Barefoot With Nature

A Messge From Manuka

Categories: My Story, Spiritual, With Nature

Tags: Healing, Manuka, Message, Nature, New Zealand, Walking

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Published on: March 9, 2013

Over the past few days I have received many downloads and insights, mostly on a personal level, answers to questions that I have. However I have also received a message from Manuka, a message that I am to share with you. This message may not be for everyone, but it is definitely for a few people that I know, it is also an incomplete message, there is more to come, but for now this is all I am guided to pass on.

It started with a dream

A few nights back I had a very vivid dream, a dream that I a woke with, one that sat in my memory and didn’t start to fade as many do.

I was in a forest, completely surrounded by trees, the trees were all the same species, a tree that I am familiar with here in New Zealand, there was no path and I wasn’t in a clearing, and I could see nothing beyond the trees that enclosed me. Above the sun was shining and the sky a clear blue, the light filtering its way down through the leaves, providing me with warmth and healing. All around me all I could hear was the whisper ‘Manuka’, ‘Manuka’, ‘Manuka’. Beyond the whisper was the sound of silence, the place from which all sound is born and to which all sound eventually returns.

Manuka

The Manuka tree, those which surrounded me in my dream, are the scab on the wound of the Earth. They are the first trees to grow in an area where the bush has been cleared, they grow in places that are barren to most other trees. Their small leaves allow the sun light to reach the ground, they take minimal water from the soil, the provide the perfect environment for the bush to regenerate to flourish under their protection. They provide healing for the land that has been ravaged, ravaged by natural forces, ravaged by man.

The Manuka tree is well known for its healing powers, for many it is known as The Tea Tree.

The Manuka Forest

On my ramblings I chanced upon an area that needed the healing power of Manuka, a Manuka forest, healing an area that had previously been cleared by logging. This area was in much need of healing, if had been badly abused by man, destroying it, rending it completely barren. Then the Manuka moved in and the healing started.

The Message (Part One)

As Manuka heals the Earth, in doing so part of it also dies, the balance must be maintained. The way it was told to me is that as Manuka heals it takes out, or draws out the ‘poison’, it takes on the energy of the wound it is healing. As it gives positive healing energy then it must take on the negative energy of the land it heals. (I don’t like the terms positive and negative, but this is as I was told). The balance must be maintained. Manuka has finely tuned its healing powers over many millennia and doesn’t allow the ‘poison’ or the negative energy it is healing to kill it, as it surely would. Manuka passes this ‘poison’ or negative energy into its bark where it mixes with its oils and is rendered neutral. The process kills the outer bark of Manuka and it sheds, falling to the ground to add to the compost of new growth, safe and neutral. If Manuka where not to shed it’s bark it would die as a direct result for the healing. Thus Manuka can heal efficiently for many years without itself coming to any harm.

There are many who NEED to learn the lesson of Manuka, there are many healers, light workers, way forgers, activators there are many who are falling ill, contracting diseases and ailments as a direct result of the enrgy work the healing work that they are doing. Manuka has the answer, Manuka has shown us how to heal with no harm to ourselves.

The Message (Part Two)

Well there isn’t a part two, just yet, but I do believe that there is more to this message, but what that is I wouldn’t like to say. I know of many people who do great work, healing the planet and the people of the planet who themselves have become ill or developed ailments. In fact it’s an uncanny coincidence, one that I hadn’t realised until I mentally went through the energy works that I know and of those who had developed an illness or ailment.

