An Angel Fell to Earth

These words came to mind a day or two ago. They were written for my funeral readings website, but most importantly for those that seek comfort in the midst of great sadness.

An angel fell to earth
She tumbled like a stone
A meteor
A speck of space rubble

She laughed
As she entered
The outer atmosphere

Just a dot of light
She fell from space
But then suddenly
She swooped
Into the stratosphere
And unfolded
Her magnificent
White wings
Sailed and soared
Progressing
Through the blue

She dived 
Like a hawk
Then turned
And wheeled upwards
On a breeze
Like an eagle
Her flight was dreamlike 
Perfection 

Flocks of birds
Swerved round her
Surprised
Humans looked up
Marvelling at the shooting star 
Appearing and disappearing

For a while
She floated on a crown of clouds
Then dived earthwards
Riding on air currents
Tasting the perfume
Of distant flowers and trees 

She came
To meet departing souls
She came for me

My fading light 
Slipped into her hands
And her wings opened 

As she left the ground
I looked back
But the spirit of love
Carried me to a place of joy
Outside time itself

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A Kind of an Angel

When people die we sometimes view them differently… in ways we didn’t see them when they were alive. We recall the good and the bad with a degree of uncertainty – sometimes guilt, sometimes sentimentality. There is no harm in being realistic, and with this in mind I have written a funeral reading for someone – very much like someone I knew, who was ‘almost an angel, but not quite’ in other words ‘A Kind of an Angel’.

Were you an angel? Sometimes
Were you playful? Often
Were you nice? Very often
Could you be funny? More than often

Yes, you were a kind of an angel
Yes, you were kind
Yes, you could be angelic
You were… 
A kind of an angel

When you were funny
We laughed,
When you were cheerful
We cheered,
When you were sad
We felt bad

How we will miss you
With your way of being
We’ll never forget you
Your way of seeing
The funny side
Of funny days
Funny and silly
In funny ways
Yes, you were kind of an angel

So now you are an angel
For real
An angelic one
And definitely
A funny one

You’ll make them laugh
You’ll make them cry
You’ll make them jump
You’ll make them fly

You’ll make a great angel
Which is why
We’ll miss you
Our favourite
Kind of an angel

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A Happy Easter with Flying Bunnies and a Tasty and Very Chocolatey Egg

Grab your coat and get your egg
Leave your worries out on the landing
Just direct those dancing feet
To the sticky side of the street

Can you hear that scrunching noise?
Granny’s munching on her cream egg
Grab your own with hands and feet
And get chewing your Easter treat

I used to walk in the rain
And get drenched from here to Spain
But whatever you do…
Don’t over-egg it, Babe, just leg it

Grab your coat and get your egg
The bunnies are flying off the landing
The sweeties are floating West
Go put on your flying vest

A Happy and Joyous Easter…

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Cosmic Spirituality

The Overview Effect in Life and Meditation 

This beautiful view of the earth from beyond – the overview – is reported to have affected a number of astronauts quite profoundly. After seeing the Earth from space, many astronauts have described their transcendent awareness of this sight in strongly spiritual language. Understandably they are greatly changed after seeing this view of their home planet for the first time. Predictably such opinions by space travellers are interpreted pretty boringly by scientists. The scientific fraternity compare this profound change of attitude as simply the effect of seeing something beautiful… like viewing the Grand Canyon for the first time. But it’s clear that experiencing the cosmic view of the Earth enables the observer to take in both the greatness and the insignificance of our planet and its multi-billion occupants – animal – vegetable and mineral. Here is a bit of ourselves – a simple seed – ancient and complex – mystical and physical. This image, once seen in all its glory, enables us to appreciate and relate to the spiritual self… whether one is on Planet Earth or far from it.

It is no coincidence that the image of The Earth from space -– The Blue Marble (first taken by Apollo 17 on December 7th, 1972) is the most reproduced image of all time. It is the seed of cosmic totality (possibly one of many) as experienced by those that have the privilege to be held within its life force. It may be the most powerful spiritual image you will ever get to see in your life-time.

Cosmic spirituality is something we can all share. Using the image of Earth from space is something that I have used in meditations many times, and it enables us to step outside of ourselves and think about other people, places and ideas in our fabulous world. The power of a meditation (like the Metta) is made even more meaningful with an awareness of this image as part of the process.

One thing that this image tells us: religion is man-made. Spiritual awareness is cosmic.

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Peace Comes to Mind

Sometimes meditation brings total connection with all things

Just as peace comes to mind
So love resides in the heart.
Just as calm meets the soul
So time diminishes.

