I am amazed at the serendipity of this reading - for me at least. I spent last night struggling to sleep due to terrible physical pain, and no position I tried helped. This gradually led to some rumination about my life and then some thoughts of regret followed, and some mental and emotional pain set in.
I woke however to a beautiful light this morning at 4am (letting my dog out) and the air outside had a freshness of autumn (even though it’s technically summer- which can be a bit of an illusion at times in the UK).
Birds singing and an otherwise quiet calm stillness surrounded me, and filled me with a peace that took me into a much better head and heart space (despite still being in physical pain). I felt alive and grateful, in awe, and then utterly joyful. The sky had a sense of promise, the plants and trees a sense of aliveness that brought comfort to my tired being. I went back to bed, and with pillows and this peace I was able to sleep more.
Sat here in my living room a bit later I decided today I would hold my first Awakin circle and simply invite a few friends to join me. Even if today it’s just me and my dog I’ve felt called to do this for some time so I will. I have and will also attend other circles to drawn on, grow from and with, and intend to engage with others holding Awakin circles, as I discover exactly what I am called to - be it weekly / monthly and at what time etc.
I looked up the most recent reading and found this joy of a reading. Not easy to think of the painful experiences of others as I have always felt called to bring comfort and help to heal people in need.
I know what it is to experience trauma and I have born witness to terrible trauma - both as a nurse and simply as a human being. My personal experience is that in being hurt, cracked open and broken, all I could do initially was close in and protect my space- but eventually I became able to reach for that which sustained and held me (and in turn to offer love and kindness, care and compassion in my nursing and other service to others).
From connection with others can come joy and even in the most tragic of circumstances I have experienced, witnessed and contributed to such joy as to make the terrible pain bearable, a teacher and a healer. In connection with others who were open to holding both pain and joy together I found freedom and liberation from suffering (and the broken-hearted ness that can come from being broken in some way).
As a laughter yoga leader I share the power of laughter. As a Specialist paediatric nurse I have used the power of silliness and playfulness, coupled with laughter to facilitate the release it can bring from suffering to the families I worked with. Joyful ness is a powerful healer
As a human being I have been released from all kinds of rumination, suffering and pain through laughter - as well as gratitude, forgiveness, and the wisdom that comes from experience, reflection, connection and presence.
I am so full of gratitude for this, and this reading. 💛
On Jul 5, 2023 Mary Thomson wrote :