Early morning fishing time- and New Year's Eve.

An early morning walk and sun turning St Paul's Island to a honeyed golden glow.It is the morning before New Year and holiday fishing time for these enthusiasts.

Out on the pier before six o'clock ,laden with fishing gear, camping seats and plenty of sustenance, they are all set to enjoy the day.

Maybe not many fish to catch,but  nobody seems too worried; -after all it is

 idea of it and the doing it that is the important thing.

Many are perhaps taking this quiet time to reflect on the past year, -its joys and sorrows, and silently praying for a new year of blessings.

So now, on this New Year's Eve, my prayer is that the world can know peace, and each of us can truly experience this peace in a way that reaches out to each other

to share in a new world of love and light.

        Maureen.

Christmas Essence.

Now at Christmas  the very Spirit of Life abounds with a depth of love that offers such fullness and light that we can soak ourselves in the glow and  float in this beautiful momentum. So close to Heaven is this that it is all we need to find true     Peace.

Maureen.

           

Christmas Medley.

                                                                           



It has been a lovely week of festivity, Christmas Mass, happy evenings with friends,phone calls from family,----and now a little time to bask in the glow of Christmas Peace.

                                                                           

                                                     



         I love this time. Evenings listening to gentle carols, looking at cards, frankincense and scented oils ,the room warm in the glow of candlelight.----Another magical moment!

                                                                     
Baby Jesus has lost his arm,  the wooden figures on the tree are a little worn,
but we wouldn't be without them, and what simple joy they bring year after year.

                                        Keep  peaceful.
                                                             Maureen.
                                                                                                           
    



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THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY AND JOHN DENVER

                                                                

The simplicity of the song, John Denver's clear voice, and the depth of meaning, -for me  make a lovely blend for Boxing Day, and the feast of The Holy Family.
                                                  Maureen.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS,

                                                                     

                                                              

Wishing everyone the Peace and Joy of Christmas always.
                                              Maureen.

Christmas Eve and its Magic

Christmas Eve for me is so special. It is a time of mystery, magic, hope and anticipation, when somehow I am taken out of  time into a suspended peaceful moment.
The soft candlelight,the almost touchable quiet, the waiting, the warm feeling, the sense of the Holy Spirit of Life hovering gently , encompassing the world in his love. How I long for this love to radiate powerfully, sustaining everyone in its peace. -This is my prayer for Christmas Eve.
                                            Maureen.

The Little Match Girl----One of my favourites..

As a child, I would often lose myself in the world of fairy tales. Hans Andersen was my favourite and as Christmas time approached it was The Little Fir Tree  and The Little Match Girl that drew me.

Christmas for me is a joyful peaceful time, yet those stories , tinged with poignancy
and sadness never failed to captivate me. How I  was always moved to tears, and was always so utterly relieved  to know that she was finally safe and happy with her Grandmother.

Maybe at this beautiful Season, we need  to make room in our hearts for  sadness along with the joy.

Sadness that many friends and loved ones will  not be with us this year, although my heart tells me how close they are still.

Sadness for all those who are lonely, afraid, suffering or in need , and a deep gratitude that I  myself am able to enjoy the wonder and peace with those I love. 
    Maureen.  

                       The Oasis Christmas News.

It is drawing near to Christmas as I write, and once again the Advent Candles, the Crib and the Tree are warming us with their glow, bathing us in peace.

Yes -the Oasis vision is all about Peace; the real Peace that begins deeply in the heart and radiates out into the world to touch others.So The Oasis is bound to Peace,

and the promise of the vision is certainly that this real Peace will ultimately prevail. How we need it and long for it, but at times it seems so far away.

This Peace needs to be worked for, and it seems that the closer we move to it the more we realise how vital it is and how meaningless life is without it. It can only really be experienced when we are at peace with ourself, and this journey to self discovery and wholeness of being seems so difficult.

Th Oasis vision places Love at the very centre of this discovery because it is the only Reality and the essential motivational force that gives meaning and body to existence. The Christmas Message is all about Love, a Love that is mightily powerful and all pervasive in its Spirit. So at this beautiful time we are able to steep ourself in this Love letting it pervade our being and move us into a communion with God, each other and life that can give us this Peace  we  are longing for.

