Movement of Being in a time of Pandemic

 So much has been taken away
In these days

So much we all took for granted

Now – what remains?
What matters?
What really matters?

If all we have is this moment,
This place?
                            
If all we have is our own company
Or just these few companions?

This breath
This heart
This Presence

So here we are in a very different world. A huge number of things that we’ve been able to take for granted are now in question. Change is happening so fast it’s almost impossible to keep up. People are revealing both their best and their worst sides. Every system, from the financial to the internet is taking the strain, and our health services are in crisis. Breakdown, breakthrough or both? We’ll find out…….

In the midst of it all, Fanny and I want to respond; to take this as an opportunity to slow down, to connect again and again with what’s most precious, to keep acting from love rather than fear, and to find new ways to offer what we can to you all by way of guidance, teachings and support.

One way this will happen is that we are shifting to a much more interactive way of working – things are changing fast, and we want to be able to respond to this. So, whereas our norm was that events were planned and booked often months in advance, we’re now intending daily or weekly updates, with new offerings being posted spontaneously as we respond to changes in the world.

Here’s what we’re looking at:

 

We’re very aware that most people will be adapting to new and probably reduced financial circumstances (as are we). Throughout the lockdown period we offered a lot of special discounts on both groups and single sessions. This just isn’t sustainable (our overall expenses weren’t being covered) – so we are no longer offering them. All our retreats now require a fixed payment that will adequately cover our business costs, as well as a donation in exchange for our guidance on retreat. However, there are many ways that we will continue to make it possible for people on low incomes to work with us: regular free online groups; a bursary fund; generous reductions for any retreat places unfilled at the last minute; friendly ways to spread out your payments; and we are keeping our flexible donation system.

£        … Sessions will continue to be by donation as before, And - if you want a session and are in a financial crisis such that you can’t afford even the minimum donation, talk to us. We can usually find a way.

£        … We’re contining to offer some Zoom sessions for free,

 

There is so much uncertainty
in these days
 
So much that we don’t know;

that nobody knows -

about this virus

about the future

about what state the world will be in

in a few months time

Now – more than ever
we need to find a deeper ground

from where we can tolerate not knowing

from where we can touch a confidence in Being

and find our way to relate with it all –

 

from the Heart

from the Heart

which is simply touched by it all -

by the silence as our world slows down,

by the warmth in so many people

and the fear in so many others,

by the suffering,

and by the courage

 

from the Heart

which is neither optimistic

(unrealistically hopeful)

nor pessimistic

(collapsing into hopelessness)

 

from the Heart

which can be touched by fear

without becoming fearful

 

from the Heart

which doesn’t require certainty

 

from the Heart

which simply loves