Back in town

 

Butterfly garden Thames (NZ)

I am back in town and wish a happy New Year to you all. This morning we dropped my brother of at the airport after we had a wonderful time with him. Together we went on holiday to the North Island of NZ and it was wonderful. I will show you a lot about it in the coming weeks.

The photo above is one of the beauties we saw in the butterfly garden in Thames and I uploaded it for a special reason as 2011 is for me the year of the butterfly. Although I always loved this animal I feel especially attracted to it this year and it seems to be everywhere. It appears on my diary for 2011: A Christmas present from my brother with Paulo Coelho quotes and beautiful illustrations. On my holiday I spotted butterflies everywhere and one is hanging before one of my windows, which I bought as a souvenir.

Butterflies are bot only beautiful. They also spread beauty by pollinating flowers. They are a symbol of joy as they flutter around in freedom, but for all they are a symbol of transformation. They leave a cocoon in beauty and winged they fly up in freedom, leaving behind the crawling slow caterpillar they once where. In the Greek language both soul and butterfly is represented with the word Psyche. A soul is also undergoing transformations and therefore the butterfly is a great symbol.

This year is going to be exciting as we are working on a new future for my work place which I see as a place not only of learning but also as a place for the community which brings people together.

This year we are going to plan for a trip to Holland as my mother is going to be 80 next year and we are going to be 50. Celebrations to share with family.

This year I hope to read and write more and one of the books I want to read is Anam Cara by John O'Donohue. Anam Cara is a Celtic word for soul friend. John O' Donohue was an Irish philosopher, poet and mystic who passed away in 2008. His poetry is beautiful and the following one is for you. A good one to start the year with.

For a New Beginning
By John O'Donnohue

“In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness grow inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the grey promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.


Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plentitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.”

Great isn't it. This year I also will get in shape to have a lot of energy.

I already started work and soon everything will be back to normal.I sense though that this is going to be a special year. I also hope for relieve and strength for the many people who didn't have a good start and as we see that nature is going to challenge us more and more we will need each other more than ever.

Arohanui Marja