Consciousness – Page 34

I sat, nervously sipping my coffee, wondering where Alexandra was. It was 08:45 and she should have arrived at least fifteen minutes ago. I was on edge for two reasons: firstly, I was worried that a woman who was never late should be so, now; secondly, an honest description of that part of our mental and emotional make-up that was the enneatype eight was … Read More Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee, part 24 – Hot Blood and Innocence!

August 3, 2015 + Arthurian Legends, Arthurian Poetry, Consciousness, Mystical poetry, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Spirituality

The Warrior’s Glade

by Steve Tanham

In the original stories of the Arthurian cycle, the summer and autumn journeys of Sir Gawain, during his year of waiting for death at the hands of the Green Knight, are little documented and left to our imagination. In this poem, the Knight rests in a glade and becomes enraptured by a flower that reminds him of the pentagram, his symbol. The depth of the … Read More The Warrior’s Glade

July 9, 2015 + Consciousness, enneagram

Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee (19) – Rocky of the Rock

by Steve Tanham

Alexandra was picking her way along the shoreline at the edge of the bay, probably cursing me. She was clutching a printed copy of the email I had sent her, asking that she bring sensible footwear – for which, these days, she read ‘boots’ – and allow a little extra time. The note closed with my offer of bringing the coffee. I had a … Read More Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee (19) – Rocky of the Rock

June 25, 2015 + Consciousness, enneagram, esoteric psychology

Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Seventeen

by Steve Tanham

I waited while she brought the coffee; waited and moved my feet around in the sodden boots, enjoying the effect the squelching noise had on those on the next table. Eventually, she returned, smiling at my continued noise-making. “Stop it – you’re just being bad for the sake of it!” she scolded. “I’m only human.” I said, wetly. “Thank you . . . “ … Read More Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Seventeen

June 24, 2015 + Consciousness, esoteric psychology, humour, Silent Eye School

Microfibre and tractor beams – a tale from the shrinking settee

by Steve Tanham

Serafina is sitting in the formal chair, I’m lazing on the old leather settee, which fits nicely under the angled overhang unavoidably created when the architect cunningly crafted the upper floor on to our former Lakeland bungalow. “Why irony?” she says. “Irony?” – I’m playing hard to get. As my portable shrink, she’s used to such tactics. “On the top of your personal WordPress … Read More Microfibre and tractor beams – a tale from the shrinking settee

June 20, 2015 + Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Silent Eye School, Summer Solstice

Approaching the Solstice – Saturday

by Steve Tanham

Standing in the Eye of the Uffington White Horse Looking down at the processional route from ancient times . . .

June 19, 2015 + Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness

Approach to the Summer Solstice – Friday

by Steve Tanham

As we approach the Summer Solstice, a few pictures from last weekend’s Silent Eye weekend in Avebury. These ancient and grand stones mark the entrance to the West Kennet long barrow. At a suitably private moment we experimented with chanting and found the resonant note for this beautiful place … Quite a sensation when a Neolithic barrow starts singing back at you …

June 18, 2015 + Consciousness, enneagram, Silent Eye School

Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Sixteen

by Steve Tanham

I had arranged to meet Alexandra on the seafront the next Monday morning. I explained that I would bring us take-away coffee, as I wanted to use the half-hour to do a large-scale drawing. I had hinted that additional footwear might be required and she looked quite incongruous when she arrived, in pin stripe suit and walking boots . . . “Only for you!” … Read More Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Sixteen

June 8, 2015 + Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Mindfulness

The She Sentinel

by Steve Tanham

The She Sentinel A small festival, where pilgrims, unknown to themselves, climb me Clutching children, adorned with picnics, They play And round my ragged peak, they stand and point their heads For the length of a heartbeat And wonder . . . But it was not always thus Over many years he changed my face Wrought outer magic on my … Read More The She Sentinel

June 5, 2015 + Consciousness, Mystical poetry, Spirituality

The End of Time

by Steve Tanham

The End of Time Whenever I think of Sandy I think, first, of his lined red face, his brightening smile And scrub and dust and boots, and thin cheroots And an old guitar that sings a while ———– No cares survived to scar his life Few needs, and too few friends preserved, pristine, his time But distant heartbeats feed, between the bottle and the … Read More The End of Time

June 4, 2015 + Anger management, Consciousness, enneagram, Spirituality

Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Fourteen

by Steve Tanham

Alexandra was late arriving for our usual Monday morning coffee. She stormed into the coffee shop and slammed down the heaviest of her bags, making her less-than-hot latte shake in its tall glass tumbler. “Some people,” she fumed. “should never have be given driving licences . . . that taxi-driver is one of them!” If one can be said to sit down in anger, … Read More Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Fourteen

May 28, 2015 + Consciousness, enneagram, esoteric psychology, Gurdjieff, Silent Eye School, Spirituality

Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Thirteen

by Steve Tanham

Alexandra arrived to find her coffee waiting on the table; together with an old silver coin. “It’s a half-crown,” I said, in response to her puzzled look. “You may never have seen one, before?” “I have. My grandfather had some; and what am I supposed to do with it?” she asked, in reply. “Why, you spin it, of course!” I was being irritating, but … Read More Nine Deadly Sins with Coffee – Part Thirteen