MerryWeather and RainSky

  So - here's one of the books I'll be working through.  This is quite a new one, but the approach called to my faddy self.  His idea is that there are many ways to meditate, but a lot of us seem to have an idea we have to be peaceful to begin, sit on the floor with incense, and compose ourselves to think of nothing for maybe ...an hour!  In other words, our idea of perfect meditation right from the start.  It's so perfect, it's not doable. He suggests we junk this idea, and instead spend 3 minutes every day doing a meditation technique.  Each technique is practiced for 7 days, so you get a feel for it.  Then you move on to the next one.  And go on like that for 14 weeks.  So that because its such a small amount of time, you'll feel its doable to try. One of my biggest problems with anything spirituality related is my inability to be consistent with a practice.  I'm either working 14 hours a day (summer) or I'm frantically trying to catc...

  Photo by Alex Dukhanov on Unsplash This Rain Sky post is about a person not there any more, and me over thinking it.  *** Full Moon Day and Grieving, 28.10.23 I have a best friend, my eldest son, who doesn’t want to see me at the moment.   He is depressed and talked to me of reaching out to people and being ignored.   But then he shuts me out.   I was willing to be there, but when I offer, I am repeatedly told no.   Which I don’t understand.   If you are lonely and want companionship and I am your best friend and I offer, but you don’t want me? That means: (a) I am the wrong companion – I am now boring, or I make your mood worse (when I thought I did the opposite); you want a girlfriend, not a friend – or a mum. (b) You are worried you will be unkind – people seem to think depression is just flat or weepy, when in fact it can be very hostile – pushing people away to prove how shit and useless you are to yourself; it’s actually monumentally...

  Before we start - pic taken by an old friend, near his Sainsburys.  Amazing sun, huh?  Anyway... It's quite amusing that I laid out what I was going to do, then didn't do anything for months! This was for 2 reasons: (a) my summer facing job just stayed busy - people at the restaurant took holidays, I was needed to ccover, as was my eldest, one of the chefs, who is wasting away for lack of holiday time off as we speak, and then there's my other job, also extremely busy, and then theres home life...and (b) I was/am overwhelmed with the amount of reading and study I've already done since the 90s - which was when I got into my spirituality in a big way. I'm a total bookworm.  If I like a subject my first thought is to buy a swathe of books about it from various angles, create a mini library and then begin.  In a sort of hither and thither slapdash way, bit of this, bit of that, on the subject.  Then, as I always know it will, my focus will change, and I'll be...