Relaxation Meditation

Walking down a sandy track through sparse bushland you hear the dull roar of the surf become louder as you approach the sand dunes.

The bush thins out and the eucalyptus smell is replaced by the smell of ozone.

The path becomes sandier and as you climb a small rise you see the beach spread out in front of you. 

The sand dunes are vast and the sun beats down, but as you get closer to the damp shore the dunes open up to a sheltered spot with a grassy slope.

You sit down here with your back to the dune, your face in the shade and the rest of your body in the warmth of the sun.

Here in this protected spot you are safe: the roar of the surf is comforting, the smell of the ozone is invigorating, the sun warms your skin gently and the warmth moves into your bones.

Sit here in this warm, comforting spot listening to the crash of the waves, smelling the sharp, salty smell of the ocean and feeling the warming comfort of the sun.

Feel the softness of the sand under your feet and your buttocks, and the harsh roughness of the kikuyu grass on your hands.

What else can you hear?  The seagulls swooping for fish in the nearby lagoon? The squelch of the sand as a walker passes by in the dry sand?  A far off helicopter on shark patrol?

What else can you feel? The gentle breeze ruffling your hair? The warmth of the sun as it begins to burn your arms?  The damp of your clothes from the sand?

What else can you smell? The faint eucalyptus tang from the nearby bush?  The seaweed smell from the drying weed on the shore?

What can you taste? The salt carried from the nearby surf?

With your eyes closed you cannot see anything concrete, but what do you see in your imagination? A crowd of walkers at the water’s edge, all trying to escape the waves? A busy pair of dogs out on an adventure, chasing each other, sniffing the sand, following teasing seagulls, ignoring their owners’ commands?

Now it is time to return from this restful retreat, but remember that this is your own sanctuary, you are safe here and no one can enter this place without your permission.

5/10/12

Daily photo

Parallel Universes

Perhaps life is like an LP record or a CD with countless tracks on its surface. 

When you are born you are placed on a random track and left to make your own way in life. 

The tracks are so close together that it’s easy to slip from one to another without even noticing. 

Play the “IF ONLY” game and see how confused you become…. 

People we meet in our universe NOW may not be with us for very long; perhaps they have slipped in and out without us realising; perhaps we have slipped back and forth similarly.

Is this perhaps the true meaning of impermanence? ..that nothing remains the same because our perception of reality changes as we flit from universe to universe?

Perhaps the life-altering decisions I made in the past in MY universe were not made in the universe where I find myself now.

If so, is there now a whole different version of my life continuing on in an alternate place? 

Do alternate versions run simultaneously?

How to tap into the myriad possibilities of my life story? 

Do I believe that THIS is my real life simply because I am here thinking about it consciously now? 

If I slip seamlessly onto another track of the disk will I then believe that THAT is my real life?

16/10/12

Halloween

They came in droves, wave after wave of them in neat rows. The sky was black, the sun obscured and the stench was unbelievable.

We ran at full tilt trying to make it to the safety of the house before the bat shit landed on our heads.

Reaching the relative calm of the house, my first thought was of Hendra Virus, then reminded myself that a bat would have to bite me before the virus would be passed on.

My next thought was for the ripe mangoes which were now in danger. Our annual income was about to be decimated by this plague of fruit bats.

Checking the phone book I came across several Bat Busters and chose a local number.

“Help, “I shouted down the phone. “I need a team here immediately. We’re under attack from a plague of fruit bats. My entire mango crop is under siege. Please hurry.”

“OK, ma’m. We’re on our way. Just watch out for the Batmobile.”

The Batmobile arrived within 5 minutes and a team of overall-clad young men, my rescuers, proceeded to lock down the whole farm. Swathes of netting were laid over every tree and the smoke machines began to pump out their anti-bat mixture. The sky was black with fleeing bats and I felt my breathing begin to return to normal.

“Now ma’m. About our payment,” began the leader of the Bat Busters team. “How would you like to pay?”

“Well,” I began. “I have no cash on me but I can give you a cheque now. Would that be OK?”

He smiled slowly, and for the first time I noticed his large incisors and as he removed his mask I shuddered at the sight of his pale, waxy complexion.

“We usually ask for a small downpayment, but we do take cheques for the remainder……………….”

(Creative Writing 3.8.12 Exercise 2)

Dialogues

Overheard conversation

“Is this seat taken?”Eli asked of the blonde girl next to the window.

“No”, she replied.

Five minutes of silence ensued.

“Do you mind turning down the volume on your iPad?”he asked politely.

“Why? Is it bothering you? “Lily said as she dragged her attention away from the movie she was watching.

“Yes. It is. Bothering me, that is,” Eli said with a smile.

“OK, OK, I’ll turn it down. I left my earbuds at home this morning, rushing out the door after the alarm didn’t go off,” confided Lily smiling back.

“Thanks for that. I really do hate leaving home in a rush myself.”

Another ten minutes of silence elapsed with occasional sounds coming from Lily’s movie.

“Could you wake me if I’m asleep when we get near Gymea?”asked Eli.

“What? Oh, OK, I’ll try and remember, “replied Lily in a distracted tone.

The train sped on, stopping and starting at various stations.

“Wake up! Wake up! I think you missed your stop.”

“What! Where are we?”Eli snapped.

Internal monologue

“Why has this blonde bimbo spread herself out on two seats?”

“Oh bugger off, Dreadlocks Boy. I wanted this time for myself before I get to work.”

“Christ! I can’t stand another minute of that inane giggling in her movie!”

“Huh! Stop interrupting me while I watch my favourite movie ever, Legally Blonde, again!”

“Smile, smile, smile. She might listen if you’re sweet to her.”

“Oops, suppose I’d better be decent to him. It is a long trip after all and he is kinda cute.”

“Smile, smile. She’s doing you a favour.”

“Wonder if I should risk falling asleep and ask her to wake me? I’m so tired and it’s worth a try. Keep on smiling sweetly at her.”

“For God’s sake. Why can’t he just shut up and let me get on with my movie. Yeah! Yeah! OK…”

“Oh shit! Look at the time, look at the station we just passed through! Oh well, I only said I’d try and remember, didn’t I?

“Bloody hell! Why did I think I could ask this dimwit to look out for me? Now I’m really screwed, that big contract out the window. Thanks for nothing, bitch!”

(Creative Writing 20.7.12 Exercise 2 & 3)