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Evolution of Life…

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Life
like nature
an evolution
a birth
a dying
a rebirth
a playground
a battlefield
a journey of discovery; of loss
a journey of great beauty and fulfilment
of devastation and tragedy
an ebb and flow of emotions
just like the tides upon the shore
arriving with a sweet caress
only to be drawn away reluctantly
by forces unknown
a sprinkling of stars
like diamonds
glistening upon vast oceans
as our thoughts
create hurricanes, floods, and droughts
hell fires that scorch the deserts which are our minds
our hearts, our dreams
only to spring back
with such abundance and grace
as the wildflowers in the desert
so that we may dance and sing
and rejoice again in the wonders
of this…
Life

Trish Johnston © 24th August 2016

 

 

 

Apathy… like a cancer grows

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Recently I shared a post on social media and prefaced it with the following:

“It is so sad that some don’t perceive us all as equal. Each and every day people are losing their homes, their freedom, their dignity, their right to live peacefully, their families and loved ones and often their lives… who really cares? Unfortunately, it is apparent that unless it is happening to people in “predominantly white” more affluent countries it seems that very few care. A life is a life and all are just as precious as yours and mine. We do not have the right to judge or put ourselves above another.
I know that we are bombarded by images such as the one in this article and as such have become desensitised to the horror of what is going on around us, maybe there is fault in the way that the media sensationalises and portrays certain things but that still should not be a reason for us to stop caring about what happens in our world… and yes, it is OUR world. One which we are allowing to become a battleground festering with hate and malice, destruction and devastation. We can all make a difference simply by caring. Put yourself in the situation that these people have found themselves in. Not every person in a war zone is fighting that war. Sometimes I am ashamed to be a human being.”

Now I understand that opinions are like the proverbial and everybody has one and that we are all entitled to said opinions. In fact, we are all entitled to do and say exactly what we please as we have freedom of speech and we live is a so-called democratic society. Which leads me to the point of this article. I wonder frequently what it would be like to live in a society where one has no right to speak one’s mind. Where speaking out for what I believe in could lead to imprisonment or even worse. Where an opinion is the most dangerous thing that you could possibly live with. While I am one of the least aggressive people I know I am sure that I would find it very difficult to survive. At times I just can’t keep my opinions to myself and my mouth firmly zipped. This some may see as a lack of control. I myself feel that it is a display of great control, yes, I do have a modicum of control!

Recently someone very dear to me told me that they had never experienced racism until they came to Australia. Now from someone who is third generation Ethiopian of Italian ancestry who was educated in a German school and has travelled internationally that is an interesting statement and one I found quite horrifying and confronting. It gave me cause to think about how we Aussies refer to our beloved country in terms such as ‘the lucky country’ oh, and we are ‘multi-cultural’ also don’t forget. While I do not believe that we should dwell on the problems of the world for if we did we would all end up with severe cases of depression and PTSD and other similar disorders, I do believe that living in our so-called lucky country we have developed an apathy and for many a sense of superiority. A sense of ‘not my monkeys, not my circus’ and this I can understand – to a degree.

Let me ask you a few questions… what is the worst experience you have ever had in your life? How does thinking about that experience make you feel? How did that experience affect your life and how often are you confronted with that same experience in your day to day life? I understand that many of us have had unsavoury experiences and they have had dramatic effects on us and the way we live our lives but can you imagine living your whole life with similar or recurring incidents on a regular basis? For most that is a ridiculous scenario which would be scoffed at for we have the capacity and the opportunity here in our lucky country to extricate ourselves or we have services and organisations which will do it for us if we cannot do it ourselves. There are many countries in this world where this is not the case, imagine living there, trapped within the confines of a society which controls you to the point where you have no voice, no value whatsoever. Frightening isn’t it? In fact, for most of us it is impossible to truly grasp.

