Awareness is a wonderful thing, that allows us to experience the world on a deeper level. It is a beautiful teacher that brings to our attention, that which we need to know.  Yet we must be careful not to be only the observer, sheltering in the knowing of awareness, yet not being moved to do what it inspires us to do.

When our awareness alerts us that things need to change, we must take the opportunity to take action. If we notice unkindness in the world, we can ask ourselves, "How can I be more kind?", "How can my actions inspire more kindness and create a ripple effect of kindness beyond what I will know or see."

When we have moments where we wish we had the energy and vibrancy of our youth, we can dwell there, or we can choose to take action. We can make lifestyle changes that give us more energy or take up a hobby that fills our heart with joy.

And yet sometimes awareness just asks that we are truly aware. To not only notice the sun shining but to feel its warmth and energies soothing and uplifting our soul. It asks us to really notice the beauty of a flower, a smile on your loved ones face or to savour the taste of your favourite meal. 

Awareness shows us what we need to change and when we need to be present for ourselves, others and the world.

We must learn to navigate this beautiful dance between awareness and action, feeling into the moment and moving when the timing is right. Let this dance become a part of your being. Allow awareness to teach you and bring you into the present moment, and then when the inspiration or calling to act arises, move with grace and certainty into the action you know is right in your heart,

Too often we wait for the 'perfect' moment to do what it is that we know needs to be done. We say to ourselves, I'll do it when.........work settles down........the holidays come........once the kids are organised......next week.......tomorrow and a variety of other 'whens' that endless delay us from doing what we truly need.

When life is hectic, we say that we will relax once things settle down but the truth is that you need that relaxation now. Find the time to take some deep breaths, to go for a walk, to do a yoga class, meditate or some other activity that brings you that state of calm. Know that it is possible to find the calm within the chaos. Infact, that is the time that we need the calm the most and you have the potential to create the calm in the busiest and most hectic times you face. Don't wait for the conditions to be perfect, find ways to connect with the peace and calm in any situation you find yourself in. Know that your willingness to do this can help prevent stress building up and becoming overwhelming and make you less likely to be burnout by the time that holiday comes!

Perhaps you are someone who is always looking after others, delaying your own selfcare. Maybe you see yourself as a last priority, someone not deserving of the care that you so willingly give others. Now is the time to look after yourself well, make your health and wellbeing a priority. The quality of your life is important and taking steps to enhance this quality not only helps you but also helps those around you. Do what you need to do and give yourself the opportunity to enjoy your life to the fullest.

Sometimes there are things to face that we have been avoiding. Truths that we know deep within our heart that require us to be vulnerable and deeply honest. Now is the time to face these things, to unburden yourself from this load you have been carrying. It is time to speak your truth, to reach out for help and support and to free yourself from the shames and fears you have been carrying in your heart.  You must know that you are not alone and that these hidden feelings have more power when they are pushed down deep inside you. It is time to set them free and for the pains of the past to no longer weigh you down. Perhaps you can create a ritual to let them go, speak to a trusted friend, partner or family member, write thongs down or reach out for professional support. Know that you have the courage within you to do what needs to be done.

No matter what it is that you need to do, now is the time to do it. Take a few minutes to sit quietly with yourself and pose a question, "What is it that I need to do right now?" or "What is it that I need in this moment". Then simply create space for the answer to come. Or you may prefer to write the question at the top of a piece of paper and allow 5-15 minutes to write whatever thoughts come to mind, no matter how strange they seem!

Don't wait for the 'perfect' moment to do what needs to be done. The moment is now, and you know what to do. The real question is, "Are you willing to listen?!".

The old spiritual paradigm is changing and it is time to bring your true essence into your ordinary world and to begin to remember why it is you came to this Earth.

All of us have a purpose and mostly it is to bring love, kindness and compassion into the world around us. You have an amazing opportunity to make a difference with your words, actions and behaviours.

No matter what you do, the most important thing is how you show up and who you are in any given moment.

No truth needs to be told with unkindness or lies. Information is easily manipulated and becoming too focused on a particular source can potentially throw you out of alignment.

The world is full of light and shade and each day must be viewed with new eyes, so that you can see what is there to be seen. 

