The First Day of Spring: An Invitation to Bloom from Within

A pink blossom appeared on the plum tree this morning.

From dormant, woody branches, 

Suddenly vibrant new growth.

The tree doesn’t overthink. It simply responds.

Sensing the subtle shift in weather,

It follows an ancient pattern written into the DNA of its’ seed.

Growth. Cross-pollination. Fruit. Rest. Regeneration.

No rigid plan. No linear system. 

Just a quiet trust in its inner knowing.

A gentle movement toward the light.

Trusting the inner wisdom of your heart, 

What new creation does this spring invite?

Beyond Myth. Simply seeing the Rainbow.

A symbol of divine grace.
A guide to the pot of gold.
A reminder of the unseen properties of light.

Rainbows are woven into countless stories across cultures.

This afternoon, as I paused to watch one stretch across the sky, I was reminded of all the poems, fables and meanings.

Then, setting stories aside, I simply stood still in the presence of the rainbow and soaked it in. No legend, no explanation.

And in that moment, I realised, the rainbow doesn’t need a story. Its beauty alone is enough to move the human heart.

As much fun as storytelling can be, sometimes things are best enjoyed for what they are.

Stage Anxiety to Flow: Lessons from an Open Mic Night

Last Thursday I dusted off the guitar and hopped on stage at the local Surfcoast open mic.

I’ve played in front of people before, so I had some prior experience. I knew that unless the crowd of open mic aficionados turned feral, I’d probably survive. But it had been a long time between gigs, and the nerves were very real.

In the past, I’ve had a strange problem when playing live.  My left hand would cramp up, making it almost impossible to keep holding guitar chords. At home I could play for hours with no issue, but in public the hand seemed to betray me. I later realised it was related to performance anxiety, the guitarist’s version of the golfer’s “yips,” where involuntary spasms make the simplest actions impossible.

Driving down the highway towards the Bells Beach Brewery, I noticed the same familiar tightening in my left hand as I gripped the steering wheel.

Instead of resisting it, I tried something new. Using the “letting go technique,” I brought awareness to my hand and forearm. Rather than fighting the tension, I leaned into it, observed it, and even spoke to it. I thanked my hand for trying to keep me safe. Then I reminded it that what we were about to do, making music, was safe, life giving and something we were allowed to do.

Almost instantly, the tension dissolved. And for the rest of the night, it didn’t return.

It’s incredible how the body keeps score, quietly carrying old fears, beliefs, and limitations. But when we bring awareness to those signals, they can become invitations. Invitations to re-shape our personal story, to clear mental clutter, and open new space for creativity.

The open mic itself was a joy. The other performers were polished, the venue was welcoming, and the host, Kristy, kept the night flowing with generosity and warmth. Best of all, the music felt natural again. No cramps, no yips. Just music.

Where could your body be inviting you to expand your comfort zone?

Riding or resisting the invisible forces around us.

A surfboard is quite similar in shape to an airplane wing, especially my “flex flight” long board.  This morning, climbing the stairs from the beach, a sudden gust of wind nearly lifted me off my feet. 

It brought back a memory from years ago when a wild gust snatched my mate Browny’s board from the grass and catapulted it into a picnic table, leaving a deep crack in the blue-and-yellow fiberglass.

  Wind, while invisible, is an incredible force. When harnessed intentionally by a sail or kite it propels the courageous sailor towards their destination at incredible speeds.

  Similarly, the invisible currents of creativity and change often take us by surprise. Sometimes we lean in and let them move us. Other times, like this morning, we narrow ourselves, slicing through the force, staying steady on course.

Either way, the wind always passes. Stillness returns. The question is: how will we choose to respond while it blows?

Transform the state of your home with clean windows.

Our windows have quite tricky to remove flyscreens. Those flyscreens trap dust, cobwebs, and bugs.

Once removed, the windows can be cleaned, and what was once obscured becomes clear. More light enters our home. It feels lighter inside.

This shift in mood is quite a remarkable payoff for such a simple task.

As winter transitions to spring, we could all use a  little clarity for the season ahead.

Where in your life could a little “window cleaning” help you see things more clearly?

How Your Breath Connects You to Divine Creative Power

An abrupt fall that knocks the wind out of you, or a moment held too long beneath the water, quickly restores reverence for the simple act of breathing.

From the moment we arrive in this world to the day we leave, breath is our steady companion. On average, we take 20,000 breaths a day, most without a second thought. Yet for thousands of years, wisdom traditions have recognised breath as a sacred thread, binding us to the transformational power of the divine.

When the author of Genesis writes, God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,” it’s more than poetry, it’s ancient wisdom echoing what neuroscience now confirms.

Modern research shows that breath can regulate the nervous system in as little as 90 seconds. By slowing and lengthening your exhale, you can shift from stress to calm, from survival to presence.

The mystics always knew: your breath is the fastest pathway to both nervous system regulation and spiritual awareness.

Your next inhale is an invitation to return home.

Compassion, Acceptance and when to walk away from tricky people.

