Alone, but not lonely

Eall Āna: All One, Wholly One

I recently spent three days in gobsmackingly stunning New Zealand nature on a restorative retreat, where I absorbed so many new little resting techniques I can’t wait to share in class and on retreat!

Some of my most special moments were spent out in nature, alone but certainly not lonely.

So I went digging into the word. Alone comes from the Old English eall āna: all one, wholly one.

Isn’t that lovely? For me, it evokes a feeling of being whole within yourself. Undivided.

So I committed to a few walks with undivided attention, just for myself. No podcasts, and I reluctantly left my mobile behind, so I couldn’t even take photos.

I was literally stopped in my tracks by the beauty of a tree. Its trunk was mossy, with ferns climbing up it, and high in its branches was a garden of ferns and sunshine.

I was dying to take a photo. Instead, I just said “wow” out loud. And quietly, a little word popped into my head: a reminder of something I’ve been wanting to pursue. A little a-ha moment.

Has this ever happened to you? Don’t you think it’s in those quiet moments, all alone but all one, that these gentle nudges find us?

Big love, Em x