five

Its summer down here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Its safe to say after a fabulous start back in November, it’s been decidedly average; but we finally seem to be having spurts of a few nice days at a time. The rain disappears, the sun comes out, the vegetables are finally ripening

I suffer a lot in the winter, from the shorter days; so I love when I can get out in the summer and lap up the natural Vitamin D. So on the days I have no reason to leave the house, I slather on the sunscreen (this is definitely one of the parts of the world, where we are aware of skin cancer) and I take my lunch and my book outside…

These last few months I have also been focussing on my meditation and mindfulness. Those practices that smooth my mind, still my brain and help me focus on the work in hand.

Counted breathing is a fall back for me when I need to short circuit the brainstorm, or when I need to fall asleep. One of life’s miracles, the “In-2-3; Hold-2-3; Out-2-3” is just a magic cure all.

And for me, the simplest of Mindfulness is the 5 Senses Practice

What do I see

What do I hear

What do I taste

What do I smell

What do I feel

So today, once I had eaten, finished the chapter and drunk my water I sat back and closed my eyes….

Today I saw the red, of the sun behind my closed eyes, but recalled the flowers, the herb garden and the ripening vegetables around me

Today I heard a distant motor bike, against the hum of traffic far away. Closer in the deafening cicadas of late summer were chirping and then the melodious sound of a Tui – that beautiful native bird who’s iridescent black/blue/deep green plumage with the distinctive white tuft at their throat – sang their beautiful song. They’ve only recently moved back into our neighbourhood, no doubt feasting on the flax flowers that are in full bloom

Today I tasted the freshness of newly picked heritage tomatoes on toast. Their red/black sweet plumpness, the taste of Summer for me.

Today I smelt the faint whiff from the roses near me, and If I really concentrated, there it is, the smell of the new book, I had just started, A Christmas pressie, an autobiography of a women I admire

And Today I felt the sun on me. warming me. I felt the tingle on my skin. The gentle breeze bushing my arms. I felt the dog brush past me, panting, because he needs to always be near me, even though the heat of the summer is too much for him. I felt the comfort of the chair beneath me…

And today I smiled and found Peace….

E noho e, kia raungāwari             

Sit down and bide your time