You know the feeling when someone steps into the room and the vibe changes? You may notice your breath become shallow, the hair on the back of your neck prickles and your stomach tenses.  Before the conscious mind has a chance to identify why, your body has alerted you to the presence of a potentially tricky person. 

Julia Cameron, in The Artists’ Way, calls them crazymakers. Psychologist Andrew Fuller calls them “Tricky people.” Whatever the name, you can be sure if you live in proximity to other humans, you’ll inevitably cross paths with a few. At work, in the community, even in your own family.

  The more centred we are in our nervous system’s home base, the more attuned we are to intuition. Our inner radar picks up on the erratic energy of the tricky person even before the crazymaking starts.

In those moments, we may choose compassion, acceptance or conciliation. Sometimes this softens the other, helping them feel safe in our presence. At other times, even kindness may be misread as a threat.

That’s when walking away, “shaking the dust off our feet,”  becomes essential. Not just for safety, but to preserve integrity and protect the steady ground our nervous system needs to support the creative work calling us forward.

What helps you know when it’s time to stay and when it’s time to walk away?

How to Play Like a Dolphin for Nervous System Health and Regulation

As I sat watching the horizon for signs of the next wave, two dolphins appeared.

Side by side, they gathered speed, riding the energy of the ocean swell. Their eyes seemed to smile with delight as they glided by. Dolphins don’t rearrange their day to fit in a surf. They tune in to the energy of the ocean and ride the swell as it invites them.

How can we benefit from playing like dolphins?

When my son asks, “Dad, can you play with me?” my mind often finds excuses to delay or avoid playing. These excuses usually fall into two broad categories:

• I’m too busy
  
  

• I’m too tired
  
  

The too busy excuse often stems from activity in the sympathetic nervous system, a sign I’m tipping towards a state of over-activation. Perhaps a little anxiety is creeping in as I think about my to-do list.

The too tired excuse usually comes from a nervous system leaning into dorsal vagal, resisting connection and attempting to conserve energy.

Saying yes to the invitation to play is the first step toward centering the nervous system in ventral vagal. As we play, our system rides the wave of shared energy, joy, and connection—leaving us feeling calm, connected, and regulated.

What if, like a dolphin responding to the energy of the ocean, you said yes to an opportunity to engage in play with spontaneity and joy?

Your Body Knows Before You Do

“Why did you turn here?” my wife used to ask.

I never had a logical answer. It just happened, exit the freeway early, take the roundabout left instead of straight ahead.

Life works like that too. Sometimes we follow the nudge and find magic. Other times, we ignore it and learn the hard way.

Science says your brain can process 11 million bits of information a second, but your conscious mind only catches 40 or 50 bits. The rest lives in your body, quietly scanning for safety, opportunity, and alignment.

When we strengthen our connection to the body through mindfulness, meditation, and movement  in nature, we fine tune this inner intuition. When we trust it, creativity flows, choices feel lighter, and the path ahead opens with ease.

What’s your body whispering to you today?

The Hidden Messages Your Body Sends Your Brain (And How Stillness Helps You Hear Them)

Stillness is not the absence of movement, it’s the moment we begin noticing what is already moving inside us.

Polyvagal theory reveals that around 80% of communication between the brain and the rest of the body via the vagus nerve flows from the body to the brain. This means our thoughts are shaped subconsciously by bodily signals such as emotions, sensations, and physiological changes, often without our conscious recognition.

Sitting in silent meditation allows us to tune into these messages. By noticing the sensations in the body, we can recognize which part of the nervous system is most active. Are we feeling restlessness or agitation, suggesting our sympathetic nervous system may be activated? Do we notice dullness or fatigue, indicating the dorsal vagal state has applied the brakes? Or is there a calm, peaceful presence, suggesting the ventral vagal system is guiding the experience?

Checking in with ourselves a few times throughout the day and allowing the system to regulate and settle, provides the nurturing environment we need to centre ourselves, quiet the mind, and live from the compassionate, grounded presence that exists within all of us.

Stillness becomes less about stopping and more about listening to what is already moving within.

What message is your body sending you right now?

Listening with presence

Listening, really listening to somebody is a great gift and a skill.

 This week, I completed week 6 of the free Palouse Mindfulness, “Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program.”  The informal mindfulness practice for this week was listening. Practicing mindful presence, tuning into the speaker, setting aside our own agenda, letting go of the need to respond or control. Just listen.

  The practice of active listening, really tuning in to others is a practice I was introduced to years ago while studying pastoral counselling skills. With all of the fancy modalities, theories and frameworks that have become popular in counselling, it is both humbling and reassuring to be reminded of the power of simple attunement. 

  Whether in the context of a professional or personal relationship, the power of lending a listening ear, setting aside judgment and allowing the speaker to unfold is at the heart of genuine connection.

How awareness of the nervous system unlocks the ancient path to Wu Wei or effortless action.

The idea of Wu Wei is intoxicating.

 Imagine having the ability to act in harmony with the universe, without forcing or straining, allowing action to arise spontaneously from a deeply grounded state of presence.  Attaining this state of being is available to all of us. It’s embedded in our nervous system.

