"From the withered tree, a flower blooms"

[Christopher Burford]

The title is a Zen saying. Think about it. Ever felt like a withered tree? No problem...the flower will bloom.

[Clive Wilson]

Chris great to have you on board. And there are so many ways to interpret this wonderful Zen saying at this time of year. Those of us in the northern hemisphere are experiencing our winter and our year end. Nature all around is re-formatting. The old provides the nourishment for the new. And at our year-end we are also able to review and reconnect with our energy source. Only by reconnecting in sacred space can we truly know who we are and from these seeds of being our new growth will spring forth. And there is always so much of the old that will feed the new.

It seems to me there is just a slight danger in the hustle bustle of Christmas and year-end celebrations that we allow our selves to operate at a more superficial level of consciousness. Just like a stone knows to fall when it is dropped and a plant turns to the sun, so we can become programmed to operate in reaction mode. And this might be reacting in reflex mode to the circumstances that arise. So a better way of being at this time of year is to have plenty of sacred space for renewal. That way we can respond with presence to those around us. This will surely increase the flow of happiness for everyone.

Thank you Chris for inspiring such wonderful thoughts for me and for others in our group.

I wonder where sacred space will take us in 2009?

Clive.