Love Archives - Gillian Monks

Tag: Love

Apocalypse, or a New Beginning?

On May 7, 2025

Are you finding life more than usually challenging and tough? Are you deeply troubled by all that is going on in the World right now? Are you downhearted, exhausted, fearful? Take heart!

Click on the link below to discover exactly what is taking place – and why – and your part in it.

I have gathered together a great deal of information from many sources: scientific facts, esoteric theories and historical predictions all newly interpreted in the light of modern knowledge and perception, plus current information now available to us. To this I add my own freshly channelled insights about our position and purpose in the on-going history of humanity and the unfolding development of life on the Earth.

What I have to say may surprise you, but I sincerely hope that it will bring you clarity and understanding of what we all need to do, and inspiration as to what the outcome can and will be.

I expect nothing more than to bring you reassurance and peace of mind, and, hopefully, a new sense of purpose and direction. I have no political agenda. I do not speak from any religious standpoint. We are all equal and equally loved… and equally responsible for where life on Earth goes to next.

The future is in YOUR hands. Take heart and go forward with courage, joy, and most importantly, LOVE.

Click on the link below and listen to what I have to say – and don’t just listen with your ears but with your heart.

With my admiration, gratitude and love to you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

By Gillian Monks

On February 14, 2025

In Musings of the Hearth

The Winter Tree which was originally festooned with colourful decorations at Christmas, and then was stripped of all its colour and finery for the icy January look, is now bedecked with heart-shaped ornaments for the season of love, spring and new beginnings.

Any excuse to celebrate a day of love is fine by me! And today need not simply be for romantic, physical human lovers, but a time to show our love and appreciation for everything and everyone and walk through our World and across our Earth with limitless joy, appreciation and unconditional, overwhelming and total love for all that is.

We are living in strange and difficult times, and for many of us, it is probably going to become a whole lot more challenging before it grows easier. But let us ensure that our difficulties and efforts are to a definite purpose – that our struggles are going to finally achieve something real and lasting.

In working our way through the challenges of health, finance, relationships, politics and society, we can do so in a way which will also begin to lift our spirits and create a whole new beginning… a whole new wonderful World where every thought, word, action and interaction is meaningful and of benefit to ourselves and those around us, far and wide… a regenerated Earth where nature can freely develop and thrive alongside us.

We can all co-create this amazing future. We might not live to see it fully prosper, (in this lifetime anyway), but we can start the ball rolling and put in the foundations upon which those following can safely and strongly build.

Where do we begin?

With a thought.

A positive thought.

And a feeling. A feeling of unfettered, wholehearted love for everything.

And then what? What do you envisage your new and wondrous World looking like? being like? operating and working inspirationally and beneficially for all?

When we are asked to imagine something, to pray, or ask for something – or for those who use spells – we are taught to be as carefully precise in setting out our plea or intention as possible. There is an old joke, (which is not really funny at all), that if you aren’t careful, you might just get what you asked for! Take care to be as specific as you can be, or suffer the skewed consequences.

So, not only how do we visualise our new World, but what words do we use to describe it? as few words – or preferably one word – are easier to project and make a regular point of focusing on whilst we birth such a state of being in our imaginations, out there on the astral… the ether – wherever – before it can come into physical incarnation.

Help me out here. This is a serious question.

And a request. I would deeply appreciate all of you, my much-valued readers and friends, responding in the comments at the bottom of this post and sharing your magical words of creation. If we can all bring our dreams for the future of the Earth and everything upon her down to just a few words – or even ONE word – how clearly powerful and potent that would be.

Please share this thought.

Please connect with me and share your succinct vision.

And, in the meantime, have a wonderfully happy and fulfilling Valentine’s Day. Love yourself, fall in love with life and the Earth and allow joy and kindness to guide your steps – so with every breath we bring a truly new and loving state of life into being.

Do It Today – Don’t Wait Until Tomorrow

By Gillian Monks

On March 17, 2024

In Musings of the Hearth

All last year I watched in admiration as a friend underwent serious surgery and fought to regain general mobility and specifically the use of her arm. All her friends marvelled at her tenacity and courage. Every time I saw her, we discussed how she was progressing and what new achievements she had accomplished. We laughed and hugged and aimed to remain very positive.

