Hi Compassionates,
Goodness hasn’t it turned a little chilli?! Isn’t it enough to make you want to curl up into a tight ball and stay warm under the duvet cover? Well that’s completely natural as there’s only four days to go until the start of winter, when our beautiful planet tilts even further away from the sun, and nights continue to lengthen, days shorten, and the natural world slows and slumbers as temperatures drop. Many of our small furry friends will be slipping into a state of stupor or hibernation right now to store energy for the coming months. Can you close your eyes and picture in your mind a cute hedgehog, bat, or dormouse, curled up and having happy, sweet dreams? Awwww that’s a lovely thought, so let’s hold on to that, and also cast our minds back to the season of Autumn and reminisce on good times.
Some of my favourite mindful moments during the season of Autumn were definitely spent watching squirrels in both the garden and whilst exploring Epping Forest. As they scurried around burying their cache for winter months, the thought popped into my mind about their importance for the natural regeneration of forests, and this later inspired our nature and mindfulness sessions at Highams during the month of October. We pedalled to the park with the cargo trailer, pitched a tent under a splendid oak tree, and worked with the local community in true planet compassion style. We helped children to imagine, explore and create as a way of inspiring oneness. As children searched for acorns, they witnessed the splendid array of changing colours, burnt orange, and crimson tree’s bathed in what appeared to be everlasting sunshine. Perhaps some of those acorns have now been buried by our furry friends, so let’s keep our eyes peeled for seedlings in Spring!
As the weather did eventually change, Autumn showers kicked in, making the perfect recipe for creating happy, wet and soggy memories with children at Alderton Infants school. Forest school fun happens in all weathers, so the children discovered 🙂 As the heavens opened, they explored their soggy surroundings, collecting loose parts on a scavenger hunt, for making Autumn potions, and arts and crafts. Bug hunting was also big hit as usual, as small creatures were awoken from their stupor with fumbling fingers, and popped into pots to be studied with a curious eye. The wet and cold weather definitely reminded us ALL of the important saying, ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.’ So let’s remember to stay warm in coming months, by layering up, and wearing waterproofs. Let’s build our resilience and keep smiling in all weathers!! 🙂
Cycling through Epping Forest in the wet and cold over the past few months has definitely helped to build my resilience too. My sprits well and truly lifted by the changing colours – they were spectacular!! It also provided an opportunity to practice some further mindfulness, and notice the abundance of litter strewn on the verges of the forest and other green spaces in the borough of Waltham Forest. Safe to say that plastic bottles have been recovered, tucked into my rucksack, ready to be recycled as mindful rockets in planet compassion sessions to come. Watch this space!!
Sincere gratitude to everyone that has collaborated and supported planet compassion enterprise this year, it’s been truly amazing. Wishing you a very happy Christmas and winter. Sending compassionate vibes your way.
Little Miss Compassion xxx
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