The Fog

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: Moving bounderies, My world, Nature, New Zealand, Night, The Fog

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Published on: February 28, 2013

My World, Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

I sit here with the windows open, feeling the cooling breeze of the evening getting damp around me. It’s so refreshing after the heat of the day, the cold embraces and hugs you, loves you. The setting sun withdrawing it’s warmth with on set of evening. Out to sea the fog starts to roll inland, looking as if the sky and sea have become one on the horizon, and that horizon slowly moves upon me until it engulfs the beach leaving all but the sound of the distance breaking of the wave on the sand. And then, even that is gone, the sound being absorbed into the approaching fog. Up the gully towards the house it creeps not in a menacing way but with the kindness of a mother tip toeing around their sleeping child, observing and protective, slowly wrapping its arms around the hills until they too surrender to her bosom. The light starts to fade and somewhere to my right, in the distance little sparkles of light appear in the fog, like little orange stars flickering into life in the descending darkness of night, signifying the turning on of the street lights on the hill but a few miles away. The temperature drops and through the window comes that dampness that you only feel when you move, part of you wanting to move around and dance with it and the other part wanting to sit still with it, so it slowly snuggles up to you. Out the window the fog has reached the bottom of the garden, the horizon is almost at me or I am almost at the horizon? I look right again for the orange stars on the hill, as some form of conformation that I’m not the only one on the planet, but they too have been blurred away to become one with that which I can not see. What I can see is the rolling of the fog up the drive, I take a moment to laugh as the encroaching fog reminds me of a cloud coming into land like a propeller bi-plane, but not making too good a job of it, and bouncing up and down along the runway. Now next door is gone! Is it still there? The edge of my world is almost at my door, for some reason I look up expecting a knock. That’s it I’m trapped this IS NOW my world, all that I can see, well up to the fog, that is my world. Well that’s what the fog would have you believe. I sit now, staring out at ‘sea’, or where the sea was, the sky and land have become one once more and that is as far as these worldly eye will see, but I know more, I know that out there is the sea, I can feel it’s presence, it’s power, I know what I know. The fading light slowly gives way to the growing darkness and as the gift of light passes for another day, the comfort of the dark, of the night in it’s own way removes the consciousness of the fog. For now my world is even smaller as the night blacks out the windows… but I know what I know, all I simply have to do is remember.

The Birthday Present

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual, With Nature

Tags: At sea, Beauty, Birthday Present, Nature, New Zealand, With Nature

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Published on: January 4, 2013

As the engine stopped, the silence surrounded us. The only sound being the gentle slap of the water on the side of the boat as the ocean rose and fell, as if slowly breathing life into the new day.

I have been up and awake for every sun rise so far this year but today was different, today was special, not least because it’s my birthday but also I got to see the sun rise from the ocean. As the first light of the day crept along the horizon we launched the boat. The tide was out and the beach deserted, the perfect wet sand glistened in the light of the quarter moon, the sky graced with a single cloud which hugged the trees on a distant part of the Island.

The engine rubbed its eyes and yawned into action, bubbling a stream of white water from behind the boat as we tussled with the waves to break free from the shore. One final surge as we breached the forming wave and the beach was behind us, the open ocean in front.

We made our way slowly out of the bay, there’s no need to rush, the sun rise never rushes. Besides it seemed wrong to disturb the tranquility with the busy roar of a rushing motor, a gentle ‘put-put’ was far more apt.

Turning the small boat towards the growing light that signals the dawn of a new day, we cut the engine. Silence. The gentle rise and fall. Around us the sea was black reflecting the subtleties of the light to us, almost oily in texture such was it so calm.

It wasn’t waiting for the sun to rise, we were part of the sun rise sat out there in the ocean. It seemed as if it were our sun rise as if the only reason the sun would break the horizon was so that we could watch it.

Slowly the solitary cloud, illuminated from behind, took on the colours of the rainbow, pastel in texture and subtle in hue. A reflection forming on the sea in front of us anticipating the light of the day. In the blink of an eye, it was there, above the horizon, it’s warmth licking our faces as a puppy dog would its owner when it wakes and realises that it’s not alone.

There is no greater beauty than nature nor greater show than nature, it’s part of all of us, with us where ever we go, ready to delight and amaze us whenever we choose. It’s in the perfect flower nestled in the cracks of the pavement, the song of the chattering birds, the sweet sent of the evening jasmine, the gentle brush of a warm summers breeze. It’s always there if we choose to look.

No Yule!

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: Cold, New Zealand, Out of Sycn, Winter, Yule

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Published on: January 1, 2013

Is the festive season over yet?

