wise and essential for me.

TheWarmthOfTheSun

The ammunition, enlightenment, wisdom, tools and insights that I’ve found from numerous sources over the last few years has been invaluable and I am eternally thankful for those near and far that have helped.

Some simple advice from Brian:

Four simple steps, slowly
1. Stop. Bring yourself to a halt. A proper one. Be still. {this might take a considered while…}
2. Relax. Notice if you’ve any physical tension, and let your body relax.
3. Breathe a little more slowly and deeply.
4. Smile. This is a good and important {amazing}  thing you’re doing…

Reach out to grasp {glimpse} eternal things…

If you don’t get it first time {I didn’t}, try again another time.

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The advent of festooning chiaroscuro…

Advent2014Have you ever seen festooning bees? Nature?

Advent approaches, the advent of a time of expectation…
A season of warmth and cold, light and dark… (in Britain anyway)
A season of emotion and sharing…

Three words resonate in my brain:

Chiaroscuro; the use of contrast between light and dark…

Festooning; remarkable natural collaboration between bees when building, creating…

Oxytocin; a remarkable neurochemical which among other things helps motivate us to put others first… (or love?)

 MeadowViewNov2014

The recognition that neurochemicals play a big part in our lives has helped me over the last few years. After diagnosis with clinical depression four years ago, a mix of cognitive behavioural practice, physical activity, and disciplined psychological grounding (as well as numerous other ideas) have helped me stay sane-ish. On top of this, for 4 years my serotonin levels have been balanced by the drug Citalopram. After serious consideration, I am now going through the process of stopped taking this SSRI… as Mr H. says “some of us need a coat when the climate changes”.

Will you festoon this winter? Studies have shown that physical activity, emotive interaction, physical expression etc all help balancing neurochemicals. Yes it’s a scientific fact that chemicals control our lives, but, to a certain extent, we can help control our chemicals, by good old fashioned ‘natural’ ways.

I am well aware that philosophically the ‘natural way’ is debatable, but it can’t be denied that the natural act of breathing is the difference between life and death.

I have found that; breathing, being, striping our pretence and plastic fabrications back to the essence of being alive has helped me immensely.

Stop. Breath. Walk, exercise, talk, sing, see chiaroscuro… 

“Wake up“, as the the teacher said, “get up and walk”…

Advent approaches, the advent of a time of expectation…
A season of warmth and cold, light and dark…
A season of emotion and sharing…

Have you ever seen festooning bees?

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Advent week 3…

AdventWeek3

The smallest steps, the most ordinary steps, the dusty steps…
Stop twice, look thrice, over death… random raw life is alive.
Be still and know, a comforting labyrinthine path, listen…
When all around us is distracting, there is something eternal going on.
Waking from sleep we might hear a small voice,
with fresher eyes we might see child-like wonder.
Wait, be still… divine warmth might not glitter but,
the briefest moments can lead to magnificent strides.
–––
My third week following some Advent reflections from Brian Draper. I have to say again I can heartily recommend it if you so feel inclined!
Week 1, Week 2.
It seems a long time since Monday when I took a trip around the block.
 
...I'll go with Brian, but I fear it's another distraction from the void that is all around us. As I say, I'll go with it today Brian, I will go out around the block at lunch-break, into the rough urban industrial Leicester, something I have not done for many months. I will follow the reflection...
 I will suspend disbelief......

 ...Not a 'pleasant' walk but perhaps that's not the point. 
Yes, I will keep going - not much of an option there.
I have become (re)acquainted with Psalm 23.
Much of the terminology is lost on me I'm afraid (perhaps I'll google it in due-course). But I did find some words briefly comforting...
Alas, the harsh wind, the dusty streets, the raw lives, the sad failed industry that I passed was more haunting than the verse.
Curiously the encounter that caused me look thrice and stop twice was the open doors of a funeral services. Though the industrial doors stood the usual polished black vehicles but more strikingly also stood rows and layers of wood look coffins perhaps 50 plus... this stood out for me amongst the random raw life that passed around me, Asian languages, cigarettes, white vans, dusty roads, personal business, wheeling and dealing, city streets and rows of coffins.
I will allow it to rest in my mind...

Brian’s posts also introduced me to this…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS7gEykFMD8

 

 

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Advent week 2…

AdventWeek2View post

A Joy and Wonder that flows from our own sense of release,
a startling revelation of ancient beauty…

An infectious smile at the heart of life that changes everything,
might slip through our fingers like mist…

Embrace it “the Joy of true life is your strength”,
it flows through us and from us…

Recognise that you are part of the beauty you see…
but look, what joy! Why now, Why me?

With a view of spring, accept and appreciate your wintering…
It’s natural, it’s physical… it’s wondrous…

———

This is the second Advent post, as I follow this year’s seasonal musings of  Brian Draper. I can heartily recommend sharing his reflections if you so feel inclined!

It’s probably different for you but for me, Advent is not a nice “happy daze”, “everything will be alright” jam!  For me Advent might be about waiting for stuff, pausing before, refocusing, stirring the sediment, brushing away the tarnish…

Yes we all recognise fleeting glimpses of beauty in our lives, we try to capture it in photos, stories, and other creations. I usually fail to hold onto it, share it and feed off it. I struggle to hang onto beauty in our world…

I thought [tweeted] this week that “even the most rotten in nature has a beauty to it, I struggle to find beauty in the rot in humanity…”
and “as my human rot is recognised, I aim to nurture the sprites of joy and wonder that shoot and grow towards light…”

Suspend disbelief might be a way forward.

Never would I have imagined as a child in the 1970’s, as I absorbed questionable traditional Carols (with a Cornish Methodist twang) that I would be singing them to children in Sainsbury’s in Melton Mowbray and turning with a tear in my eye as they wished me a Happy Christmas with smiles that would light up the darkest of hearts! 

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Advent week 1…

AdventWeek1

‘the Word became flesh’ and walked the earth…
Walking, respond physically to ancient ground beneath our feet…

From my head to my fleshly heart…
Gratefully “Like a craftsman, planing wood, to the glory of God…”

Each step like a candle burning in the night…
Sharing grace… sharing gratitude…

Learning to walk again, easier than you might think…
Love came down at Christmas…?

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Advent… what are you waiting for?

OK we all do the calendar thing – well those with kids in the house probably do.

But what can ‘Advent’ do for us?  …and I don’t mean the Religious, candley, purpley rituals – although they have their uses. 

Waiting at the lights, waiting in line in Alidil, waiting…    I have to admit it, I am working on it but, I am not very good at really waiting… finding extra patience and tolerance… and over the coming month it’s likely that we’ll be waiting in a Christmas-infested queue, a seasonally longer queue at the pumps or tills, or just waiting for it all to be over!

AdventurousA4sml

The period Advent is about waiting… from Latin adventus, arrival. Waiting for the arrival of something…
Entertaining the experience of waiting for something. Finding a chance to slow, stop, and consider our place, can be a gift!  Stop all the clocks…

Perhaps we might use the experience of waiting this December as an Advent reminder.
Back in the day, the Jews were waiting for a Messiah.

What are you waiting for?

PS: Have you eaten all of the chocolates behind the doors?   …and it’s not started yet!!