It is summer solstice 2018 and this morning such amazing beauty greeted me as my dog Luna and I turned the corner onto the beach close to where I live.

I send this beauty to you on this special day.

My health challenges continue, but my daily practice of staying present to all that unfolds keeps me as steady as is possible in the midst of it all. I also feel blessed to have just completed a 5 day retreat with a wonderful mindfulness teacher called Bob Stahl, whose teachings filled my heart with hope and inspiration. The reminder again and again to grasp nothing, resist nothing, but allow and let be….

You can find out more about Bob’s wonderful work at www.mindfulnessprogrammes.com.

May the light of this wonderful time of year shine bright within you and around you! And as John O’Donohue says in his beautiful blessing For Presence, ‘may you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder…..’

Fionnuala

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It is a long time since I have put any news or updates on my website or social media feeds. Being honest, life has been very challenging for me in recent times and I haven’t felt there has been any exciting or positive news to share. No musical adventures, mindfulness courses or other exciting projects to announce to the world. The truth of my life over the last few years is that I have been in the vice-grip of chronic illness – that has, quite literally, stopped me in my tracks. A condition called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – which does exactly what the name suggests and leaves sufferers dealing with the myriad symptoms and challenges associated with severe and constant exhaustion. Dealing with this condition has been the grim reality of my life for three years now – a full time job and a harsh yet skilled teacher. My harp sits across the room, silent most of the time, yet still there, waiting for me to return. My singing voice has become much quieter too – deeply affected by lack of physical energy. My capacity to do anything ‘out in the world’ has diminished dramatically and in frightening ways – as anyone who has had CFS (or known someone who has had it) will recognise all too well. Why would I want to share any of this with the world – this deep challenge and suffering? And why do I wish to share it now? Until this week I felt unable to do so – for so many complex reasons. But in the last few days Mother Nature (my salvation!) has given me such repeated experiences of simple, heart-opening beauty, that something in me has opened up to the possibility of being REAL in the way I communicate through these modern mediums of website and social media, rather than only putting out the ‘exciting’ and ‘beautiful’ and ‘successful’ persona that our modern world so often seems to demand! If I have learned anything in this experience of illness it is about the importance of seeking wholeness and exploring the perfection of imperfection. And so here I am – sharing some of the messiness and realness of my life with you rather than waiting for more ‘exciting’ news to share. Perhaps this IS exciting news- to be real, to be fully present to my life as it is, not as I would wish it to be, to have the opportunity to keep learning and growing and sharing even when the going gets tough. ‘As long as you are breathing there is more right with you than wrong with you, no matter how ill or how hopeless you may feel’ – these words of Jon-Kabat Zinn have been my mantra in the darkness of recent times. So, back to Mother Nature, who, in her miraculous, every changing, seasonal way, has gifted me snowdrops and skylarks this week. The snowdrops are in full bloom over the last few weeks in the part of the world I live in – their cheery little white heads bobbing bravely in cold February winds, heralding the imminent arrival of Spring and giving me the courage to keep going – to keep putting one foot in front of the other and not lose hope that things DO change and healing IS possible. This week too the skylarks burst forth in song, after many months of silence over the dark winter. They soar above me as I walk the beach close to where I live – stretching my tired heart open, to renewed hope, to new life, to new possibilities.

The energy I have these days goes into healing and recovery and I learn so much – about what it really means to be fully human, to be mindful, to embrace my own fragility and learn to really walk the path of self compassion. My mindfulness practice sustains me and I do my best to turn towards the light every day – to orient towards what is nourishing and good and believe that healing is possible. The words of Julian of Norwich are posted in every room of my home – to help me stay close to what matters and not fall into despair. Skylarks and snowdrops give me this same precious reminder.

‘All shall be well and all shall be well. All manner of things shall be well. For there is a force of love flowing through the universe That holds us fast and will not let us go.’ St. Julian of Norwich

The experience of chronic illness teaches me so much and I hope that sooner rather than later my energy will return enough that I can share some of these learnings with the world in mindful and musical ways! Until then, sending you all my love and good wishes

Fionnuala 

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As the light faded today on the shortest day of the year, myself and my little dog Luna took a few moments to pause and appreciate the view from Howth Head – and took a picture to share some of those moments with you! Winter Solstice holds special significance for me – perhaps because of the ancient celtic rituals that are associated with this special day – the day when the sun begins the journey once again towards the glorious long days of mid summer. A time to pause and reflect on the year that is drawing to a close – with all its gifts and challenges – and a time to sew seeds for how I would like to step into the new year approaching. It always strikes me as being a strange time of the year, when nature slows down and darkness draws in, while the speed and activity of Christmas pull many of us in the opposite direction! It can be a time of such opposites – a time of joy and laughter and abundance and togetherness and a time of sadness, loneliness, loss. As I walk ever deeper into my own life and follow my deep commitment to live with awareness and heartfulness, I come to know how both aspects of my humanness – the knowing and living of light and the knowing and living of darkness – are inevitable and essential parts of the journey. It is how we work with what is presented to us that is important and our ability to navigate both essential terrains of our experience – light AND dark – is where the jewels lie…..when we are courageous enough to look for them!