The Pohutukawa Christmas Flower

There was no Yule for me this year (Yule is my ‘Christmas’), Yule is celebrated at the winter solstice, which is in June in New Zealand! Bugger, I didn’t plan that very well. I do get almost twelve months of continual summer in return, so it’s not all bad.

Following the natural cycles of the Earth as I do there is something unusual, something powerful about going from summer to summer, of not having a winter, of not having that down time, having no time to lock yourself away, retreat to the warmth of the open fire.

The Winter

The winter months are a time that I use to recuperate, to reflect over the year. The winter months signify a time to wrap up warm and rest a little, a time to ponder over the year that has been and the one yet to come. It’s a kin to the night time of the year, a time to regenerate.

Conversely the summer is a time to grow and expand, to reach to new heights to experience new experiences. The summer is a time of high energy, I don’t know if it’s the longer days, the warmth of the sun as it bathes the Earth, the growth and vitality that surrounds us, whatever it is I find the summer months are high energy months. If we were solar powered then the summer time is the time that we charge up those batteries that we soak up as much energy as we can so that we can survive the on coming winter.

So what happens if winter never comes?

I guess you could say that there are those who never really experience winter and summer, those within the equatorial regions where one season drifts into another unnoticed expect for maybe a increase in rainfall. Although these people would also notice the changes that ring in a new season, a particular flower or insect say. They too would follow their seasons in their way, just as I do in my way.

Out of sync

Being in a similar country, climate wise, latitude wise, and season wise but six months out of sync is starting to feel a little odd, about now I should be wrapping up warm, moving closer to the open fire and reflecting as I stare into the flames. But I’m not, I’m approaching the middle of summer again. Please don’t get me wrong I’m most definitely not complaining, just observing.

The thought being, is there anywhere in nature where animals (humans included) just plain miss out a season, and if so what happens? Before any smarty panties say, I know that I’m not the first or the only one nor will I be the last one to travel to the other side of the world and miss out on a season. I also know that it’s not life threatening nor cataclysmic, but it is interesting, interesting to me anyway.

As I was saying

So back to the question, in case you forgot, what happens when winter doesn’t come?

That is a surprising difficult question to answer, partly because there have been so many energy shifts over the past few weeks and that I’m still mid summer, with another one to come; winter could almost be twelve months away.

The first thing that strikes me is that my energy levels have remained elevated, my body missing those natural stimulants is not cycling naturally into a winter like state. In fact it almost seems as though my energy levels are increasing, I have certainly noticed a massive increase in creative energy, hence the sudden increase in the number of posts I am making and I’m writing a book. There is also an increased sense of anticipation or expectation, but as I say we live in powerful times, and things are shifting, to attribute these sensations to a single phenomenon would be wrong. It’s more likely to be an accumulative affect.

The fundamental cycle

Spring follows winter, summer follows spring, autumn follows summer as it comes back round to winter, this is the most fundamental cycle on our planet, the seasons, the cycle that drives all others. What happens if we interrupt this cycle, what happens if we just plain miss out winter altogether?

The cynics would say nothing, nothing happens at all! Evidence shows that people can and do experience this phenomena without any adverse affects. But not all affects are instantly noticeable, some are not perceived by medical technology, some are so subtle that only an expended awareness of your own being can detect them. Changes that are so small that most would instantly dismiss them as being nothing at all. These are the changes that interest me because these are the changes that will partly make up the person that we will become.

Kiri Moko

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: Kiri Moko, Maori, Moko, New Zealand, Ngati Wai, Tattoo

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Published on: December 21, 2012

This tattoo is a Kiri Moko which means skin art or etching of the skin and is the name given to a Moko that is in a contemporary style. Although contemporary the symbolism, design and method of story telling is the same as that in a Moko

Each Hapu has its own style and influence and this Kiri Moko design is that of the Ngati Wai (People of the Ocean, hence the wave influence in the design), the Ngati Wai are a Hapu of the Ngapuhi, from the Northlands, New Zealand, as such I consider my Kiri Moko to be of a traditional design.

