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I've just returned from a week on the Emerald Isle. I only get to see my family twice a year or so, and it was wonderful to spend a little time with them. The process of making the journey, however, proved to be very frustrating. It's been a while since I last noticed my intolerance to stupidity. Ridiculous queues at airports, incompetent officious staff, and fellow passengers who had nothing more than a total disregard for anyone else around them. All these egos, playing their own individual games. No "common sense", and no compassion to be found anywhere. No-one smiling.
Iwas glad to get back to my chosen pace of life, early last evening. Blessed relief from a social war-zone!
My time in "the Old Country" wasn't all good. I had intended to get some work done while I was there. Several false-starts, and heavy doses of self-doubt left me almost entirely unproductive for the whole week! I'm left in a similar position this afternoon. Creative dead-ends, little inspiration. The rest of the day will be devoted to some walking meditation, and catching up with friends.

Acceleration!

So, several months drift by again, without a peep from me on this blog. Once again, I'm forced to apologise for the gap!
In most ways though, no news is good news! It's usually the case with me, but the reasons for my truancy are many.
I have been stupidly busy, writing, making noise, gathering with friends, and attending to my practice. The arrival of Spring to this sleepy corner of North Wales has brought a new enthusiasm for most of the folks here in Llanberis. The often-mentioned therapeutic value I place in Sunshine has been working some strange spells. I've been maximising my exposure (safely!), and reaping the benefits. The depressive influence of Welsh winter weather have finally gone.
The party season has begun. I enjoyed (albeit briefly!), the Celtic Gathering held near Dolwyddelan, but failedto catch up with some valued friends. I'll be keeping these encounters for a not-too-distant future event...!
And, one event in particular has had a huge positive effect on my condition........ namely the Bluebell BallyHoo. A wonderful party, beautifully organised by a cherished resident of our odd little idyll. It was another of those brilliant unspoked collaborations that punctuate my year. One of those gatherings that bloomed spontaneously in perfect synch with the advent of Spring. My thanks go out to Vera, Merlin, Kaim, Rachel, RedStripe, and all the other contributors, but especially to Conrad for the use of his amazingly-engineered dome, which served as the focul-point of our revellings!
The event has set a high standard for all the year's subsequent parties to live up to.

My diary is looking pretty full for the rest of the summer.

Aside from socialising, I have been lucky of late to have time to devote to my meditaion practice, and to quiet contemplation. I've spent long hours wandering in the woods. From where I'm sitting, I have a great view of the Allt-wen woods, across Llyn Padarn. Being out amongst the trees, at various times of day, and watching the leaves slowly forming that giant broccoli garden of a canopy, I've managed to advance my current thinking, and also begin to find some of that elusive inner peace that I so desperately seek.
Days devoid of clinging to the past and worrying about the future. Absorbed in the moment. Part of a true unifying Whole.
It's all feeling so much faster now. We're accelerating towards the zero-point. I have even seen the evidence for this in some of the folks that I thought were beyond the reaches of these transitional times. Some of the sleeping masses seem to be slowly waking up!




PLUR.