Steve Taylor's June Newsletter
|
Dear
I hope all is well with you. It was ‘Jubilee Weekend’ recently here in the UK, commemorating 70 years since the Queen began her reign. It reminded of the only time that I’ve encountered the Queen. I was 20 years old and travelling around the north of Scotland with my friend Joe. We caught the ferry over to the Orkney Islands and decided to hitchhike to Kirkwall, the capital of the Islands. The
man who picked us up asked us if we were here to see the Queen.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"She's visiting the Cathedral this afternoon, to commemorate its 850th anniversary."
We had no idea but decided to go along. The Orkney Islanders had little or no interest in the Queen and only about 30 of them turned up at the cathedral for her visit. At the time I was a fervent anti-royalist. I thought the Royal Family was an absurd outmoded idea. I was also very angry about all the inequality and poverty in the world. So my plan was to say to the Queen,
"How can you justify being so rich when there's so much poverty in the world?'
I didn't realise how easy it would be. The Queen emerged from her car and immediately headed towards to the small group of onlookers at the Cathedral entrance. The woman next to me was holding some flowers, and the queen walked towards her. "This is your chance Steve," I told myself, preparing to speak, now that the Queen was standing in front of me. She smiled and said to
the woman next to me, "Are these for me? That's so kind of you. Do you live here on the islands?"
As I stared at the Queen I felt shell-stocked. It struck me that she was actually a nice person. She was friendly, warm, kind. She seemed humble and gentle. So of course I was unable to say what I wanted. The Queen glanced at me briefly, smiled and moved further along the group of onlookers.
It made me realise that the Queen she was just a human being, playing a role in circumstances she had no control over. So now, even though I still think that the royal family is an absurd and outmoded institution, I have respect for the Queen. The incident taught me a lesson about prejudice and how concepts can blind us to reality. It reminded me to approach every person and
situation with an open mind.
Return to Harmony Audio Course –
Signed Copies
I’m pleased to say that I have some signed copies of my Return to Harmony audio course for sale. This is a six CD course with seven hours of my teachings and poems, leading you through a journey of spiritual awakening. They normally retail for £35 or $50, but I'm selling them for £15 or $20. If you’re interested, email me at
[email protected].
Event Next Weekend
Next Saturday I’m giving an online talk based on my book Extraordinary Awakenings. It’s at 5 pm UK time, 12 pm EST or slightly earlier the further west you are! Here is the link
How the Light Gets in Festival – Rupert Sheldrake
At the beginning of the month, I participated in my first in person event for over two years, after the pandemic and lockdowns. This was at the fantastic How the Light Gets In festival in Hay on Wye, on the border of England and Wales. I took part in a debate on materialism and well-being and also led some philosophical discussions. In the debate, I was arguing for voluntary simplicity and minimalism, and the
importance of finding inner happiness. I met so many interesting people at the festival, including the author and researcher Rupert Sheldrake. He's such a friendly, curious and open person, completely without any sense of self-importance. A genuinely spiritual person, I would say! Here’s a photo from the debate I took part in:
New Articles
I recently wrote an article on the amazing healing, meditative power of nature, from forest bathing to attention restoration to meditation.
I also write an article about psychic phenomena like telepathy and precognition, which I have occasionally myself. Surveys show that a half to three quarters of people report experiences of telepathy and precognition. So why do some scientists insist that such phenomena can't exist, despite strong evidence and sound theoretical
grounds?
New Poem - My Temporary Life
I love my temporary life
because all its moments are precious
and all the people I share it with
are temporary precious beings
and the world in which I live my life
is full of temporary precious beauty
which will one day disappear, as I will disappear.
I love my temporary body
because it’s full of fragile processes
millions of tiny miracles, occurring every second
all finely tuned and intertwined
to sustain my temporary life
allowing me to savour
the wonder of being in the world.
I love my temporary friends
because we’re on the same journey, walking astride
helping and holding each other
lifting each other when we fall
carrying each other when we’re weak
rejoicing in each other’s company
because we know we can only walk together for a while.
I love my temporary life
because it’s a dynamic process, in constant motion
ever since cells fused inside my mother’s womb
flowing and unfolding, expanding and exploring
like a wave slowly forming then rising
that will one day slow down and dissipate
and merge with ocean again.
all best wishes and blessings, Steve
|
|