Then grace fills the being
And the heart opens
Like a flower.

These are the moments
Of meeting with everything
Touching every sound
Hearing all colours
Drinking the music of forests
Hearing the song of the ocean,
The chattering of birds and beasts
An instant of love,
Connection,
Harmony,
And Joy.

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Eternity

To believe or not to believe… That’s the real question. Here’s ‘A Prayer in Honour of Eternity’. It is also to be found on my websites – Prayers for Everyone and Funeral Readings

Some say:
‘This is the end’
And think
‘I am coming to the end’
But there is no end

For eternity 
Is in the soul…
It is in the mind
The bones
The body
The heart

Others say
‘I know about the end’
They imagine
They understand
Nothing

I only know
That any belief in the end 
Is an idea
A passing thought
Without beginning 
Or end

For eternity 
Is in the soul…
It is in the mind
The spirit
Music
Laughter

And because I see and feel
And hear and taste
And sometimes remember
And sometimes do not remember
I welcome mystery

For I am eternal
And I know eternity 
I have met eternity
I am without end

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Best Baby Blessing

Here is a loving baby blessing without religious references.

You are
The best baby
The most beautiful
Best baby

You are
Usually joyful
Sometimes tearful
Occasionally fearful
Always delightful

Your smile
Is sunshine
Blooming and beaming
Laughing or screaming
Shining across a sea of smiles
You make me smile
You make us all smile

This blessing is for you
Best baby
It is our gift to you

Because you are the loveliest
We hold you in our arms
And smile
And our hearts
And smile
And bless you
And smile
And love you
Best baby

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Waiting for Connection – At the Wrong End of the Phone

Many years of many lives are spent waiting for phone connection to the doctor’s receptionist to get an answer to a simple question, like ‘when do I go for the blood test?’ 

Before reaching a human voice, a number of things must be navigated – including the music from hell and a voice that says “You are number eight in the queue…please hold.” Here’s my poem charting the slow journey to be made before connection.

Request for Connection… To the Quack’s Reception

For ten minutes I wait
I’m number eight
There is a queue
I’m told
‘Please hold’

The music’s sad and bad
I’m told
‘Please hold’

Time passes
I’m number seven
I’m getting older
Like indigestion
The music repeats
I’m told
‘Please hold’

As I become six
I realise
I’m a number
Not a person
I had 10 symptoms before
Now I have 15
I’m told
‘Please hold’

What’s happening in the world?
Two wars have been declared 
Night-time falls in Shanghai
The music is merciless
I’m told
‘Please hold’

Five miles away
Somebody scores five goals
500 babies are born
A new symphony is composed
Guess what?
I’m told
‘Please hold’

Are others in the queue in pain?
Who came before me?
Abraham? Isaac? Minnehaha?
Grandma Moses?

Soon my prayers will be answered
I’m number four
All will be well
Though the music is hell
Yes, and you guessed
I’m told
‘Please hold’

Yippee
I’m number three
A voice somewhere says
‘Please hold’

Time crawls!
The music appals
I’m told
‘Please hold’

I’m through
A one-minute chat
It’s a lucky day
For the one after me

Nobody
Told me to say
‘Hip! Hip! Hooray’
Anyway…
But I do
‘Thank you!’ 

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Prayer for 2024

There are so many avenues
For prayer

Tree lined walks
Streets shattered by bombs
Secret pathways through the jungle

There are so many people
To pray for

Hungry children
The vulnerable

There are so many prayers
That must be spoken
And also thought about…
Asked 
Written
Broadcasted

Prayers for our planet
Its air, earth, water, fire
Its species
Animals, life forms, humans, nature

This is a year
When prayers must be loud
Universal
Passionate
Meaningful
Heartfelt

Let us pray 
And then give thanks
Knowing that they will be heard
That loving positive change 
Will come in this year – 2024

Amen

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Christmas Blessing


Walk from the darkness of the longest night
Into the gift of shortest day
And let your heart radiate love

The snow on the hills
The wind from the North
The kiss of a snowflake on your cheek
The warmth of a fire
We remember them all

Ours myths and stories touch us
Carrying the memories of miracles
A flickering candle reminds us
That even when old…
We are young

Between the belief of children
And the disbelief of the material
Let us greet this season with love
Greet the darkness and light
The traditions, the music
Sorrow and laughter

We have entered the hour of compassion
Generosity and love
This is the moment when we see beauty
In nature, spirit, life and death
This is the moment when we open up to love

May we be blessed at Christmas
May all be blessed at Christmas

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