Author: Share D'All

A beautiful child was born, full, like all children, with amazing potential and the capacity to love and be loved. The child was born to a family whose experiences and choices had undermined their ability to fully see and nurture this potential, or to give love without requirement. Because it was what they were familiar with, and wore themselves, without malice they proffered to him the eyes of emptiness.

When he used these eyes to look at himself, they obscured, and made invisible to him, the strength, potential and resources that were there within him. When he used them to look at the world, he saw but a bleak veneer, where opportunities and hope were distant and unclear.

So, he grew with no confidence in his value or potential, believing the emptiness in him to be real even though the fullness of the potential inside him remained. Despite his own perception, others often saw the truth and potential of who he was seeping out; expressing itself through many qualities including his kindness and ability to love. They called to him to take off the eyes of emptiness and see the truth of what was in him and the world; yet he did not believe them, or recognise where they were coming from, and so took no message from their presence except that their approval gave him some respite. He did not understand or act on their plea.

As he grew to adulthood, the emptiness he saw inside himself was a cause of fear and discouragement. He sought to shield it from his own eyes, and those of others, by covering it with any love, approval, and status he got from others and the things he did. He clung to these offerings from outside himself; plastering them over the emptiness to create a pleasing image of himself over the top of the emptiness that he believed and feared was there.

Whenever a situation arose where the supply of these offerings was diminished, or a possible source was to be removed, he felt a panic that his emptiness would be revealed, and he would be unable to survive and be happy. Looking elsewhere the outlook was still bleak, and the opportunities distant and without form.

He felt a compulsion to clasp onto and after anything that might shore up this shield of recognition he so relied on. Threatened with any loss, he found himself sometimes pushing aside his natural kindness in anger or desperation, believing he had to fight for and cling to anything that could be used to protect him, even if in doing so it meant hurting others. To his shame he sometimes did this even if, in themselves, they were not things he really wanted, so great was the fear that was driving him. Yet this did not sooth him because, despite his perception, he was not really empty, and this behaviour did not fit with the fullness of who he really was inside.

The voice of his true self still came from within him and was echoed around him. It said, “Do not be afraid. Take off the eyes of emptiness and see what lies at your heart. You are like we can all be, full of love, capacity, and potential. There is no need for fear or clutching.”

Though his hearing was obscured by the shield he had made, the universe held its breath for the day when he would heed the voice; for the day when he would decide to take off the eyes of emptiness, put them aside, and see the truth of what was in him. Knowing only then would he start to be fully, and freely, what he truly was.

It knew that on that day he would start to discover all the resources he needed were within him, and before him, and he did not need to grasp for them.  He would find the freedom of knowing that his value did not lay in what others did, or did not, give him, but in who he was. He would discover that the joy of receiving and giving was not to cover an emptiness, but to join with others in the fullness of life.

Share D’All
Written for a friend – 2018
All rights reserved

It makes my heart sad to see, all around
When we focus on the differences between us,
And see them as reasons to be divided.
Drivers for hostility.
Our beliefs, our ideologies, the colour of our skin,
Our locations, our language, the conflicts of our past.
Willing to hurt, kill and mistreat each other, for these
Badges of separation.

Fighting for the right to be different
And to be seen of equal value.
Divided we stand, proudly.

Can we not ask ourselves how this makes sense?
How any of these things make us born unequal,
When there’s so much about us that is the same?
Our thoughts court separation;
Our rights, our hurts, what we think our Gods say,
Our wants, our fears, the ways of life we cling to, seeing
The need to be accepted, to know belonging, as
Dividers not connections.

Fighting for the right to be different
And to be seen of equal value.
Divided we stand, struggling.

Why’s it so hard to take another view
Where being different does not need to cause division.
To focus on the things we have in common,
Reasons to come together.
No child is born unequal except we choose to make them so.
All Gods speak of love, so why is that not what we hear?
Seeking to preserve ourselves, we fail to notice that
Division is destructive.
 
We cannot help it that we are diverse.
Until we see value differently,
Divided we stand, sinking.

What if we were to place our hope elsewhere;
In every child born, valued, and nurtured equally?
Not just every child, but every adult too.
What if we made a fresh start?
Maybe we are ready to hear our God’s message differently.
What if we are not made separate, as we had thought?
What if there’s enough of all we need to be happy?
What if our diverse views, skills, qualities, perspectives,
Are in fact what makes us rich?

Relishing the ways we are different,
Knowing we all have equal value,
United we move forward.