What can we do about it, you ask? Now once again this in entirely my opinion and I am sure that there are many out there who will take great delight in ridiculing it however I stand strong in my belief that we all have our parts to play on this stage of life. We can care about human life, wherever it originates from. Regardless of race, creed, religion, birthplace, we are all human beings, our lives are all of equal value. We can teach our children this. We can, as individuals not place judgement on others. There are ‘bad’ people everywhere, all over the world, including here in our country and let me tell you some of them are as Aussie as you and me. (I wonder though this is getting off the track, what has made that person ‘bad’, what has happened in their lives to influence them to do what they do. It is true that often the ‘bully’ is the one who needs our understanding… maybe the subject for another blog another time.)

There are many ways to care. Show another a simple kindness. It can be a wonderful experience to sit and talk with people from different backgrounds to ourselves. There is so much to learn from others. We can encourage others when they are unsure; share our thoughts our hopes our dreams… it may surprise you to learn that many of us have very similar aspirations. Replace discord with harmony. It may sound very simplistic but most times it is achievable even though it may take effort.

I cannot tell you how often I have heard someone start a comment with “I’m not racist but…” Really? I would think that the mere fact that you have to clarify that before making a statement signifies the very real possibility that what is about to come out of your mouth is most likely discriminatory and judgemental in some way. My thoughts immediately are “When you are perfect, then and only then do you have the right to judge”… and perfection is not possible so ultimately the right to judge is not yours or anyone else’s. Take a look in your own backyard. Never ever forget that the person that you are putting down or criticising has their own story. Just because their journey is different to yours does not mean that it is wrong. You do not have to take the person into your home, hell, you don’t even have to speak to them, just leave them to live their life just as you choose to be left to live yours! Allow them to be who they are without assuming you are superior. Focus your energies on improving what you can, without forcing others to come around to your way of thinking. Encourage positive interaction, there is strength in numbers. If more of us make a conscious choice to take a good hard look at our lives and our reassess some of our values and the way we treat others we can indeed make a difference.
I am very aware that I alone cannot stop the bombing in Syria, or the atrocities in New Guinea or other long forgotten and ignored places, no halt war in its steps, I alone cannot remove all traces of racism, hatred and discrimination but I am also aware that if I do not do my bit to bring and maintain peace in my immediate environment then I am, in my opinion, failing in my duty as a human being. Ultimately, I am sure that the majority will agree on one point, we all just want to live our lives in peace.

I wish you peaceful journeys until next time…

Indigo Wisdom (aka Trish)  ©

Chains

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Locked up in a world
where your light is fading fast
life becomes a challenge
when you hold onto the past

Chains become so heavy
though you are unaware
that these chains do not bind you
for it’s you who keeps them there

If your grip you loosen
then open up, let go
sit back and watch them fall away
peace and calm will flow

Some may protest loudly
shake, shudder and rattle
others will be whisper quiet
as you no longer fight the battle

Open up and welcome freedom
embrace the change within
give yourself permission
to let your new life begin

You may be surprised
when the truth you find
nothing keeps us chained
except our own mind

Trish Johnston 2nd August 2016

I wonder….

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Look around you carefully
I wonder what you see
I wonder do you hear the sounds
of silence as you breathe

Do you hear your heart beat
the blood flow through your veins
the thoughts that tumble softly down
like a gentle summer rain

Do the winds unsettle you
Do clouds darken your days
Do you love the sweet caress
of the suns warm rays

Are there thoughts within your mind
that you wish you could share
or do you prefer to keep them
safe and secure there

Do memories often taunt you
from a past that’s brought you pain
sneaking up unexpectedly
to raise their ugly heads again

Or maybe thoughts of pleasure
with a warmth all of their own
wrap themselves around you heart
their words written in stone

Do you hear the whispers
blowing across the lands
of hope and love and promises
drifting through the sand

The senses tell us stories
without uttering a word
be present in this moment
and within all will be heard

Trish Johnston 17th July 2016

 

Intelligence – how do you perceive it?

