February 5, 2025 • 23 mins
Finding Peace and Connection, Meditation with Penny Billington, Nature connection, January weather blues, Inner grove meditation, Poetry and nature, Mindfulness practice, Peace and tranquility, Guided meditation, Personal assignment with nature, Winter wellness, Mental health and nature, Spiritual connection, Emotional well-being, Calm and support, Meditation for connection, Inner peace and belonging, Healing through nature, Winter mindfulness, Holistic well-being, Nature-based meditation.
Original Recording: Tea with a Druid 290 with Penny Billington
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(00:10):
Welcome to this magical life where we explore Druidry, mindfulness, and the magic of living. 2 00:00:26,469.999 --> 00:00:28,309.999 Hello, this is Penny Billington. 3 00:00:28,379.999 --> 00:00:31,329.999 um, and it's lovely to be back. 4 00:00:31,339.999 --> 00:00:45,59.999 It feels like a long time since I was in Philip's chair, uh, trying to contain myself to this short 20 minutes worth of inspiration and refreshment that we can share together. 5 00:00:45,659.998 --> 00:00:47,909.998 You can see lots of headlines in the paper. 6 00:00:47,909.998 --> 00:00:52,799.998 They say, oh, same old, same old and you know how difficult people are finding it. 7 00:00:52,809.998 --> 00:00:55,39.998 So just let me know. 8 00:00:55,839.997 --> 00:00:56,709.998 Sign in, please. 9 00:00:56,719.997 --> 00:01:01,899.997 Let me know how you're finding this January, because all the excitement of Christmas is gone. 10 00:01:02,159.998 --> 00:01:04,109.998 Imolke is not quite here. 11 00:01:05,484.998 --> 00:01:07,854.998 in Somerset, um, and the southwest. 12 00:01:07,864.998 --> 00:01:09,324.998 We've had huge storms. 13 00:01:09,704.998 --> 00:01:12,374.998 We've had a lot of rain. 14 00:01:12,644.998 --> 00:01:14,314.998 Then we've had extreme cold. 15 00:01:14,594.998 --> 00:01:16,774.998 It's been quite a time we've been going through. 16 00:01:16,974.998 --> 00:01:22,854.998 Somehow, life still all feels speedy all year round these days. 17 00:01:23,304.998 --> 00:01:32,609.998 Let's try and get a little antidote to that feeling and, and try and, imbue ourselves with a bit more peace and a bit more space. 18 00:01:32,999.998 --> 00:01:49,204.998 Um, but as I say, sometimes it can feel that we're trying to, in trying to keep our engagement with the world, trying to keep our energy levels up, we can feel that we're Pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps. 19 00:01:49,714.998 --> 00:01:51,634.998 Well, this is never really the case. 20 00:01:51,634.998 --> 00:01:54,354.998 It's just a question of how we can focus. 21 00:01:55,644.998 --> 00:02:12,364.997 Now, once upon a time I said to my daughter, how can I possibly, how, why is there never time for these millions of thoughts in my brain? And she very smartly replied, I think the answer is in the question, mother. 22 00:02:13,854.998 --> 00:02:15,84.998 None of that tonight. 23 00:02:15,304.998 --> 00:02:18,364.998 I'm not going to talk about a million different things. 24 00:02:18,634.998 --> 00:02:33,434.997 I've got one idea, one focus, because we cannot promote our peace and our sense of space and our sense of engagement by, by thinking more and more and more and being more and more speedy. 25 00:02:35,194.997 --> 00:02:39,994.998 So let's find a focus tonight and a handle for activating that focus. 26 00:02:40,439.998 --> 00:02:52,789.998 The New Year feeling that we want, that we can deeply relax into the year and take what we need from it, give what it needs back. 27 00:02:56,279.998 --> 00:03:04,369.998 I want, I'm a great believer in, um, going to poetry for, uh, or being inspired by poetry. 28 00:03:05,169.998 --> 00:03:08,59.998 Um, so there's something about the rhythm of it. 29 00:03:08,429.997 --> 00:03:13,979.998 There's something about repetition that's sort of incantatory and stirs something in my soul. 30 00:03:15,159.997 --> 00:03:22,269.998 And once upon a time I read a poem and the only line I can remember, and it was repeated, was this. 31 00:03:23,559.998 --> 00:03:24,919.998 My assignment. 32 00:03:25,954.998 --> 00:03:26,744.998 is you. 33 00:03:27,824.998 --> 00:03:37,224.998 And it's something about making a contract before I was born, and somehow I, I had been told, my assignment is you. 34 00:03:37,834.997 --> 00:03:40,244.997 And I found that really moving. 35 00:03:40,894.998 --> 00:03:57,959.998 Um, immediately, I thought of human to human connection, because in a way it sounds, uh, like, you know, finding a lover, the one person, you know, the true romantic ideal, the one person. 36 00:03:58,539.998 --> 00:04:03,79.997 Imagine if you were born and one person was your assignment, that would be quite scary actually. 