Share D’All. December 2020
All rights reserved

I am fortunate to live by the sea and love to walk along the coast. Have you ever noticed how, if you look towards the sun across the water, as long as it is not obscured by clouds, there is always a glimmering pathway of sunlight across the water directly between you to the sun? It almost looks as if you could walk across is and the sun is inviting to come.

If you move, the path moves with you. It always leads directly to the sun. It works the same with the moon if it is bright and low enough, or I guess with any source of light if it is bright enough to show up against the background light it is shining in.

What I love is that this is the same for everyone; anyone looking would have a path, but you can only see your own path. If our paths are far apart, we may not even be able to see objects that visible in someone else’s ‘light path’, such as things that may be blocking the light, or reflecting it differently. In that moment, each path is unique, it goes to your eyes, and your eyes only.

If we think about it, it is obvious that the light is there the same for everyone; bouncing off the water in every direction where it is not blocked. We see it as a path to us because our eyes are only seeing the rays of light that are shining, or reflecting, directly into them and that is making a path. The light, and the path, isn’t really exclusively there for us, it just looks like it.

It’s true that if you stand in a group, or next to each other, your individual paths will theoretically overlap to form what would be a wide path, but you cannot see that whole wide path, or the path of others more distant from you, you can only see your path. The path of someone standing nearby may look remarkably similar to yours, but the only way your paths would be exactly the same would be if you were standing in the same shoes (at the same time), or if one of you were sitting on the other’s shoulders.

There are lots of messages you can take from this but the main thing it makes me think about is perspective…. the concept that what you see is affected by where you are looking at things from. Perspective applies to life in so many ways, and this is a wonderful real-life illustration of it; the path we see is only the path from our perspective – from where we are standing.

Unlike with the sunlit path however, which is merely our eyes picking up light, when we look at other things in life it isn’t only our eyes that are picking up information and interpreting it, forming it into the pathways we see before us; very often it is our minds that create our perspective, how we see things. What we see is affected by what we think and believe, how we feel, and what we already know (or think we do), as well as the context and the physical angle we are looking at them from. All these things affect which rays of light, or information, we pick up to form our particular path; our perspective on the truth of a situation, or what is happening.

Our brains tend to pick up the information that fits with the way we are looking at it, and so to us the path to what we are seeing is direct… yet we need to remember, it is just our perspective, it is not the only path, we just cannot see that of others. We can shift our perspective, and see a different path, but we would need to be willing to move to do that; physically, or in our thinking.

So maybe when we think we are right, and in a position to judge someone else’s motives, reactions, or understanding, we should think of the sunlight on the water and remember, the path we see may be obvious, and direct, to us, but they may be seeing a different path which will be equally true and direct, from where they are standing.

To see the sunlit path someone else is seeing all we have to do is move to our bodies to stand in their original position, whereas to see other things from someone else’s perspective we need to move more than our bodies. We may be able to see it in our mind’s eye by finding out more about what is influencing their perspective; we may choose to move to where they are, so that our path moves with us, but maybe the most important thing to start with is to remember we are not the only ones with a path, and in the matter of perspective, your path is never wrong, it is just a path, not the path.

The sun is there for all of us after all.

Share D’All

Photo by: Seanrwatson

Whatever you may think, deep inside our souls, we’re not made
To diminish others, just to make ourselves feel tall.
It does not need the adoration you demand,
To know it’s loved.

Maybe that is why, you are
Unravelling.

Whatever you may think, deep inside, our souls do not need
To make up truths and promote distorted perspectives,
So that it looks as if we’re better and more right;
To feel valued.

Maybe that is why, you are
Unravelling.

Whatever you may think, deep down, our souls do not require
To surround themselves with people willing to comply,
Putting aside their conscience, or their ear to facts,
To get our way.

Maybe that is why, you are
Unravelling.

Whatever you may think, deep inside, our souls do not need
To hurt others in order to protect us from pain,
Pretending to give, when really we want to take,
To build esteem.

Maybe that is why, you are
Unravelling.

Whatever you may think, deep down, your soul really knows,
That whilst the contrast you’ve provided has its purpose,
Stoking up hatred and self-interest all around,
Just is not love.

Maybe that is why, you are
Unravelling.

Whatever you may think, deep down, your soul already knows,
This version of who you are, is not what does you good.
There are other options, now your creation is
Falling apart.

Maybe it is time to start
Discovering.

Picture by – Imelenchon

Even though, with the naked eye, we can see little of the detail of our amazing universe, I am sure throughout history almost every human eye that has been able to, has gazed into it and wondered. Even with so little to go on, it has seeded many stories which have paralleled life at the time when they were imagined.

