Faith, Friendship and Colours from Heaven

Hello dear lovelies, does this email find you enjoying the colours and scents of spring? Does it find you getting whipped up by nature? Wind in particular 🙃. Or do you feel like you need a boost of energy with some epic scenes and wondrous sights?

I present to you a magical moment from the end of my road. Ta daaaaa…

The recent aurora was spectacular. I almost missed it because I was tucked up in bed, when the call came from downstairs to get up and come out! So, (grumpily at first) off I went in my pyjamas to stand for an hour and witness the glory above. Some dear friends said they thought it was the gate to heaven opening. How beautiful. It feels like a dream now. I hope I see it again.

These last few months have seen me re-emerge from winter, from my cosy studio cocoon at home, to bask in the light of a powerful love. Jesus’ love. Alleluia! I was officially received into the Catholic faith at Easter with much gratitude and humility. This act of faith, I am eternally grateful for.

Within this mysterious, majestic faith lies a parish of dear hearted people who I call my friends. These humble souls make me giggle so deeply that I often have tears of silly joy streaming down my face. These friends love and care for those in need so generously, that I find emotional tears pouring out of my heart. It has taken many, many years to find a community like this one. Now, I have dived into it whole heartedly.

I’m in the choir, singing solos during Mass. It’s a joy and an honour to sing. Especially in church, so close to the Eucharist. I also play my harp at the altar of God. I can’t believe that I get to play my music in such a sacred setting at such a sacred time.

I’ve been volunteering. Once as a maid (I make a hilarious maid, as I’m more of a moose than a maid) at a charity afternoon tea event.

And every week, I work in the church garden planting flowers, sowing seeds, drinking tea, watching bees! These eccentric yellow tulips were my doing. 😆

I’ve spent much of my life as an introvert; alone, without friends, too awkward to join clubs and groups or not enjoying them when I got there. Things are different now. I’m wrapped in a celestial, mystical mantel. My heart is full. Faith has shown me the way. So to all you loners out there, I say find something you love, use your gifts, find your community, reach out. It will change your life. It’s your duty to share your gifts! Be brave and everyone will benefit. And maybe pop into a church you feel drawn to every now and again to light a candle of gratitude.

Have a think, what are your gifts? One of mine has started to involve making jam tarts on a regular basis. I like baking for others and perfecting simple recipes. I have a heavenly pastry recipe (thanks Hilary). Email me if you want it. Nom.😄

You know how I love clouds. It feels like I’m adding so many to my collection these days, I cannae keep up! Here are a few luscious ones for you.

Living in an ever changing, natural environment is something I really notice here. Water is life, water comes and goes, water is always changing. The sea brings birds to-ing and fro-ing with the rhythm of the currents. Her volume brings a vast expanse soaring upwards, where colour, vibrancy and contemplation reside. This spring, experiencing such a space around me and above me, with the scent of warm, rich sand filling me up, I’m reminded of childhood beach adventures, freedom, joy, excitement, possibilities and of course, ice-cream. It’s poetry to my heart.

Sometimes I meet horses.

Sometimes I’m on a different planet.

Sometimes I’m in a heavenly kingdom.

A story: I was training to be a primary school teacher a little over ten years ago. It was an early start and I didn’t like the school, where I was teaching. As I drove to work I was thinking about my situation, feeling a bit down, when a voice came to me and clearly asked me - “So what do you want to do then?” and I replied “I want to sing” and the voice said “There you go then, you’ve said it now”, and I felt immediately better. Immediately heard. Like I’d cast a sacred enchantment and sent off a promise of a prayer into the heavens. Then, I looked out of my car window and in front of me was a church and above the church was a bright rainbow arching in the sky. I felt warm, happy, and held.

I completed my training, sang to many children in classes up and down the country for ten years and, after leaving teaching to focus on my harp and singing, I now find myself in my studio, surrounded by scores of sacred compositions, ready to learn and sing in my church and local choir. I’m so grateful that music and song follow me wherever I go. At this time, in this place, in my beautiful church, it feels like the beginning of an incredible journey into glorious, sacred singing.

Old MacDonald had a Farm and Wind the Bobbin Up have been replaced with Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts composed by Henry Purcell and I heard the voice of Jesus say by Thomas Tallis with the words of Horatius Bonar (a Scot!). This second hymn is so very beautiful, full of words of power and grace. It’s a solace, a place of vulnerability, a place of surrender. I wish I could write such emotion. And Tallis was an incredible composer. Yay!

1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   “Come unto Me and rest;
   Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
   Thy head upon My breast.”
   I came to Jesus as I was,
   Weary and worn and sad;
   I found in Him a resting place,
   And He has made me glad.

2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   “Behold, I freely give
   The living water; thirsty one,
   Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
   I came to Jesus, and I drank
   Of that life-giving stream;
   My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
   And now I live in Him.

3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
   “I am this dark world’s Light;
   Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
   And all thy day be bright.”
   I looked to Jesus, and I found
   In Him my Star, my Sun;
   And in that light of life I’ll walk,
   Till trav’ling days are done.

Speaking of wonderful words, here’s a prayer I recorded recently called A Prayer For Ordering A Life Wisely by St. Thomas Aquinas, it’s a treasured listen.

Here’s a popular harp journey of mine called Mermaids. The very first one I released on Insight Timer.

And this is a new piece, recorded when I was in the Yorkshire countryside for a few days, with some delightful dawn chorus melodies. It’s a cacophony of happy harmonies and riveting resonance. The Birds, They Sing.

In fluffier news, here’s my favourite doggo Frankleberry (officially Frankie), he’s just the bestest. I love it when he comes to visit. He runs up to me and gives me the biggest hello. He makes me as giddy as a kipper! What a little poppet.

Who’s your favourite, fluffy, teddy friend? Let me know.

Love to you all. Keep on shining, smiling, giggling, and gamboling like sweet, innocent lambs.

Explore and fill the world with love.

God bless you,

Holly 😘

ps I will leave you with a montage of Yorkshire loveliness. A fresh, gorgeous, green place, if ever you get to go. Yes, I definitely stroked the moss on the wall!