All Maori Moko have a heart centre from which the Moko originates, a centre from which the story is told. My Kiri Moko has the heart centre over my Heart Chaka, the area in red in the centre of the tattoo.

The Great Tree

The story tells of a great tree that grows from the heart centre reaching down into the Earth and stretching high into the heavens. A conduit along which energy flows from one to the other and back again. A representation that heaven is on earth and that earth is in heaven that they are one and the same. The story starts with the five principle elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. Which are inked in red, all five in unison, combined as one. The elements are bound by the four quarters so that one can not exist with out the others, they are weaved together as one, all five being the seed from which the great tree is growing. As the great tree continues to grow the leaves slowly unfurl representing continual new beginnings, showing that life is always expanding, each branch reaching out to new experiences and understand. The symmetric design represents the duality of this reality however they are both equal and opposite and in perfect balance, as one.

The Story

The story of this tattoo is one of coincidences or synchronicities, a story that I will impart with you now.

I had spent the week travelling around Northland with some friends, one of which on the last day asked if was would be getting a Maori tattoo, something that I had considered should the opportunity arrise. Anyway at the end of the week we parted ways, they headed sound to Te Awamutu and I north to The Bay of Island. On arriving in Piahia in The Bay of Islands, I noticed a small group on the beach with a slack line, I figured that being circus skills type people it would be fun to chat to and hang out with them for a while. But first I had to find accommodation, with it coming up to peak season in a busy town; no small task. After finding somewhere to sleep for the night and gathering information about cheap places to eat I headed off to the beach to find the slack line group.

Although I had been no more than about twenty minutes in sorting things out, by the time I got to the beach they were gone. So I headed to the recommended hostelry, a little down hearted. After about five minutes of being seated in wandered said group with others, further more they sat at the table next to me. It turned out that one of the group had just had a Maori design tattoo. Me being me, had to ask about it, so we sat and chatted about Maori tattoos, at the end of the conversation I was told the tattooist was just across the water in Russell at Bay of Island Ink. Thinking nothing more of the conversation we parted ways and I returned to my accommodation.

The following day was wet and miserable, but still lovely and warm! So I thought a lazy day around town was on the cards. Now Paihai is not a big place so around town didn’t last long! However I did end up by the ferry terminal over to Russell and there was the ferry, The Happy Ferry (yes that was the name of the boat), sitting waiting for passengers, the next thing is I’ve bought a return ticket and I’m sat on The Happy Ferry bobbing across the bay.

Russell is a historic town, a really wonderful place, but also very small, so I had done my second around town by mid afternoon! As I headed back to The Happy Ferry the last shop I pasted was Bay of Islands Ink, and sat in the shop drawing, on his own was the tattooist, Paul. The realisation that this was the place recommended to me the previous day dawned on me so I wandered in for a chat, nothing more, no expectation.

Paul and I chatted for about one and half hours and just before I left the phone rang. Excusing himself he answered the phone and after a short conversation with who ever on the other end turned to me and said “So do you want to come in tomorrow afternoon for a tattoo?” As I was leaving he had a cancellation for the next day! Before I know it I had agreed, paid a deposit, walked out and was sat on the ferry!

I was about to get a tattoo from someone whose work I had not seen (other than the two tattoos my new friend had), I had no idea what the design would be or even where it was going to go! I had left everything up to Paul, we had chatted, he knew my story, he had seen the work that Jojo has done. Yet I had total faith, unwavering faith, people back at the hostel couldn’t believe what I was telling them.

As they say the rest is history. So you now know the story of my Kiri Moko and the story of how it ended up with me.

A Message From Beyond

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: 21 December 2012, Cape Reinga, Meditation, New Zealand, sacred sight, The Ancestors

Comments: 2 Comments

Published on: December 20, 2012

Cape Reinga

The Maori believe that the spirits of the dead follow the Te Ara Wairua, the spirits pathway, which extends up the middle of both Islands ending at Cape Reinga. At Cape Reinga the spirits start their journey to Hawaiki, their spiritual homeland, the place from which all Maori arrive. They travel along the path where the Oceans meet, stopping once at the last Island (Three Kings Island) to briefly look back before returning home.

