Hello Dear Friend,
How are you this fine morning today? It is raining and murky outside so really not a very fine day. But in the scheme of things, every day you wake up is a good day, I always feel my aches and pains prove to me that I am still here on this plane of existence, at least for another day. Now, I don’t want you to think that this missive is going to be doom and gloom, what with the title and all… I am not really designed to be gloomy, and I never have been, I am one of those annoying people who can always see a silver lining or a positive outcome.
Well, most of the time anyway, we all have our dark patches…
I have just been through one but now am out the other side. I gave myself a stern talking-to, and I think the universal energies have shifted too. I suddenly feel lighter and clearer, more focused. Am I the only one who has felt the heaviness in the atmosphere these past few months?
Anyhoo, let’s get this week’s Sunday Letter started shall we?
What are we afraid of?
A recent email I received from an embroidery magazine, Inspirations, opened with a quote from Ingrid Fetell Lee well it was a question really. It had them thinking about their embroidery and projects, but it is just as pertinent when applied to any area of our lives.
‘What's something that you think would bring you joy, but aren't doing because you're afraid?’
Ingrid Fetell Lee
Wow, that really is a question that can run deep. You could answer it in a glib, superficial way, or take it at its deepest level - What am I or you afraid to do?
I actually tagged this as a topic to cover in my Sunday Letters a few weeks ago. Was I afraid to answer the question myself? Maybe.
Really I think I needed to face my own fears first, and I like many of you, have a lot of fears.
I guess my biggest ones are around my weight and being seen.
I nearly said I have always been overweight, but that is not really true. Mum started putting me on diets when I was 12, mostly to keep her company. But it has led to a lifelong love-hate relationship with food. Now, as I approach my late 50’s I am finally, I hope in a place to lay some ghosts and some demons to rest. I have to if I want my knees fixed, lol.
I am also afraid of being seen, really seen, if you know what I mean. I guess my flaky childhood, combined with my even flakier work life thereafter has lent itself to having a superficial life. Always moving, new connections, new work-mates, new houses, new partners, I am sure you get the drift.
I had no roots.
No one outside of my family had known me for more than a few years. The thing that changed that was meeting Jo, and that was a huge leap into the unknown. I had always done the expected thing, the meringue wedding, etc., etc. Unbeknownst to me Jo was to become my anchor, and we celebrate being together for 23 years this year. She has enabled me to stay still, to assess my life, mend my wounds, and all the things I was running from. She is my biggest supporter and will call me out if I am being foolish. I may not listen straightaway, but usually, she has me bang to rights.
Can you relate to this? Have you ever met someone who has been the turning point in your life, someone who you never anticipated meeting, but who you could not easily live without?
My fears could so easily have robbed me of the joys we have had. It has not all been plain sailing, we have been through a lot of crappy stuff, but we are stronger because of those things. Thankfully.
Being Seen in the World
This is the other fear, which leads on from being with Jo, she knows me as no other human being does.
But this is something I am working on. It is, in part, why I write these letters. My understanding of the world has changed over the last few years, maybe it was the angel visit, or maybe not. I feel really that my approach to the world, and to the universe we exist in has been like a snowball, slowly gathering energy and information. It started with the first house I lived in and its ghosts, continued with Neil’s visit, followed on by hundreds of other occasions where the world has conspired to show me that there is so much more to this existence.
It has led me here, to be writing to you dear friend, and to be exploring the mysteries of the universe. These last few months I have been a part of The Nearness, it has allowed me to become comfortable with speaking my truth whilst exploring with others what my spirituality is, and how it shows itself in my life. This was also a fear moment, joining The Nearness, it was brand new then, and I was fearful - was it a cult?? I was not the only one with those fears, but curiosity and an open heart led me there and have kept me there. I will be continuing with The Nearness until they kick me out. lol. Now those of you with good memories will remember me talking about this ages ago. If you are interested in finding out more click here.
The Nearness is a gathering of like-minded souls who are interested in exploring what spirituality means to them. It is not based on any mainstream religion, rather it is a personal investigation into what brings spirituality into your own life, and how understanding that helps to think about ways we can bring that into our communities. I highly recommend you take a look and see what you think, they have some 8-week explorations starting soon.
Things catching my eye this week:
The report into global happiness has just been published and guess what, despite all we have been through in the past few years we are a pretty happy bunch overall. Not only that but levels of kindness, not only to those we know, but also to strangers, has increased. We really are becoming a kinder planet.
More information can be found on the Positive News website
The other thing which has been bringing me joy is the lovely Jane of Snapdragon Life. She has a YouTube channel where she posts a weekly video about her life, they are like watching a hug. She also runs a membership called the Studio Club, encouraging you to live a gentle, seasonal life.
Until next time, as ever, may your angels and guides watch over you and protect you until we meet again.
Love and Light,
Tracy
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Until next time, bye for now.
Links:
*Joyful - The Surprising Power of ordinary things to create extraordinary happiness
For more information about Ingrid Fetell Lee click here for her website
Jane’s Snapdragon Life YouTube Channel
Anything in bold and underlined is a link to the relevant article or web page. None are affiliate links, just things I hope to benefit you, or people I admire and have worked with.
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