Journal & Share Space
Writings, musings and developments
Writings, musings and developments
Welcome to the Writing & Community Corner! This page is for article content, musings, and general insight into some spiritual visions, self-reflection sessions and even my general thoughts on issues in the world today. I am continuously learning and working with other sources of learning, such as guided meditations, books; but my entries only reflect my opinions and experiences. My father Alan is also a great writer and has written me lovely letters throughout the years! When I was a child, we used to write back and forth to each other on tiiiny pieces of paper left under my pillow, night after night when I believed that he was the tooth fairy! Alan has been a great source of magic and inspiration to my imagination ever since, from reading us great tales at bedtime to listening to his conversation in general. So I have invited my dad to share this space and his musings, as well as potentially share a little Divine Masculine love to you all. I'm aware not many individuals have been as fortunate as me to have a positive father figure in their lives. Regardless, I hope you enjoy reading his musings as well as mine. I am fortunate enough to know many creative individuals, and I hope to share their voices and stories here, as well. Clients are also strongly encouraged to submit their experiences either with me as a practitioner, or general spiritual introspections!
Welcome to the Writing & Community Corner! This page is for article content, musings, and general insight into some spiritual visions, self-reflection sessions and even my general thoughts on issues in the world today. I am continuously learning and working with other sources of learning, such as guided meditations, books; but my entries only reflect my opinions and experiences. My father Alan is also a great writer and has written me lovely letters throughout the years! When I was a child, we used to write back and forth to each other on tiiiny pieces of paper left under my pillow, night after night when I believed that he was the tooth fairy! Alan has been a great source of magic and inspiration to my imagination ever since, from reading us great tales at bedtime to listening to his conversation in general. So I have invited my dad to share this space and his musings, as well as potentially share a little Divine Masculine love to you all. I'm aware not many individuals have been as fortunate as me to have a positive father figure in their lives. Regardless, I hope you enjoy reading his musings as well as mine. I am fortunate enough to know many creative individuals, and I hope to share their voices and stories here, as well. Clients are also strongly encouraged to submit their experiences either with me as a practitioner, or general spiritual introspections!
Full Moon Women's Circle
Full Moon Women's Circle
Last week I attended a full moon women's circle courtesy of Rachel Mason, (IG: @rachelheathermason) and received some interesting insights. It's amazing how the more that you focus your mind and give yourself peace, allowance and grace to 'be' without pressure allows such insightful messages to come forth.
Last week I attended a full moon women's circle courtesy of Rachel Mason, (IG: @rachelheathermason) and received some interesting insights. It's amazing how the more that you focus your mind and give yourself peace, allowance and grace to 'be' without pressure allows such insightful messages to come forth.
We were encouraged to reflect with Rachel's questions such as, What am I currently resisting, rejecting, or holding back from? What achievements do you have to celebrate from the last 6 months? What are you ready to let go of, in the here and now? We were all free to share as much or as little as we liked. I'd encourage anyone (and my future self) to come back to these reflections as and when, as they're surprisingly useful. You may come up with answers that surprise you!
We were encouraged to reflect with Rachel's questions such as, What am I currently resisting, rejecting, or holding back from? What achievements do you have to celebrate from the last 6 months? What are you ready to let go of, in the here and now? We were all free to share as much or as little as we liked. I'd encourage anyone (and my future self) to come back to these reflections as and when, as they're surprisingly useful. You may come up with answers that surprise you!
I'll leave this short entry with the following writing that was channelled to me at the very end of the session:
"Love does not exist in the foothills of a distant summit or in the driveway. It walks alongside you always, breathing the air you breathe, in simple gratitude that it does."
I'll leave this short entry with the following writing that was channelled to me at the very end of the session:
"Love does not exist in the foothills of a distant summit or in the driveway. It walks alongside you always, breathing the air you breathe, in simple gratitude that it does."
Central Desert Silence
Central Desert Silence
Uluru is a very ancient, special land meaning 'meeting place' by the Anangu people. I am still learning about the Anangu culture and different Aboriginal groups of families here. I cannot believe that just driving around after work, or on the way to the supermarket that I can see Uluru in the distance!
Uluru is a very ancient, special land meaning 'meeting place' by the Anangu people. I am still learning about the Anangu culture and different Aboriginal groups of families here. I cannot believe that just driving around after work, or on the way to the supermarket that I can see Uluru in the distance!
Alan's Wisdom Corner
Alan's Wisdom Corner
Episode 1
Episode 1
When I first met Lily’s Mum, I just knew that my life was destined to change dramatically. As a white British man, with only a few non-white friends, this new relationship was going to involve a considerable leap of faith if we were going to dedicate our lives to each other and any resulting children.
When I first met Lily’s Mum, I just knew that my life was destined to change dramatically. As a white British man, with only a few non-white friends, this new relationship was going to involve a considerable leap of faith if we were going to dedicate our lives to each other and any resulting children.
Angie and I were of a similar age; both having enjoyed travelled independently and shared a lifetime of involvement with the Roman Catholic church. In fact, it was friends I’d made through the London Students’ Chaplaincy that had prompted me to apply for the teaching post in Harare which brought us together.