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Intelligence – what does it mean to you? I enjoy intelligent conversations but then what I class as intelligent conversation may not be your idea of the same.  I am not highly educated.  I do not have an overly extensive vocabulary. Does this equate to lack of intelligence on my part?  Some may deem it so, however I do not measure intelligence on one’s level of education nor on their use of high falutin words, or their knowledge of world events or other cultures or politics such as this.

I personally see intelligence as one’s ability to embrace all they can, to be open to every experience whether it be ‘good’ or ‘bad’.  It is about having an opinion or a point of view while allowing others to have theirs and listening to those opinions with an open mind and appreciating and respecting them for what they are.  We do not have to agree with one another to have intelligent conversation nor do we have to refute, merely to listen and respond.

I have had some wonderful conversations with people with no formal education, people who simply speak from their hearts, sometimes a little timidly, sometimes with great passion.  What makes these conversations intelligent to me is the fact that these people know their truth. They know their feelings and their words don’t come from another persons mind but straight from within.  Intelligence is not one’s ability to recite another’s teachings it is about one’s ability to know what they feel and to express this to honour the existence of these thoughts, ideas and concepts.

I recently had a conversation with someone who inferred I was not as intelligent as he because I had not travelled extensively; he questioned my interest in other cultures because I did not watch foreign films.  Since when does one’s intelligence align with one’s bank account or work opportunities?  Since when has watching films spoken in a language I cannot understand been a measure of my ability to use my mind?

Some one else who I consider to be very intelligent because of the stimulating heartfelt conversations we have considers me more intelligent than them because I am able to express myself through my writing.  This is not intelligence, this a merely my tool to express my intelligence; my tool to express my thoughts and ideals.  So I have the gift of the gab and my amazing friend is not so fortunate (or unfortunate as some may say!) to have this same ability.  We are both intelligent human beings, we just utilise this intelligence differently.

I have had some dreadfully boring conversations with highly intellectual beings who perceive themselves to be experts or near enough in some fields. Most of these people have not learned learned through experience, they have often developed almost tunnel vision in their pursuit of their holy grail. To be spoken to with condescension by another person reveals much more about them than it does about me. Does their lack of tolerance and ability to communicate with in an ordinary everyday conversation make them intelligent… I think not, however you are entitled to your own belief in this as you are in everything.

Intelligence, what is it to me?  It is the ability to be yourself and allow others to be who they are and still encourage and enjoy open and honest communication.  What does it mean to you?

‘Til next time… peaceful journeys

Progress? Change? Or just simply life?

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Ever had that feeling that there is so much more to life than what you are currently doing?  It is something that I experience from time to time and it has only been in recent years that I have started to honour it.  I have had many ‘wise’ people tell me that ‘one day you will have to stop running away’.  It used to make me stop and doubt my inner feelings, make me wonder what exactly it is that I am ‘running away’ from.  These days I no longer listen to these helpful folk.  I know that what is within me is my ultimate guide. My wisdom comes from within and while there are times that I allow fear to dictate I know that I will find peace once I let go of that fear and do what feels right to me.

I do not feel that I am running from something, nor do I feel that I am constantly searching as others sometimes tell me I am doing.  Searching implies that I’ve lost something.  I certainly do not feel that I’ve lost anything, rather that each and every time I make another life choice I am growing and evolving on many different levels.

Several years ago I became the proud owner of a beautiful website.  A wonderfully patient friend produced some stunning art work for the site. The site was to showcase not only my healing modalities – Kinesiology, Reiki, Massage, Spiritual Guidance but to allow me to share my writing with the great big wide world.  At first, like most people I was very enthusiastic and posted regularly.  Then gradually I allowed the demands of life as it was then to change my focus.  Eventually I forgot how to even log on to manage the site so I allowed it to go where so many other websites go, that graveyard in cyber space!

