Author: johblogs

2021 Festive Season

Happy birthday David Bowie.

I had the best Christmas day. My daughter and son-in-law hosted a beautiful lunch and our family enjoyed being together with food in the garden. I was enthralled by my grandson and was in bliss watching how he navigates his backyard and extended family. It was the best day ever. On Boxing day I visited my son’s new place and enjoyed a stay with him and my son-in-law showing me around their new neighbourhood and home and enjoying more delicious food.

I’ve spent a little time working on my new place, which still hasn’t settled, so I haven’t done anything major yet. It’s been good to be in the space and I’ve changed my plans a few times due to noticing more.

I’ve been listening to a lot of astrologers and have found out there are many systems, which has set me back a little as I try to work out which is most relevant for me. I have relistened to the Mystic Medusa rant on Saturn in Aquarius “Imagine if we had basically highly qualified public servants whose role it is to enact the will of the people.” That was in reference to technology that could allow the people to vote on each issue. Saturn in Aquarius sounds promising and then it will be followed by Pluto in Aquarius.

I watched a 6 season series on ABC Iview called Stella, a BBC production. It’s a lighthearted comedy about a community and there were so many beautiful scenes in it.

I listened to an old lecture from Margaret Atwood from 1994. I have no idea how I came across it, to be honest, but still gold. She has a brilliant sense of humour.

I’ve consumed a heap of other media as well. In between sitting outside watching bees buzz around on my unmown lawn and catching up for coffees and chats with friends. I’ve continued my daily practise learning Portuguese on Duolingo.

I’ve made some progress on the book about The VRI experience and completed my first interview this week with a past staff member. There is still so much to do. Time is strange because I often felt like things weren’t happening fast enough and I wasn’t doing enough. Looking back though, a lot happened, more than I realised.

I’m very grateful for my own experience of 2020. As far as the new year goes I am looking forward to Chinese New Year on Friday 12th February. The year of the Ox sounds better than the year of the Rat.

Guard your joy at this time.

Blown away

I woke early this morning. It was windy and noisy as well as warm. I stepped outside and looked up at the stars – it was a clear sky. I read this from Brain Pickings and the poem by Joseph Pintauro, about the wind, seemed made for the moment. It’s a beautiful post.

I was asleep by 8:30pm last night after an eventful day that included a short burst of chasing my grandson around on my knees. I am out of shape for crawling, but it was so much fun that I kept doing it, rewarded with giggles and cuddles from him.

I did a jewellery making workshop at The Bee and the Spider yesterday ran by Sarah Munnings Jewellery and I made myself a ring (pic) and some earrings. It was really fun to smash on the metal and we smiled about channelling blacksmiths as we soldered and put the heated metal in the water to cool it with a hiss. My friend Jane Darling made some stunning pieces as well, that I forgot to photograph because I rushed off at to visit my daughter.

When I searched for the link to Matilda’s business I came across this fable – so clever!

This week I let go of the Gippsland Woman project and handed it over to a team of good women who have stepped up to be responsible for the resource. My involvement has been a series of great learning experience for me. I don’t feel that it is any way nearly complete, it’s just started and I look forward to the improvements the team will bring.

Other

I’m reading Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser. I listened to the podcast with Brene Brown. This TED talk again expressed the thing that troubles me. I know people are concerned about the respective issues we have with one another. The extreme divisiveness and righteousness. I can be the worst.

I shake my head when my social media feed reveals the political leanings of people I love as humans, but don’t agree with. It’s kept me off social media lately. I am not entirely avoiding it and still find myself expressing my standpoint with a like here and there. It’s a swamp for alienating people really, which is pretty unhelpful to the things that matter to me like learning and connection.

I’m glad I did that Theory of Enchantment course earlier this year. I am still practising and learning and have the three principles on my notice board to remind me each day.