37 00:04:03,369.997 --> 00:04:14,999.998 Um, but uh, then I read Mary Oliver who said, when I die, let me say I was the, I was the bride to life. 38 00:04:15,269.998 --> 00:04:18,109.998 You know, I love, I wedded life and I loved it. 39 00:04:18,599.998 --> 00:04:22,259.998 And I thought as a Druid, when I thought over this. 40 00:04:22,994.998 --> 00:04:26,124.998 line again, my assignment is you. 41 00:04:27,344.998 --> 00:04:34,744.998 I thought as a Druid, I make story and I make relationship with the world, with, with nature. 42 00:04:34,964.998 --> 00:04:38,554.998 And through that I see spirit in all things. 43 00:04:39,794.998 --> 00:04:49,594.997 So instead of thinking of, uh, love, lover like feelings, let's think of a feeling of connection just as profound. 44 00:04:50,34.997 --> 00:05:04,844.998 Let's think of our connection to the earth and imagine That you make this contract before you are born and you come onto this earth saying to the world, saying to nature 'cause we are part of nature. 45 00:05:04,844.998 --> 00:05:07,754.998 Of course it's not separate from us saying to the rest of nature. 46 00:05:08,24.998 --> 00:05:10,774.998 My assignment is you. 47 00:05:12,174.998 --> 00:05:26,4.998 Now if you do this, I, I can almost guarantee if you go out on your morning walk thinking my assignment is you, then you will notice something fresh and new and entrancing. 48 00:05:26,904.998 --> 00:05:29,914.998 I went out today, I just noticed the shape of a tree. 49 00:05:31,904.998 --> 00:05:33,984.998 I walked past it almost every day of my life. 50 00:05:34,174.998 --> 00:05:37,754.998 I'd never noticed the perfection of its shape before. 51 00:05:38,184.998 --> 00:05:42,274.997 It obviously had exactly the right space in which to grow and it was just beautiful. 52 00:05:43,84.997 --> 00:05:53,84.998 Um, so we can gain a lot by thinking Of making stories and relationships with the world by using this focus point. 53 00:05:53,424.998 --> 00:05:56,854.998 My assignment is you, the rest of the world. 54 00:05:59,334.998 --> 00:06:01,984.998 But let's get back to a dull January. 55 00:06:02,44.998 --> 00:06:08,924.997 One that's too snowy, too windy, too wet, too cold, too icy. 56 00:06:10,974.997 --> 00:06:12,14.997 Sometimes. 57 00:06:12,714.998 --> 00:06:17,674.998 It's difficult enough just going out for a walk, persuading ourselves that we need to. 58 00:06:17,674.998 --> 00:06:24,274.998 And that's why people with horses and dogs and so on have their immediate connection to the land through that animal. 59 00:06:24,514.997 --> 00:06:29,744.998 Because come hell or high water, they have to go out and look after it. 60 00:06:30,194.997 --> 00:06:58,334.898 Um, for those of us who don't, it might be a little, uh, seem a little off putting even to go So I thought, only the other day, Well, if my assignment is you, natural world, and I'm trying to make a relationship, doesn't that relationship go the other way round as well? If my, my assignment is you, guess what? Your assignment is you. 61 00:06:58,694.998 --> 00:06:59,484.998 is me. 62 00:06:59,485.098 --> 00:07:12,814.997 And I went out and I said to the whole sentient world around me, hello, I'm Penny, your assignment is me. 63 00:07:13,504.998 --> 00:07:40,859.997 And I imagined the whole, the sun people, the cloud people, the rain people, the tree people, the grass people, everyone, All the persons who are other than human supporting me, just me, at the same time, of course, that they support just you and just you and just you and just all of us. 64 00:07:41,479.997 --> 00:07:43,729.997 What a wonderful feeling that would be. 65 00:07:44,739.998 --> 00:08:04,29.998 I remember being, um, when you're a child, you think about things, you think, oh, if I dig a hole, when you're playing with the universe, first of all, what's eternity, what, what's the far reaches of the stars, put a box around them, then there are more stars, put another box around them, then that, you know, this is the sort of stuff you think when you're a child. 66 00:08:04,389.997 --> 00:08:12,629.997 But you also, often, children think, if I dig down, if I dig a deep enough hole, I could get through to Australia. 67 00:08:13,619.997 --> 00:08:21,949.998 Well, of course, as adults, we know that we can't, because there's that thing called gravity, there's that thing called the center of the earth, there are logistical problems as well. 68 00:08:22,309.998 --> 00:08:24,189.998 Um, but what there is. 69 00:08:25,659.998 --> 00:08:51,419.998 is the profound support that we get because the Earth's assignment is us and its job is to support us, to keep us anchored with gravity and to grow all the things we need and to give us green for green stuff for our rest and refreshment and minerals and all the things we need to look after us. 70 00:08:52,99.998 --> 00:08:53,879.998 Um, so. 71 00:08:56,409.998 --> 00:09:28,579.998 When we start making stories, I think a bit of entitlement is in order, providing we understand that that entitlement to feel that the world has us as its assignment only works because we have started the process off by taking That Responsibility for making the world our assignment. 