As we move towards the end of 2016 and the beginning of another year I would like to share my version of the song Suantraí ár Slanaithéora (The Christ Child’s Lullaby) with you. May it gentle you through the days to come and guide your steps into a New Year filled with kindness, gratitude and generosity – towards yourself and towards others.

If you are interested in taking part in any of my workshops or musical events in 2017 please do get in touch – dates of scheduled events from January to March 2017 will be posted over the coming weeks. First up will be an eight week mindfulness course starting in Dublin on January 10th – details on my Facebook page.

Blessings from my heart to yours at this Solstice time!

Fionnuala

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Each year at this time I am aware of the challenges many find in this transition from light to darkness – longer nights, shorter days until December 21^st, when the light begins to return again. But there can also be so many blessings at this time of year – the amazing display of colour in the natural world, the crisp freshness in the air and the opportunity both to reflect on the gifts of past seasons and sew seeds for the seasons ahead.

I have just had the great privilege of attending a week long training retreat in Ireland with Florence Meleo-Meyer, Saki Santorelli and Judson Brewer from the renowned Centre for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare & Society and in this week of mindfulness practice I had much opportunity to reflect on the gifts of this past year and the seeds I wish to sew in my heart for the year ahead.

In the ancient Celtic tradition is was believed that the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest at this time of the year and so it seems to make sense to use the opportunity to pause in some ways – to give thanks for what has been, release what we no longer need and sew seeds for what is to come. For me, having spent a rich week with such an exemplary and inspiring team of mindfulness teachers in a beautiful group of fellow mindfulness practitioners from 21 different countries, I am once again reminded of the power and gift of cultivating awareness and presence in every aspect of my life. Cultivating inner light as the outer light fades and sewing seeds in the fertile ground of the heart. The beautiful words of Rumi have returned again and again to me in recent times:

‘Close your eyes.
Fall in love.
Stay there.’

What a powerful, yet challenging invitation this is in our modern world, where so much of our focus is pulled outward! Yet it is in the balance on of inner and outer, of light and darkness that true flourishing and well–being are found.

And so, at this time of Celtic New Year, in whatever part of the world you reside, and in whatever way you choose to do so, may you find time to cultivate a light within that shines bright through the months ahead. And may this light nurture seeds that grow silently in the earth of your being, blossoming into newness in the spring!

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Irish summer has particular qualities of its own, as anyone who lives here knows.

Unpredictable is probably the only word to describe it – just like life!

I have found myself catapulted into a time of great challenge and change over the past few months and have been particularly grateful for the support that nature has offered me through this time. As I have moved with as much grace and courage as I can through a time of deep grief and loss, the trees have moved from bare branches to full leaf bloom, showering me with green blessings every time I walked in the forest close to where I have been living. Then there were the ferns – I watched them unfurl (which truly is a magical thing to see!) and they encouraged me to unfurl too, into kindness and trust, that even though times felt so tough, all was, and is, in a very fundamental way, well.
And then there has been that beautiful, soft, sometimes warm, sometimes rain-filled summer breeze that has offered me such comfort on the days when I could not find any comfort inside myself. Many times over the last couple of months the breeze has offered me quiet little miracles – rustling through the long grasses as I walk my dog and many times waking me up to this moment, this precious moment, where I am surrounded by the yellowest of yellow buttercups and the beauty of dancing grass. And in these moments all the unhelpful stuff that I can get so easily tangled in drops away, leaving just this body, this breath, this fragile yet strong human, doing her best to live with wakefulness and heartfulness in happy times and in hard times.
I have been reminded of the Buddha’s description of life as being the realm of the ten thousand joys and the ten thousand sorrows – life brings to us all our own share of suffering and stress, but happiness and joy are also available. I see in the workshop of my own life the role that mindfulness can play in helping us surf these waves and stay awake in what Jon Kabat-Zinn calls ‘the full catastrophe’.

If the ground you tread right now is hard, I wish you softness and the eyes and heart to seek out those things or people that offer you nourishment and support.
And if your ground is soft and joyous I wish you the awareness to savour and appreciate it in every cell of your being!

In the words of the amazing 13th century Sufi poet Rumi:

‘The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the door sill
Where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep!’

