Full Moon as Muse.

Searching for you through wispy clouds;
We play hide and seek - your radiant face obscured.

The prelude to our union feels different tonight.
I'm aching for you. My breasts heavy and my womb contracting.

On your own time you appear and as on cue I sit down to welcome you.
Forehead anointed and heart wide open I am ready.

My offer to you, an ever welcome release of thick sticky tears - if honey was salty this was it!

Tears so saline they don't drop, but plop onto my dress.
Moist circles growing wider on the fabric as if rushing to embrace.
My womb contracts and another circle joins in.

With eyes closed and breath easy and deep I play in your loving beams.
Little nuances provided by the clouds caressing your face for me to dip and slide upon.

I open my eyes every now and then to gaze at you while whispering just how happy I am.
Whispers swept up by the gentle breeze and delivered straight to you. Midnight express.

Much later I lie down and with hands like paint brushes I create pictures and mandalas;
tracing lines and shading with my palms.
Dark sky an inky backdrop - nature's expansive canvas.
A creative dance with you centre stage.

As I say goodnight I make my usual promise to follow and appreciate your darker side while looking forward to your ripeness when time comes.
...and you wink at me. A reminder to do the same with my life.

There is no light OR dark; only light AND dark.
None without the other.

Invite laughter into your life.

Heloise van Heerden, a close friend of mine is (beside other things) a Laughter Yoga instructor. Everything about this woman is upbeat, positive and spunky. Here is her take on Laughter Yoga and its benefits.

"Many scientific studies have confirmed the positive effects of laughter on our mental, emotional and physical health. Examples of the positive effect of laughter can be found in the work of Norman Cousins (“Anatomy of an illness”) and even the popular Patch Adams, among many others.
It is also believed that the body does not know the difference between real and “fake” laughter – you still reap the benefits.
So, in 1995 a medical doctor by the name of Dr Madan Kataria, whilst doing research on laughter, found the practice that is known today as Laughter Yoga. What started as a “laughter club” with Dr Kataria and four other people in a park in Mumbai, India, has spread across the world, with many laughter clubs meeting on a regular basis.

Funny enough a session involves NO jokes or deliberate humour. You start with a good stretch and then some rhythmic clapping. This is followed with chanting, movement and guided laughter exercises. It is important that participants make eye contact with one another and smile as they do this.
Most important is to have fun and let go during a session.

Some of my favourite laugher exercises are: Namaste greeting laughter - in two’s, you greet one another in the Namaste position, remember to laugh as you do it and greet as many as possible people in the session; Lizard-walk laughter - everyone walk like lizards (it’s all in the hips ladies, remember the S-shape as you walk!) and remember to laugh as loud as possible as you move around. Tickle-soap laughter – whilst mimicking showering and soaping yourself in, the soap all of a sudden turns into “tickle soap” and you laugh uncontrollably!

Understandably many participants do not laugh naturally from the beginning of a session, but it is important that they follow my lead and fake the laughter if they have to, eventually the laughter will come naturally...
I normally end of a session with some more chanting, and finally, to ground participants I’ll take them through either a guided relaxation exercise or a laughter meditation.

There are also many other ways you can practice laughter in day to day life.
Watch a funny movie – and laugh!
Think of the funniest joke you’ve ever heard – and laugh!
Next time something happens that normally freaks you out – laugh some more! It’s always easier solving the problem while in a good state of mind.
Practice gratitude – I find this an amazing way to bring positive energy into my world and the more positive I feel the more naturally laughter flows!
(Tip: Whenever you feel off balance, write down five things you are grateful for – it works)"