ja_mageia

The last year of the decade draws to a close offering the customary opportunity to review significant moments from the past year and emerging patterns in life.  This has been a year of 'steady consolidation' during which the personal growth developments of recent years have become more established in life, whilst other new challenges have also arisen.

Not only does the work/life balance continue to shift, but the nature of "work" also continues to evolve.  The intellectual consulting work with organisations reduces (more due to declining interest on my part than the recession) whilst the personal and spiritual work with individuals and groups grows steadily.  My heart is increasingly drawn to the inner spiritual work of healing and growth with others, rather than in the intellectual mind-work of professional consulting and managing.

I continue to work with several hospices around their management and governance issues and I have completed a couple of contracts with sports governing bodies. Throughout the year I have worked for the Interfaith Foundation on the development and launch of the new Interfaith Ministers Association which has grown steadily in interest and membership since April; this role will continue and evolve during 2010.

The number of bodywork and counselling clients has continued to grow throughout the year.  Whilst in Bali in July, I learned more massage techniques in Balinese oil, hot stones and Shiatsu.  The Gay Spirit retreat was well attended and we are planning three related events in 2010.  There are new opportunities for teaching, workshop leading, one-to-one work.  This is the area of personal and spiritual development that my training and interest has been leading me towards and to which my inner energies are most closely drawn.

There have been five travel adventures to the Algarve, Madeira, Bali, and to the north and south of Thailand.  Old and new personal friendships and intimacies have grown during the year and are llikely to figure significantly in the year ahead.  Finding the balance between close relationships with others and my own inner growth and awakening is a recurring paradox that is exciting to explore more deeply.

As the year ends, there are some big unknowns and uncertainties - about some essential repair work to my house, about where to live in future, about the work with others that I am drawn to, about returning to Asia, about simplifying my life, about leaving the past histories behind, about fulfilling my life in each present moment.  I am being challenged to experience living in the unknown and the uncertain - without personal control and without customary attachments and order.  It promises to be another interesting time of self-discovery!

Books of the year: The Book of Silence by Sara Maitland, The Power of Kabbalah by Yehuda Berg, and The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga.

Inspiring places of the year: Tanah Lot and Ubud in Bali; the Golden Triangle of Thailand/Myanmar/Laos; the high plateau of Madeira; the labyrinth on the beach at Ko Yao Yai.

Reflective questions as the year ends:

1. How are we - individually and collectively - to restore our planet to balance, particularly with regard to energy (mis)use?
2. How can we each shift from a material and consumerist approach to life, to one based on human respect and heart-centred connection with all others?  What is my contribution to this shift?
3. Where am I being led to serve through my life as all the changes evolve around me?