I attend a meditation circle once a month which is themed – invariably accurately for me each time – to focus the attention and the insight sought; this month, as we enter autumn, the theme was preservation and we were invited to explore what we felt needing preserving in our lives and equally, perhaps more importantly in my case, what we could give ourselves permission NOT to preserve.

It came to me during our first round of silence and inner connection that I MUST preserve the “big picture”, the essence and reason behind the major transitions currently in progress in my life (moving to Sussex and re-defining my career…amongst other things) so that during the tumultuous change I might remember the “why” behind the “what, without getting lost in the “how”!

And when it came to that which I DO NOT need to preserve, it became very clear that it is my old belief system that can be let go; the 20 year old story of how it is that I can make a living – the one that I’ve been wishing to shed and keep hold of in equal measure. No preservatives are required to store these outdated ideas. It is time to let them fall away with the passing season. Nor do I need to preserve my long held fear of failure and all the baggage that comes with it; the excuses, the avoidance and the indecision.

I have told them directly but I would also like to tell the ether (wherever it takes the message) that I am deeply grateful to all those in the circle for holding the space, for acknowledging my words and, ultimately, for showing me that I have permission to LET GO of the old beliefs and that I can, and should, SAVOUR my big picture.

And so here I go, stepping into the fire! Feeling the fear…and doing it anyway!!!

P.S. Susan Jeffers’ seminal book, on the very subject, bought to re-read as practical support on the journey ;-)