Angie and I were of a similar age; both having enjoyed travelled independently and shared a lifetime of involvement with the Roman Catholic church. In fact, it was friends I’d made through the London Students’ Chaplaincy that had prompted me to apply for the teaching post in Harare which brought us together.
Something else we had in common turned out to be the importance of children: with me taking care of them in the classroom and Angie applying her many skills in the hospital ward. My beliefs had always led me to value children, although my own experience of any parenting was quite limited. At least it was until meeting the rest of the extended Lourenço family!
Something else we had in common turned out to be the importance of children: with me taking care of them in the classroom and Angie applying her many skills in the hospital ward. My beliefs had always led me to value children, although my own experience of any parenting was quite limited. At least it was until meeting the rest of the extended Lourenço family!
My own father had been largely absent during my childhood years, so when he cleared off completely in my late teens, it meant the opportunity to learn directly about being a Dad in my own right had been largely non-existent.
My own father had been largely absent during my childhood years, so when he cleared off completely in my late teens, it meant the opportunity to learn directly about being a Dad in my own right had been largely non-existent.
Angie’s own family involvement was reinforced by her professional experiences as a midwife and then a pediatric nurse, leaving me light years behind when it came to understanding and caring for the wider needs of youngsters.
Angie’s own family involvement was reinforced by her professional experiences as a midwife and then a pediatric nurse, leaving me light years behind when it came to understanding and caring for the wider needs of youngsters.
Several friends back in York and London had always been keen for me to take their children off for an afternoon in local parks – little did I realise at the time just how much of a treat those trips out were for my adult friends – so I wasn’t a complete novice.
Several friends back in York and London had always been keen for me to take their children off for an afternoon in local parks – little did I realise at the time just how much of a treat those trips out were for my adult friends – so I wasn’t a complete novice.
Angie soon started to provide some catch-up training for her husband-to-be…..
Angie soon started to provide some catch-up training for her husband-to-be…..
“Al, just take N (her niece of three years) to the toilet.”
“Al, just take N (her niece of three years) to the toilet.”
This command led me towards a situation way above anything I’d experienced before. In all my teaching I’d not dealt with children under teenage years!
This command led me towards a situation way above anything I’d experienced before. In all my teaching I’d not dealt with children under teenage years!
Thankfully my small companion was completely OK with this shared mission and my panic duly subsided. The fear of not knowing had been replaced by a dramatic lurch forward in my understanding.
Thankfully my small companion was completely OK with this shared mission and my panic duly subsided. The fear of not knowing had been replaced by a dramatic lurch forward in my understanding.
Angie was even more beautiful in her pregnancy, which arose quite soon after we’d exchanged our marriage vows. You might be shocked to hear that I was out partying in London, some months later, when Angie successfully gave birth to Lily’s brother, back in Harare.
Angie was even more beautiful in her pregnancy, which arose quite soon after we’d exchanged our marriage vows. You might be shocked to hear that I was out partying in London, some months later, when Angie successfully gave birth to Lily’s brother, back in Harare.
Overlapping teaching terms and holidays meant that I could leave Zimbabwe and return to my former London secondary school to earn the £s not available due to sanctions against Mugabe’s government at the time.
Overlapping teaching terms and holidays meant that I could leave Zimbabwe and return to my former London secondary school to earn the £s not available due to sanctions against Mugabe’s government at the time.
Our firstborn had decided to arrive two weeks before Plan A kicked in, so I was still in England. The sterling would allow me to buy a pushchair and essential cuddy toys from Hamley’s Toy Store! Cotton was grown in Zimbabwe those days, so nappies were readily available. Most other baby products items were in seriously short supply.
Our firstborn had decided to arrive two weeks before Plan A kicked in, so I was still in England. The sterling would allow me to buy a pushchair and essential cuddy toys from Hamley’s Toy Store! Cotton was grown in Zimbabwe those days, so nappies were readily available. Most other baby products items were in seriously short supply.
On my return flight, British Airways staff were quite perplexed as I’d taken advantage of “Bring your pushchair aboard free.” They wondered at first where I’d stashed the baby? To everyone’s relief, my explanation that McLaren buggies were not available in my new home, set the matter straight. And they didn’t charge me for excess baggage.
On my return flight, British Airways staff were quite perplexed as I’d taken advantage of “Bring your pushchair aboard free.” They wondered at first where I’d stashed the baby? To everyone’s relief, my explanation that McLaren buggies were not available in my new home, set the matter straight. And they didn’t charge me for excess baggage.
So, my opening days of ‘fatherhood’ were characterised by a clear and obvious absence. If you’d like to share some of how that narrative unfolded, watch this space.
So, my opening days of ‘fatherhood’ were characterised by a clear and obvious absence. If you’d like to share some of how that narrative unfolded, watch this space.
Wishing you peace.
Wishing you peace.
Alan
Alan
Alan & Angie at their wedding in Zimbabwe
Futher journal entries to follow soon!