Twinkle, twinkle little star

In my last post, I discovered that my aura was violet ... quite appropriate as my journey through the chakras took me to my final destination -- the crown chakra.

Located at the top of the head and extending upward to the Heavens, it is the gateway to divine spirit. A true aspirant grounds such energy to include the work and focus of daily life. Wisdom emanates from those who walk in spirit with both feet firmly planted on the ground.

I walked outside into a warm, balmy evening. Looking up I see a million stars sparkling in the deep violet sky. The colour of the crown chakra.

A sense of bliss envelops me as I reach for the stars and feel myself being lifted towards them.

I am weightless and free as the goddess Nuit carries me safely over the earth and soaring through the heavens, and allow myself to fall into her loving embrace for a connection to her gift of bliss.

She is taking me to a greater world beyond -- that timeless, spaceless place of all-knowing.

I find myself in the presence of the Queen of Heaven -- the Star Queen. She says:

"I who am the beauty of the green earth and the white moon among the stars and the mysteries of the waters, I call upon your soul to arise and come unto me. For I am the soul of nature that gives life to the universe. From Me all things proceed and unto Me they must return. Let my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for my worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold -- all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals. Let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honour and humility, mirth and reverencewithin you. And you who seek to know me, know that your seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without. For behold, I have been with you from the beginning, and I am that which is attained at the end of desire."

The ancients regarded stars as living entities and connected each person with a 'soul star'.

The Star Queen offers me higher and more refined ways of understanding the laws that govern the mystery of life. No longer held by the liitations that previously laid claim to my soul, I am now able to forgive and heal the wounds of the past, as well as to releae my judgements and limited view of the world.

My future shines like a bright star.

I imagine myself fully radiant, a shining example of the light of the Queen of Heaven's highest manifestation. Something mysterious and magical has happened within me. Whether actualised as an outer experience or held as an inner one, I have been initiated and awakened.

I will now take time to absorb the beautiful image of archetypal consciousness that now fills my cup of life.

Blessed be!

Violets are blue

I've found a great site, which indulges my penchant for fun little quizzes

With all the work I've been doing on my chakras, I was curious to find out what colour my aura is ...

Your Aura is Violet

Idealistic and thoughtful, you have the mind and ideas to change the world. And you have the charisma of a great leader, even if you don't always use it! The purpose of your life: saying truths that other people dare not say Famous purples include: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony Careers for you to try: Political Activist, Inventor, Life Coach

What Color Is Your Aura?

This blew me away ... I made a decision last year that I wanted to become a life coach! Nice to know I'm on track.

What colour are you?

I'm a poet

Or so says this little quiz I found on-line ... check it out

You Should Be A Poet

You craft words well, in creative and unexpected ways. And you have a great talent for evoking beautiful imagery... Or describing the most intense heartbreak ever. You're already naturally a poet, even if you've never written a poem.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

Tell me, I'd love to know!

Eyes wide closed

"When each day is sacred
When each hour is sacred
When each instant is sacred
Earth and you
Space and you
Bearing and sacred through time
You'll reach the fields of light."

~ Guillevic

Guillevic is the poet of rural lanes lined with bushes, the poet of plain men taking home bread to wives, of cheap bureaus and sideboards, the poet of picnics, solitary walks, men in comforting cages of office and received wisdom, the poet of walls. He is the poet of quiet and distinctive magic.

The quote above called to me as I journeyed through the chakras to the third eye, the centre of illumination and insight.

Today my journey found me at a temple where I see a Priestess who is pure in spirit. She wears a ceremonial robe representing spiritual power beyond her personal identity.

The priestess tells me that initiation into this sanctuary requires that I engage with the watery depths of the dark waters of the unconscious, she tells me that out of the unconscious, the conscious world is born.

Meditiation brings me into union with the higher aspects of my being ~ in body, soul, and spirit.

I am led to the edge of a lake with still blue water reaching to the horizon. I see feathery clouds reflected on the surface, and smooth rocks resting on the bottom of the shallows.

Looking deeper into the lake's mirror-like surface, my eyes meet those of the goddess Isis. She is the embodiment of the feminine as a vessel for divine expression.

We talked about my 'gut instinct' and she instructs me that the third eye, the psychic eye, brings me a powerful skill to cultivate my trust in my own psychic wisdom. She tells me I must trust my intuition and perception, and to follow the path of my inner-teachings and open myself to the mysteries of the sanctuary within.