  As we hone our ability to listen to the messages our nervous system is sending us, we improve our ability to identify what part of the system is driving our thoughts and actions.  Are we moving toward fight or flight, or perhaps we are starting to shut down in response to the situatioh either at hand or in our mind?

  With practice we learn the cues, both internal and external that help guide us back to ventral vagal state, the state of presence, safety, connection and creativity.

I’ve noticed I often drop into ventral vagal while performing mundane tasks such as chopping wood or doing the dishes. In these moments, solutions to problems or creative ideas seem to spring forth effortlessly. I also noticed this week that a little distraction, such as a calm lecture playing in the background, while I play guitar allows new musical ideas to emerge.

  What cues or activities have you noticed that drop you into ventral vagal state? How can these be paired with creative work to achieve effortless action?

  Ventral vagal is the home of Wu Wei.

Why Your High School Playlist Holds the Key to Reclaiming Your Creative Fire in Your 40s

I’ve heard from a probably reliable source, that the music you listen to in high school tends to shape your musical preferences and stay with you throughout your life.

  Perhaps it’s the emotional charge of adolescence, the intrinsic drive to create new social bonds, express individual identity, explore romantic relationships, get laid.  The pivotal years between childhood and becoming an adult set to a soundtrack that reflects who you want to be.

  Lately I’ve been playing covers of some of the music that shaped my late high school years. Covers from bands like Millencolin, Goldfinger and MxPx.  The message in this music is clear;  There’s an authority class in society that tries to draw the line for everyone else to toe.  They want to tell you how to dress, how to act and what to do.  

  Punk music says, “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.”- (even if Rage said it best).  But for many of us, the years roll by, the responsibilities pile up and we find ourselves inching closer and closer to that line we so passionately swore we’d never cross.

At 40, with the pivotal midlife crisis years knocking at the door, the punk rock energy of our youth has a resounding truth.  Midlife can be just another resignation, settling for the comfort of the status quo. But if the lyrics ring true, Midlife can also be an opportunity. An opportunity to reclaim personal power, rekindle the fire within, get creative and reimagine the unfulfilled dreams of our youth.  I’m passionate about reclaiming that fire, that’s why I’ve signed up for an open mic, started writing songs and decided to share the journey online. If you’re with me;

Start the band.

Write the songs.

Go paint a wall

Make the thing.

With love, Mark

Safe Enough

Safe enough to do something great.

Safe enough to fail.

Safe enough to set a course,

Not knowing where to sail.

Safe enough to breath deeply.

Safe enough to sigh.

Safe enough to ask the question.

Safe enough to cry.

Check out Chicks

Self serve check outs at the local supermarket remind me of my first job.

The front end operator or ‘check out chick’ as it used to be referred to ( hey, boys can scan groceries too!) is nearing extinction.

Apparently customers are capable of scanning their own groceries, under video surveillance of course.

New technology is rapidly replacing jobs where we learned to simply “do the time” in return for a pay check. 

So what’s next?

Beauty and Meaning

Beauty and meaning are intrinsically intertwined.

A delicate dance, between seen and unseen.

Beauty engages the senses, evokes emotion.

Meaning is bestowed upon the thing by the beholder.

Sometimes, it’s enough to stand in awe of beauty.

To allow the mind to be quiet, free of narration.

Sometimes, it’s enough to create beautiful things.

Wise Choosing

When we choose from the wellspring of our heart beauty arises.

Choice stems from an open heart, vagal tone, trust within.

The wave to ride, the note to play, the word to speak.

Wise choice curates beauty out of chaos.

A new path

“It’s always darkest before the dawn.”- Thomas Fuller. 

Liminal space is the transition from the darkness into a new light.  The first tentative steps down a new path before we can see where the light shines or the path weaves.

 Emerging from liminality we evolve, letting go of where we have been and who we have been. 

A new dawn, a new identity. 

Though the path is new it is also familiar.

Part of us senses, while leading us into unknown territory, this is the path home.

As we walk the path home, we are never alone.

Courageous Leaders make songs.

  When a  leader chooses a medium for their message, songs are an incredibly potent choice. 

 It’s rare to read a book more than a few times.

 Sometimes we watch a film or listen to a speech a handful of times.

But a good song? It’s hard to count  just how many times we listen to a song that moves us.

Dozens? Hundreds of times over the course of decades?

Songs are potent, songs are courageous.

Your Crazy Idea

Do you have a crazy idea? Phil Knight did. Phil was a runner who became obsessed with importing affordable, high quality running shoes from Japan to the USA.

 At the time running was not popular. At the time, following the second world war, Japan was not popular. Phil’s Crazy idea was not popular with his Dad or his classmates. 

But, Phil believed in his Crazy idea.

 Phil’s Mum handed over $6 for the first pair of shoes Phil had sent to his family home following his first trip to Japan.

  The universe conspired behind Phil and his Crazy idea. Over the course of several decades, adventures, challenges and repeated acts of faith, Phil’s Crazy idea became his life’s “work of art.” Phil’s Crazy idea became Nike.

Do you have a crazy idea?