03/09/2026
“It is spreadsheet time, a ‘must’, I cannot do avoidance any longer, have done a year of studiously ignoring the existence of tax. I knuckle down over a week, off and on, complaining to everyone and anyone daffy enough to listen. Not that there were many around; Jessie Cat got the brunt.
Preceding ‘tax time’ was three weeks of contemplation, examining every aspect of my life and the nature of the culture I live within. Serious stuff, illuminating, meaning it will affect how I present life to clients, especially Sensitives trying to be Muggles!
I am talking meditation when I say ‘contemplation’. Meditation need not be sitting in the Lotus position losing oneself in the mists of the ether. It can be done standing walking, standing, lying, even doing repetitive, familiar tasks, like washing dishes – a reverie. I do advise practicing the sitting and tuning in variety first though until the mind and body are familiar with the whole aim. Then it is a matter of ‘showing up’.
I discovered, during my weeks of self-examination, a number of taken for granted things with no meaning … nothing you can make a comfortable list of tho’. Display your beliefs and you are inviting judgement, so best left in a quiet inner queue, exclusive, waiting for action.
The mind is our nemesis (stubborn opposition, rival for attention) and combined with body rituals creates resistance. However, bodies do work on repeats, they get comfortable with familiar, repeated action – use it. The mind though will create from mere suggestion all sorts of problems, so that needs corralling, and one way is with counting. Counting backwards to reach a particular goal works, or forward to lose a persistent thought. ‘Practice’ is the key word.
If we allow, we can belittle ourselves, which has a behavioural effect - can effectively erode trust between partners/friends. That unconscious moulding of behaviour makes truth shadowy, meaning we cease to be free mentally as our mind becomes a justification tool for not standing in our truth, in our beingness.
Boy oh boy that is serious. You can tell the nature of this week’s client discussions. I bow out – take from it what you want, and do with it as you wish. The Dalai Lama when asked what the aim in life should be, he replied – “Happiness”.
It has been weeks since I spoke to my landlord. I purposefully keep out of his way during lambing; him being gynaecologist to a large flock of females who wear permanent woolly coats, aka ‘sheep farmer’. Despite that commitment, this week I found a very large tree branch beside my car - a gift. I texted a thank you (we share a love of wood cutting), and this morning I opened the yard gate for his tractor, subsequently having our first conversation for ages, small things make life comfortable.
One client conversation moved around what being a ‘Beyond Extreme Sensitive’ produced in life experiences. For my client it meant having to step away from accepted behaviours; unconsciously teaching her children to do the same - questioning the morality of law and those who govern. Quite a subject before election time - 7th November. I always proceed elections with, “I must vote – it is one’s duty.” But now I am looking for the new – so far only seeing tradition recycled.
I put the pantry contents on the dining room table last week aiming at a serious clean of that cupboard, not just dip and wipe – serious. With all displayed, no hiding, a small revolution started. Throw out mode. One can be radical when one lives alone. Also, one can eat the biggest biscuits first, no sharing.
However, two people came in, viewed the biscuit container and dipped in with no comment on taste after. You see my biscuits are almost healthy - no cane sugar only a little honey. Noted there was no double dipping. Before you wrinkle your nose at Linda’s healthy treat regime, she must confess that the first 30 years of her life was full of sugar – normal for the 50s, 60s and 70s. Now she is doing body penance. (Third person is useful.)
I have been watching country people build traditional wooden houses in Vietnam. Having become a self-affirmed expert, I get cross when U Tube video makers take short cuts, like not charring the bottom of wooden posts to prevent rot!
Jessie Cat is a frequent listener to comments on house building in a forest. Her confusion is about food location these days, because I am moving cat bowls, depending on the time of day - Maggie Cat is sneaking in and hoovering extras.
Remember to walk in nature – hug a tree or two – stand on grass and feel the Earth – very healing in this time of general stress.”
Linda
Media: David Gahr - Dolly Parton, September 1976 in New York City, New York.