Pilgrimages to Isis' holy sanctuaries help me to reconnect with my spirutal self.

Isis tells me to look into the depths of the lake and to ask myself a question. She tells me to trust that the answer I see just beneath the surface is correct.

I listen with a cosmic ear and see the world with my eyes closed.

40 things about me

I was inspired to write this list after seeing it on Jane's blog. So here are 40 random things about me.

1. My favourite colour is green (bamboo)
2. I have had 10 broken toes at once
3. Ballet was once my passion
4. I used to be a news reader
5. I make a mean Balinese seafood curry
6. My treat to myself is a Kahuna massage
7. I've been mugged and had my handbag stolen with two weeks rent inside
8. I've lost two lovers to cancer
9. I shared the dog's biscuits with him when I was 2
10. I wear my heart on my sleeve
11. I sleep in my birthday suit
12. I love listening to the rain fall on the roof while I'm curled up in bed
13. I went sky diving in Christchurch
14. I trekked the Himilayas in Nepal
15. I hugged and petted a live tiger in Bangkok
16. I don't have kids, but apparently I had 4 in a past life
17. I fantasise about living in Paris
18. My favourite tv show is Sex & the City
19. I have incredibly bad taste in men
20. I've never married
21. At times I'm incredibly insecure
22. I have a thousand stories inside me
23. I travel a lot for work
24. I was clinically dead for 13 seconds coming out of anesthetic after an operation
25. My nose has been broken 4 times
26. I am studying to become a ChakraDance teacher
27. I have aspirations to become a life coach
28. When driving on long trips by myself I fantasise about being a spy, and run through novel plots in my head
29. My dog is incredibly spoilt and loved
30. I became a great aunt at the age of 33
31. I used to sing
32. I would love to have children
33. In my 20's I dated a man 30 years my senior
34. I have been exploring my spiritual path all my life
35. I circle with an incredible group of women
36. I'm touched by the incredible friendships I've made on the net
37. I want to travel to India and China
38. I am addicted to Harry Potter - the books and films
39. I'm a vodka, lime & soda gal - in a tall glass of course
40. I love that feeling of bliss as you start to drift off ....

Dancing in the sun

One of my favourite quotes is a traditional Sufi Blessing:

"May the longtime sun shine upon you, all love surround you and the pure light within you guide your way home -- guide your way home."

My journey takes me to the solar plexus chakra, as I dance into this beautiful life with respect and gratitude.

I am blessed with a boundless enthusiasm and the joy of creation.

Dancing into a field of sunflowers I meet the goddess Persephone. We twirl and dance till we fall to the ground laughing.

The yellow flowers form an awning over my head as I lie on my back and absorb the rays of the sun as they penetrate into the core of my deepest self. I am at peace and have earned the rapture of this golden essence.

I am woken from my dream by the Setting Sun Woman -- the keeper of tomorrow's dreams and goals. She teaches me about the will to live, survive, and thrive. She tells me to open the curtains of my soul to the daylight and drink the sparkling water the Sun has nourished.

I set new goals and dreams and look beyond the cliff's edge to the horizon.

I speak with authority and am not afraid of my power.

I walk in humility and service with a proud and giving nature and rise above the petty concerns of those around me.

I serve as a beacon of light and share my joy with the world.

Queen of bliss

Curtains of orange, amber and gold billow around me as I spin, dance and gyrate. The goddess Ishtar guides my hips and belly in a dance of wild abandon, super-charging my feminine grace and creativity.

I connect with the feminine devine -- my inner goddess -- through my sacral chakra.

Through the energy centres within my body that carry the life force of the universe, I am in communion with the Earth and stars. My thoughts, my actions, my creative vitality birth the return of the Babylonian goddess. She smiles and laughs because She is fundamentally free, and because She knows that I am too.

I encounter Her in my life when I am fully present and alive in the world of form, while fully immersed in my flaming wisdom bliss.

I dance wild and naked in the moonlight and moan in ecstacy.

Life is a holographic dance of translucent, rainbow-coloured pattern of energy that dips and swirls and interweaves.

I laugh at the sheer absurdity and wonder of it all, and let my heart break open to the agony and the ecstasy of it all.

When I awaken to my own blissful nature, I encounter Her everywhere. There is no place She is not. She is all. all is bliss.

Infinite truth

This week I'm working with the throat chakra and the goddess Athena. The throat chakra is related to communication, courage and creative connection.

