Author Archives: Laura Dobson

“All that separates, whether of race, class, creed, or sex, is inhuman, and must be overcome.”Kate Sheppard (1837 – 1934), New Zealand Suffragette. New Zealand was the first country to grant women the right to vote and the first election in which women voted there was on this day in 1893.

“Our deeds are the medicineby which the world heals itself.It’s not size and quantity that matters.Only one small, good deedand everything could fall in place.Which deed will that be?It could be any one.Whatever you can do,do it believing thatthis is the one to tip the scales.”Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson (Lubavitcher Rebbe)

“For ages you have come and gonecourting this delusion.For ages you have run from the painand forfeited the ecstasy.So come, return to the root of the rootof your own soul.Although you appear in earthly formYour essence is pure Consciousness.You are the fearless guardianof Divine Light.So come, return to the root of the rootof your ownContinue reading “Thought for the day, Friday 26th November”

“Lord and swanAre in essence the same:Just its bodyMakes one swanDifferent from others.From the same clayThe potter conjuresMultiple thingsIn many coloursAnd innumerable forms.Milk ten cowsOf different coloursTheir milkWill be the same.Kabir says:Abandon your religionAnd know that the One,The Lord of all worlds.Fills every vessel.Only its bodyMakes a swan differentFrom other swans:Lord and swanAre the sameContinue reading “Thought for the day, Thursday 25th November”

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change, that lives within the means available and works co-operatively against common threats.”Charles Darwin, whose book, On the Origin of Species, was published on this day in 1859

Feast of St Cecilia, patron saint of music“Don’t let yourself forget that God’s grace rewards not only those who never slip, but also those who bend and fall. So sing! The song of rejoicing softens hard hearts. It makes tears of godly sorrow flow from them. Singing summons the Holy Spirit. Happy praises offered inContinue reading “Thought for the day, Monday 22nd November”

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire (1694 – 1778), born on this day

“Forgiveness is not a matter of exonerating people who have hurt you. They may not deserve exoneration. Forgiveness means cleansing your soul of the bitterness of ‘what might have been,’ ‘what should have been,’ and ‘what didn’t have to happen.’ Someone has defined forgiveness as ‘giving up all hope of having had a better past.’Continue reading “Thought for the day, Saturday 20th November”

“A new moon teaches gradualnessand deliberation, and how one gives birthto oneself slowly. Patience with small detailsmakes perfect a large work, like the universe.What nine months of attention does for an embryoforty early mornings alone will dofor your gradually growing wholeness.”Rumi

“And if you would know God, be not therefore a solver of riddles. Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children. And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain. You shall see Him smiling in flowers,Continue reading “Thought for the day, Thursday 18th November”