#presnt

I write quite a lot about presence. I think a lot about presence, being present, and all kinds of related being in the moment kinds of musings.

Of course words like presence and present can have multiple meanings can't they? I recently read a book called Consider the Ravens. It's about the history as well as the recent revival of interest in hermits and ways of living the hermit life.

If you are even remotely interested in living more in solitude, more simply and sustainably, more spiritually focused, then I can't recommend this book highly enough.

I'd like to share with you a paragraph from that book. It both describes some characteristics found in hermits and their way of life, as well as introducing us to a lovely phrase concerning the concept of presence.

Are hermits escapist? Yes. Is running away a bad thing? Like most choices it's value is determined by its purpose. There are men and women who are selfishly seeking a sanctuary untouched by human pain. But there are others who deliberately choose to be powerless [in the eyes of the world], to live simply, and to use no more than their fare share of the world's resources. They elect to be unknown, hidden, forgotten. And the goal? To become transparent to the Divine, or as [one hermit] succinctly phrased it: 'to be always present to the Presence'.

I like that phrase; it's what I'm aiming at. Actually, no. That's not right: you can't aim at being present, you can't have presence as a goal to be attained in the future. All you can do is be. Be present in the presence.

And it doesn't matter what you call it: Presence; Truth; Reality; God; the Universe; the Cosmic Reality. They're only names for that unnameable essence that can be called the Love that is in reality everything.

It's that essence beyond all names - and forms. It's what we sense is behind, above, and within all that exists in the material world.

And, like a lot of people, I want to withdraw from that world of materialism; from the greed, the corruption, the cruelty and wilful ignorance, the ... well, you get the point. My sense, and it is echoed in the quote, is that presence is to be found in silence, and in solitude.

Of course it's not necessary to be a hermit to be present - or to be present in the Presence. After all, few people believe they can go find a cave somewhere and withdraw totally from the world. (maybe it's the belief that's the problem?)

So, what to do? Pauline said something once that she made into a little card that now sits where we can see it all the time:

Yes. Be present and the direction will present itself.

Perfect #Christmas #gift for a little one you may know! You can find this #Fidget #Spinner on our website and get it #delivered to your door just in time for the #holidays!

I was given a hogwarts letter, with knight bus and train ticket, mini marauders map and a diagon alley map. Also a cute cuddly owl and a home made card with all my fandoms.