Twelve Twelve Twelve

It was on 12 December 2012 that I visited Cape Reinga, 12/12/12, and it is at Cape Reinga, on this date, that this story begins.

There are some places on the Earth that have a very special significance, places that are sort out my the peoples of the land, places that are spiritual homes, places of high energy, places that resonate in the hearts of those who visit.

The Meeting of Earth and Water

I had no preconceived idea about what to expect as I walked under the arch way from the car park above the light house at the Cape. I past the various information boards, outlining the Maori story of Cape Reigna and the about the highly unusual configuration of land and water that brings two oceans together in this rare and beautiful spot.

I followed the path as it snaked down the head land; rounding the first corner I was honoured with a spectacular view of the light house on the cliff top with the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea crashing together beyond. The two oceans colliding to produce a line a white wash, extending out to sea beyond the light house, a line that joins the Earth and the Water, a marker created from the waves as the opposing waters meet.

The Hill On The Headland

The light house is the area that most head for, the most furtherly point, it is the light house that is pictured on all the postcards, it is here that the tourists head and rightly so it is a most beautiful spot. However it was not the light house that I was drawn to.

As the path meanders its way from the car park to the light house it rounds a small hill a little inland and above the light house and cliffs. It is the hill on the head land that I was drawn to, it is this hill that holds the energy of Cape Reinga.

I forewent a visit to the light house in favour of climbing this sacred spot, this was my Cape Reinga.

A Message From Beyond

I sat on this elevated spot, over looking the meeting of the oceans, watching the waters crash and mingle together, it was here that this story took on its significance.

Whilst siting quietly, absorbing the energies, I received a vision. A vision of the Ancestors of the land, those who had made the journey through their physical life and then travelled out to sea to their spiritual homeland. It was these Ancestors that I saw making the return journey. Leaving their spiritual homeland, and literally walking out of the sea to once again be amongst the living. The Ancestors are returning.

I was told that The Ancestors are preparing to join us, some have already made the journey and are with us now, these are paving the way the rest to follow. They are not joining us to frighten us or warn us, they are joining us to guide us to help on the next step of our journey. For I was told, that our journey is also their journey. As we prepare to take the next step in our own personal voyage we are to be aware that we are not alone in taking these steps that we are being guided and helped by those who have gone before, that the steps that we now take are not just our steps but the steps of all life, past, present and future, the steps of all life that has, does and will exist. When they talk about us not being alone it is because we are all one, we are everything transcending time and space, as such our journey is also their journey, and it is a journey that we are to make together.

Thoughts Become Things

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: New Zealand, Sculpture Garden, Synchronicities, Thoughts become things, wishes

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Published on: December 17, 2012

This story begins a couple of years ago, when a good friend of mine, Vicki, suggested that I subscribe to a daily e-mail service provided by www.tut.com, called the TUT Adventures Club (and it’s something that I would recommend you look at, it’s totally free). Anyway the ‘moto’ or mantra of TUT is that thoughts become things.

Thoughts Become Things

I have discussed this a great length with any number of people and have even talked about on here, and indeed thoughts do become things, it’s our thoughts amongst other things that form our reality and it is our reality that holds the things we think about.

Pardon the deviation from the story there… as I spoke about in my last post, “Island Life”, Waiheke holds a very special energy, a very spiritual energy, so I guess it was no surprise that within my first 24 hours on the Island I was told to be careful of what I wished for because I may just get! Pardon the rye smile but at the time the thought passed through my head of “…and?” I knew to be careful of what I wished for as I knew that my thoughts could and do become things.

Drinking in Island Life

With the warning heeded, I continued to drink in the Island Life. Wishing that I could bath in the Island Life forever and ever! It would seem that I hadn’t heeded that early warning, that I wasn’t being careful enough with my wishes. As I continued my voyage of discovery I encountered more and more people all telling me that I should be careful what I wish for.

