Category: Consciousness

The surrender of final beauty

Sometimes, the moment just is … in all its beauty. The leaves, their work done, let go the link to their sustenance and fall through space to an unknown place, where their form blazes briefly amidst their kin, before losing its cohesion in the harshness of winter, returning everything they have been, but not this memory, to the good earth. ©Stephen Tanham 2023 Stephen … Read More The surrender of final beauty

Shells from an Inner Sea (2) A fresh look at the ‘now’

We are urged by spiritual writers to ‘live in the now’. We might reasonably ask how we might live anywhen else, but that would go against the spirit of such good advice. Some clarity might be needed, though. As far as a reasonable self-inquiry goes, we – our composite consciousness – lives pressed up against signals from our senses that are very much of … Read More Shells from an Inner Sea (2) A fresh look at the ‘now’

What hollow world lies hidden?

—-//—- What hollow world lies hidden Within these solid forms, Inviting me with eyes and mind to follow? How would I live as leaf or twig Or fruit as berry: thorn, if scorned? A solitary round of life unknown but found. Where would I find myself if self Surrendered to this leave of flesh To be enmeshed in natural and abiding weave? Now hear … Read More What hollow world lies hidden?

The waterways of Bolton-le-Sands

It’s like a Dutch canal system in miniature. It’s usually freezing cold, and seems to go dark quicker, there, than anywhere else we visit. Welcome to the hidden gem of the shore at Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire. There’s a main channel that divides the long shoreline in two. The collie loves it, as she can vault over the narrow waters in pursuit of the frisbee; then … Read More The waterways of Bolton-le-Sands

Notes from Explorers (2) – the magic and mystery of identity

On the third Sunday of every month, the Silent Eye hosts a Zoom-based discussion to explore one of the core topics of modern mysticism. This series of ongoing posts features a summary of each monthly discussion; of which this is the second. The talks are open to all, and we welcome new visitors to the group – whether you drop in to take a … Read More Notes from Explorers (2) – the magic and mystery of identity

Gold from Green in Blue: Haiku

Sun’s gold sinks beneath Full waters of the open eye Sea calls, singing ‘home’. ———- ©Stephen Tanham 2023 Stephen Tanham is a writer, mystical teacher and Director of the Silent Eye, a correspondence-based journey through the forest of personality to the dawn of Being. http://www.thesilenteye.co.uk and http://www.suningemini.blog

Silver Fast Thread

I’ve often thought what a testimonial to the speed of the modern mind a motorway is. As our principal driver (though my wife is just as competent), I seldom get chance to take photographs. But when this deluge hit the M6, just south of Kendal, she was driving us to meet with her sister in Morecambe. I already had the phone camera in my … Read More Silver Fast Thread

00Self

This Sunday is the third of the month, and we have our SE-Explorations talk over Zoom; linking a growing group of people across the world in friendly yet deep explorations of key topics in modern mysticism. This month’s topic is the mystery of identity. We begin by asking. ‘What is identity?’ We will all have answers unique to our journeys… When I was a boy, … Read More 00Self

A Donegal Journey (4) : The Ring on the Hill

The wind howled at us as we left the car park to climb the hill to the strange stone ring on its summit. It’s in the Republic of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland; all of it within the ancient province of Ulster. Bernie had seen it in a guide book and we wanted to take a look while we were in the … Read More A Donegal Journey (4) : The Ring on the Hill

A Donegal Journey (3) The Last Inch

We thought we’d save it for the final day of our time in Co. Donegal but then – on the way back from visiting a nearby hilltop ring fort and surviving a gale that tried to hurl us off the elevated walkways – we felt in need of a gentler experience. Driving back to our rented cottage, we passed the Inch Banks causeway that … Read More A Donegal Journey (3) The Last Inch

A Donegal Journey (2): The Amazing Grace of Lough Swilly

I’d never heard of John Newton, until, walking along the gardens that front the beach at Buncrana, County Donegal, we came across an information board describing his links to the town via the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’. You may already have heard of this man, who could be described – at different times of his life – as both despicable and courageous. Glancing at the … Read More A Donegal Journey (2): The Amazing Grace of Lough Swilly

Notes from Explorers (1) – the nature and function of the soul

On the third Sunday of every month, the Silent Eye hosts a Zoom-based discussion to explore one of the core topics of modern mysticism. This series of ongoing posts will feature a summary of each monthly discussion; of which this is the first. The talks are open to all, and we welcome new visitors to the group – whether you drop in to take … Read More Notes from Explorers (1) – the nature and function of the soul