This page is about finding peace and happiness in appreciation of the natural beauty that surrounds us. Each week we will explore some of Dorset’s beautiful places in search of inspiration for those moments of gratitude for our lovely planet.
If you would like to know more about mandalas as a source of inspiration and meditation, I give a more detailed explanation in an earlier posting.
Practicing Mindfulness
This week the news has been full of the results of the latest research into the benefits of practicing mindfulness. It has been shown to reduce blood pressure, enhance feelings of happiness and reduce depression, and increase feelings of energy and concentration.
The important thing to remember is that you do not have to follow any particular religion or philosophy to gain all the benefits of this practice.
Mindfulness is all about taking a few minutes each day to forget the worries of the past or anxieties about the future and to focus on the moment. Relax your shoulders, take slow, deep breaths and focus on an aspect of the natural world around you. Appreciate the shapes, sounds, smells and the feeling of wind, rain or sun on your skin. In this moment nothing else matters.
Dorset’s Natural Mandalas of the Week
This week we took our dogs for a walk in Bere Regis, along the banks of the chalk stream that feeds the watercress beds and runs into The Piddle. The willows were bright with new leaves reflected in the clear waters of the shallow stream. It began to rain as we stood on the wooden bridge and we watched the drops hit the water, following the patterns of the ripples as they jostled and melded. A robin sat on the rail of the bridge, as mesmerised by the raindrops as we were.
Further upstream someone had been clearing parts of the stream of alder saplings and hogweed which choke the banks at this time of year. The alder wood turns a brilliant orange and yellow where the sap oxidizes in the air.
Driving south from Blandford Forum towards Bulbarrow through Winterborne Stickland, the hedgerows were foaming with cow parsley and sweet with its perfume. Above us, the rainclouds were swirling and reflecting the beginnings of a sunset. Watching the changing patterns of clouds is another perfect way to practice mindfulness and forget everything but the moment.
Miranda Smith
I write about finding happiness through appreciation of the world around us. If you would like to know more, visit www.mistletoemoon.com.