I hadn’t discussed my wants, desires and wishes with any of these people, yet I was being continually reminded of my early teachings.

Oops

Okay it’s time to put my hand up and make an admission!

Despite the continual reminders, which in themselves should have been enough of a flag to me, and something which I missed completely, I continued with my semi-subconscious thoughts about wanting to stay on the Island longer.

Even those subconscious thoughts can and do become things, you really have to watch those thoughts!

Right before I go any further I want to put on the record that I am in New Zealand on a 6 month visitors visa as such I can not work for reward. I can however work for board and lodging this is quite legal and above board. So when I say I have been working for John I mean that I have been working for my board and lodging… right with that out of the way!

As I was Saying

Back to the story! I was working with John, I don’t remember what we were doing but out of the blue John offered to sponsor me if I wished to stay in New Zealand! A full time position helping sculpture Ancient Kauri… WOW what an opportunity.

To be honest I was completely blown away by the offer, so totally unexpected. We discussed the opportunity and I went off and did some research. To cut a long story short the requirements and costs would be greater them either of us are at this time prepared to accept.

As the offer came from so far out in left field, so to say, it vanished back there soon after it became unrealistic, not being spoken about or thought about again, funny how things do that, pop into your life and vanish without a trace. It was however this offer that reminded me what everyone had been warning me about, be careful what you wish for because you might just get it! Thoughts can and do become things!

On The Thrones

Warning heeded and this time it was heeded! The story doesn’t end there and it has yet to end, as do all stories. It was some 10 days or so after John’s out of the blue offer that I by chanced across a friend of John’s, a friend that it had been suggested that I meet.

Rosie was sat in one of the Thrones in the Sculpture Garden, being the only person around I went up and introduced myself, once I realised that the person in front of me was the person that I was told to seek out, the conversation flowed.

Interestingly enough the conversation didn’t follow the lines that I had expected, I was told to seek out Rosie to find out about Circus Skills Workshops, and although we spoke about workshops the main theme of the conversation was immigration! Unexpected and interesting. It turns out that if I do wish to remain in New Zealand I can extend my visitors visa.

Sorry

So it would seem that my wishes would be granted, should I wish to follow the synchronicities that would lead me to extending my stay. I must apologise to my family and friends as this isn’t a conversation that I have had outside of Little Oneroa, and as such could be a shock, not unexpected but a shock all the same. So sorry for bringing it up like this, but it felt right to share this story with everyone at the same time.

The End…?

As I say the story hasn’t yet come to an end, I haven’t filled out the forms or gathered the required information, and I guess the end of the story won’t be until the first week in March when my visitors visa runs out.

All that said it was what I was wishing for even if I wasn’t complete conscious of it at the time, and the sychronicities are indeed so strong that it would be wise this time to take heed and take action.

Island Life

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: Inner truths, Island Life, New Zealand, Waiheke

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Published on: December 8, 2012

When I got the invite, the e-mail read something like this; “Waiheke awaits you, be prepared to never leave!”

This made me smile, I even had a little laugh to myself, not sure why; maybe I sub-consciously I knew that to was so true.

The Black Hole

Some places in the world are like black holes, places that suck you in, make you feel as if you could never want to leave. Waiheke is just such a place, not just for me but for others too. It’s a regular line of conversation about how the Island quietly weaves it’s tentacles into your soul keeping you tethered to it, always bringing you back.

As I write this it has just dawned on me that, this isn’t the case for everyone, there are others who pass beyond the soul of the Island, those who come and go but don’t drink in the Island, those are the ones who escape.

The Magnetic Attraction

Those who drink in deep the Island, seem to have a common trait, well those who I have spoken to, they are all seeking their own personal inner truths, they seem to be on a more spiritual path. The Island is not the black hole it appears, it does not suck in indiscriminately it attracts selectively, it’s a huge magnet.

There are no massive expanses of bush or wilderness, no impressive waterfalls, no thermal activity, in fact there are no real natural wonder to experience. Please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying, the Island is stunningly beautiful, but it doesn’t have the same spectacular scenery that I’ve seen else where. So why the attraction?