Recently I had the urge to start up my website again.  In the intervening years from when I began my first site and now I have had so many experiences, some of which were painful, some of which were very extremely enjoyable, all of which culminated in the realisation that within me there is the soul of a gypsy, a wanderer, a free spirit.

As I progressed along my path experiencing life, I wrote many poems on so many different topics.  At times my emotions poured out through my keyboard, raw and revealing.  Some who are close to me find it too difficult to read about the darkness and anguish that plagued my life (or maybe they just really don’t enjoy my writing!!) but there were others, usually strangers who contacted me, telling me how moved they are to at last have found someone who could put into words the emotions that they themselves had been feeling but were unable to verbalise.  What a wonderful revelation that was to me.  To be seen as a ‘voice’ for the expression of the deepest feelings of not only myself but of so many others is an honour beyond all others.  Just as I consider it an honour to have an individual come to me for physical, hands on healing of one modality or another; to experience the level of trust that people place in me is truly humbling.

I have long been aware that my life purpose is healing.  There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than to be involved in the healing process of another, to facilitate the healing and hopefully sharing with them the tools which will allow them to take their own healing to another level.

Recently I have been experiencing many aches and pains throughout my body.  Of course, being in my early 50’s I was prepared to accept that age was catching up with me and that the dreaded arthritis was invading my joints.  Off to the doctor I went and fortunately he decided to send me to a specialist.  The specialist had no real opinion to offer one way or the other but did arrange for me to have almost every bloody test known to man.  After having 9 phials of blood taken for goodness only knows how many tests I eventually received the call from my doctor asking me to come in and discuss my results.  Guess what?  The results revealed that there is absolutely nothing wrong with me!  No signs of arthritis in any way shape for form. Xrays also returned with nothing visible. So what is this mystery illness?  Why am I experiencing pain daily, almost constantly?   My health according to science is extremely good.

The idea has been filtering down to me in various ways for a while now that maybe I am not doing what it is that I was put on this earth to do.  How can this be so?  I am a healer and for the past year or so that is what I have been doing.  I have my own little business with a wonderful client base, I have been living my dream. How can I not be doing what I am meant to be doing?  

I have just returned from a week in Rotorua, New Zealand.  The trip literally fell into my lap and was totally unexpected.  I invited a girl friend to join me and away we went.  I do not believe in coincidence, my belief is that the Universe lays things out before us and it is up to us to either recognise the synchronicity or go on ignoring the signs.  Whilst in the wonderful Rotorua I attempted to make appointments to see local ‘spiritual healers’ in the hope that they may have some revelations for me.  I was unable to lock down appointments for various reasons so I decided to just book into a spa for a 30 minute massage while my friend had a treatment.  Thank you Universe!  Here, in the surrounds of this very lovely but quite commercial spa I found my spiritual healer.  She took one look at me when I walked into the treatment room and started lecturing me.  Why am I carrying so much pain belonging to others?  Do I not realise that the pain I am experiencing is not my own but that of my clients and most likely many others as well?  Of course, being a spiritual person I am fully aware that this is one of the dangers of being an empath and a healer.  We had a lovely discussion and the beautiful Marji massaged away the pain and the weight of what I had been carting around with me believing to be my own.

Also during the trip my friend received an email from her publisher with suggested cover designs and type fonts to choose from for her soon to be published novella.  It was so special to share this exciting time with her.  I know how much writing means to her as it is a passion we have shared since meeting.  As we sat and talked late into the night for many nights on our holiday we spoke of our dreams and explored possibilities of what might lay ahead for each of us.  At one stage I found myself telling her that she had no need to pursue a career in healing as her particular healing gift was in her ability to write.  Hello? Where did those words come from and were they only for her?  