72 00:09:29,39.998 --> 00:09:33,649.997 Okay, I'm getting mixed up with all the, all the thing here, but you, you get my point. 73 00:09:33,889.998 --> 00:09:37,439.998 It's just like having a relationship with another person. 74 00:09:37,889.997 --> 00:09:40,289.998 You can't make demands on a total stranger. 75 00:09:41,569.997 --> 00:09:44,869.998 You can make huge demands on your loved ones. 76 00:09:45,39.998 --> 00:09:52,979.997 If you've made relationship, you can ask, but it's not so much a question of asking for things all the time. 77 00:09:53,29.997 --> 00:09:54,609.998 We don't want things all the time. 78 00:09:55,319.998 --> 00:10:06,979.997 What it is, is a sense, a profound sense that we are supported, that we are loved, that we are nurtured, that we have a right to be here in this world. 79 00:10:07,349.998 --> 00:10:14,399.998 And, and then of course we can go into our responsibilities that make us worthy people to be in the world. 80 00:10:15,519.998 --> 00:10:17,409.998 So that's my thought today. 81 00:10:17,699.998 --> 00:10:25,19.998 And I thought it's something that we could take into a grove, into an inner meditation and just spent five minutes thinking about. 82 00:10:25,619.998 --> 00:10:26,149.998 So. 83 00:10:26,639.998 --> 00:10:28,59.998 Let's just see. 84 00:10:28,849.998 --> 00:10:39,759.998 We've got, right, so much more on the weather. 85 00:10:40,29.998 --> 00:10:58,999.997 Whatever the weather is doing outside for you now, I invite you, if you wish, to take three breaths with me and we will go to a place of inner peace, a grove of trees of your choosing, your sacred inner space. 86 00:10:59,339.997 --> 00:11:04,899.997 If you haven't ever made one before, it's as easy as closing your eyes. 87 00:11:06,69.998 --> 00:11:07,399.998 and imagining. 88 00:11:07,799.998 --> 00:11:17,249.997 The imaginal world is where our emotions get activated, where magic begins to happen that can cause changes in everyday life. 89 00:11:18,179.998 --> 00:11:20,109.997 So let's take a breath together. 90 00:11:21,219.998 --> 00:11:36,929.998 First of all, with the earth beneath us, whether it is soggy or frozen and icy and snowy, let's take a breath with our own earth and feel its strength supporting us. 91 00:11:38,559.998 --> 00:11:47,79.998 And let's take a breath with the sky above us, whether it's cloudy, whether it's full of stars. 92 00:11:47,844.998 --> 00:11:56,854.998 Whether the sun's shining in your part of the world, take a breath and feel sweet air filling your lungs. 93 00:12:00,524.998 --> 00:12:05,754.998 And then let us take a breath with the waters all around us. 94 00:12:07,504.997 --> 00:12:14,939.898 The sweet waters that nourish our lands and the salt waters that join our hearts. 95 00:12:15,179.998 --> 00:12:18,679.998 all our continents and make us as one. 96 00:12:21,399.998 --> 00:12:40,589.998 And on that third breath, if you wish, allow your eyelids just gently to droop and allow yourself to feel that you are safe and that you can go into an inner space That will be nurturing and supportive to you. 97 00:12:42,329.998 --> 00:12:45,799.998 And as you feel that, you don't have to see anything. 98 00:12:45,839.998 --> 00:12:47,329.998 This is about feeling. 99 00:12:48,839.998 --> 00:13:06,329.997 Feel you are in a wooded place, a circular grove, and that there is a beautiful evening sunset to the west of your grove. 100 00:13:09,169.998 --> 00:13:14,779.998 And a rising moon in the easterly quarter. 101 00:13:18,109.998 --> 00:13:21,879.998 And it's as if the world is hanging between the two. 102 00:13:22,899.998 --> 00:13:26,519.997 It's not night, it's not day. 103 00:13:27,269.998 --> 00:13:29,889.998 It's a magical liminal space. 104 00:13:32,209.997 --> 00:13:35,349.997 It's a magical liminal place. 105 00:13:37,839.998 --> 00:13:45,834.998 A place where you feel Welcome where you feel you have a right to be. 106 00:13:48,494.998 --> 00:14:04,454.997 And if you wish you can put your hand on your heart and open your arms to your inner space and just gently say or feel my assignment is you. 107 00:14:07,174.998 --> 00:14:23,454.998 This is the place where if you wish you may make story and relationship and stand or sit by a tree. 108 00:14:24,89.998 --> 00:14:29,559.998 Or put your hands on the earth, or stretch them up to the sky. 109 00:14:31,69.998 --> 00:14:49,39.997 Whatever you feel comfortable doing, as you slowly look round your grove, and feel your assignment is this space and your job tonight. 