Your intuition is a gift but sometimes the messages from the mind and intuition can blur, so if we are not grounded and self aware, it is easy for us to believe it is our intuition speaking when in reality it is not.

Do not rush into drawing conclusions and spend some quiet time with yourself sitting with the information you receive. Be the observer of yourself (and perhaps others), simply noticing what is going on without judgement. Give yourself time to really see. 

Notice the words, tones, energies and expressions that you see. Notice what you feel in your body or in the space around you. Learn to be connected with yourself and others.

Perhaps keep a journal, noting any patterns or interesting findings.

Through this process learn of your power and your responsibility.

Know what is possible and be willing to do what needs to be done.

Before worrying about others, find out what it is that you can do to make positive change. Be willing to be honest with yourself and take the steps that you need to take. Determine what you need and what you need to do better.

Decide what sort of world you want to live in and what sort of person you want to be. 

Be prepared to contribute to the community and to treat people with the kindness and respect they deserve. We all have the power to make this world a better place and if we all commit to being kind, compassionate and respectful people, the world would be a better place.

There is a light within each of us that has the potential to make this world a better place. We can hide it away or pretend it doesn't exist, and yet it is there. We might only have one day, one week, one year, one decade or one life to shine it as bright as we can. There is time and yet there is no time, what lies ahead we can not fully know. What is certain is this moment right now and the truth is that we are here and yet we are not here. It is time to embrace the light within you, to let it shine out into the world.

This light is in your words, your thoughts and in your actions, it is in and flows out of every single cell of your body and you can choose to illuminate the space around you with this light. This is your moment, your time to shine, your chance to make a powerful difference in this world.  

Feel and know the light within you, it will show you who you truly are.

Today is International Dog Day, a day where we can take a moment to pause and reflect on all the dogs who have and do help us on our journey. I've been blessed to have had a number of dog friends and teachers be a part of my life and am so grateful for the work these beings do on the planet.

Dogs have a unique way of opening our hearts and showing us what love really is. Not only do they help families but more and more dogs are stepping into official roles to help & support workplaces & the community at large. The positive difference they make in the lives of humans is truly amazing and deserves to be acknowledged today and every day.

Those whose lives have been touched by a dog are truly blessed and my wish is that all dogs get the love & respect they truly deserve.

Take a moment to give your love & acknowledgement to your dog friends and teachers, those that have been with you in the past and those that are with you now. Take note of what dogs are doing in prisons, health settings, with young & older people alike, in mental health & beyond. SEnd out your gratitude & your love to these beautiful ones who serve us unconditionally and with all the heart you could ever hope for.

I've been a Massage Therapist for many years now and I love working with the physical body and helping people's muscles be more relaxed and healthy. Yet sometimes it isn't enough and that's where the Reiki comes in. There are times when I try a number of massage techniques and the muscle just won't respond, that is until I start using Reiki and then things begin to shift and I get much better results.

Our physical bodies hold onto a lot of trauma and patterns of tension that may or may not still be relevant for us. Sometimes through massage we can help move these stresses but other times we need something more. Reiki helps bring us into a deep state of relaxation and release stored emotions and stresses from our physical and energetic bodies. It helps us relax the body and mind and create an inner state where we can gain more clarity and connection to who we truly are.

Adding Reiki to a massage session helps people with busy minds switch off, it allows stresses that are held in the body to be released and it supports your general health and well being.

Reiki is a good partner to a deep tissue or Remedial massage as it adds a beautiful balance to the treatment, it also adds a deeper dimension to a Relaxation massage that gives you a beautiful break from the chaos of the world and transports you to a deep place of peace and tranquility.

A diverse range of people have enjoyed a Reiki massage, some with a knowledge of Reiki and some without. What they care most about is how they feel and often the Reiki component is their favourite part, although mostly the key is helping people feel better. Reiki allows me to add an extra dimension to my treatments and has served me and my clients very well over the journey. I'll always be grateful that Reiki is a part of who I am and what I do.