A culmination of so many things which have occurred in the past couple of months has given me the awareness that my focus must return to my writing.  My healing does not have to be only in the form of getting people up on the table in my little clinic and soothing away their woes.  My healing can and will be also through my words, my ability to express from my heart whether I am writing of my own experiences or others.  How many times does a light bulb have to go off before I listen to my inner self and do what I am truly deeply passionate about?  Yes, I love my little clinic but it does not have to be my only focus.  I must embrace ALL that I am, allow my words to flow and trust that those they are meant to reach will through one channel or another find them when they will do most good.

So, is this progress?  Is this change?  Or is this just simply life and the Universe leading me to my ultimate Utopia?  Keep an eye on http://www.indigowisdom.com.au to see where this journey goes.

Until next time, which I am expecting to be real soon!

Take care,

Indigo (aka Trish)

The Flame of Death

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You walk into the fires of hell
As though drawn into a trance
Seduced by the flickering flame
By its alluring dance

You die there in that flame
Your body crumples in a heap
Your soul rises up above you
You are the phoenix, at your peak

As you rise up from the ashes
And fly high over the flames
You are reborn, rejuvenated
To embrace life once again

You’ve shed the pain of yesterday
You’ve left it there as ash
To disappear forever
Awaiting the breeze to catch

The wind will scatter your yesterdays
And they’ll be so thinly spread
That they’ll never reassemble
Not even inside your head

On the far side of the flame
You will sway to the dance of life
You will welcome your tomorrows
With reborn untold delight

Trish Johnston 25th June 2015

Cliché or True Wisdom?

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How often do we hear clichés bandied about with such abandon that our minds switch off to their true meanings?  So many wise words are used with such frequency and so inappropriately that to many they become worthless clutter in our minds.  I have come to realise that there is so much wisdom behind so many sayings when they are used in the correct context and when the timing is right.

For many years people have thrust quotes upon me with the enthusiasm of fanatics at a protest march.  So emphatically were they shared with me that often they left me feeling deeply inadequate because I had not reached the goal referred to in the quote.  I would agree wholeheartedly and then crawl away to lick my wounds and assure myself that one day I would reach that place of such freedom that I too could share such wisdom with others.  One day I too would be in a position where I could become a superior being who had attained the state of euphoria which came from letting go, forgiving, loving myself so as to allow others to do so as well, accepting perfection for what it is, etc.

Interestingly as I have moved along my path, sometimes with assistance, most of the time alone, I experienced a settling calm within me.  I have learned to let go of the things that weighed me down and fogged my mind; I have learned that in forgiving myself I have indeed simultaneously forgiven others; I have learned that the person who needs my love and respect most is myself and in giving myself this gift I am much better equipped to love and respect others also.  When I say ‘love and respect others’ I mean that I can now allow others to be who they are.  I have learned that while I do not have to like a person the most important gift I can give them is to respect that they are who they are and allow them to live as they choose to live.  While their choices may not be the same as mine they have a right to make those choices just as I do.

So many times I have been told that when the time is right things will unfold.  Absolutely, I could not agree more! However, what often is omitted here is that we have to have enough courage to believe in ourselves and what it is that we want.  We have to trust in ourselves, listen to our inner voices and filter out what is the residue of others thoughts and opinions (because after all everyone has an opinion and most are only too happy to share it!) and be strong enough to be true to ourselves.  Yes, when the timing is right things will unfold, but it also takes a little effort on your part.  Don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen, for the Universe, or God or whoever you believe in to hand it to you on a gold trimmed platter.  Make some conscious decisions, take charge of your own thoughts, and ignore the well-meant advice of others.  We must remember that no matter how much someone wants to help us they can only give us thoughts from their own perspective.  Only you can see, think and feel things from your own perspective, therefore only you can know what it is that is your truth.

The funny part is that now that I have actually made it to this place where I really do love myself, the person I really am, I have no desire to spruik the clichés.  Yes, there are times when I do use them, apologetically mostly.  The real truth of it has struck me in recent times.  The absolute wonder of becoming my own person with my own thoughts and my own feelings capable of making my own choices astounds me with its simplicity.  The truth is that once you love and accept yourself you have no need to feel in any way superior.  The liberation that comes with non-judgement is what creates our inner peace.  It is called compassion.

