Terry and Myself send out our Love and Good Wishes to all for this new year 2009. Even more than ever before we are all urged to take responsibility for our own choices in life and move on from there. This is the defining moment of our entire life. This present, gift or presence. As I look out of my window into the Australian sub-tropical rain forest of our home here at Mandala I see perfection. The lush green of nature, the orchestra of forest birds and insects with the rustle of the leaves in a gentle breeze calls me to be here now. Focusing on the perfection of nature is a wonderfully peaceful way to practice presence; the beauty of a single flower, the healing of the rich orchestra of forest sounds, the ripples on the surface of the lake. I find focusing on our immediate surroundings and thus resting the mind from the bombardment of mostly unnecessary thoughts is such a wonderful experience. I feel deep gratitude each day for the beautiful environment in which I live. However everyone can find a flower or leaf, sit and absorb the simplicity and perfection of its beauty an thus have the same experience. Terry's music is also a gift with its rich  natural sounds with the heart moving song of his flute. Sound and music also has the profound ability to bring us closer to ourselves and nearer our hearts, attaining our aim of unifyng heart and soul.
We are all tempted or perhaps Addicted to Problem Solve by thinking thinking and more thinking and brainstorming ways to change our environment, our relationship, our dress, our diet, our job in an attempt to change our experience. This is not only exhausting but may be a useless and pointless waste of our precious energy.
I love to sing to myself - BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM - BE STILL AND KNOW. I need to remind myself constantly to be still, not look to understand or know. In fact I am learning to be content to Not Know and this has also brought me profound peace in recent times. It is OK not to Know. To love and accept yourself deeply and profoundly anyway. It is however in the stillness that I have found my most profound guidance and it is always simple. A message I received recently during a very challenging time I will share with you now, simple as it now seems. There is no need to work on thinking up solutions to any challenges and seeming obstacles. "Be still and leave space for miracles to come". "Only when we leave space or stillness can the miracles enter and even more importantly be recognized, appreciated and made the most of".  So let us make space for miracles in our lives. God knows we all need to believe in the truth of miracles.
"We are here to heal our souls, to express our gifts and shine like the beacons of light we really are".
So let us open to this miracle.
Love Peace and Joy to all.
Soraya