110 00:14:50,614.998 --> 00:15:32,139.998 is gently and relaxedly to notice it in all its beauty, to hear it with all its myriad sounds, the wind, the shaking of rain from a bough, the crunch of icy leaves, the chitter of a squirrel, The homecoming calling of the rooks and the other birds. 111 00:15:37,699.998 --> 00:15:52,329.998 This is your assignment to smell your grove, the ice in your nostrils, or the deep composty clean smell of the leaves rotting. 112 00:15:57,209.997 --> 00:16:00,39.997 The smell of the trunk of a tree, yet you hug it. 113 00:16:03,74.998 --> 00:16:07,564.998 Nothing to do but appreciate it. 114 00:16:09,924.998 --> 00:16:18,354.998 And as you do, a feeling of profound peace and space opens inside you. 115 00:16:30,434.998 --> 00:16:47,574.998 And that gift of peace and relaxation and space is our gift from our grove to us. 116 00:16:50,444.998 --> 00:16:56,444.998 It's a way of our grove saying back, My assignment is you. 117 00:16:59,459.998 --> 00:17:00,999.998 And this is my gift. 118 00:17:03,249.998 --> 00:17:33,969.998 Imagine the trees, their ambience gently informing you in your imaginal world with their longevity, with their service, with their peace, with their non judgment, non agenda, with their simply being. 119 00:17:38,439.998 --> 00:17:47,939.998 And maybe if their assignment is you and you ask the simple question. 120 00:17:48,949.998 --> 00:18:05,369.998 Well, what can I learn from you tonight? What would they say to you? Maybe, be at peace in the dark for five minutes each day. 121 00:18:11,239.998 --> 00:18:19,769.998 Maybe, smell, see, taste, feel and listen every day of your life. 122 00:18:29,399.998 --> 00:18:32,789.997 Maybe, you are enough. 123 00:18:33,249.997 --> 00:18:35,189.997 This is enough. 124 00:18:37,314.998 --> 00:18:43,264.998 You're not a human doing, you are a human being. 125 00:18:43,794.998 --> 00:18:48,534.998 Just be for five minutes. 126 00:18:54,844.998 --> 00:19:01,14.998 And you are still in the grove, in a perfectly relaxed state. 127 00:19:08,4.997 --> 00:19:15,714.997 And you take three breaths to breathe in this message, this beauty, this peace. 128 00:19:40,689.998 --> 00:19:58,929.998 And as you open your eyes in the grove, or look up at the sky if they were open before, you see that the sunset has nearly winked out in the furthest horizon, and the dark sky is studded with stars. 129 00:20:00,129.998 --> 00:20:08,219.998 But they're shining through the trees, through the twigs, through the boughs, like a million tiny candles. 130 00:20:09,639.998 --> 00:20:23,869.998 And although the moon is just waxing and isn't full yet, it's strong enough for its light to pour down on the grove so that you can see as much as you need to see. 131 00:20:27,699.998 --> 00:20:30,969.998 Your day grove has become your night grove. 132 00:20:35,129.998 --> 00:20:39,99.997 You can go there any time of day or night. 133 00:20:42,689.998 --> 00:20:57,729.997 It will always be waiting for you because you are its assignment and the opposite applies. 134 00:20:59,974.998 --> 00:21:03,974.998 As we all can all say to our grove, my assignments. 135 00:21:04,969.998 --> 00:21:05,699.998 is you. 136 00:21:07,139.998 --> 00:21:09,979.998 Come on, let's make a story together. 137 00:21:10,809.998 --> 00:21:16,369.998 Make, let's make our life peaceful and secure and wonderful. 138 00:21:16,739.997 --> 00:21:21,709.998 To go out refreshed into the world to do our best. 139 00:21:24,789.998 --> 00:21:30,489.998 And as you think, feel that, you feel the energy of the grove. 140 00:21:30,804.998 --> 00:21:58,724.998 Beginning to fade, the feelings, or the sights, or the smells, all beginning to dissipate now, just beginning, as you feel more attached to your body, more aware of it, the imaginal world is receding, But you're bringing all your blessing, all its blessings back with you. 141 00:22:00,104.998 --> 00:22:23,424.998 And as you send a last call of gratitude to your internal space, you find yourself seated in front of your computer with the need to breathe deeply and the need to stretch and the need to move around and rejoin this wonderful, glorious, miraculous world that we're all privileged to live in. 142 00:22:24,544.997 --> 00:22:25,894.998 So open your eyes now. 143 00:22:30,839.998 --> 00:22:46,999.997 Wherever you are, keep your internal grove, keep your covenant with it, and keep your wonder in the natural world, because that's what keeps us sane and grounded and safe and in our right place. 144 00:22:47,489.998 --> 00:22:49,109.997 Okay, thank you very much. 145 00:22:49,319.998 --> 00:22:49,939.998 Good night. 146 00:22:50,116.9140998 --> 00:22:52,926.9140998 That's all for this episode of This Magical Life. 147 00:22:53,456.9140998 --> 00:22:57,56.9140998 If you enjoyed it, don't forget to subscribe and share with friends.
