A Divine Pause

Stop and smell the roses, we're implored. But how many of us actually do that in our day-to-day lives? And when someone says this little phrase, is it truly being communicated to us from a person that is themselves embodying and living that? Or are the words simply polite, nice sounding sentiments?

Over the past few weeks, I have been feeling and appreciating those stop moments. I used to think that these times had to be orchestrated, organised, carved out in my diary. But that is complicating what moving into stillness or repose is actually about. Moving inward can be immediate. It can be done in a moment where your children are on holidays buzzing around the kitchen trying to "help" you. It can be done when you're waiting impatiently on the phone with music blaring down the ear piece. It can be done in the quiet in your bedroom before sleep, on a walk or when sitting having a cup of tea with friends.

There isn't anything fancy or exclusive about this practice, but a simply surrender inward that we all have access to. It may begin by feeling your feet, the breath at your nostrils, the weight of the cup in your hand, the sun on your skin. As you practice this more and more, the easier and more immediate it becomes, and then the depth deepens and your appreciation and joy grows.

I've felt this deepening after our recent week away in Coolangatta. No, there's no magical monk hill up there, where all your troubles disappear. But what the week away demonstrated to me, is that that same feeling of spaciousness can be replicated inside ourselves no matter where we are. The momentum of going into stress or worry that I sometimes still carry while I'm at home, is absolutely useless. It doesn't accelerate the completion of tasks, it only serves to harm my body and the bodies that are unlucky enough to be around me in those moments!

One way I've been embracing and incorporating these stop moments is in observing the beauty of our skies. The photo of the sky was taken my by husband Trent. Go and have a really good look at it. I love the delicacy of the clouds, the way they look like the wing of an angel. Then there is the richness of the colours, of course the pinks and the gold, but also hints of violet, blue.

The divinity in nature is upon us, as it is, within us.