Last November, I saw her in the distance at a meeting but, unusually, I didn’t get to speak to her or share our usual long, warm, hug. It was a busy afternoon and there were lots of people requiring attention and it was only when I saw my friend disappearing out the door that I realised that, for once, I had missed her. My first instinct was to run after her and give her a big hug… but then, I have been experiencing problems with arthritis in my knee again this winter and realised that attempting to ‘run’ anywhere probably wasn’t such a good idea. After all, when I next saw her I would be able to give her a double hug and no damage done.

I never did see my friend again. She quickly became ill, was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with stage four cancer which had somehow managed to slip beneath the radar of all her other treatments and procedures.

She died in February.

The moral of this little story is obvious. Never put off ’til tomorrow what you can do today. In other words, don’t hold back… do it NOW! Give your hugs and love freely and generously – tell your dear ones how much you love them and convey it with your warm and welcoming embraces – or in any other way you can think of.

We can’t live every day as if it was our last, but we can fill every day with joy and gratitude for what we have in the here and now, and share our positive emotions with those we care about.

Think about it… with my love.

Is Christmas Just for Children?

By Gillian Monks

On December 27, 2022

In Musings of the Hearth

“Christmas is just for children.” How many times have I heard that said? Not nearly as often now as when I was young. Thankfully, I suspect that most of the population under the age of forty would be totally horrified if you tried to suggest that to them. Judging from the many adult themed seasonal gifts and activities which are now on offer – even if many of them are based on over-indulgence – it definitely cannot still be claimed to be the case.

Like many of our so-called children’s activities and customs, including Father Christmas, the Christmas Tree, the nativity play and carol singing, these entertainments were once an integral part of the adult social calendar with their roots in ancient spiritual practice. The celebration of Midwinter is the marking of a solar event which has been crucially central to peoples around the globe since the dawn of time with tremendously serious implications for the future well-being of all mankind. Many religions throughout history have chosen to adopt this hugely significant event, Christianity being only the most recent.

If there is any justification at all for the claim that “Christmas is for children” it is in the fact that children best learn by example; our Midwinter/Christmas activities each year should provide all our little ones with ample demonstration of kindness, generosity and love so that when they, too, grow to adulthood, they will be able to function as caring, responsible and loving members of society.

Here is the real nub of the matter though. Are our modern Christmas activities and ethos fit for purpose in the kindly and caring education of our young? Yet whatever one’s views on Twenty-first Century society, millions of tiny, unnoticed acts of loving thoughtfulness occur each and every day and once a year, at Christmas, we are all given the opportunity to unashamedly demonstrate what genuinely lovely people we can all be. It also gives those who would never otherwise think of performing a charitable act the excuse to display the ‘softer’ side of themselves, disguising embarrassment and self-consciousness in the general melee of seasonal good will.

Who among us is willing to be thought ‘soft’ and carry the Christmas bon homie on further into January and the springtime? These days, another more frequently heard question in relation to the Christmas season is “Why can’t it be Christmas every day?” No one would actually want it to be Christmas Day every day of the year – we would very soon be utterly fed up with it! – but surely the question really appertains to the generosity and love engendered in so many hearts, which, on mass, is a potent and powerfully wonderful occurance. The answer, of course, is that we can have this every day… what is stopping you?

We are the people now grown to adulthood who’s parents made many small and large sacrifices and efforts to give us as perfect childhood Christmases as possible. In every generation there have been wars – or their aftermath – economic crises, health concerns and social challenges. Here we are again, about to enter another new year, with overwhelming social difficulties, even within our so-called privileged and secure United Kingdom: millions of people who work full time but who still cannot earn enough to adequately feed or keep themselves or their families. Others who are struggling with physical and mental ill-health; and the desperate yet ‘invisible’ section of society who live deplorable lives of struggle and hopelessness.

Isn’t it time to demonstrate that we genuinely understand the principles behind our Christmas celebrations and have learned our childhood lessons well? Share whatever little we have with our struggling neighbour? Do not simply think in terms of finance. A smile… a kind word… a friendly gesture… these cost nothing but a fraction of thought and effort and are a good start in bringing ‘Christmas’ into our every day lives throughout the other eleven months of the year.

Remember: Christmas is a state of mind and way of life, ALL the year round.

Think about it!

A Cry From The Heart

By Gillian Monks

On February 26, 2022

In Musings of the Hearth

Please read this – I will be brief. We have all heard of what is taking place in the Ukraine. Might I suggest that we ALL respond in a radical way that is sure to have an effect? When you think or hear of what is taking place, please, please, please simply send that part of our world… those brothers and sisters of ours of the human race who are facing such challenges on many levels – a loving thought, straight from your heart.

