Katie Sheen Mindfulness

Something to nourish your happiness today... did you know that the Great Green Wall is taking root in Africa's Sahel region, at the southern edge of the Sahara desert - one of the poorest places on the planet.

More than anywhere else on Earth, the Sahel is on the frontline of climate change & millions of locals are already facing its devastating impact.

Persistent droughts, lack of food, conflicts over dwindling natural resources, & mass migration to Europe are just some of the many consequences. Yet, communities from Senegal in the West to Djibouti in the East are fighting back.

Since the birth of the initiative in 2007, life has started coming back to the land, bringing improved food security, jobs & stability to people’s lives.

Why not give their page a follow for more positive news @ https://www.facebook.com/GreenWallAfrica 🌿

https://thegreatgreenwall.org/about-great-green-wall

Great Green Wall The Great Green Wall is an African-led initiative, designed to restore land and transform millions of lives. Together, we’re growing a world wonder.

What a stunning location for the next Art of Zen course 🤩

Unfortunately I have to step back from teaching for a while as I have cancer again, but am incredibly grateful that the treatment (for a B-cell lymphoma) is expected to be curative 🙏

The lovely Lauri Bower and I will be back together again to lead a Looking Deeply course Being Peace Practice Centre in December, but in the meantime our fabulous friend Heather will be taking my place on this course in Mellor, Stockport from 31st July - 2nd Aug. There are just two places left if you’d like to be part of this special non-residential weekend; see the final pic above for all the details, and find the booking link for all our Plum Village UK courses in the Plum Village UK Mindfulness Courses bio 🙂🌱

Life is full of great opportunities to practice the mindfulness teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh that have transformed our lives, and here is another! Thank goodness for the strength and depth of walking this path together as one Sangha 🙏👣🤗👣🙏

Wishing you sunshine and a cool breeze from a very summery Greater Manchester ☀️☀️☀️

Friendship, smiling, slowing down and exploring the beautiful Japanese gardens Tatton Park with precious friends Dene Donalds and Heather Monro 🪷🪷

As we walk together through life, embraced within the Plum Village community, this was a wonderful opportunity to do what we always do; laugh, talk, and listen deeply to each other. We shared joys, difficulties, lunch, wisdom, insights and great coffee. We even occasionally broke into song as part of our general mucking about 😁

There were many mindfulness practices we all agreed were invaluable, but one that is central for me at the moment is to take time to properly accept the gifts of friendship, love and good wishes that are flowing my way. There’s a significant difference between acknowledging those good wishes and being open enough to truly feel them in my body, letting them sink into every cell so that I can feel (not just know intellectually) how I am part of a vast network of good wishes flowing backwards and forwards between countless “other” people. A tangible reminder that we inter-are, as Thich Nhat Hanh would say.

I hope that you can take time to really feel the love flowing your way today from countless people who know you; and when you are overflowing, then there is plenty to send out to others too! 🌹💞

Why do I have a yellow and white garden? For the combination of peace and joy it represents for me.
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When I inherited the blank canvas of a new garden in 2015 I was struggling to recover from the 28 sessions of radiotherapy and 2 rounds of chemotherapy that ultimately saved me from cancer.
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I’d seen the colour scheme at RHS Tatton Flower Show a couple of years previously, and for me it inspired the positive emotions that I wanted to tap into to help me through that scary, painful time.
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It also made it much easier for me to decide what to plant; I love all colours of flowers but the choice felt overwhelming and this theme simplified everything for me!
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In today’s sunshine I took such pleasure in all the small details that have developed since then, and in being here, in this wonderful, amazing, beautiful moment.
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‘Earth as Teacher’: only the third retreat at the new Plum Village UK ‘Being Peace’ Practice Centre, beginning on the Spring Equinox and offering us 5 days to connect with the land and each other.
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Deep gratitude for Mick McEvoy, Mariên Dupuis and Lenn who led us with great kindness and care through meditations and practices that posed many questions, both held and answered by connecting with nature, which of course includes ourselves.
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Much love to the resident community, volunteers, trustees and everyone else who is co-creating our new home in the present moment. The power of Sangha is truly special. Thank you.
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https://beingpeace.uk

Wonderful short article about Sir.Chris Hoy and his views on the power of living in the moment, savouring the small joys of life ...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78x88gvx13o

Sir Chris Hoy: My terminal cancer diagnosis has taught me how to get the best out of life The six times Olympic cycling champion says a "bucket list" is less important than learning to appreciate special small things "in the moment".

A classic episode of one of my favourite podcasts ... if you feel pulled in too many directions, make yourself a brew & enjoy this wisdom from Plum Village - also available via the free Plum Village App, which contains many other wonderful resources (including meditations, naturally) 😌

Are You Truly There for Your Cup of Tea? Practical Ways to Slow Down (Episode #6) | Plum Village Welcome to episode six of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for…

Reflections of the past, reminding me of the impermanent nature of everything and the distortions of perspective.

Dynasties rise and fall, power is wrestled over and wealth accumulated only for it to dissolve, dissipate and disappear until only the topline echoes remain captured in little cards on museum walls, or in the soundbites of an audio guide.

Time distorts reality even in the moment it is created, but hope is always there, and as a reaction against every delusional act of violence and arrogance we have the opportunity to stumble closer to peace, stability, kindness and the best that humanity can offer ourselves and the precious universe of which we are a very tiny part.

Travel is invaluable not just for the memories, but also for the felt experience of all the opportunities for positive change. This trip was just what I needed ~ thank you Byway Travel 🙏💐

The relaxing rhythm of simply being a passenger: scenes from train windows across France, Switzerland & Austria thanks to a slow travel experience perfectly curated by Byway Travel.

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