Hello Reader,

I spent the weekend in London, visiting family and friends. Even though I love London, I'm always happy when I get back to Devon; when I return to space and quiet.

It's a funny thing being jammed onto a tube train with thousands of other people. I can't help wondering what everyone's experience of that situation is. Because, as you know if you're here reading this, we all have different experiences of the same thing. And that experience can even change for us. One moment being with lots of people can be enlivening, and an hour later it can be terrifying. All down to what thoughts are paid attention to in the moment.

Tomorrow I'm running a workshop for the staff at Exeter College. I was asked to run it about the winter blues, not a topic I would have chosen, but as I've been sitting considering what I want to share, it is obvious that the most transformational thing to understand is that experience comes from the 'inside'; not the 'outside'.

And what exactly does that mean? Well, it means a few things:

1. That we are not 'stuck' having the same experience forever.
2. That, when fully understood, we no longer have to keep trying to arrange the outer circumstances in order to be OK.
3. That thought is the only thing that creates a 'desirable' or 'undesirable' experience. The experience itself, without thought, is entirely neutral.
4. That without thought (in other words, interpretation of events), there would just be THIS. And THIS, without thought judging it, is always OK.

So in my workshop I'll be pointing to this 'inside out' understanding of life. We'll also explore the importance of listening and how what you listen to, creates.

In other words, if what you are listening to is the inner narrator telling you how miserable the weather is and how winter is an awful time of the year, you are likely to experience that, since that is the lens through which life is being viewed.

If you experience the 'winter blues' or 'SAD' (which I used to btw), consider how the experience of winter would be if less attention was placed on those thoughts. With a new lens to view the world, the world 'miraculously' changes. These days I love winter; something I never, ever thought would be possible.

The truth beyond thought & a meditation

Last week, on my current weekly live drop in Zoom call to explore the truth beyond thought, I invited the attendees to come to know what was present through direct experience. I invited them to see, hear and feel what was here, now, and to notice that sights, sounds, feelings and thoughts are all known, effortlessly. At the request of an attendee, I recorded a short meditation to share more widely. This investigation brings you back to the knowing of who/what you are before all innocently acquired beliefs, ideas and thoughts.

If you'd like to listen to that you can either do so on the Insight Timer App (for free) or on YouTube. If you find it useful, I encourage you to listen again and again to become familiar with what I'm pointing to. And please do share it with anyone you think would benefit from it.

Tomorrow on the call I will be encouraging participants to know the difference between what is 'real' and what is not. And we'll look again at what knows of all thoughts, feelings, sights, sounds, tastes and smells.

If you'd like to join me, 1pm - 2pm BST you'll need the Zoom link below. Attendance is via donation which you can make by clicking the button below.

I think that's all I wanted to share with you this week. Apart from, if you're under the illusion that I find running calls or workshops easy, you are hugely mistaken! 'Bob' has an awful lot to say about my abilities to do such things and he loves to conjure up all kinds of awful things that might happen to prove I'm an idiot.

And the thing is...the more I look to what's true, rather than looking to 'him' for advice and guidance, the less bothered I am about what 'he' has to say. I'm pretty sure 'he's' not going anywhere anytime soon. And 'he' doesn't need to; that inner narrator is just something that I (the awareness of it all) is aware OF. Just like the laptop in front of me and the sound of a car outside. None of it means anything about me. And that is freedom.

As always, I look forward to exploring with you in whatever way makes sense to you. I do have a couple of spaces in my 1:1 coaching at the moment and I promise I will be announcing a new group soon for those wishing to live life from the truth rather than from 'Bob's' instructions! First I have an important person to celebrate a big birthday and 20 year wedding anniversary with!

Until next time, happy exploring.

Much love,

Vicki

Vicki Montague

​Founder Free From Fairy | Free From Limits​

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