As we have now found ways to see it better, and even to start exploring it, we have begun to reveal some of the wonderful truths about how vast it is, what it contains and how it works. However, I am sure, even now, we have barely scratched the surface.

I am no astrophysicist, nor even a physicist, so if you are, please forgive any errors I may be demonstrating in my scientific understanding, but what little I do know seems to me to shed light on the way things work down here too, as things in nature so often do.

Proof of the existence of black holes is a fairly recent thing, and we are still exploring the different kinds and sizes that exist, and how they are formed.

As I understand it one of the ways the smallest form of a black hole comes about, is when a star runs out of energy and ‘collapses in on itself’.  Once a black hole is formed, the density of the matter within it, has such a strong gravitational pull that it sucks everything that comes close to it, into it, even light.

I am sure that many of us can sympathize with the idea of running out of energy. There are times in life when we lack the love for ourselves, or life, to keep going positively, and we need the help of others to pull us back from the brink of collapsing in on ourselves. Fortunately, unlike stars, we are sentient beings surrounded by others, so there is hope that we can reach in, or reach out, to find the help we need to avoid that outcome. A good reason for us to be on the lookout for people heading in that direction and be there to help them.

It is interesting that for us, when we are in that position, we may feel empty inside, whereas once a star collapses in on itself, and forms a black hole, it sucks things in, not because it is empty, but because it is extremely dense. That leads me to another parallel I think is worth exploring, which is about black holes, rather than collapsing stars.

I think negative thoughts are like black holes to us. By negative thoughts, I mean those ways of thinking that drain our energy or direct our energies to destruction as opposed to life. The most powerful of which are, I believe, fear (perceived threat to our physical, mental, or social wellbeing), anger and abandonment. These are useful temporary feelings to help us recognise situations where we need to take action, but when they persist and become the basis for our thoughts and perceptions, they are unhealthy for us and, I suspect, sit beneath most other ‘negative’ thoughts, feelings, and ultimately behaviours. They can be extremely powerful.

When the negative thoughts within us become dense, and difficult for us to see past, we become like a black hole, and in doing so we draw things towards us. At the same time, we also sometimes become something that potentially helpful passers-by sense they need to avoid.

A black hole draws towards it anything that gets within its extremely strong gravitational pull. I believe our powerful negative thoughts become our ‘gravitational pull’. This black hole effect means we also draw towards us the things our energies are focused on, those things that are within our sights; the very things we fear, resent or are seeking to avoid. This is usually the opposite effect to the one we may be hoping for.

Interestingly many animals (not all) on meeting new people, are drawn to those who fear them, more so than to people who like them. They somehow sense the energy and come to it, which of course is completely the opposite to what the fearful person wants. Running away from a dog is the best way to get it to chase you! Of course, running away from some things is a wise response, but you get what I mean.

I suspect this is why positive thinking works so often, changing the nature of the thoughts at the centre of you to something positive, rather than negative, removes the source of the ‘black hole’ and negates the effect. Thus, focusing your gravitational pull (your thoughts) on positive things stops you drawing the very thing you fear towards you.

Unlike a star we have choices and can get help.



Share D’All (2020)

Picture: (the only actual picture of a black hole) is credited to ESO/EHT Collaboration

When first I stopped
Intent to learn to breathe,
My focus of attention was my nose.
The feel of cool air coming in.

Feeling my breath in
Observing, my breath out

Next, working down
I felt my upper chest
Rise and fall, stretching out and sinking in,
Pushing the fabric of my clothes.

Feeling my breath in
Observing, my breath out

Awareness dawned
Deep down within my frame
The muscles of my diaphragm, moving.
The invisible origin.

Drawing my breath in
Then pushing my breath out

The warm breath out
Almost goes unnoticed
As does time, between the start and finish.
So much takes place instinctively

Drawing my breath in
Then pushing my breath out

As my breath leaves
And I just let it go
It leaves an emptiness above my chest,
A relief, down deep inside me

Drawing my breath in
Relaxing my breath out

This like my thoughts,
My focus often on
The newest, freshest one, whilst deep beneath
That which conceived it, stays unseen.

I can hold them in
I can let them flow out



© Share D’All. All rights reserved
May 2020

As memories of a holiday,
Fade away with time
And the closeness, joy and tears we shared …
Seem gone.
I would have you know …

This journey may be over
But it does not mean I’m spent.
I’m a little piece of Life
I do not end.

As the whirling water’s last descent
Concludes a warming bath.
Now that you cannot see me, you may feel …
Only loss.
I would have you know …

This journey may be over
But it does not mean I’m spent.
I’m a little piece of Life
I do not end.