It is easy for us to succumb to our own volatile emotions – to respond with horror, fear, sadness and hopelessness, as well as give way to judgement, bias, aggression, belligerence, hatred, and so on. And we feel self-righteously justified in thinking and feeling this way.

But acts of aggression are already generating all these energies – and more. Right now, the Ukrainian and Russian people do not need us all focusing more of the same upon their situation – do not need the corrosive judgement, indignation and anger of the world directed at them – they need our love.

So, please, whenever you hear about or think of the conflict which is currently unfolding in that part of the world, please direct your pure and unconditional love towards them. Some people are lighting candles in their places of religious worship or their homes – light a candle in your heart and keep it burning bright and true.

Do not add to the problem – be a part of the solution.

A Very Merry Midwinter!

By Gillian Monks

On December 21, 2019

In Musings of the Hearth

Seeing the winter sun set from ABOVE the clouds – perhaps this might be the view seen by Odin, or Mother Holly/Frau Holle or even Father Christmas!

To all my valued readers and very dear friends – both literally and electronically – greetings!

The time is almost upon us… it is the Solstice! Longest, darkest night and shortest day… the turning point when we plunge into three days of darkness before re-emerging to the re-birth of the Light on the morning of the 25th. (Although the natural world has preempted us – as it so often does – and the birds are already singing at the start of their new ‘courting’ season!)

Draw close to your loved ones and savour each precious moment. This is the time to stand still… just as the earth ‘stands still’ – and fully appreciate where we are, what we have got and just how lucky we are.

I wish you all a wonderful Solstice full of peace, enlightenment, joy and love!

The Very ‘Hairy Child’

By Gillian Monks

On December 16, 2019

In Out and About

Misbehaving moustaches, inventive costumes and props, imaginative sound effects and a very supportive audience. All successful children’s nativity plays have a team of hard-working and dedicated adults behind them. Our own Christmas celebration at the Quaker Meeting House yesterday was no exception.

Our Meetings for worship are usually largely silent, but once a year, just before Christmas, we break with tradition. Each year a theme is chosen. This year it was the turn of the lowly shepherds. Interspersed by periods of reflective silence we gustily sang shepherd-related carols, (in both English and Welsh), listened to beautiful music composed by Schubert and played by one of our members and heard a poem by Welsh writer R.S.Thomas about welsh hill shepherds read aloud.

However, the highlight of the whole proceedings was surely the children’s dramatic contribution! Based on a mediaeval mystery play entitled ‘The Hairy Baby’, the story was of shepherds guarding their sheep and the daring – and very desperate man – who comes and steals one of the lambs with which to feed his starving family.

The enterprising thief had disguised himself in a voluminous black cloak and recalcitrant paper moustache which persistently floated to the ground, only to be pounced upon by one or other member of the cast and unceremoniously slapped back into place on the hapless young actor’s face. Gales and winter storms were conjured by use of a long plastic tube which was periodically flailed around the head of the pianist causing the Master of Ceremonies to cringe and duck for fear of getting a clout around his head.

The action took place across the whole of the Meeting Room and we, the audience, sat bemusedly in the round as irate shepherds with a varied assortment of ‘sheep’ – including a large woolly seal and a little lamb which had been sewn to his shepherd’s sock – dashed off amongst us in hot pursuit of their stolen lamb. I am not quite sure how even weary and simple-minded men were supposed to mistake one of their own animals for a remarkably hirsute human child! Eventually the true identity of the baby is revealed and the luckless family left empty-handed as the thief is discovered, only to be saved in the nick of time by the appearance of an angel, come to announce the birth of a much more important baby in a stable nearby. Drama was added to the action by the syncopated and regular sniffs of some of the cast who were recently recovering from heavy colds.

The enthusiasm and flamboyance with which our young members delivered this simple story was highly entertaining but also thought provoking. It was pointed out that here was the nub of the whole message of Christian Christmas. That the inspiration for kindness, humility and love had been presented in a way that everyone – even the lowliest and most humble shepherds – had instant and unquestioned access to. That this humble birth of a carpenter’s son represented a universal hope and entitlement that is as fresh and valued today as it was two thousand years ago.

So I give great thanks to the children of my Meeting for reminding me of this fact… and to their dedicated parents who made it possible. We all had a good chuckle and I am sure that we all were well entertained, but more than anything, I hope that we were touched by this blessed message – that of universal equality, hope and love.

Happy Christmas!