As we grow wiser, we come again, through our sacred meanderings, to the center of truth.

Lately I've been experiencing what seems to be more than my fair share of moments when everything seems to be on top of me - but each time I conquer another difficulty, I feel on top of the world.

A friend tonight asked me why I continue to enter cycles of seemingly impossible tasks, only to surmount them then search out more. In reflection I answered the rush achievement brings provides me with an endorphin surge that is addictive - I am compelled to seek out bigger and better challenges to sustain my 'habit'.

Presenting a strong and courageous face to the world, I'm drawing on my strength rather than devoting time to explore my weaknesses. So it's time to unclutter my life of all the issues dragging me down - the lower I am dragged down the harder I have to fight to get back on top.

So I pick up Athena's sword and declare battle against the clutter in my life. There is as much satisfaction to be found in simplicity as there is in resolving complexity.

Athena teaches us to embrace the notion that from the ultimate perspective there are no victims and no perpetrators, to find the power of our higher will and activate it in all that we say and do.

I have the choice each day to embody the values of Athena or live outside the boundaries of balance and self-respect.

Author and international lecturer on spiritual, personal and political issues -- Marianne Williamson said:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world...As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

I am not afraid to take power. Power has strength. Power is courage. The most potent power in the world is the power of love.

No longer will I sit in silence. Rather I will practice diplomatic and graceful expression - to have the courae to say what needs to be said without the fear of consequence.

I am safe to speak my truth.

My inner-goddess is a multi-coloured rainbow

Ok, so I guess you all know I can't resist a cute quiz ... so when I came across a quiz that promised to tell me what colour my inner-goddess is, I said 'hit me'!

So it seems I am a Rainbow Goddess:

The RAINBOW Goddess represents all aspects of the color spectrum.Those who are Rainbowed have the deepest significance to people throughout all the phases of their life. They have more influence on those around them then one can possibly imagine. They often help others by strengthening, soothing and inspiring them.

© What's your Inner Goddess Color?? © Jen

Drop me a line and let me know.

Working with an open heart

Text from The Triple Goddess Tarot written and created by Isha Lerner and illustrated by Mara Friedman:
"Pictured is a beautiful woman embracing the womb seed of new love. She caresses it near Her heart. Her fiery garment emanates waves of vibrational life force that move upward out of the earth through Her body. This is the luminous energy of tantra, the art of spirit-filled love, taught by the masters in the Eastern schools of initiaion. It illuminates Her first and second chakras. the centers of creativity and procreation. Her sexual desires have merged with the all-knowing aspect of divine love. The upper region of Her body is blue, the color of truth. It is as if the vastness of the sky were united with Her body so that a tiny orb of the Moon can glow within Her. This inner Moon reflects the light of Her original truth, revealing the infinite source of love that is Her birthright, the eternal gift of the Divine Feminine."

I've been doing a lot of work with my heart chakra these past couple of weeks. In my daily meditations I have been visited by two beautiful goddesses of the heart ~ Kwan Yin and Aphrodite.

This stage of my ChakraDance training entailed dedication and commitment, for the tasks involved were some of the most difficult to comprehend for the human soul. I sought to embrace the essence of love within and avoid the temptation to seek it elsewhere. The beloved with whome we choose to share our intimate life is but a reflection of our own loving nature.

I walked down the the lake as the sun set this evening. I waded in from a sandy shore - just past my ankles - with my arms reaching toward the heavens in the shape of a chalice and imagined I was being filled with the elixire of divine love. The radiant light of Aphrodite poured into my heart.

I DARE TO BE THE RAPTUROUS BEAUTY

THAT LIVES WITHIN MY HEART.

Affirmations to practice with the heart chakra (from www.goddess.com.au) include:

From Aphrodite:

• I am valuable
• I walk in beauty
• I am free to be myself, I accept myself as I am
• I release my habit of self-criticism
• My insecurity is replaced with wisdom
• At my centre there is a incandescent fire
• I release myself from harmful judgments
• I'm the best thing that's ever happened to me

From Kwan Yin:

• I forgive
• I radiate love
• I am tolerant of everyone around me
• I have great joy, and therefore great energy
• My peace is shared peace
• I am weightless and free of burden

Uncovering a sense of truth

This week's Finding Water challenge asks how we stay grounded and connected.

Sometimes I find this easier said than done. I have a job which often leaves me feeling anxious and stressed out -- drained of all creativity.