Just like water, I am everywhere, 
I only change my form
I’m frozen, flowing, floating, in a seedling
And a storm.
And I would have you know …

Our journey may be over
But it does not mean we’re done.
We’re a little piece of Life
That does not end.

© Share D’All. All rights reserved.
April 2020

Honey bees focus their lives completely on the survival of their community. They automatically take the required roles (i.e. drone, nurse or worker) in their community so that the necessary balance between bees undertaking these roles is maintained. Not surprisingly the role they take can be seen in their genetic make-up, but interestingly recent research (reported in the Guardian) has found that this genetic make-up can change. It seems that if all the nurse bees are removed then some of the worker bees take over these roles and within a week or so their genetic make-up has changed so that it reflects the nurse role.

It seems possible this happens not because they are wired that way and therefore, they undertake that role, but that if they undertake that role, they become wired to do so…. They become what they are being.

Whilst worker, or foraging, bees have wonderful and complex systems to communicate to each other where food sources can be found, and to navigate to and from their nest; their focus when out of the nest is on fulfilling their function which is finding nectar and pollen. It is the smell and colour of flowers that attracts them and that is why flowers have wonderful colours and smells as it attracts them – it is their joy. In following their joy, the function is fulfilled because the whole system comes together that way.

So, at the level of being a bee, the purpose of life is the survival and prosperity of their community.

Step back a level however and look at the purpose of honeybees from a human perspective. They provide something for us which we have no other way of producing – they make honey. Honey is not only pleasant for us and we love the taste of it … apparently it is also good for us in many ways; we use it for therapeutic reasons as well as pleasure.

Step back another level and look at the purpose of bees from a world perspective. Bees pollinate plants. When they visit a plant collecting pollen and nectar, they carry pollen around on their bodies and thereby spread the pollen around and this is what enables many plants to reproduce and survive.

There has been a lot of concern in recent years about the decline in the number of bees, with fear about the potential impact on plant life were they to disappear – because all animals rely on plants to provide the oxygen we need to make the planet habitable.

Bees therefore are important creatures in a big way – but as far as we are aware, they are not aware of this. They are focusing on the wellbeing of their local community.

We could take many things for this some of which may not be helpful as we are not bees, we have a lot more choices and awareness of what we are doing and thereby our place in the universe is different, however no less critical. However, I think there are messages here that may be helpful to us too. 

• At some level we become what we are being … and we can change that if we choose
   
• We may think the role we have been given / or have chosen (worker or nurse) is critical at the time (and get very stressed about the importance of doing it) but it is the balance of the community that is important not the fact we are doing a particular role – the community will find balance as long as there are bees available.  
  
• We often believe we can only fulfil our function or have value if we find the ‘right path’ but maybe we need to learn a lesson from the bees and follow our joy more often.  
  
• Much of the impact we have on our universe is unseen by us when we focus on our day to day path and activities – the impact is much wider than we know.

There was a beautiful little soul who wanted to come to earth to share and experience the love and beauty it was made of. The little soul decided to search for just the right family to come to, and after scouring the world found the just the ones … a mummy and daddy waiting to be.

He saw in their hearts a mixture of hope and fear and plenty of love, so, with joy, the soul made a decision. He would be a boy and as well as his love he would bring them another gift – the gift of freedom from their fear. He chose a body that was far from perfect and a little boy was born.

When the mummy and daddy saw him at first, they felt angry …not with him because they loved him when first they saw him, because he was a beautiful soul and theirs… but with the universe for giving him a broken body. They feared he could not find joy; not knowing what he was.

As he grew and they shared love and found joy in each other, these things washed away the anger and the fear and left only love.

The family grew and he had sisters, together they went places, had wonderful experiences, and saw interesting things. They played, laughed, cried, and forgave together and although his body was hard to live in, his life was full, and his joy was complete. Everyone who met him found the beautiful soul he was, and his smile warmed their hearts.

Then one night the little soul whispered, ‘this journey is done, time to be free again’ and his body answered ‘yes’. He slipped out of his body and somersaulted into freedom, twirling and zooming and laughing. His love was safe in his little soul and his soul was the bigger for it … and the love they shared was still in the hearts of his family and those who had shared it, and he knew it would always be, as love is forever.

The little soul was happy with the gift he had given and the journey he had travelled thus far…. for souls, like love, are free and forever.

Written for Jake Mellor who died on 6th November 2018, aged 8 years.
https://www.facebook.com/jakesmission.co.uk

Image by Lisaleo