I talk a lot about the power of acknowledgement and acceptance of what lies within. One of the most powerful things we can do is be honest with ourselves about what is happening within us. For when we resist or ignore pain it can either get stuck or get stronger and we lose the opportunity to really listen and see what we need in that moment.

Accepting pain doesn't mean we accept it forever but by acknowledging what we are experiencing in this moment helps us to keep our energy in flow and often this simple practice will help us move through and let go of the pain. Ask your body or mind what it needs and love and respect yourself enough to do what needs to be done.

You may need rest or movement, it may be time to speak up and be heard, there might be changes that need to be made or it could be the time to reach out and ask for support. Do what needs to be done.

And on this note, know that it is also time to acknowledge the power that lies within you. It is time to let go of your doubts and fears. It is time to know that you do have that courage within, that you can make changes and you can move beyond what you previously believed to be your limitations.

The universe will support you but you also need to support yourself. Be clear about what you want, be honest with yourself and take the steps that need to be taken.

Acknowledge what lies within. See what needs to be seen. Do what needs to be done. Deep down you know. Listen, learn and love yourself enough to look after yourself well and be who you were born to be.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to the world is to be who we really are! Sometimes it is hard to know who that is as we navigate through all the challenges and traumas we experience on the journey. On top of this we are often weighed down by our own expectations and the expectations of those around us. Often we find ourselves putting our efforts into our jobs and our families, with seemingly little time to truly see who we are and what we have to offer the world.

The truth is that we all have our unique gifts and we all have dreams inside our hearts that are waiting to be awakened. But perhaps more importantly, beneath all the layers of who you think you are is someone more vibrant ad more magic than you usually care to imagine. So today I ask you to pause for a moment and breathe deeply into the depths of your heart and to see yourself as you truly are! As you do so, keep in mind that what you find is likely to be simple, a way of being that creates magical change in the world around you. And to spread the magic all you have to do is show up and be who you are. 

Sometimes when we go down this path it can lead to a major life change, but more often than not we can simply start bringing this energy to our every day interactions and encounters. Be present in what you do and have the courage to be your unique self, the beautiful authentic being that you are. This energy will show up in the tasks that you do, in the products that you create, in the words that you write, in whatever way you choose to express yourself.

So today I ask that you take one step closer towards your true authentic self, to begin to trust in the magic of all that you are. Sometimes you will be full of confidence and other times you might feel a bit shaky or not really know how things are going to work out. Whatever happens have the courage to show up and sing your unique song to the world, knowing you are playing your part in the harmony of all.

 I've avoided publicly speaking about Covid since the Pandemic began but after an amazing interaction with another masked wearer the other day it got me thinking about the real masks we should be concerned with. Firstly I want to take a moment to talk about the visible masks many of us have been wearing and first want to acknowledge that for some people (especially those who've been through a trauma, are hearing impared or feel claustrophobic ect) mask wearing can be stressful. That aside for most in can be a little bit uncomfortable, especially in warmer weather. For me personally I feel I've got quite used to it, becoming one with the mask and although wouldn't like to do strenuous exercise with one, think my body has adapted quite well. In terms of my human interaction with people, I've never felt like this has hindered me here, as I continue to feel people's energy, hear the tones in their voice and see the emotion in their eyes. Mostly I forget I'm wearing a mask and know that these are not the masks who hide who we are.

The masks to be concerned about are the invisible masks, the masks people use to hide who they are. Sometimes these 'mask wearers' have bad intentions and our pretending to be people they are not for their own personal gain and to manipulate others. For this reason be discerning with the people you meet/know and start to see people through a variety of ways. Feel their energy, notice their voice, their eyes, their words, their actions. Take time to tune in and listen to what your own intuition tells you. Do not ignore your doubts & fears or thoughts that something doesn't seem right. Although sometimes they will be to do with you and things you need to work through, other times they are there to alert you to the truth of something that is not yet seen. By making a habit of checking in with yourself this will eventually become second nature and you will do this instinctively, which will help you navigate life with greater strength and clarity.