Island Life

Island Life; the people, the way life is experienced, the interactions of humans with humans and humans with nature; it’s the Island Life that penetrates your very being, it’s Island Life that keeps drawing you in.

Here the spirit of the land and the spirit of the people are one. To those that are not as receptive, to those who fail to embrace Island Life, they may see it as just a tourist attraction full of artists, galleries and vine yards a large bohemian oasis separated from Auckland by the sea, a place to tick off the list of have seen… until my arrival I too thought this way

As soon as I took off my pack I embraced the Island Life, as is my way, the people are as just as important as the land, to experience a land and not the people is not the full experience. And so I became part of the Island, Island Life had ensnared me

Waiheke

Will I ever leave Waiheke? When I go I’ll be taking part of the Island with me, and leaving part of me behind. Next week I head off to Cape Reianga in the far north, so yes I will be leaving Waiheke. Will I be leaving Island Life? Not a chance, for those who drink deeply from the cup of Island Life are forever changed.

Will I be back? Well, all my destinations will accept the one that’s me.

In Between

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: Emotional Release, In Between Days, Letting go, New Zealand, Waiheke

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Published on: December 7, 2012

It’s a funny old day here in Waiheke! It’s very much a day of in betweens.

I’ve sat pondering my next move, watching the rain run down the window pains of ‘The Batch’ (the cottage), I’m so glad that I’m not camping at the minute!

In Between

One minute the rain is pouring the next the sun is shining, then before you know it the rain is once more upon you, very much a day of in betweens. Neither one nor the other, people say that if the Pohutukawa flowers before Christmas then it’s going to be a long hot, dry summer, and the Pohutukawa has been in flower for several weeks. May be this is the final throws of the spring rains before the searing heat of the summer, what ever it is it’s a day of in betweens.

Pondering

Watching the rain, my ponderings moved from what to do next week, to what to do or where to be for the Solstice (21-12-12) as well as where to spend Christmas… and back again, what to do over the next three or four weeks.

Just for the record, I’m not the sort of person that needs my every move planned out, actually I’m quite the opposite, so planning ahead is somewhat of a rarity for me. All that said I’m heading off at the weekend, heading North to Cape Reianga, for how long I don’t know… see no plans!

Life In The Batch

My time at ‘The Batch’, on Waiheke, has been spent with John, Anna, George and Nick as well as others. We’ve spent most of the time preparing John’s Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden to open to the public as well as renovating ‘The Batch’. We’ve all had jobs to do based on our individual skills, I’ve now finished all the jobs set a side for me and can spend some time doing my own thing so to speak. So I’m sort of in between places, in between jobs.

Although I’ve been busy helping get things ready for the ‘Grand’ Gallery opening I’ve had plenty of time to do my own thing, but today it all seems a little different. There is an element of security to being set tasks and knowing that you have things to do, jobs to finish, once completed however with no set tasks you all of a sudden get a little lost, or disorientated, that is how today feels, not in an unpleasant way just in an in between day sort of way.

Missing Yule

Talking of Christmas, to most people, Christmas, my friends and family included (or Yule in some cases) is a big thing, a time when you gather with family, be it blood relatives or family in the wider sense. Not really celebrating Christmas myself and with Yule being six months away in the Southern Hemisphere (yes I miss out on a Yule this year), for me it doesn’t hold the same appeal. All that said, many of the people that I have met on my travels have been concerned that I shouldn’t spent Christmas alone, it touches me that they think of me such that they wish to celebrate with me, and it is this pondering that lead me to thoughts of my travels over the coming three or four weeks.

Like most people I enjoy the security of having somewhere to stay, a bed to sleep in, a roof over my head, but when the time approaches to move on I do get excited. It’s the not knowing, not knowing really where I’m going, not knowing who I’m going to meet, it’s the element of surprise, just like opening your Christmas (or Yule) presents as a child.