Welcome to this magical life where we explore Druidry, mindfulness, and the magic of living. 2 00:00:26,469.999 --> 00:00:28,309.999 Hello, this is Penny Billington. 3 00:00:28,379.999 --> 00:00:31,329.999 um, and it's lovely to be back. 4 00:00:31,339.999 --> 00:00:45,59.999 It feels like a long time since I was in Philip's chair, uh, trying to contain myself to this short 20 minutes worth of inspiration and refreshment that we can share together. 5 00:00:45,659.998 --> 00:00:47,909.998 You can see lots of headlines in the paper. 6 00:00:47,909.998 --> 00:00:52,799.998 They say, oh, same old, same old and you know how difficult people are finding it. 7 00:00:52,809.998 --> 00:00:55,39.998 So just let me know. 8 00:00:55,839.997 --> 00:00:56,709.998 Sign in, please. 9 00:00:56,719.997 --> 00:01:01,899.997 Let me know how you're finding this January, because all the excitement of Christmas is gone. 10 00:01:02,159.998 --> 00:01:04,109.998 Imolke is not quite here. 11 00:01:05,484.998 --> 00:01:07,854.998 in Somerset, um, and the southwest. 12 00:01:07,864.998 --> 00:01:09,324.998 We've had huge storms. 13 00:01:09,704.998 --> 00:01:12,374.998 We've had a lot of rain. 14 00:01:12,644.998 --> 00:01:14,314.998 Then we've had extreme cold. 15 00:01:14,594.998 --> 00:01:16,774.998 It's been quite a time we've been going through. 16 00:01:16,974.998 --> 00:01:22,854.998 Somehow, life still all feels speedy all year round these days. 17 00:01:23,304.998 --> 00:01:32,609.998 Let's try and get a little antidote to that feeling and, and try and, imbue ourselves with a bit more peace and a bit more space. 18 00:01:32,999.998 --> 00:01:49,204.998 Um, but as I say, sometimes it can feel that we're trying to, in trying to keep our engagement with the world, trying to keep our energy levels up, we can feel that we're Pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps. 19 00:01:49,714.998 --> 00:01:51,634.998 Well, this is never really the case. 20 00:01:51,634.998 --> 00:01:54,354.998 It's just a question of how we can focus. 21 00:01:55,644.998 --> 00:02:12,364.997 Now, once upon a time I said to my daughter, how can I possibly, how, why is there never time for these millions of thoughts in my brain? And she very smartly replied, I think the answer is in the question, mother. 22 00:02:13,854.998 --> 00:02:15,84.998 None of that tonight. 23 00:02:15,304.998 --> 00:02:18,364.998 I'm not going to talk about a million different things. 24 00:02:18,634.998 --> 00:02:33,434.997 I've got one idea, one focus, because we cannot promote our peace and our sense of space and our sense of engagement by, by thinking more and more and more and being more and more speedy. 25 00:02:35,194.997 --> 00:02:39,994.998 So let's find a focus tonight and a handle for activating that focus. 26 00:02:40,439.998 --> 00:02:52,789.998 The New Year feeling that we want, that we can deeply relax into the year and take what we need from it, give what it needs back. 27 00:02:56,279.998 --> 00:03:04,369.998 I want, I'm a great believer in, um, going to poetry for, uh, or being inspired by poetry. 28 00:03:05,169.998 --> 00:03:08,59.998 Um, so there's something about the rhythm of it. 29 00:03:08,429.997 --> 00:03:13,979.998 There's something about repetition that's sort of incantatory and stirs something in my soul. 30 00:03:15,159.997 --> 00:03:22,269.998 And once upon a time I read a poem and the only line I can remember, and it was repeated, was this. 31 00:03:23,559.998 --> 00:03:24,919.998 My assignment. 32 00:03:25,954.998 --> 00:03:26,744.998 is you. 33 00:03:27,824.998 --> 00:03:37,224.998 And it's something about making a contract before I was born, and somehow I, I had been told, my assignment is you. 34 00:03:37,834.997 --> 00:03:40,244.997 And I found that really moving. 35 00:03:40,894.998 --> 00:03:57,959.998 Um, immediately, I thought of human to human connection, because in a way it sounds, uh, like, you know, finding a lover, the one person, you know, the true romantic ideal, the one person. 36 00:03:58,539.998 --> 00:04:03,79.997 Imagine if you were born and one person was your assignment, that would be quite scary actually. 37 00:04:03,369.997 --> 00:04:14,999.998 Um, but uh, then I read Mary Oliver who said, when I die, let me say I was the, I was the bride to life. 38 00:04:15,269.998 --> 00:04:18,109.998 You know, I love, I wedded life and I loved it. 39 00:04:18,599.998 --> 00:04:22,259.998 And I thought as a Druid, when I thought over this. 40 00:04:22,994.998 --> 00:04:26,124.998 line again, my assignment is you. 41 00:04:27,344.998 --> 00:04:34,744.998 I thought as a Druid, I make story and I make relationship with the world, with, with nature. 