Other times people wear these invisible masks because of their own insecurities, fears and habits. Learn to look beyond what people show you. Use that beautiful tool of curiosity to help you see beyond, "Mmmm that's interesting, I wonder what is making them act that way...", "I don't understand what's happening here, I wonder what that's about". Here we can perhaps take a breath and ask, "What's really going on here?", "What is it that you really want" or comment, "That's interesting". Of course these are just some ideas and won't always be suitable but we can tune into our own wisdom and think, "How can I understand this person better", "What can I do to shift the energy here or help someone get closer to their truth?".

Then finally there are the masks that we ourselves wear. The people we pretend to be, the way we hold ourselves back to fit in or please others. So many of us are scared to be who we really are. These are the masks that cause more stress/damage than any cloth or surgical mask ever could. These are the masks that exhaust us, the masks that keep us away from our true selves, the masks that become so well worn we might even forget that they are there. All of us have them to some degree and now is the time to let them go. 2021 is a time to fly, a time to release those burdens that have been weighing us down. Be discerning, set healthy boundaries and then take those steps to reveal more and more of yourself every day. Commit to being authentic, to speaking your truth and bringing kindness and compassion into everything you do. But most of all, love yourself for everything you are & everything you have been through to get where you are right now. Be brave, be kind & trust you are ready to take that mask off and reveal who you truly are.

Nature is around us, Nature sustains us, Nature entertains us!

She is in every breath and she absorbs us in our death!

Nature speaks, Nature knows, Nature gives and Nature flows.

She is powerful and clear and she gives the chance to hear.

Nature waits, Nature gives you the choice, will you listen to her voice?

Well what can I say, 2020 is certainly shaking us up, which can be difficult but it is certainly something we have needed for a while. One of the ways that can help us feel more balanced, more centred and more connected is to begin to deepen our connection with nature. There are many ways we can do this and below I will share a few tips to get you started. As we move through these times, people will begin to see that alongside providing a variety of health benefits, Nature can also be a great Teacher. Firstly simply by observing her response to our way of living, keeping in mind that Nature is always striving for balance and harmony. We start to see that if our actions cause nature to become out of balance, she will always find a way to restore. Secondly we also have the option of talking directly to nature and listening to the wisdom & guidance she has to share. As we move through these times, we will remember that working in partnership with nature is an important step to creating a better world. Our own health & happiness is reflected in the state of the world and it is not always easy to look at what we have created but we must always remember that things can change and we have the power to change them for the better. Working with & connecting with nature is one of the most simple and powerful ways in which this can be achieved!

Start saying good morning to the plants & animals
This is a simple way to acknowledge & connect to nature. A simple hello/good morning to your houseplants or trees & animals you pass on your walk, perhaps saying thank you to the sun for warming you on a winters day or you may wish to let the birds know you appreciate their beautiful song. 

You may wish to take this further and asking questions and simply waiting for a response. Listening to what your plants might need/want, hearing wisdom, perhaps allowing nature to assist you in finding out what it is that you need in this moment.

Perhaps you could play music for your plants/vegetable garden and see how they respond or perhaps you could sing a special song to the sea or river. Simply open and follow your heart.

Be present with nature
Find ways to be present with nature, which really just means being in nature without any distractions. Simply be, stand, walk, garden, swim, sit (whatever feels good for you) in nature and notice what's around you.

Breathe into Nature
Pause for a few moments and take a few deep breaths, breathe in the ocean, the air, the smell of the trees.....

Connect your bare feet to the Earth
Place your bare feet on the ground, feeling gratitude to be here and experience this connection with the Earth.

Meditate with or for Nature
Take time to meditate in the presence of nature or to send out a loving/healing meditation to nature. Perhaps even write and record one yourself.

Give thanks to Nature
Give thanks to Nature often. For the blue sky, the warm sun, the fresh air, the nutritious food, the beautiful moon, the powerful trees, the flowing rivers and oceans.......so much to be thankful for. Remember she is there...

Nature is ever present, yet sometimes we are too preoccupied to know.
She stands with grace & beauty and she simply ebbs & flows.
Nature works tirelessly to support us in every single way.
Remember that she's there, please don't turn & walk away.

Nature is full of magic and can bring us such delight
Now we have an opportunity to simply treat her right
​Just take a small amount of time to show Nature that you care.
For the world will be a better place if you remember that she's there.