 

 So please know that from the Oasis, the Light of this Love radiates warmly,  wishing all to be encompassed by it protective strength and its fervent desire to share with everyone this beautiful moment of peace.---Happy Christmas to everyone.

Maureen.

                                           

More blue skies.

                   I still find it difficult to believe that another year has gone by and we are moving into Christmas again. This has been another 'blue sky' day with a balmy southerly breeze and high temperatures. Having been brought up in England, I am still  waiting for the frost, the cold, the snow.

So Advent becomes a little different. There is still the anticipation, and the evenings are dark here too, so we can light the candles around the crib, decorate the tree, and bathe in the aura of mystery and magic that I always love. 

In day time too the magic is here . Looking below, the ittle sailing boats are
gliding into the bay, white sails perfectly contrasting with the deep blue of the sea and the honeyed backdrop of the rocks.

Advent it is, whatever the weather, a time for memories, reflections and peace.
                             Maureen.

                           Same world-different scene.

I know it's December, but here in Malta it has been a perfect summer- like day;

-soft southerly breezes, brilliant blue sky and a calm unruffled sea.

An idyllic scene really, - a few holiday  makers swmming and sunbathing,

while the locals did a spot of leisurely fishing.

.Once again I was able to enjoy lunch on the terrace!

Then I had a phone call from a cousin in England. Snow covering everywhere, and no sign of easing. She has been snowed in for over a week now, and I have to say she doesn't seem too concerned.

Did I detect a more peaceful mood? It is as if she feels no guilt at adopting a more leisurely pace, because really, what else can one do? She has food stored, books to read, and her little garden looks lovely with its snowy carpet.

She has been feeding the blue tits and robins,and watching their squabbling with amusement. She thinks they can't be too desperate, as they ate the raisins but declined the breadcrumbs!

 And ofcourse, come evening and she can snuggle up to the fire with a warming drink

or maybe two!

So------same day,   same world,but oh such different scenes,

each possessing their own unique beauty and peace.

Maureen.

                                                 

                       Simply Wishing-----

                                                       
                            'Morning'---acrylic on boxed canvas -7"x10" 


 Simply wishing the newness of life to come as the old fades.
 Wishing for a glorious dawn to bring into being everything we  lack,
 everything we long for, everything deep in the core of the world ,
 - all that is fullness and peace.

 This wish of mine, deep in my heart, --  this moment of new beginning ,
this  reverential Epiphany,-lifting us into the stars.

                                    Maureen.

                 Time of Hope and Promise.

So sorry if yesterday's blog seems negative, I just feel that it is a statement I had to make.

As for today, I choose to remember  that we are in Advent, the season of hope and promise, the beautiful, reflective movement into Christmas and all the wonder that it holds. Nothing can take away from this time the real peace and beauty that we are all seeking, if we try to keep open and simple and move with the heart.

I cling to this hope, this feeling that all can be well with the world;

without this hope I honestly feel that I could find no real meaning for life.

So I light the candles, burn the  spicy oils, decorate the tree with the little angel on top,

and  each night before our tiny Nativity crib I make my own simple prayer for Peace.

Maureen

                                          
                                                        

                                What a Mess!

]

What's this I see lurking on the road below us? Oh no! Yes it is ---- the usual regular knocking down and building up chaos that descends on us  regularly, and with abandon.

----And yes- believe me, this is the state of the pavements that we are confined to in the name of safety for the duration of the roadworks, and thereafter.

Noise, turmoil, upheaval , as pillars are knocked down, roads are dug up

wire fencing erected, residents , -some disabled, -confined to restricted space  having no idea what is happening.

 So much for a democratic system! So much for sensitivity and a a caring community- type spirit.

This is progress! This is the faceless bureacracy that levels individuals to an unimportance

that increasingly  diminishes any need to inform them, communicate with them ,or even show them a basic courtesy and respect, so crushing any feeling of freedom they might still hope for.

 Responsibility is so easily passed on!.  

Maureen.