42 00:04:34,964.998 --> 00:04:38,554.998 And through that I see spirit in all things. 43 00:04:39,794.998 --> 00:04:49,594.997 So instead of thinking of, uh, love, lover like feelings, let's think of a feeling of connection just as profound. 44 00:04:50,34.997 --> 00:05:04,844.998 Let's think of our connection to the earth and imagine That you make this contract before you are born and you come onto this earth saying to the world, saying to nature 'cause we are part of nature. 45 00:05:04,844.998 --> 00:05:07,754.998 Of course it's not separate from us saying to the rest of nature. 46 00:05:08,24.998 --> 00:05:10,774.998 My assignment is you. 47 00:05:12,174.998 --> 00:05:26,4.998 Now if you do this, I, I can almost guarantee if you go out on your morning walk thinking my assignment is you, then you will notice something fresh and new and entrancing. 48 00:05:26,904.998 --> 00:05:29,914.998 I went out today, I just noticed the shape of a tree. 49 00:05:31,904.998 --> 00:05:33,984.998 I walked past it almost every day of my life. 50 00:05:34,174.998 --> 00:05:37,754.998 I'd never noticed the perfection of its shape before. 51 00:05:38,184.998 --> 00:05:42,274.997 It obviously had exactly the right space in which to grow and it was just beautiful. 52 00:05:43,84.997 --> 00:05:53,84.998 Um, so we can gain a lot by thinking Of making stories and relationships with the world by using this focus point. 53 00:05:53,424.998 --> 00:05:56,854.998 My assignment is you, the rest of the world. 54 00:05:59,334.998 --> 00:06:01,984.998 But let's get back to a dull January. 55 00:06:02,44.998 --> 00:06:08,924.997 One that's too snowy, too windy, too wet, too cold, too icy. 56 00:06:10,974.997 --> 00:06:12,14.997 Sometimes. 57 00:06:12,714.998 --> 00:06:17,674.998 It's difficult enough just going out for a walk, persuading ourselves that we need to. 58 00:06:17,674.998 --> 00:06:24,274.998 And that's why people with horses and dogs and so on have their immediate connection to the land through that animal. 59 00:06:24,514.997 --> 00:06:29,744.998 Because come hell or high water, they have to go out and look after it. 60 00:06:30,194.997 --> 00:06:58,334.898 Um, for those of us who don't, it might be a little, uh, seem a little off putting even to go So I thought, only the other day, Well, if my assignment is you, natural world, and I'm trying to make a relationship, doesn't that relationship go the other way round as well? If my, my assignment is you, guess what? Your assignment is you. 61 00:06:58,694.998 --> 00:06:59,484.998 is me. 62 00:06:59,485.098 --> 00:07:12,814.997 And I went out and I said to the whole sentient world around me, hello, I'm Penny, your assignment is me. 63 00:07:13,504.998 --> 00:07:40,859.997 And I imagined the whole, the sun people, the cloud people, the rain people, the tree people, the grass people, everyone, All the persons who are other than human supporting me, just me, at the same time, of course, that they support just you and just you and just you and just all of us. 64 00:07:41,479.997 --> 00:07:43,729.997 What a wonderful feeling that would be. 65 00:07:44,739.998 --> 00:08:04,29.998 I remember being, um, when you're a child, you think about things, you think, oh, if I dig a hole, when you're playing with the universe, first of all, what's eternity, what, what's the far reaches of the stars, put a box around them, then there are more stars, put another box around them, then that, you know, this is the sort of stuff you think when you're a child. 66 00:08:04,389.997 --> 00:08:12,629.997 But you also, often, children think, if I dig down, if I dig a deep enough hole, I could get through to Australia. 67 00:08:13,619.997 --> 00:08:21,949.998 Well, of course, as adults, we know that we can't, because there's that thing called gravity, there's that thing called the center of the earth, there are logistical problems as well. 68 00:08:22,309.998 --> 00:08:24,189.998 Um, but what there is. 69 00:08:25,659.998 --> 00:08:51,419.998 is the profound support that we get because the Earth's assignment is us and its job is to support us, to keep us anchored with gravity and to grow all the things we need and to give us green for green stuff for our rest and refreshment and minerals and all the things we need to look after us. 70 00:08:52,99.998 --> 00:08:53,879.998 Um, so. 71 00:08:56,409.998 --> 00:09:28,579.998 When we start making stories, I think a bit of entitlement is in order, providing we understand that that entitlement to feel that the world has us as its assignment only works because we have started the process off by taking That Responsibility for making the world our assignment. 