Last year, after a health scare, I realised I needed to find my centre once again. I started by blogging on 12 April 2006. This was the reawakening of my spiritual journey.

From here I started spiritual counselling, with a wise soul, who guided me to look deep within myself. After working with my inner-child and some 'rude' awakenings, I started to reconnect with the Goddess. She'd always been with me, laying dormant in my belly waiting for the right time to emerge.

After attending a Goddess Workshop held by Deb and Lucy, I found the Goddess soaring within my being. I felt like a butterfly finding freedom from its cocoon. I was thirsty for knowledge -- wanting to become more creative and to explore my full potential.

My journey of discovery took me too www.goddess.com.au, where I met the beautiful Anita Ryan-Revel, and I became a Goddess Playshop facilitator, learning about the goddesses and the chakras. By this time I knew I was on the right path.

Then I discovered ChakraDance, it was the next natural progression for me ~ I am now on the path to become an ChakraDance instructor.

So what do I do to stay grounded and calm? That's easy ... I meditate every day to restore my energy levels and reinvigorate my spirit. I know it works, because when I don't my life turns topsy-turvey.

Because I find it difficult to 'still' my mind, I used guided meditations to help me achieve my state of bliss. I focus on each chakra and evoke the goddess. I also use aromatherapy to aid me in my journey. I often use my chakra base spray to help me refocus when faced with a challenging situation.

I also try to walk around the lake every day -- it helps clear my head and gives both Trinity and me some much needed exercise!

So there you have it, I stay grounded by:

• daily meditation
• working with the goddess and the chakras
• aromatherapy
• walking in nature
• blogging

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Bohemian Mom

What are five things that make you automatically happy?

1. My puppy Trinity
   
2. Good times with friends & family
   
3. My circle
   
4. Coming home
   
5. Feel-good movies
   

What are five things that give you physical pleasure?

1. A massage
   
2. Running into the surf
   
3. Cuddles from my nieces and nephews
   
4. Having my hair done
   
5. Sex (with a man I love)

What are five things that make you immediately angry?

1. Child Abuse
   
2. Domestic Abuse
   
3. Violence
   
4. Animal Abuse
   
5. Bush
   

What are five things that make you automatically sad?

1. Death
   
2. The War in Iraq
   
3. Needless suffering
   
4. People who don't recognise their own potential
   
5. Those who suffer in slience

And I tag.....

• Bek (My Soul Whispers)
  
• Leonie (The Turquoise Journey)
  

Holy splash of Time

This beautiful movie will lead you into a satisfying sense of presence with every viewing.

A beautiful and soothing way to remind you of the sacredness every moment brings.

If there is any stress in your life, you need this movie.

If you feel like there is never enough time, you need this movie.

If you'd just like a moment to call your own, YOU NEED this movie.

http://www.holysplashoftimemovie.com/

Creating circles

I've received some emails asking me how to start a circle and how to find the right members. Circles can be magical things, and are so worthwhile.

When we started our circle, the goddess Leonie was the instigator. This turquoise goddess knew a couple of girls, the goddess Bek knew a couple, and as it turned out so did I -- so it kind of grew from there.

If you don't have friends that share your passion, then there's a couple of ways you can go about finding like-minded goddesses:

STEP ONE: KNOW WHAT KIND OF MEMBER YOU WANT

First of all its important to consider the qualities you want most in a fellow circle member. The best members are committed to taking action, excited about making changes, good listeners and open minded.

STEP TWO: DETERMINE THE TYPE OF GROUP YOU WANT

Open Group: This may be a group with an unlimited number of members. With an open group, there is no commitment to attend.

Closed Group: This group has a finite number of members. If you want equal time, six to eight members are best. If not, the group can be larger. There is a commitment to attend (I recommend a three month expectation to start) How Often Will You Meet? I recommend that you schedule your meetings three months in advance to make planning easy and to demonstrate your commitment to the group. We meet bi-weekly, but monthly is also good.Remember that the goal is to stay in action!

STEP THREE: FINDING MEMBERS

There are a number of ways to find new members for your group. Here are some examples:

• If you belong to a message board, do an expression of interest post calling women in your area that are on the board.
• Create a flyer. Be sure to include tear-tabs at the end of your flyer so people can leave with your contact information (not your flyer!).
• Send an invitation. Invite friends, colleagues, family members or acquaintances to an informal evening discussion so you can talk about the idea of forming a group and determine the level of interest.
• Have a friend ask a friend. One of the quickest ways to get a group going is to invite one or two friends and ask them to bring along a friend. (Personally I find this the best way).

