Silence and other bits

S i l e n c e
Some of you may have been watching BBC’s The Big Silence. If not, it can be viewed on BBC iplayer. The essence of the programmes is concerned with the benefit of silence and how by immersing ourselves in it for longer and longer periods, we become able to listen properly to our inner thoughts. After the inner chatter of ‘busyness’ has passed, we start to delve into deeper layers of our subconscious. When a rural Indian woman dyes cloth, she immerses it in the dye then hangs it out to dry. This action is repeated until the colour is ‘fast’. So too with silence. The more frequently we immerse ourselves, the greater chance we have of holding that stillness in our daily life.
There are many ways to do this. Withdrawing from the world for a period of time can have a profound effect. I sometimes take myself off to a lovely house in Hartfield, Sussex. I forewarn my host I won’t be speaking and the only sound I hear from her is the bell she rings to announce another beautiful meal time. The first time I went, I took about 10 books; some health books, some spiritual books. What I realised at the end of the two day retreat was the distraction they offered from the real work I wanted to do. The next time I simply took myself. It was hard. I slept more than usual but after the initial feelings of boredom, the deeper thoughts revealed themselves. Was it helpful? Yes in so many ways I couldn’t have foreseen. I had moments of really being with myself, in myself, aware of myself. Problems were untangled in a less frantic way. A contemplative look at my life was given space.
I would encourage everyone to go into a silent space for at least 2 days and preferably alone. Going to centres offering silent retreats are also good but we can all get caught up in watching others which is another distraction. No, seek a place where you will be nourished with top quality food and peace. Perhaps a friend will be away and you can use their house. You can even tailor your retreat to suit your health needs. Once you have a location, organise for a reflexologist or a masseur to give you a treatment at the house. This too can all be done in silence if you let them know.
Meditation is the best way to bring this silence into everyday life. Imagine going on a cleansing diet. To maintain the benefit of the cleanse, you remain vigilant about incorporating the good eating habits in your daily regime. So too with meditation. Once the benefit of silence has been experienced, you can re-create the benefits through daily meditation. Meditating for thirty minutes twice a day is not going to make that much difference to your daily plans but it will to your overall sense of self and purpose.

Tour of Pharmacy

 
I am once again offering a tour of Helios Homoeopathic Pharmacy. You will learn how homoeopaths make remedies, see some of the crude substance from which we make them and be encouraged to medicate your own remedy.
I have arranged Saturday 8th January 2011 to be set aside for this tour which will start at 2pm and end at 4pm. Please let me know if you would like to join me at Helios Pharmacy, Tunbridge Wells. This is a free event.
Meditation and Spiritual Exploration

This is a six week course I offer to anyone wanting to look at aspects of meditation along with psycho/spiritual exercises as ways of exploring the subconscious. We look at various types of meditation, experience them, reflect on them, question them. We will also use techniques to uncover our subconscious which can be incorporated into our daily life. This is a course of quiet activity and safe exploration. No prior knowledge of meditation is necessary only the willingness to ask ‘Who am I’? ‘Why am I here’? ‘What do I want’?
Cost: £60 for 6 evenings over six weeks starting Tuesday 11 January 2011 from 7.30 – 9.30pm. Spaces are limited to 10 people. Please ring or email if you wish to participate.

Influenza

If you are concerned about the flu but don’t want the flu vaccine (incidentally, this year’s flu vaccine is combined with Swine flu but you won’t be told this unless you ask) I can provide a remedy which you take throughout the winter months. It has been used for the last 100 years. It is a prophylactic and whilst it has no guarantee of success, there are thousands of people who report not contracting the flu if they took this remedy.

Sleep

Now the clocks have changed we have increasing minutes of darkness until the shortest day in December. Different cultures have their festivals to bring in light at this time of year. But Mother Nature says ‘no’. This is how it is. Slow down, rest, and almost hibernate. Mad sounding statements in this 24 hour culture. One of the most common problems I hear from people is concerned with their sleep or lack of it. And, the media reports chronic sleep deprivation as the cause of many mental and physical problems. So let’s talk about sleep hygiene. Well, that’s a bit of a fancy title for something so basic and necessary. A good routine for sleep has to be put in place. Simply try to be in bed at the same time each night. Avoid having a television, mobile phone or computer in your bedroom. Read some uplifting text before going to sleep whether it is poetry, words of wisdom or a soothing novel. Keep the window ajar and wear only natural fibres in bed. It is also wise to sleep in pure cotton bed linen. If you do wake frequently, avoid the temptation to get up or put the light on. It’s boring and frustrating but with a little perseverance these disrupted nights will pass. Keep your room totally dark and if your curtains let in street light, consider lining them with blackout lining. The darkness supports the production of Melatonin which is essential for our immune system. Endeavour to wake each morning at the same time without the aid of an alarm clock. The body is all about rhythm and our goal is to establish this rhythm in sleep, digestion and evacuation. Sleeping at the same time, eating at the same time, and emptying our bowels at the same time indicate a harmonious physiological response. Our sleep can be disrupted in times of worry and anxiety. Try to unravel the worry with the help of counselling or by seeing a homoeopath who will also help with the acute disruption to your sleep by providing remedies.

Inspiring words…..

Author: Jeanette Winterstone
We have all experienced negative darkness – those long stretches of the night when we can’t sleep, and worry about everything, and so we know that “dark time” can seem interminably long, compared with daytime. Yet this slowing of time can be the most relaxing and beautiful experience. Spending the evening in candlelight, and maybe by the fire – with no TV – talking, telling stories, letting the lit-up world go by without us, expands the hours, and alters the thoughts and conversations we have.
I have noticed that when all the lights are on, people tend to talk about what they are doing – their outer lives. Sitting round in candlelight or firelight, people start to talk about how they are feeling – their inner lives. They speak subjectively, they argue less, there are longer pauses.

Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, 1966

For the happiest life, rigorously plan your days, leave your nights open to chance.
Finally……
I am available for appointments at Gaia, Forest Row 01342 822716 on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.

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