Next time someone throws a line out to you, before you grasp it look closely and ascertain if it is in the form of a cliché from another’s ego or wisdom from another’s heart then decide what you choose to do with it.

Until next time….

2014 A time of change

2014 A time of change

10 January 2014

A time of change

“2014 will be a year of change for me”… I had no sooner uttered these words than the Universe responded. A timely reminder that our thoughts become our reality. In the recent past I have been in a state of what I like to think of as auto pilot. I am sure that we have all experienced this from time to time, where we switch off to as many outside influences as possible and spend time looking inward. It may be for a very short time or, as in my case, a little longer however one thing I know for certain is that when the time is right to step back into the driver’s seat we can only ignore it for so long.

As the life that I have known crumbles around me on both a personal and a professional level I go through a huge range of emotions, all of them very human and totally expected. However, on another level I find myself experiencing something which is almost like an out of body experience. I observe the ‘destruction’ from a totally different perspective and know that it is necessary for me to be able to achieve what it is that I yearn for most. Already I am sifting through the rubble deciding what is salvageable and what is best left as it is. It is surprising how little I feel inclined to take with me on the next step of my journey.

There are some things that one can never let go of no matter what life throws at us. These I see as part of my ‘contract’ or as some may call them my destiny or fate. They are no burden to carry as they are of great importance to me. Those which are easily released are merely part of an experience which took place on the peripheral of my life path, the detours along the way which make life a little more interesting and or challenging as opposed to those which are an integral part of my life’s journey, a part of my soul purpose for being.

It seems that with barely more than a week of the New Year gone by I am already being faced with challenges to make the changes I have been thinking of. Immediately after posting my last blog and sharing it via social media, a page suggestion appeared on my screen, one I’d not seen before. It was for a spiritual group in a nearby suburb which is resuming this coming weekend after the Christmas break. Coincidence? Some may say so, me I take it as a message from Spirit that it is time to get back to that which gives me the opportunity to be the ‘real’ me.

A return to work after a much needed time of rest and soul searching revealed changes which impact on me immensely. It is up to me now to meet the challenges this places before me. From which perspective will I finally view them? I am still in the processing stage of this, still sifting through the rubble to see what can be salvaged. Life is about choices and we alone are the ones who can make the best choice for ourselves. No matter what others may lay before us it is up to us which perspective we use to view it. The one thing that I have learned in life is that to allow the opinion of others to influence your choices takes away your ability to stand in your truth. While some are comfortable with that it is not my way. There are many well-meaning people out there who feel they know what is best for you, by all means listen to their advice but let your final decision be one that comes from your own thoughts and feelings, not someone else’s. When others make suggestions about what is best for you they are making them from their own perspective. Let your intuition, your inner wisdom guide you and know that whatever choice you make it is the correct one because you have made it by your own means.

Fear of the unknown is what holds most of us back. Maybe it is time to trust….

I think I have just found the next topic I will write about.

Bridges….

Bridges….

Water running under bridges
We must allow to flow
With the freedom of nature
Fresh and clear below

Let the current wander
Clear away the haze
Crystal clear sparkling
Beckoning to better days

Sometimes we wade the stream of life
Treading oh so carefully
Step by faltering step
Rather precariously

Water not deep enough to swim
Though deep enough to drown
Sometimes the bottom is not firm
We get so bogged down

Water depicts our emotions
Sometimes tranquil, sometimes calm
Sometimes so very tumultuous
We draw back in alarm

If we take a moment to lift our gaze
Look toward the skies
We will see a bridge spanning over us
Then we realise

Bridges save us from the pain
They keep us from the streams
They raise us up, allow us passage
Moving on toward our dreams.