Joys of Being

By Tanis Helliwell

“If the “Know Thyself” of the oracle were an easy thing, it would not be held to be a divine injunction.” 

— Plutarch

February is here quicker this year and I’m not ready for it. One part of me is in awe of the cherry tree blooming outside my window heralding spring and life at this dark time of year. Another part of me wants to withdraw to meditate, read spiritual books and allow all concerns to dissolve. This is the part that is—unlike the cherry tree—not ready to bloom yet. I need time to sit by a fire with a cup of tea with no deadlines to meet.

To me, the joy of winter is allowing ourselves time to hibernate, to go inside and not to push ourselves into productivity. If we listen to our body and soul this is usually what they want to do.

A Perfect Day of Being

I need a few weeks just for being and not doing. For me a perfect day would be to wake up slowly and allow myself to drowse and not worry about the clock telling me to get up. On awakening I’ll take time to meditate- a chance to reclaim my centre and enter the stillness that is ripe with possibilities. Then when my body signals hunger I’ll eat a leisurely breakfast in my bathrobe—fresh Florida grapefruit and porridge would be perfect. With a full tummy I’ll take a long shower with absolutely no concern for running out of hot water. Following this I’ll curl into the sofa with a good spiritual book.

Over lunch I might give a fleeting thought to organizing my day while knowing beforehand that opening my mail is all the work that I’m going to do that day. Everything else can wait. And now because it’s early afternoon and the light is so precious I go for a leisurely reflective stroll in the forest tromping through muddy puddles and greeting dogs of all sorts and their owners on their walk.

Leaving the forest as the light dims I slowly drive to the local fish market to buy salmon for dinner and then walk along the street to my favourite grocery store where I buy healthy organic vegetables. I have time to greet and even visit with everyone. I am in no rush to go anywhere. Walking down the darkening street of my neighbourhood I feel in tune with it. Not being a shopper I seldom look in store windows but today I enjoy looking at them and am astounded that I’ve not really seen them for months. I was just too busy to notice.

Carrying my bag of food I slowly walk home down a street I never see, past homes I never look because I usually take the quickest route. How lovely and interesting they are and how gentle is the light rain that is starting to fall. With no concern for getting wet I relax into the soft wetness on my face and breathe in the moisture.

Entering my home I turn on the lights and feel cocooned by its coziness. I have a lovely meal and a cozy night by the fire reading and listening to soft music in the background. A little piece of heaven this day. A day of being in the world with no concern for doing. The joy of this feeds me in a way that my work—much though I love it—can’t.

I feel deeply that if I give myself permission for these days of deep rest and being that more energy and creativity will well up in me for productivity in my work when the season is right. The cherry tree in my backyard, the harbinger of spring, is my reminder of this while I sink into the stillness and peace of winter.

Tanis Helliwell, a mystic in the modern world, has brought spiritual consciousness into the mainstream for over 30 years. Since childhood, she has seen and heard elementals, angels, and master teachers in higher dimensions. Tanis is the founder of the International Institute for Transformation (IIT), which offers programs to assist individuals to become conscious creators to work with the spiritual laws that govern our world.

Tanis is the author of The High Beings of Hawaii, Summer with the Leprechauns, Pilgrimage with the Leprechauns, Embraced by Love, Manifest Your Soul’s Purpose, Hybrids: So You Think You Are Human and Decoding Your Destiny.

For information on Tanis’ courses, click here.