Autumn Newsletter 2023
Dear Friends
Welcome to Autumn 2023
Whilst we all love some Summers warmth and the end of the year with its holiday season; certainly Autumn is a wonderful season, appreciated by people and flora and fauna!
Whilst Autumn In Australia does not display the amazing Autumnal shades of colour that nature expresses in the Northern Hemisphere, it does still have its soft beauty and delight.
Autumn for us in Australia, is a season that designates getting on with the business of running our year. Time to get motivated and engage into the various happenings, responsibilities and engagements of the year.
Autumn also offers reprieve from the heat of summer and allows us a more quiet time for reflection and introspection with often can be appreciated with time in Nature for walking, leisurely activities and of course Meditation.
The last Sunday of Summer found us spending time in Meditation and Reflection with the Meditation Retreat Day on Sunday 26th February at Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill.
Whilst many people who had planned to attend were not able to for various reasons, we still had a good size group of nearly 20 people, several who had not attended one of our Retreat Days before.
The theme of our Retreat Day was; Mindfulness Meditations – Appreciation and Practice. As the first Retreat Day of the year, I felt it appropriate and helpful to offer a remind and motivation to the importance of Mindfulness.
For this with regards to Appreciating Mindfulness, I offered my Three Provisions of Mindfulness.
Mindfulness is Life Giving: It helps us to connect to Life through our senses and be more present for our ongoing experience of being alive. It helps us connect in a calm, objective, receptive and even reflective way.
Mindfulness is Life Guarding: It helps us to be more attentive and conscious of what we are thinking, feeling, saying and doing. Mindfulness helps us to not be careless in how we do things and thus guards ourself from otherwise mistakes, stress and distress. It also aids others that would be affected if we were not mindful or careful! Mindfulness in being Life Guarding, could even save our life or another’s from accident or injury.
Mindfulness is Life Guiding: Like a clear bright, shining light, Mindfulness helps us to see our way through issues, challenges and also to worthwhile opportunities. It helps us discern and decide things, showing that we have choice when we don’t get caught in a reaction or compulsion.
On our Meditation Retreat Day, we practiced Mindfulness through Sitting and Walking Meditation and generally being more aware through the day. We also practiced Mindfulness through what I have put together as the Four Ways of Mindfulness. These are Mindful Attention; Mindful Awareness, Mindful Kindness and Mindful Contemplation.
Certainly, the more we appreciate what Mindfulness is and how it is helpful, particularly for living consciously, seeing clearly, developing insightful understanding and engaging wisdom leading to Freedom of Mind from all distress; we are more likely to be motivated to practice Mindfulness through Meditation and make it our way of Being!
Our Next Sunday Meditation Retreat Day will be – Sunday 30th April at Ratanagiri Farrants Hill. As many of you have already registered for this Retreat Day, those that haven’t should quickly reserve your place as space is limited!
Email: info@wellawareness.com.au to register your place on the Retreat Day. The theme of our April Retreat Day is: ‘Mindfulness Meditations and Reflections on the Four Miracles’ .
Our Ratanagiri – Meditation Group continues weekly on Thursday evenings from 6.30 – 7.30pm (NSW time). We have a steady group of regulars to the drop-in group, with new attendees welcome (see the website for details).
Later in the year I may have a Morning Meditation Group at Ratanagiri – Farrants Hill. A morning Group may be more convenient for many people that are not able to come out on a Thursday evening. This will be posted on the website when it is occurring!
Please note the Ratanagiri Retreat Day Sessions for 2023
Sunday 26th February
Sunday 30th April
Sunday 18th June
Sunday 30th July – Vassa Retreat Day 1.
Sunday 27th August – Vassa Retreat Day 2.
Sunday 24th September – Vassa Retreat Day 3.
Sunday 29th October – Vassa Retreat Day 4.
Sunday 3rd December
NB. If we have a visiting Buddhist Monk or Nun during the year, we will arrange an extra Retreat Day apart from the above for their special visit.
Do have a lovely Autumn Season particularly with your motivation to Mindfulness Meditation practice and Mindful Living.
I share my verse on Autumn below.
Metta Regards
John B.
AUTUMN ARRIVED WITHOUT DELAY
Autumn arrived without delay;
Sharing blessings of calm coolness;
As she may.
A change in Natures colour and light;
A welcome relief from Summers heat;
With shine and glare so bright.
Flora and Fauna expressing her presence;
More physical ease and peace;
Much of the essence.
A time for more reflection of mind;
With Summers holidays and rush;
Left behind.
Finding our direction into the year;
Mindfully moving forward;
With clarity and seeing clear.
Another year to live and behold;
Yet all things will change and pass;
We are wisely told.
Enjoy all that Autumn has to share;
Be present for self and others;
With Awareness and Care.
