Drinking Tea

It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor

Tea is a beverage enjoyed by all.

Savour the taste and sip away

You may like herbal or prefer Earl Grey.

In a cup and saucer or mug if you like

Fill your thermos and go for a hike.

One cup of tea from the minute you rise 

Will have you happy, alert and wise.

Julie Annette

Drink your tea slowly and reverently,

as if it is the axis on which the world

Earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without

rushing toward the future.

Live the actual moment.

Only this moment is life.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Monk

The Eucalyptus Tree

I lay beneath your canopy admiring your silvery leaves

Before a wash of sky, I rest in spellbound ease

Your foliage so appeasing in shades of blue and green

Diffusing your balmy oils thus palliative and serene

Supplying me with oxygen, guarding my precious wealth

Reducing air’s pollution - essential to human health

You shed your outer ribbons of bark in summer each year

Revealing a radiant surface so colourful, smooth and sheer

Fundamentally affording Koalas substantial, nourishing feed

Generously protecting wildlife, providing homes and seed

Native flowers ooze nectar, attracting swarms of bees

Birds peck at gumnut pits, devour them easy as peas

So grounded and assured as your roots do fondly creep

Embracing Mother Earth connected, strong and deep

Instagram: Julie Annette
Facebook: Conveying Gratitude

Thank My Lucky Stars

These past two nights have left me totally energised, uplifted and yearning to write to my heart’s content…. and for this I thank my lucky stars, literally!

Night One Thursday June 28:

Feeling a little weary and unsure of myself on this particular night, I attended one of my beautiful yoga instructor’s nourishing events.

Tara @ True Nature Yoga often runs a transformation class to coincide with various astronomical happenings. This night’s event involved paying gratitude and nourishing our mind and body with a cosy winter theme, in view of the full moon.

As usual, the event involved a short philosophical briefing, followed by a gentle yoga practice before settling my body within the comfort of warm blankets, cushions, eye pillows and a mist of blended, calming essential oils. Then with Tara’s guided meditation and celestial music humming in the background, my mind and body drifted into a space of peace and calm. A beautiful place to be.

I particularly enjoy Tara’s full moon events because the yoga moves are lenient and feminine and it allows me to truly go within myself, unwind and let go of emotional worry and thoughts that usually amplify during the full moon phase.

At the conclusion of Tara’s class, I drove home feeling so much lighter, energised, with a clearer mind and wonderfully relaxed body… like a weight had been lifted.

Night Two Friday June 29:

A very dear friend invited me to join him to visit The Gravity Discovery Centre Observatory in Gin Gin to observe the night’s sky.

The GDC, fondly called “The Leaning Tower of Gin Gin” is one of those places where I’d say “I must go there one day” but never made the time, so I was “over the moon” to finally be going!

Some years back in Uluru, I attended “Sounds of Silence” with my son Brad where we were fortunate to view the planet Saturn and the Milky Way through a telescope. I have never forgotten how spectacular that night in the desert was and have boasted about it ever since.

Now, on this winter's night in Gin Gin, with the temperature estimated to be 6 degrees Celsius, the sky clear and Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury all lined up! We were in for a great show!

Our guides were fantastic and we joined a lovely group of keen star gazes including young children and elderly folk (like me and my friend Alan).

Naturally, our brightest, sacred, sister planet Venus was shining down, gracing the skies in her usual glory. The planet of inspiration for writers and poets. Interesting to learn that Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system. Her surface is also unable to be seen in visible light, due to layers of highly reflective clouds shrouding her mass.

Jewel Box Cluster

We viewed the Kappa Crucis Cluster, fondly known as the “Jewel Box Cluster” through the lens of the first telescope. Amazing colours of red, green and yellow shone like tiny fragments of diamonds and gems. It really did look like a box of jewels.

On the second telescope we viewed the second largest planet Saturn, apparently big enough to hold 760 planet Earths. The rings of water and ice that travel up to speeds of 1,800 kilometres an hour were certainly visible and we were able to get photos on our phones through the telescopic lens.

I have to admit that Saturn was not as illuminated as I saw it in Uluru. Maybe this was due to Saturn being visibly close to our full moon of 98% - thus casting too much light throughout the sky, whereas in Uluru there was hardly any moon at the time I was there.

Nevertheless, Saturn is an amazing planet and remarkable to know, he is less dense than water, so if we could find a big enough bathtub to hold Saturn… he would float!

Our bright illuminous moon was crystal clear and were all able to snap some great images through the telescopic lens.

As Mars came into view we were able to focus in on the reddish, brown planet, though he was a little fuzzy and not all that exciting. I then began to realise why Men are from Mars and Women from Venus.

Peering through the telescope to view Jupiter however, just blew me away!
Witnessing the coloured bands covering his surface and three of his four Galilean moons shining so vibrantly bright was truly unexpected.

Sighting a moon to each side and one creeping over from behind planet Jupiter was a truly extraordinary and surreal experience for me. Amazing to know that these moons were discovered in 1610 by the famous astronomer Galileo.

So, I’m really considering purchasing my own telescope now, but I know for certain I will be attending and travelling through space to witness more significant events in our universe through the GDC Observatory. I thoroughly recommend this venue to all those who love star gazing.

Julie Annette

Journal of Gratitude

Throughout the years I have written and retained numerous journals;

Day to day journals – like most of us, where appointments and occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries etc., are recorded.

Travel journals – commemorating my holidays, activities and cultural journeys. Whether I travel near or far, there is always something that captivates my senses and rouses my need to write. These are wonderful mementos to treasure. 

Gratitude Journals – I regard these as my personal collection of bibles, where I record experiences and gifts I am thankful for.
As I ponder through some of my entries from years gone by, I am reminded of many heart-warming and gratifying moments I shall always cherish.

Keeping a Gratitude Journal

It has been said, that the practice of writing down your thoughts, is an ideal way to express appreciation and gratitude for daily occurrences in your life. Maintaining this regular exercise, can lead to improved health, less anxiety and an optimistic approach to life.

Sometimes we endure days where we may feel irritated, frustrated and often wanting “more” instead of feeling content and satisfied with what we already have. Particularly on days like these, we need to pause for a few minutes and acknowledge everything we do have that truly matters. This helps alter our attitude, where we feel calmer, grateful and happier within ourselves and further develops a positive outlook to life.

Acceptance

How can anyone be happier with more, if they don’t appreciate what they already have? Happiness does not bring gratitude - only gratitude brings happiness and contentment. 

Why not kick off 2018 by beginning your very own Gratitude Journal!

Your daily entries may comprise of anything from the chat you shared with a dear friend over a cup of tea to your recent overseas holiday. It could even include a treasured gift someone gave you, an act of kindness, a peaceful walk along the beach or your baby’s first word.

Sometimes I jot down a quote or affirmation that I have read and liked or I even make up my own. You may even like to sketch some entries and add colour and description to your posts. It all comes down to how you feel on that particular day… it is all part of your journey.

A quote by Audrey Hepburn that I love

All you need to start with is a blank page in any notebook or journal of your choice, a pen or pencil in whatever colour or colours you desire and a gracious heart.

Find a nice quiet place to sit for a few minutes and bring awareness, as this is a wonderful mindful meditation practice. Tune into your inner self and give thanks for anything that you feel grateful for.

My Lucky Bamboo

What a wonderful gift to yourself at the end of the year, to go back through your entries, recall and reminisce over your own little book of gratitude!

There are some beautiful journals available in stores and they also make delightful gifts.