Postponement of Programs – Unexpected Offering for 2022
Happy New Year dear friends across the world!
I am deeply grateful for your presence and support over this last year. We have laughed and cried together, shared practices, stories, inspirational writing and poetry and for some of you, we have walked together in wild places.
I have felt nourished, companioned, inspired and challenged to learn and grow and to go deeper into my practices. A deep bow of gratitude.
May your new year be blessed with your hearts wishes. May you be clear on what these are – to support and guide you in each day.
“All that we are looking for in life—all the happiness, contentment, and peace of mind—is right here in the present moment. Our very own awareness is itself fundamentally pure and good. The only problem is that we get so caught up in the ups and downs of life that we don’t take the time to pause and notice what we already have. Don’t forget to make space in your life to recognize the richness of your basic nature, to see the purity of your being and let its innate qualities of love, compassion, and wisdom naturally emerge. Nurture this recognition as you would a small seedling. Allow it to grow and flourish.
Keep this teaching at the heart of your practice. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, pause from time to time and relax your mind. You don’t have to change anything about your experience. You can let thoughts and feelings come and go freely, and leave your senses wide open. Make friends with your experience and see if you can notice the spacious awareness that is with you all the time. Everything you ever wanted is right here in this present moment of awareness.” Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Buddhist Monk and Teacher.
Unexpected Offering for 2022
We can make plans and providence may conspire with us to make them come true. Yet, there are also those plans that life has for us, that come along unexpected and yet, may have the greatest potential for joy and fulfilment. When I reflect back over my life, I can see there have been innumerable turning points that reaped growth, connection to self and others and cultivated a greater sense of joy and contentment within me.
I recall driving with a friend who invited me to join her at the first rehearsal of the Bellingen Playback Theatre company which was the start of me being a company player for nine years. I happened to be at a registry wedding when I made an unprecedented toast to a couple I hardly knew and the registrar said that I should become a celebrant. My sister in law sent me a link to a meditation by Jon Kabat Zinn which prompted me to complete the training as a facilitator in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program.
In each of these serendipitous moments, and I can think of many more examples, life has gifted me the blessing of rich learning, companionship and a sense of purpose and deep inner connection.
My unexpected journey for 2022 has already begun. Two days before Christmas it was confirmed that I have a unusual growth on my left ovary requiring surgery on the 14th January. I will have both ovaries and also my uterus removed by a wonderful gynae-oncologist I met with in Sydney. Rhonda is friendly and engaging and specialises in this kind of surgery. I feel totally relaxed in her presence and feel a deep quality of acceptance and trust in the process. All my blood results so far have come back clear of any unusual cells – I am in good health generally so feel confident of a gentle yet steady recovery time of 6 weeks, which is usual for a hysterectomy. (Post script-the blood test in January for a rare ovarian cancer came back with a ridiculously high count!)
Before I received the results of the blood tests. I consciously chose not to tell anyone, not even my partner of 25 years, so I could feel into how it was to have a tumour in my body.
Where did I feel this? Was I afraid? How was it to not know the full diagnosis and outcome? How was it to truly feel into my impermanence? What was stirring within me?
It was poignant, exciting, calming, sobering and, most of all, what was stirred was a sense of gratitude that I feel prepared and supported for this moment – to live today. This natural calling to turn inwards and the practices of mindfulness, self empathy and loving kindness. Calling in presence opened my heart to the wonder, to the beauty, to the human condition of impermanence, of cycles, of celebration and mourning. With fresh eyes, I looked at the light, the colour, the rain, the sunshine, the garden, my family, my life.
Have you seen the light today? Have you felt the extraordinary gift of having a body? Of breathing? Of resting fully? Of being in full presence with a friend?
I laughed out loud and I cried. I wanted to savour this moment. Holy, sacred moments of appreciation, of ‘awakening to the mystery of being here and entering into the quiet immensity of my own presence’. (John O’Donohue)
A week later, with clear blood results, which are just one indicator of no cancer, I held that same appreciation yet the earnestness lessened just slightly as if now I have more life. I find that thought/feeling interesting as I know, particularly from my work, that we may die by many other means, at any moment.
There’s a definite urgency to receiving a diagnosis where death is one of the outcomes.
A few days later, I shared with my partner and my close family and friends; and now I’d like to share it with you, my colleagues and friends on this path. Everyone’s response has been different and yet the love and support is nourishing, inspiring and encouraging. Serendipity has again stepped in and pathways of healing are being implemented and already I feel relief from some of the symptoms (nausea and pain).
