harmony

Are friends as important as family?

Family are given to you but friends you get the opportunity to choose.

Family often love you unconditionally and stay with you throughout your life.

Friends often stay for a period in your life and then drift away. However I have noticed really close friends stay for the duration.

Some friendships are as close and as strong as a blood tie. They can be based on a common interest or less obvious things like the same sense of humour, life values or the joy of giving and receiving.

The picture of the three flowers represent me and my two closet friends. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Silence: does it help calm our brains and give well-being?

Many people do not value silence. I have found it to be comforting, nourishing and cosy.

The noisy world is drowning out our creativity and our inner connection. Noise effects our brains causing elevated levels of stress hormones even when we are sleeping. When I was a busy, working Mum most of my day was with other people and their noise. Being on my own in silence was refreshing.

In 2011, the World Health Organisation (WHO) concluded that the 340 million residents of Western Europe (about the population of the United States), were losing a million years of healthy life every year, due to noise. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Send love to someone you cannot meet

I am learning from giving virtual reiki sessions over WhatsApp in lockdown London, that distance is absolutely no problem for energy. My friends and customers are amazed that it feels the same as when I am in the same room as them.

Love is intelligent energy and has no bounds.

So with this post of the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, London I am sending my love to my friend Hitomi in Tokyo. Normally she visits us every other year but she has not been able to come due to the virus. Hitomi, we are missing you and hope we can meet again sometime soon. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Rumi’s Reflection Journal: join Alison Wem on her journey as she experiences the Covid pandemic

Many of us feel constrained by the attempts of our governments to control the virus – lockdowns, curfews, isolation from our loved ones.

We are never really alone. Going within and reflecting opens up a whole new world. While meditation calms us, I have found having something to reflect on and to sense my own feelings, is a constructive practice that helps me to re-connect with the wisdom of my soul.

To help me with my reflections on Rumi’s poetry, I have chosen to use Paper Trail’s book – Rumi’s Reflection Journal. It gives me individual Rumi quotes to consider. Thank you Paper Trail. read more

By Alison Wem, ago

Soul Map: 7 steps to understanding you and your life

Examples of student soul maps

Need a soul map?

For Alison Wem, that realisation came in the early hours as, newly widowed with children and a demanding job, she confronted her anguish – and found a space of calmness and route to strength, love and guidance.

Follow 7 easy-to-do steps to create your soul map, a route to your ‘inner you’– your sub-conscious mind, higher self or soul, depending on your beliefs.  Gain insight into who you are and where your life is going. Identify who is on this journey with you and how you are helping each other with learning life lessons. read more

By Alison Wem, ago