Monthly Archives: February 2013

Ocean Waves, Ocean Depths

"This is how it is meant to be- this is yours to enjoy if only you would come below the waves."


Many ancient cultures use the seal as a symbol of transition between two worlds- the world of the conscious mind and the constructs of human thinking and the sub- conscious world and the limitless essence of spirit without boundary or form.

This contrast was brought home to me when I was SCUBA diving on a particularly windy day in rough seas. The dive started from a rocky out- crop. The plan was to enter the water and drop below the turbulent waves as quickly as possible to avoid being tossed onto the sharp volcanic rock. Traditionally you do this by dumping the air in your stab- jacket through a valve. Alas, on this occasion the valve did not work all that well. As I desperately tried to become less buoyant the waves threw me against the rocks, cutting me and my equipment to shreds. My stress and anxiety mounted, my breathing rate soared, and my enjoyment plummeted as my ability to deal with the situation effectively, dropped.

Somehow I managed to get the air out of my stab- jacket and I descended from the stormy environment above into a tranquil haven below. My breathing slowed, serenity returned, calmness reigned and as the beauty of my surroundings overwhelmed me a seal swam by up- side- down in effortless ease as if to say “this is how it is meant to be- this is yours to enjoy if only you would come below the waves.”

The Ocean is a wonderful metaphor to explain the working of energy in Nature. The sub- conscious depths support the conscious surface layer. We are part of a whole- mostly we stay on the surface, living at the whim of external forces. The surface is calm only because there is no wind. The job is going well, we are enjoying good health, and we are surrounded by loved ones who love us in return. Once the wind blows the waves gather and toss us around. We are threatened with redundancy or financial insecurity; our relationships go through stresses and strains. We do what we can to stay afloat, to cope with the pressure of daily living, but we are at the mercy of events- we may think we are in control of our lives as we experience happiness during good times, but the anxiety and discontent we feel in choppy seas shows us we are not in control of things at the surface.

Only below the waves is there consistent calm and tranquillity. Only here can the constancy of the water offer us support throughout our lives regardless of events and circumstances.

Meditation can offer us a gateway into this sub- conscious realm. If we learn to enter this world a little we can enjoy its benefits and bring its wisdom to the surface as our awareness expands further into the truth. As we practise meditation more we may stay there longer if we wish and explore more fully the depths of the Ocean.

The wonder of SCUBA diving is the contrast between these two worlds. Enjoy both- the experience of one is made more profound and meaningful by the knowledge of the other. The conscious mind is most effective when it is calm- it provides an analytical and organisational quality to living that is effective only with clarity and understanding. The wisdom of the sub- conscious is always there- sometimes it bursts through into the consciousness in inspiration like a whale or seal breaking the water surface, but we can also delve into the depths and find answers. The more we practise the more easily we access the wisdom deep within us.

The Flame

Nourish your unique flame and enjoy your inner warmth.

Nourish your unique flame and enjoy your inner warmth.


 The Spark





The Flame




The Fire








Martial Arts and Reiki



Martial Arts







Which do you recommend for what kind of people?




What are the unique benefits of each?





Photo credit: Marc Arnold

Personal Journey


What has your personal journey been like?
My life has been exciting, demanding, full of chances to learn and grow, and has been filled with joy and some sadness, surrounded by friends and family. Although at times there has been loneliness too in my life. We can be surrounded by good people and still feel loneliness. I can look back at my life and I can see that there is a path-a thread that links all of my experiences together that has brought me to where I am now and I know will also lead me into my future. Periods of certainty within my life have often been very productive, however sometimes certainty can lead to stagnation. The times when I have been most lost have been when I have had to look at my life and re-evaluate the issues within my life and life itself and these have been periods of great change and new directions for me that led to greater vitality and productivity.

How can one begin their own journey?
You are already on it! The great journey of your life has already begun. What you make of it is up to you. The key is movement forward. Without that our lives stagnate and our journey becomes stale, boring and mundane. When I was young I sometimes became despondent about where my life was going and what I was going to become. My mother would say to me “Do something new every day”. It opened my mind to all of the possibilities that were whizzing around in my head and I would become inspired by the excitement I felt. There were times that this excitement would lead to difficult and sometimes dangerous situations, but more often than not it would lead to something exciting and exhilarating. This excitement might lead to a day-long adventure, or to a short chapter in my life, or even at times to a fundamental change in life-direction. The point is I never knew what twists and turns my life or situations would take until I tried them. It is as if we have to take a leap of faith in our self to truly discover our self.

What role does self-awareness play in one’s personal journey?
Self-awareness is so much more than an intellectual exercise. Self-awareness is mind’s awareness of the self being in the present. It is the mind’s awareness of emotions and its own inner state. It is also the awareness of the self being aware of the emotions and inner state of others. I include others in this, because we become far more in tune with other people when we, ourselves, are self-aware. In my experience, an awareness of one’s own core values is one of the most important aspects in the relationship between self-awareness and one’s personal life’s journey. An awareness of what we truly value is essential to making life choices that honor the things we truly value. It is easy to lose sight of these values in the busyness of daily living. We can sometimes become drawn away from our own self-awareness by becoming pulled into the sphere of things that may compromise those core values.
With greater self-awareness, we can also become more aware of the present, guided and influenced by events in the here and now, rather than by our interpretation of the past and our projection into the future. Being aware of what we bring into the present is important, as we can be mindful of what is real and what are only our impressions and emotions. By understanding that what is internal and what is external to us influences how we can project into the present and the future. Thus, altering the choices we may make and the outcomes to the interactions we have in our lives. We may for example have a particular fear of something which is holding us back from traveling along our personal journey. To face that particular fear requires an awareness of the process taking place within us and that can only be done in the present.
Intuition is a gift from life to the self to be used in the present and is an essential ingredient of self-awareness and your personal journey. Intuition is the tool by which you gain a deep knowing that has the ability to steer you, if you allow it, in the direction of some great benefit. It takes time to know and trust that inner intuitive voice. When you do so, and this is one of the wonderful mysteries of life, it never steers you wrong.

“Best wishes from David as you continue to nourish the flame within.”