72 00:09:29,39.998 --> 00:09:33,649.997 Okay, I'm getting mixed up with all the, all the thing here, but you, you get my point. 73 00:09:33,889.998 --> 00:09:37,439.998 It's just like having a relationship with another person. 74 00:09:37,889.997 --> 00:09:40,289.998 You can't make demands on a total stranger. 75 00:09:41,569.997 --> 00:09:44,869.998 You can make huge demands on your loved ones. 76 00:09:45,39.998 --> 00:09:52,979.997 If you've made relationship, you can ask, but it's not so much a question of asking for things all the time. 77 00:09:53,29.997 --> 00:09:54,609.998 We don't want things all the time. 78 00:09:55,319.998 --> 00:10:06,979.997 What it is, is a sense, a profound sense that we are supported, that we are loved, that we are nurtured, that we have a right to be here in this world. 79 00:10:07,349.998 --> 00:10:14,399.998 And, and then of course we can go into our responsibilities that make us worthy people to be in the world. 80 00:10:15,519.998 --> 00:10:17,409.998 So that's my thought today. 81 00:10:17,699.998 --> 00:10:25,19.998 And I thought it's something that we could take into a grove, into an inner meditation and just spent five minutes thinking about. 82 00:10:25,619.998 --> 00:10:26,149.998 So. 83 00:10:26,639.998 --> 00:10:28,59.998 Let's just see. 84 00:10:28,849.998 --> 00:10:39,759.998 We've got, right, so much more on the weather. 85 00:10:40,29.998 --> 00:10:58,999.997 Whatever the weather is doing outside for you now, I invite you, if you wish, to take three breaths with me and we will go to a place of inner peace, a grove of trees of your choosing, your sacred inner space. 86 00:10:59,339.997 --> 00:11:04,899.997 If you haven't ever made one before, it's as easy as closing your eyes. 87 00:11:06,69.998 --> 00:11:07,399.998 and imagining. 88 00:11:07,799.998 --> 00:11:17,249.997 The imaginal world is where our emotions get activated, where magic begins to happen that can cause changes in everyday life. 89 00:11:18,179.998 --> 00:11:20,109.997 So let's take a breath together. 90 00:11:21,219.998 --> 00:11:36,929.998 First of all, with the earth beneath us, whether it is soggy or frozen and icy and snowy, let's take a breath with our own earth and feel its strength supporting us. 91 00:11:38,559.998 --> 00:11:47,79.998 And let's take a breath with the sky above us, whether it's cloudy, whether it's full of stars. 92 00:11:47,844.998 --> 00:11:56,854.998 Whether the sun's shining in your part of the world, take a breath and feel sweet air filling your lungs. 93 00:12:00,524.998 --> 00:12:05,754.998 And then let us take a breath with the waters all around us. 94 00:12:07,504.997 --> 00:12:14,939.898 The sweet waters that nourish our lands and the salt waters that join our hearts. 95 00:12:15,179.998 --> 00:12:18,679.998 all our continents and make us as one. 96 00:12:21,399.998 --> 00:12:40,589.998 And on that third breath, if you wish, allow your eyelids just gently to droop and allow yourself to feel that you are safe and that you can go into an inner space That will be nurturing and supportive to you. 97 00:12:42,329.998 --> 00:12:45,799.998 And as you feel that, you don't have to see anything. 98 00:12:45,839.998 --> 00:12:47,329.998 This is about feeling. 99 00:12:48,839.998 --> 00:13:06,329.997 Feel you are in a wooded place, a circular grove, and that there is a beautiful evening sunset to the west of your grove. 100 00:13:09,169.998 --> 00:13:14,779.998 And a rising moon in the easterly quarter. 101 00:13:18,109.998 --> 00:13:21,879.998 And it's as if the world is hanging between the two. 102 00:13:22,899.998 --> 00:13:26,519.997 It's not night, it's not day. 103 00:13:27,269.998 --> 00:13:29,889.998 It's a magical liminal space. 104 00:13:32,209.997 --> 00:13:35,349.997 It's a magical liminal place. 105 00:13:37,839.998 --> 00:13:45,834.998 A place where you feel Welcome where you feel you have a right to be. 106 00:13:48,494.998 --> 00:14:04,454.997 And if you wish you can put your hand on your heart and open your arms to your inner space and just gently say or feel my assignment is you. 107 00:14:07,174.998 --> 00:14:23,454.998 This is the place where if you wish you may make story and relationship and stand or sit by a tree. 108 00:14:24,89.998 --> 00:14:29,559.998 Or put your hands on the earth, or stretch them up to the sky. 109 00:14:31,69.998 --> 00:14:49,39.997 Whatever you feel comfortable doing, as you slowly look round your grove, and feel your assignment is this space and your job tonight. 