Serenity - Summer 2010

A note from Maryline: A celebration of life

It's Summer! I hope you have all been enjoying the glorious sunshine we have been blessed with recently.

The Summer Solstice was celebrated at Stonehenge a couple of weeks ago and my local newspaper reported how, this year, clear skies treated the 20,000 people who travelled to the spot on Salisbury Plain with a beautiful sunrise. The event marks the longest day of the year when the Sun is at its highest position and the hours of darkness at their shortest. Summer Solstice is a time to celebrate the Sun at its most powerful and all that it means: high energies, warm - even hot - weather, an abundance of delicious fruit and vegetables in our orchards, gardens and fields, outdoor celebrations, gatherings and festivals... I am aware that I am attracted to the sweet smells, the buzzing sounds and the colourful and rich sights provided by Nature outside at the moment. Have you heard Nature whisper her invitation to you to "come and celebrate"?

At this time of year, honouring the power of the Sun and its life giving and sustaining properties is an important part of the celebration of life and all living things. You will already know, from reading my previous newsletters, about my attachment to Nature and my interest in the therapeutic potential of the natural environment recently led me to an inspiring talk at Bournemouth University's Psychology Department: "Restorative environments and well-being". The speaker, Paul Stevens, talked about human beings' attraction to nature, which he described as an inbuilt bond rather than a learnt one. He started the talk by inviting us to notice our emotional reactions as he showed us the photo of a man-made building and then one of a natural landscape. He went on to introduce Biophilia, a hypothesis that explains man's innate affinity with the natural world of plants and animals as a product of biological evolution: for example, it puts forward the suggestion that adult mammals' positive emotional response to baby mammals across species help the survival rate of all mammals. In other words, biophilia explains how our natural love of life sustains life.

As human beings, we are an integral part of Nature: life is around us and in us. Therefore, human health and that of the planet are interconnected: our health and well-being are dependent on the health and well-being of our environment. Scientist Albert Einstein wrote: "A human being is part of the whole, called by us 'universe', a part united in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, feelings as something separate from the rest; a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of poison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty". It is said that astronauts in orbit tend to feel a great rush of love as they look down on Earth and it is not uncommon for world travellers, explorers and sports celebrities (like sailors) to turn their love and passion for the planet, a planet with which they have connected so intensely during their challenges, into a fight to protect and preserve it. As living things on Earth, we share the same planet and as such, if we can delve deep enough in our inner world, we can connect with a uniting sense of belonging and togetherness.

This connection to Nature can be deeply therapeutic and the benefits of such a bond on our emotional, mental and physical well-being are becoming acknowledged and validated. Natural shapes fascinates us and attract our attention effortlessly. Quite simply, being in Nature makes us feel good. The mental health charity Mind has called for a new green agenda for mental health and published a research and evidence-based report on Ecotherapy, which they recommend as an effective and accessible way to help with emotional and mental distress. In my counselling practice, I encourage my clients to develop a connection with Nature as a way to help them foster a nurturing relationship with themselves. The way they do this, of course, is individual to them: perhaps a relationship with a pet, or doing some gardening, caring for plants, being near trees or walking in the countryside... Inside the therapy room, I use Nature cards and photographs of landscapes, flowers and animals to help clients make connections with their inner world and make sense of their emotions and experiences. It seems to me that a relationship with Nature has the potential to relieve mental distress manifesting in depression and anxiety through an awareness of the interconnectivity of all living things. It can help clients gain a sense of being, belonging, worth, potency, trust and identity, which form a secure base from which they can live autonomous, responsible, resourceful and fulfilling lives.

This Summer, I invite you to reflect on the potential for harmony between living things and the wisdom of Nature which can guide you towards a healthier, more conscious and more alive experience of life. I hope to offer you in this newsletter ways to support, foster and enhance your connection with yourself, others and the environment you live in: first a song about love (and I hope that technology will work with me for this and that you can listen to the tune as you read the lyrics!), then a piece on living with heart and passion and finally I tell you about an inspiring magazine dedicated to raising awareness of ecological issues from an ethical, fair, creative and spiritual perspective.

May you go outside and celebrate the Sun and all life made possible by it...

May you be nourished by the fullness and richness of Summer...

May you experience love, hope, joy and vitality in your relationship with Nature and with each other...