In Between Days

In between days are good days, days to reflect on what you’ve been up to, days to look at what you’ve achieved. They are also days to look a head, days to get excited about the what the future has in store even if you don’t know what that future is.

It’s been a funny old day in Waiheke.

Homeless

by Chris

Categories: My Story, Spiritual

Tags: De-Cluttering, Emotional Release, Homeless, Letting go, material, possessions

Comments: No Comments

Published on: September 4, 2012

I’m sat here wondering what I can write about… and came to the conclusion that the most prominent thing going on in my life at the moment is probably the best thing to talk about, and that is, I am without an abode, some would say that I’m homeless.

Without An Abode

Personally, I would not say that I’m homeless, it is true that I don’t have a permanent roof over my head, I don’t have an ‘address’ of my own, so I am without an abode, but homeless; I am not.

Homeless seems like such a strong word or phrase, and it comes with a stigma or expectation that has to some degree been socially created.

My current situation is totally of my own doing, it is something that I have purposefully manufactured. As you may or may not know, I am shortly jetting off to New Zealand for a while! So giving up my abode does have some logically reasoning, the less money I spend on rent the more money I have for travelling. But there is also a deeper reason other than the purely financial. This deeper reason is a little more difficult to explain, and many think that I have totally lost the plot here.

Extreme De-Cluttering

Okay I’ll try and explain this deeper reason, I don’t expect anyone to understand this, as I don’t fully understand it myself, BUT what I do understand is that this is something that I have to do and that it is the right thing to do, and I hope that you understand that at the very least.

A few months ago I spoke about Extreme De-Cluttering, well I have done it now! EVERYTHING that I owned (well almost everything) and this includes my flat (which I know I didn’t technically own), I have either sold or given away. And I do mean everything, to give you some idea all I have left are 5 boxes of books, photos, etc, 1 suitcase full of woolen blankets, jumpers and my Great Coat, my wood working tools and 1 backpack that I will be travelling with, that is all I own in the world and really even this is too much!

I have come to realise that the material objects that surround us, that we call possessions are not possessions, we may be transient guardians of these ‘things’, but ultimately we don’t own them, we never have owned them and never will. Sometimes we look after these ‘things’ or possessions for the whole of our physical lives, sometimes we look after them for just a few minutes or seconds, regardless of how long we have these material objects with us they are also only ever on loan.

Once you understand this and accept that this really is the way that it is, then it makes perfect sense to de-clutter, why surround yourself with things that you’re never going to use, or things that were once useful but haven’t been touched in years, stored ‘just in case’; just in case very rarely happens.

The same goes for ‘keep sakes’, certain objects have associated with them emotions, experiences or memories, but they are not these emotions, experiences or memories all they are are reminds then trigger these responses. These emotions, experiences or memories are with us always, whether we have this object with us or not.

Homeless

Back onto the subject of homelessness, and the deeper reason behind why I made myself homeless; after the small detour around de-cluttering.

Being homeless is just part of the extreme de-cluttering; and part of de-cluttering is letting go. Letting go on an emotional level as well as letting go on an even deeper level than that. Once we can truly let go of the past (and this is part of what de-cluttering is all about) then we find ourselves in the position to embrace fully everything that the future brings to us.

But making myself homeless is even more than that, and even deeper than that. Initially I would say that I was guided to give up the flat and all the material objects that I had accumulated over the past who knows how many years. Again this is something that many have and still do struggle to understand, what is guided, by who or what and why? So many questions, it is normal to want to understand but it’s not a requirement, it’s not even necessary! Just because you don’t understand gravity does mean that it’ll stop working!

The exact reasons still aren’t clear to me at this point, and that really is okay, as I move through time I pick up pieces of the jigsaw here and there and slowly things are starting to come together and the picture is getting clearer. This is more than enough for me at this point in space and time.

Guided by who or what? Guided by myself, my Higher Self, guided by those gut feelings, those sudden unexplained ideas, those ‘light-bulb’ moments, guided by my own ‘sixth sense’, guided by my Heart. Ultimately guided by myself!

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