STEP FOUR: POST YOUR FLYER

Here are some places you can post your flyer: bookstores; cafe; lunch/break rooms at work; children's school; churches; colleges and universities; community service centers; daycare center; grocery stores (bulletin boards); health clubs; libraries; spas; hair/nail salons; women's centers; yoga centers; and YWCA/YMCA/Recreation centers.

Some of these places may even allow you to use their space for meetings. Be creative!

STEP FIVE: FOLLOW SMART GROUP GUIDELINES

The following guidelines not only help to create a safe place for a productive and enjoyable meeting, but they help to eliminate the kind of habits that quickly dissolve a group. Review these guidelines at the beginning of every meeting.

Confidentiality: Everything that is said at a meeting is strictly confidential.

Equal time: When running a closed group, be sure that each person has a chance to speak. While there may certainly be times when a member needs extra attention, it's important to prevent members from continuously dominating the conversation. To ensure that everyone gets equal time. Do not allow cross talk, criticism and advice giving, or "fixing" of anyone.

Positive focus: Put the attention on what works. Look for and acknowledge a member's strengths. Keep complaining and whining to a minimum—one minute or less (we all need to do it sometimes). Speak from your own experience: Use the word "I," not "you," when speaking to other members.

Honour the group: Check in regularly to be sure that all members are satisfied with how the meetings are run. Be willing to tell the truth gracefully. You might check in at the end of each meeting, once a month or once a quarter.

STEP SIX: GROUP FACILITATION

There are many formats you can use to run a successful group meeting. Some groups may be about finding and pursuing your passion, in general. Your group may also be formed around a particular subject, like writing or volunteering.

There are two types here—one for a closed meeting and one for an open meeting. With either type, rotate facilitation responsibilities. This prevents one member from taking responsibility for the success of the group.

Closed Meeting Format: Negotiate equal time for each member. Review group guidelines. Start with 15 minutes of success stories, catch up, or letting go of anything that might prevent you from being fully present. Begin the group discussion. Allow the first person to speak without interruption for the allotted time. When finished, ask for feedback and/or support from other members. Be specific! Commit to homework for the next meeting. Move on to the next person. Needs and resources—when each member has had a chance to be fully heard, open the meeting and allow members to ask for and receive any additional help. A member might need a supportive phone call before taking a difficult action or contact information that will allow them to move forward. Share your resources with each other! Set up or confirm the next meeting.

Open Meeting Format: Welcome participants. Review group guidelines. Start with 15 minutes (or more depending on the size of the group) of success stories, catch up, or letting go of anything that might prevent you from being fully present. Begin group discussion. The facilitator can begin by discussing a certain subject and then open the meeting to other members. Depending on the size of the group, you may need to limit speaking time to 2 or 3 minutes each. Remember that allowing someone to dominate the space causes people to feel frustrated. They won't come back! Gently remind the person speaking that time is limited. Suggest homework for the group. Needs and resources—allow 15 minutes at the end of the meeting for members to ask for and receive help. Share your resources with each other! Set up or confirm the next meeting.

I hope this helps - good luck!

Love, joy & rainbows,

mich
x.

Resilience

This week focuses on resilience. How do you stay on course when you are full of self-doubt? How do you pick yourself up after a rejection? Are you able to see the silver lining?

re·sil·ience {noun}
from dictionary.com

1. the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.
2. ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.

When I begin to doubt myself, I find I need to re-centre: to ground myself firmly on the earth and focus on rebalancing my root chakra, home of the kundalini energy.

When the root chakra is in balance, we feel secure, alert, stable - our lives are full of active and positive energy.

So I sit on the earth, close my eyes, meditate, burning the Base Chakra Godessence blend, and summon the goddess Kali. Kali's esoteric attributes are PASSION and physical and sexual energy. She reminds us to be alert to those who undermine our self-confidence - Kali is here to hurl our lives onto a new path that will ultimately prove to be more fulfilling than our current path.

My spine grows and takes root in the earth. I feel the strength of the earth energise my spine and body.

I am indestructable! I am strong! I can shake the weight from my shoulders and conquer the demon shadowing my life.

