All of these are ways of helping ourselves see freshly. To come freshly to the door of our consciousness and our being, where we meet the world, our sense of self or other. To be free here. Because at this doorway our perceptions arise, often loaded with habits and prejudgments. Perceptions weave their magic web, from our past to a fabricated future that can really shape what comes to be. Sometimes taking us further from the reality of presence than I for one dare admit! Well, I am admitting it. Getting lost in my thoughts about a situation, what is wrong, what is right – this can all be done with a touching wish to resolve something. Yet I get more and more stuck the more I stay only in the realm of my own perceptions.

Some tools are helpful

• accepting the wonder and diversity of life – Noon sees blue where I see green when designing our website. This could be a cause of argument... or opening

• recognising the body sense of 'I am getting a bit stuck.'. What helps? For me a walk, stretching, smelling a flower, talking to a friend..reminders of inner listening

• coming back to a bigger awareness – in the mind the awareness that knows perception; in the body the simple touch of the ground, the air.

• Curiosity and courage – what is beyond the edge of what I think I know?

I often stumble but do see - this getting our views in perspective is a precious thing! Our perceptions are arising as part of the rich fabric of reality, and they have their place. I need to be able to know I am seeing green. But clearly the whole world, even a good friend (or our cat Wimima) doesn't see the same way. This is ok. Then there are some perceptions, of interconnection for example and its importance in healing ourselves and our world, I truly stand by and wish to share. Yet even this requires fluidity as it's a live experience and feeling out what's what is an ongoing discernment in itself. So I come back to a paradox – that knowing and openness need to co-exist - at best dancing and discovering beyond themselves.

Sumedha