This talk was recorded on the 21st December 2023 in Lower Hamlet, Plum Village (France). It is the ninth of our live Thursday talks of the Rains Retreat 2023 offered to our lay friend guests. It was part of the Christmas Week Retreat 2023.

0:01: 🌟 Winter solstice traditions, significance, and reflections on embracing darkness and letting go.
• 1:38: Significance of winter solstice to northern European ancestors
• 4:08: Customs of bringing in evergreen foliage and lights to symbolize life and invite the sun
• 7:32: Challenges of embracing darkness and reflection on letting go

8:35: 🌱 Embracing uncertainty and discomfort as a creative opportunity, finding faith and confidence in nature's cycles.
• 9:20: Letting go of the need to make immediate decisions and allowing insight to arise
• 10:27: Training to sit with discomfort and doubt as part of the practice
• 11:51: Accessing the right brain through mindfulness and breathing exercises
• 14:09: A personal story of witnessing the arrival of spring from a seemingly dead tree trunk

16:23: 🌱 Embracing change and patience in the winter season, allowing ourselves to be different and new, and nurturing our inner growth.
• 19:42: Finding peace in slowing down and being present in the moment
• 23:28: Letting go of old ideas and embracing curiosity about the future

24:46: ⭐ Nurturing relationships, cultivating insight, and practicing generosity during the holiday season.
• 25:08: Our sister’s story of returning home to England to heal and deal with unfinished tasks
• 26:18: Realizing the need to ordain and joining Plum Village community
• 31:05: Practicing generosity by offering presence and connection

32:11: 🎄 Practicing mindfulness during the holiday season by letting go of expectations, embodying generosity, and offering support to family members.
• 32:37: Cultivate good conditions in family dynamics.
• 33:58: Shift perspective to offering support to family members.
• 37:08: Example of practicing generosity in a challenging situation.

38:26: ⚖️ Practicing mindfulness and self-care to offer presence to others during the holiday season.
• 42:49: Realization of the importance of self-care and inner house cleaning
• 45:34: Utilizing a bell of mindfulness as a reminder to stop and breathe

46:10: 🎄 Practicing mindfulness during the holiday season to take care of ourselves and others.
• 46:10: Using mindfulness to remember to stop and be present
• 48:33: Being open to receive all emotions without pushing anything away
• 51:35: Choosing wholesome activities and sense impressions to cultivate joy

53:57: ⛰️ Cultivating self-compassion and presence to nourish others in challenging times.
• 54:23: Imagining speaking to oneself as a friend in difficult times
• 56:33: Continuously nurturing qualities to maintain balance
• 1:01:02: Practicing mindful listening and spending quality time with loved ones

1:01:52: 🌼 Empathetic listening and offering presence in difficult conversations.
• 1:02:00: Listening with whole body and asking questions about joyful times
• 1:06:07: Encouragement to take care of oneself first before offering presence


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