I include a summer gift of the track Sí Gaoithe (Wind of the Other World) from my album Whispers of Love, which I hope you will enjoy, and details of my teaching schedule for the autumn will be posted next month.

Don’t go back to sleep!
Warm summer blessings,

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You can have a listen below. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas. I will have a little blog and song with you shortly

Hugs and happiness,

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I have just returned from a magical few days in An Daingean (Dingle) in Co. Kerry where I had the privilege of a few precious hours watching Fungi the dolphin – and such a sense of balance was personified by this beautiful creature as he explored his Dingle Bay kingdom. Sometimes he surfaced with gentle grace, sometimes he exploded out of the water with what seemed like explosive joy, then he might disappear for a while and surface somewhere else, every sighting gifting me with a sense of awe and wonder and gratitude for such a manifestation of natural majesty and grace.

Precious moments, that connected me deeply to the gift that is this life, in all its many shades of light and dark….the eyes to see, the heart to feel, the mind to appreciate, the time to step out from the noise and haste and just be.

The words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama came to mind as I appreciated such a lovely experience:

‘Today I am fortunate to have woken up.
I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it.’
His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Thank you Fungi for the reminder!!

With the launch of the new website I am delighted to say that there is a free download of a short guided meditation with harp music available below and if you would like to join my mailing list I will be periodically sending out new meditations and resources.

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You will also see news of the Barry’s Tea Good for Me challenge which I have provided two podcasts for.
And details of upcoming workshops and reconnection days will be posted over the coming weeks.

Warm wishes and blessings to you all as the light returns

The post Springtime is here! Thoughts and a Guided Meditation appeared first on Fionnuala Gill.

Barry’s are inviting you to take a moment for yourself every day for 7 Days with a refreshing cup of Barry’s Green Tea and a podcast created to introduce you to the practice of mindfulness.

The podcast has been specially created in collaboration with Fionnuala and is an introduction to the practice of mindfulness through a 10 minute guided breathing meditation practice, that allows you take a pause and become mindful of the present moment – benefiting mind and body.

Podcast #1 is already available and you can find out how to sign up on the Barry’s Tea website.

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I have watched the turning season with awe and gratitude this year, as somehow the rhythm of leaves turning and falling, leaving bare trees, has reminded me of the inner landscape of being a human being – those times in all our lives where seasons turn and old things fall away to make space for the new. And how can we learn to trust these rhythms? Perhaps by slowing down just a little, as nature does at this time of year. By exploring gentleness, as I am being asked to do in this season of my own life.

Taking stock.

Sitting by the fire!

Being grateful for our blessings and bringing gentle acknowledgement to our challenges.

In the midst of the busyness of the festive season I hope you can find some moments of stillness – some moments of time to connect with yourself and be gentle with whatever you find.

One of the blessings of 2015 for me was the discovery of the poetry of a wonderful Irish poet called Rachel Holstead.

I share her poem ‘Gift’ below and if you would like to find out more about her work you can visit her website.

With love and good wishes as 2015 comes to a close!

Fionnuala

Gift

‘Give yourself the gift of your attention.
Catch the whirlwind rush and gently, calmly, set it aside.
Sit still and watch its flurries echo inside you.
Stick with the stillness and find the calm in your breath.
And as the flurries dissipate, find the knot inside
Whose tight curling, tense clinging is at the centre of it all.
And sit and still sit and know that, in time,
The knot will unfurl, release, and there will be space again.
And space becomes your gift, encircles everything,
Slows the pace, lets the light in.
Rachel Holstead

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As I passed, the warm summer breeze sang through the leaves of the young oak trees growing in the field and so I headed home, picked up my little dog Luna and we headed off on an adventure down a back lane to see if we could find a way into this beautiful, wild, untouched field.

A few fences and nettles later we were in – and what a worthy adventure it was!

Teaming with mid-summer life, the field enveloped us and time seemed to melt away. Butterflies, breeze, dancing grasses, poppies, birds, spiders, ladybirds – we enjoyed them all. I thought of Mary Oliver’s beautiful poem The Summer Day (below) as I lay, idle and blessed in the long grass. Luna pottered about on her doggie adventures, every now and then returning to me, just to check I was still there.
Bliss.

Some precious ‘stepping-out-of-clock-time’ time, to celebrate the abundance of mid summer and the simple nourishment of time spent in nature.

I am glad to say that my website is getting an overhaul and we will be adding a lot more content over the coming months – so stay tuned…and find some long summer grass to lie idle in if you can!

Midsummer blessings
Fionnuala

‘Who made the world?
Who made the swan and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
The one who has flung herself out of the grass,
The one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
Who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
Who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearm and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
Into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
How to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
Which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else would I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?’

— Mary Oliver from House of Light

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