Hi All,

As I am writing this, I am very aware that some of you may not be able to spend Christmas with your loved ones this year which is very difficult on so many levels. As humans we are all born hard-wired to want to seek and find meaningful relationships with others, especially at a time like Christmas. Connection is an essential part of our overall health and well-being. Ironically, in this time of connected media and devices, loneliness has reached an all-time high. It is common for us to feel lonely or alone, especially as our lives become busier and it feels like there is less time to truly connect with those around us.

By taking the time to acknowledge these feelings and move towards connecting with people, you are engaging in self-care and improving the overall quality of your life.

It is our mind or our brain that tells us we are separate and hence alone. However, as is so clear at this time, we also need the wisdom of our hearts if we wish to continue surviving in a viable way. When we listen from our heart, the logical grid of the brain tends to soften and melt, which enables us to perceive the interconnectedness beneath the divisions and categories we use to organize the world. We begin to understand that just as the heart underlies the brain, this interconnectedness underlies everything

Our minds and bodies are interconnected, and the condition of one affects the condition of the other. This is why meditation is such a powerful tool for healing the body, as powerful as physical therapies. When our minds are cluttered with thoughts, information, and plans, our bodies respond by trying to take action. When the body has a clear directive from the mind, it knows what to do, but a cluttered, unfocused mind creates a confused, tense body. Our muscles tighten up, our breath shortens, and we find ourselves feeling constricted without necessarily knowing why.

When we sit down to meditate, we let our bodies know that it is okay to be still and rest. This is a clear directive from the mind, and the body knows exactly how to respond. Thus, at the very beginning, we have created a sense of clarity for the body and the mind. As we move deeper into meditation, the state of our mind reveals itself, and we have the opportunity to consciously connect with the Divine, immortal aspect of ourselves reaffirming to us that we are never alone.

Wishing you all health and happiness for Christmas and thank you all for your continued support during these challenging times. Looking forward to connecting with you in the new year,

Kate xxx