For those times when I'm feeling a little 'wobbly', I always carry my base chakra essence spray, and I practice the following affirmations (from www.goddess.com.au):

• My new life path reveals itself to me
• I say goodbye to destructive influences
• There are rainbows in every rainfall
• I am awake to my life's calling
• I welcome Kali's strength & recuperative powers
• I trust the Universe to provide
• It's OK to release my juicy anger
• I can say "no" to negative influences

Ring-a-ring-a-rosey ...

I am blessed to belong to several circles: the goddess circle; an artists circle; and an online community.

My sisters are there when I could use a hug, a shove, or a good laugh. For the greater good or the greater hilarity -- sometimes both -- life just seems to get better. It's kind of a girl thing.

When we band together things are looking up. We celebrate life, friendships and get inspired. When times are tough, we're there for each other with a mug of turkish apple tea and a compassionate heart and a shoulder to lean on.

We let our inner-children out to play, just like we did when Leonie did this photo shoot with me.

I once read an Oprah article which said: "Living your best life means following your passions and dreams. And doing what you love is so much more fun when sharing it with others! So forge relationships with others who share your interest—surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you!"

Men and women respond to stress differently. Men tend to fight or flee; while we're wired to connect and communicate. We phone friends. We form groups. That's how we soothe ourselves; that's how we get things done.

So connect with your gal pals, find others that share your interests and passions and circle. Community not only lifts the soul but may also be beneficial to your health.

Circle of Goddesses

They dance around a sacred urn. The energy of four ovular goddesses in a sacred circle ...

Inanna, Sumerian fertility goddess. Goddess of the dark moon, brave and unwavering, Inanna ventures into the underworld. She teaches us to stand firm, eyes focused on the end true goal, ultimately leading us to a state of wisdom.

Hindu Kali, powerful dark mother. Kali's esoteric attributes are PASSION and physical and sexual energy. Be alert to those who undermine your self-confidence - Kali is here to hurl your life onto a new path that will ultimately prove to be more fulfilling than your current path.

Isis, Queen of Egyptian civilization. Isis' esoteric attributes include intuition and perception. She is related to the third eye chakra, the centre of illumination and insight. She is the embodiment of the feminine as a vessel for divine expression.

Finally Diana, Greek goddess of the hunt. Powerful and protective, Diana embodies the moon's fertility and the sun's protective, nurturing power over the earth's wilderness and creatures. Diana's power brings abundance to the world. She is the huntress who provides us with spiritual "food".

These four Goddesses circle with us, looking over us, sharing their wisdom and dancing with us.

Savouring the moment

I came across a challenge my friend Gabby has been undertaking called Finding Water ... blogging the art of perseverence

Today's challenge is Shared Beauty - what sorts of beauty have I savoured today?

Well, there is so much around me, I feel truly blessed. I live on a picturesque lake, with the Brindabella Mountains towering in the background.

My inner child led the way as I danced through my week, making me feel playful. I decided to let this lighthearted energy infuse my work, and I chose to take a little time off for amusement.

In Darwin I had a meeting cancelled at the last minute and I found I had time on my hands. This was an opportunity for me to explore. So I headed into town to purchase more appropriate footware for my adventure and ended up buying a pair of Croc ballet slippers.

After spending a couple of hours exploring Darwin's city, just walking around exploring gallerties, interesting buildings and chatting to people, I headed back to Sky City where I was staying and headed out on to Minindil beach which I had to myself.

I walked the entire length of the beach without meeting a soul, and I listened. Listened to the water lapping at the shores, to the wind playing in the grass, the sand crunching beneath my bare feet and to the birds swooping and playing in the sky above me.

Later that evening I headed out to a restaurant for dinner, and witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets out over the ocean. Living on the east-coast of Australia, this was indeed a rare treat for me.




This unexpected time-out helped me to refocus on what's really imporant in my life, and reminded me not to get too caught up at work.

In our goal-oriented world, we can sometimes feel guilty when we take time off for our own entertainment, but our inner child knows it is necessary for our ideal balance and growth. So I gave myself permission to play, and I know that I was doing something essential for my wellbeing.

Children laugh more often each day than adults do. As adults, we can ride the waves of good-feeling laughter to help us deal easily and effectively with challenges. Then, we might enjoy interactions with others more as we shift our idea that life is stressful to the idea that life is a game.

This simple mental shift can lighten and ease our load and give us a more positive outlook on life.

There are many ways we can stir playfulness within us today. We can watch children playing, or better yet, join them. We can share funny stories with those around us and enjoy some laughter.

When we let our inner child come out to play today, we see new ways to bring out the joy in life.