...Maryline...

A Song

Hans Christian Andersen, famous for his fairy tales, once said: "Where words fail, music speaks" so instead of a poem this time, I share with you this Hebrew love song and beautiful melody, perfect for this time of year. It is well known in Israel and throughout the Middle East and is often used in Jewish weddings. The lyrics are by Moshe Dor and the music by Yosef Hadar. It has been translated into many languages and is a song Belly Dancers often dance to. It has also been choreographed into a folk dance and is used by Circle Dance groups all over the world. Click below to listen to the melody. I have also included an English translation of the lyrics.

Treasure Chest: With heart and passion

I have been listening to the football commentators giving their analysis of the successes and failures after each of the World Cup matches and a theme began to emerge: those teams playing football "with passion" seemed to score more goals and offer the spectators a more interesting and alive "show". They went further in the competition than some of those playing the games in a more reserved, passion-less way. My own experience of watching those playing with passion was that the game was flowing, light, effortless whilst the opposite was a game that seemed strained, heavy, misaligned with no sense of cohesion or connection between the players. I am aware that on an individual level, the same is true: sometimes we can carry out tasks effortlessly while at other times, there is a struggle. So, the Football World Cup and its unfolding outcomes combined with the high energies of Summer inspired the contents of Treasure Chest: living life with heart and passion.

These questions may get you going:

• What makes your blood race?
• What do you desire?
• What is stoking your inner fires?
• Are you living your life passionately?
• Can you summon up more passion for what you do?

Just like footballers who play with passion seem to demonstrate an appetite for the game, passionate people tend to have an appetite for life, they appreciate it and get nourished by whatever their pursuits are. This process involves throwing oneself into something wholeheartedly, with enthusiasm and faith, being at one with oneself, in body and mind.The word passion takes its root in the latin word patior, meaning to suffer and to endure! So it is not surprising that taking the plunge - physically or mentally - often requires courage: not the absence of fear but rather the ability to push past it. Resilience and determination help find and sustain passion as, in order to pursue what we are passionate about, we often need to overcome obstacles and take risks. Just as on a football pitch, the obstacles are many that prevent the ball reaching inside that goal, so they are in our lives, inner and outer. Putting our energies into avoiding the obstacles can be tiring - even exhausting - when there is no passion to sustain our efforts to push through difficulties. On the contrary, if we can live with passion and with heart, then we can become aware of the difficulties, consciously avoid them and refuse to be deterred by them. Goals are reached... or scored!!

In Buddhism, one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols is the fish: it symbolises not only beauty and good fortune but also living in fearlessness (even when the danger of drowning in the ocean of suffering is ever present). The fish also represents happiness and freedom that emanates from living in a state of fearlessness and determination that comes from moving spontaneously and gracefully, without inhibition or limitation, with an awareness of obstacles and the ability to leap away from them swiftly and with ease and alertness. Could the Buddhist symbol help you live fearlessly... with heart and passion?

At this time of Summer holidays, travels away, breaks from work etc, may I suggest that you make space and time for relaxation this Summer... also with passion! Relaxation is vital to our well-being as it brings balance to our life and restore our energies and peace of mind. Take care of yourself throughout the Summer and always... with heart and passion!

Quotes by Paulo Coelho

"Enthusiasm is the force that leads us to final victory."
(The Pilgrimage)

"The heart never suffers when it goes in search of its dream, because every moment of the search is a step towards encountering God and Eternity."
(The Alchemist)

About a magazine:

RESURGENCE by The Resurgence Trust

As a subscriber to this environmental magazine, I really enjoy reading the intelligent and inspiring articles on the subject of caring for Planet Earth and the ecological challenges we are facing. The philosophy of the magazine is to promote "science with soul" and to offer a positive perspective based on hope, optimism and trust in the transformative power of the human spirit. The pages of this bi-monthly magazine are beautifully illustrated and contain articles about ecology, education, nature, science, the arts, Earth's sustainability and spirituality. Regular features also include poetry, recipes, letters, adverts... It is published by Devon-based educational charity The Resurgence Trust whose aim is to "create a world based on justice, equity and respect for all beings." Resurgence "inspires, invigorates, informs and transforms" so I invite you to check out their website www.resurgence.org for more information.