I imagine this might be a shock to read, however be assured that I am in very good spirit, heart and mind. I feel prepared for this next part of my wonderful journey of turning 60. Naturally, I have concerns and yet, feel to live into each one as it arises rather than project any fears or stories into what will be.
What is here, is already here. Just as it is. Presence is here, always here in every moment.
My invitation is for you to join me, as you have done over these years by ‘Celebrating This Precious Life’; of engaging in practices that support our shared humanity, our awareness, connection, care and kindness for oneself and each other. To mourn and celebrate. To be present to what is, just as it is.
2022 is full of promise, of being grounded, of presence for a life lived well. It is time for retreat and rest. I will be postponing all of my programs until further notice. I may hold pop up sessions as I feel moved to. If you’d like to receive information about spontaneously arising meditations, Ongo or empathy sessions please sign up here.
I am committed to life. To love. To presence.
2022 feels like a new beginning. It has begun and I give thanks.
Johan Wolfgang von Goethe ~
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation),
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans.
That the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents
and meetings and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Begin it now.
I would love to receive info about your ‘pop-ups’ Wendy.
And thank you for telling us what is happening in your life journey – a hospital visit for surgery. I so appreciate you sharing your process including the strength your mindfulness and self compassion gives you. I felt inspired. And of course so relieved the tests are clear. Much love W xx
Thank you Willa for your love and beautiful friendship. I will add you to the mailing list for the pop up sessions xx
Thank you for sharing your personal journey with us my beautiful sunshine friend.
As always, I received strength in reading your words and an inner peace knowing you are in good health and will breathe into this next part of your winding path which is life.
Sending strength and deepest love…..
I read NVC Ongo reading on page 160… Celebration and Mourning.
“If we can grieve with the grief of others, so, by the same token, by the same openness, can we find strength in their strengths, bolstering our own individual supplies of courage, commitment, and endurance”
Much love always
Heather xxx
Heather, I love that quote from Ongo, thank you for sharing it and for the friendship and connection we enjoy. Love and strength joyfully received!
Sending loving healing energy your way Wendy…you are a guiding light…a wise, beautiful, positive & loving soul…the world is richer for your presence and so is my work as a celebrant for your contribution. Love & light Marilyn x
I feel your presence and light as I read your letter of love and support. Thank you! xx
It’s weird isn’t it Wendy that these unexpected events in life – like your growth & impending surgery – take us on a new path where we experience new learnings?
Thank you for sharing your story and for enabling connections. And thank you for reminding me of the natural calling to turn inwards to listen.
I love these lines you wrote ” Calling in presence opened my heart to the wonder, to the beauty, to the human condition of impermanence, of cycles, of celebration and mourning. With fresh eyes, I looked at the light, the colour, the rain, the sunshine, the garden, my family, my life..”
Love and strength to you to your journey.
Oh and I would like to be added to the “pop- up “info list please Wendy.
Thank you,
Angie x
Life is a mystery! Thank you for your love, care and support Angie. I have added you to the pop up list xx
Dear Wendy, thank you for sharing your next part of life so beautifully with us all. You are a very special part of my journey and I wish you much love and quick healing and recovery. Please keep me in the loop!
Thank you Betsy, I appreciate hearing from you and, as I read your message, I have a lovely image of the last time we met and your warm, caring smile beaming at me. I am smiling now just thinking of it.
Dear Wendy, please add me to the pop up list. Much love to you x
Thank you Liz. I have added you to the mailing list xx
Dear Wendy,
I’m touched by your wise & generous sharing though saddened to hear you are facing a significant health challenge. May your beautiful courage and steady wakefulness continue to support and strengthen you and your family through the coming weeks.
I’m holding you in my heart and remembering your depth of presence and compassionate connection with deep gratitude 🙏🏻
With love, blessings and healing.
Carolyn xxx
Thank you Carolyn for your heartfelt love, reflection and care. Feeling your connection, presence and compassion across the miles. Much love x
Hello Wendy, I also would love to join in any popup sessions you may be offering. I too was in your shoes five years ago, I was also lucky my two kg cyst was not cancerous. The whole experience turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I can honestly say I have never felt better in my whole life. I wish you a speedy recovery,love and blessings. I Look forward to seeing you on the other side of your operation.
Hi Anna, I have added you to my mailing list. It is a wonderful story you share… that’s quite a weighty cyst to have removed. Thank you for your good wishes, I too feel the blessings of this opportunity.