‘May you listen to your longing to be free
May the frames of your belonging be generous enough for your dreams
May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart.
May you find harmony between your soul and your life
May the Sanctuary of your soul never become haunted
May you know the eternal longing that lives at the heart of time
May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within
May you never place walls between the light and yourself
May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you, mind you and embrace you in belonging. ‘
John O Donohue, For Belonging , ‘To Bless the space between us’ 2008
Belonging.
To Belong.
To feel at home.
To feel safe.
To belong in my own skin, my body and feel comfortable in my mind
To belong in my spirit.
Isn’t that what we all, deep down want?
To be in a place of peace, of rest, of calm.
A place to belong. To be seen.
I love the line in the blessing above, ‘May there be kindness in your gaze, as you look within’
Kindness in my self directed gaze. Kindness.
Not rushing to the immediate reaction of angst, pain, self loathing, denial. But taking a slower, heart directed route, kindness.
Making the choice of self compassion. One, slow, step, at a time.
As I look within. As I feel within.
Belonging to myself.
A self warm heart and hug.
Belonging.
Self-belonging.
Kindness and not a self critical eye.
Kindness and not a dismissive eye.
But looking, and then reminding myself of the choice to be kind to myself. How I can show belonging to myself.
James Ballantyne 
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