Summer Newsletter 2022
Dear Friends
SUMMER CAME TO OUR SHORE
Trusting that this note finds you well as we move towards the ending of this year.
Certainly with the arrival of Summer on December 1st here in the Southern Hemisphere,
we are reminded that our year is almost over.
Here, Summer connects one year with the next as we flow from December through to March when again Autumn begins.
The ending of yet another year in our life can be a good vantage point to pause and ponder, reflect and consider what this year has been for us?
This might cause the arising of different emotions for different people, as there has been so much that has happened over the happening of this year of 2022.
The worth of the time spent in a year can be the degree of Insight, Understanding and Applied Wisdom that we gain from our experience.
If we are Mindful and Consciously Reflect, there is always something that we can learn from our experiences and time spent that can be helpful in moving forward.
For me it has been wonderful to return to more regular routines, with the weekly Meditation Group having started back in May, now on a Thursday Evening – 6.30pm to 7.30pm, and also our Sunday Meditation Retreat Days.
Sadly a number of people from our Pre COVID -19 Meditation Group on a Monday Night, have not re-connected with the Meditation Group – now on a Thursday Night! Maybe we will see some of them in the New Year?
This year, it was wonderful to have the Vassa Retreat, the 3 month (non-residential for us) retreat period, with the 4 monthly Sunday sessions at Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill. These sessions were well attended and participants appreciated the 3 month block of time to be more attentive to their Mindfulness and Meditation practice, supplemented with the various readings and web links that I sent out.
I hope we can make this an annual occasion at Ratanagiri, that follows the Buddhist monastic tradition of the yearly Vassa Retreat (however residential for monks and nuns).
This Sunday just passed we had the last of our Sunday Retreat Days for the year with the theme of ‘Mindful Reflections on Beginnings and Endings – and Being Beyond Both!’
This day was well attended with over 20 participants. We shared in Meditations – sitting and walking, as well as reflections on Impermanence and Change, expressed as beginnings and endings.
Thank you to all those that joined us for that day; I do hope to see you and others for our next Sunday Retreat Day in 2023.
I wish you all a pleasant and peaceful year end 2022, and a wonderful start to the New Year 2023.
Stay Mindful and enjoy the Summer. My verse below may point to this possibility.
Metta – Kind Regards
John B.
SUMMER COMES TO OUR SHORE
Summer comes but once a year;
To our mind and heart;
It brings much cheer!
Arriving to our southern shore;
From northern lands;
Just like before.
Summer’s arrival brings a smile;
It has been warming,
For a while.
Beginning the last month of the year;
Reminding that Christmas and year end,
Is near.
Flora and fauna enjoy Summer’s heat,
For some a shady tree and rock;
Makes a cool seat.
Frangipani’s come to bloom;
Perfume of Gardenias;
Fill the room.
Migrating birds from far away;
Come to our Southern Land;
For their Summers stay.
Summers rain is a refresh;
Nature from brown to green;
Our eyes she does impress.
Time to consider the year that has been;
Much been and done,
Sensed and seen!
Experiences we have come to know;
Life lessons learned;
With Mindful-Insights, we inwardly grow.
Some time to spend with family and friends,
We take a break,
When work finally ends.
Stay safe and free from harm;
Allowing others;
No need for alarm.
May we enjoy our Summer Days;
Maintaining mindfulness;
In all our ways!
THURSDAY NIGHT MEDITATION GROUP
The weekly drop-in Thursday Night Meditation Group (6.30pm – 7.30pm NSW time) will finish for the year on Thursday 22nd December.
The first session back for the New Year will be: Thursday 19th January 2023
PSYCHOLOGY SESSIONS WITH JOHN
Sessions of Psychology and Mindfulness based Training with John will break between Christmas and Mid – January.
For Bookings, please email: info@wellawareness.com.au or text: 0400 022 048