110 00:14:50,614.998 --> 00:15:32,139.998 is gently and relaxedly to notice it in all its beauty, to hear it with all its myriad sounds, the wind, the shaking of rain from a bough, the crunch of icy leaves, the chitter of a squirrel, The homecoming calling of the rooks and the other birds. 111 00:15:37,699.998 --> 00:15:52,329.998 This is your assignment to smell your grove, the ice in your nostrils, or the deep composty clean smell of the leaves rotting. 112 00:15:57,209.997 --> 00:16:00,39.997 The smell of the trunk of a tree, yet you hug it. 113 00:16:03,74.998 --> 00:16:07,564.998 Nothing to do but appreciate it. 114 00:16:09,924.998 --> 00:16:18,354.998 And as you do, a feeling of profound peace and space opens inside you. 115 00:16:30,434.998 --> 00:16:47,574.998 And that gift of peace and relaxation and space is our gift from our grove to us. 116 00:16:50,444.998 --> 00:16:56,444.998 It's a way of our grove saying back, My assignment is you. 117 00:16:59,459.998 --> 00:17:00,999.998 And this is my gift. 118 00:17:03,249.998 --> 00:17:33,969.998 Imagine the trees, their ambience gently informing you in your imaginal world with their longevity, with their service, with their peace, with their non judgment, non agenda, with their simply being. 119 00:17:38,439.998 --> 00:17:47,939.998 And maybe if their assignment is you and you ask the simple question. 120 00:17:48,949.998 --> 00:18:05,369.998 Well, what can I learn from you tonight? What would they say to you? Maybe, be at peace in the dark for five minutes each day. 121 00:18:11,239.998 --> 00:18:19,769.998 Maybe, smell, see, taste, feel and listen every day of your life. 122 00:18:29,399.998 --> 00:18:32,789.997 Maybe, you are enough. 123 00:18:33,249.997 --> 00:18:35,189.997 This is enough. 124 00:18:37,314.998 --> 00:18:43,264.998 You're not a human doing, you are a human being. 125 00:18:43,794.998 --> 00:18:48,534.998 Just be for five minutes. 126 00:18:54,844.998 --> 00:19:01,14.998 And you are still in the grove, in a perfectly relaxed state. 127 00:19:08,4.997 --> 00:19:15,714.997 And you take three breaths to breathe in this message, this beauty, this peace. 128 00:19:40,689.998 --> 00:19:58,929.998 And as you open your eyes in the grove, or look up at the sky if they were open before, you see that the sunset has nearly winked out in the furthest horizon, and the dark sky is studded with stars. 129 00:20:00,129.998 --> 00:20:08,219.998 But they're shining through the trees, through the twigs, through the boughs, like a million tiny candles. 130 00:20:09,639.998 --> 00:20:23,869.998 And although the moon is just waxing and isn't full yet, it's strong enough for its light to pour down on the grove so that you can see as much as you need to see. 131 00:20:27,699.998 --> 00:20:30,969.998 Your day grove has become your night grove. 132 00:20:35,129.998 --> 00:20:39,99.997 You can go there any time of day or night. 133 00:20:42,689.998 --> 00:20:57,729.997 It will always be waiting for you because you are its assignment and the opposite applies. 134 00:20:59,974.998 --> 00:21:03,974.998 As we all can all say to our grove, my assignments. 135 00:21:04,969.998 --> 00:21:05,699.998 is you. 136 00:21:07,139.998 --> 00:21:09,979.998 Come on, let's make a story together. 137 00:21:10,809.998 --> 00:21:16,369.998 Make, let's make our life peaceful and secure and wonderful. 138 00:21:16,739.997 --> 00:21:21,709.998 To go out refreshed into the world to do our best. 139 00:21:24,789.998 --> 00:21:30,489.998 And as you think, feel that, you feel the energy of the grove. 140 00:21:30,804.998 --> 00:21:58,724.998 Beginning to fade, the feelings, or the sights, or the smells, all beginning to dissipate now, just beginning, as you feel more attached to your body, more aware of it, the imaginal world is receding, But you're bringing all your blessing, all its blessings back with you. 141 00:22:00,104.998 --> 00:22:23,424.998 And as you send a last call of gratitude to your internal space, you find yourself seated in front of your computer with the need to breathe deeply and the need to stretch and the need to move around and rejoin this wonderful, glorious, miraculous world that we're all privileged to live in. 142 00:22:24,544.997 --> 00:22:25,894.998 So open your eyes now. 143 00:22:30,839.998 --> 00:22:46,999.997 Wherever you are, keep your internal grove, keep your covenant with it, and keep your wonder in the natural world, because that's what keeps us sane and grounded and safe and in our right place. 144 00:22:47,489.998 --> 00:22:49,109.997 Okay, thank you very much. 145 00:22:49,319.998 --> 00:22:49,939.998 Good night. 146 00:22:50,116.9140998 --> 00:22:52,926.9140998 That's all for this episode of This Magical Life. 147 00:22:53,456.9140998 --> 00:22:57,56.9140998 If you enjoyed it, don't forget to subscribe and share with friends.
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