The gift of lighting up the dark

The “skill psychologically of lighting up the dark” can be described as resilience and learned optimism, which involves acknowledging difficult emotions (the “darkness”) while actively cultivating hope and developing practical skills to navigate challenges and promote well-being. This concept draws on various psychological principles, including Jungian psychology and positive psychology.

Key Psychological Concepts

Balance of Opposites (Jungian Psychology): Psychologist Carl Jung noted that light and darkness coexist; one cannot exist without the other. The “skill” involves achieving a healthy balance rather than trying to eliminate darkness entirely. It suggests that there is value (or “gold”) to be found in understanding and integrating one’s “shadow” side (repressed or unacknowledged parts of the personality).
Resilience: This is the mental and emotional ability to adapt to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or stress. It is a key skill for navigating the “dark times” in life, enabling individuals to bounce back from challenges and learn from them.
Learned Optimism: A concept developed by Martin Seligman, this skill involves intentionally changing one’s perspective and challenging automatic negative thoughts. It is about how we interpret events, not changing reality itself.
Hope as an Active Mindset: Hope is not a passive emotion but an active mindset that involves setting goals, identifying pathways to achieve them, and maintaining a positive outlook even amidst obstacles.
Emotional Regulation and Processing: The ability to sit with pain and uncertainty, process difficult emotions, and avoid “toxic positivity” (dismissing genuine suffering) is crucial for healing and growth.

Skills and Strategies

Cultivating the skill of “lighting up the dark” involves several practical strategies:

Awareness and Acceptance: Acknowledging and accepting the reality of one’s inner and outer “dark spaces” (sadness, fear, uncertainty) is the first step toward finding a path forward.
Practicing Gratitude: Actively looking for things to be grateful for, even in difficult times, can build a more positive outlook.
Seeking Support: Reaching out to others and leveraging empathy from friends, family, or professionals can provide the “candle” needed to find one’s way through challenging times.
Self-Care and Self-Compassion: Prioritizing physical and mental well-being (sleep, nutrition, exercise) and treating oneself with kindness helps build the necessary energy and resilience to cope with challenges.
Mindfulness and Reflection: Engaging in self-reflection through methods like journaling helps identify negative patterns and work through emotions.
Purpose and Action: Focusing on solutions, contributing to the well-being of others (kindness), and engaging in goal-oriented behavior can provide meaning and purpose during difficult periods.

Ultimately, this skill is about acknowledging the dualism of light and dark within human experience and developing the psychological tools to navigate this balance effectively for overall well-being.

The poor will always have you

The phrase, “The poor will always have you,” is an inversion of a well-known quote from the New Testament of the Bible, which in modern translations generally reads, “The poor you will always have with you“.

This statement is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (26:11), Mark (14:7), and John (12:8), and is part of Jesus’ response to his disciples when they object to a woman anointing him with expensive perfume that could have been sold to help the poor.

Origin and Context

Jesus’ statement is a direct allusion to Deuteronomy 15:11 in the Old Testament, which states, “For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land”.

Meaning and Interpretation

When Jesus said this, he was not dismissing the plight of the poor or suggesting that poverty is an unchangeable fate to be ignored. Instead, the original context highlights several points:

A Call to Action: By referencing Deuteronomy, Jesus was reminding his followers of their ongoing, God-given responsibility to be open-handed and generous toward the poor.
Prioritizing Worship: The statement served as a defense of the woman’s act of worship. Jesus emphasized that while the disciples would always have opportunities to help the poor, the unique, physical opportunity to honor him before his imminent death and burial was fleeting.
Critique of Motives: In John’s Gospel, the objection came from Judas Iscariot, who was a thief and did not genuinely care for the poor, adding a layer of rebuke to those who use concern for the needy as a mask for their own self-righteousness or misplaced priorities.

In summary, the phrase is a reminder of the perpetual existence of poverty in a fallen world and a constant call for believers to show ongoing compassion and generosity, but it also establishes the importance of wholehearted devotion and worship of Christ.

I am not normally one for looking to biblical texts for inspiration but this just struck a cord with me this morning. Although I am employed (happyish in my work) receive enough pay to keep a roof over my head and to try to save money for rainy days and buy goods and services that I think I need in my life, there is very little leftover to do anything else with after that.

Not that I need more money for myself but there is also a complete lack of employment opportunities to move up any form of career ladder nowadays across Britain, even if I made the time and effort to apply for other jobs. Unlike in my youth, administration manager roles or project support staff roles roles just no longer exist in a way like they used to. I know people with a desire to work that are finding it extremely difficult to step into employment now and have never witnessed an employment market as difficult and competitive as the one that exists today.

There are ways and means of getting into work and you must go the extra mile if unemployed every time to prove your worth to potential employers. I have always looked to work in a place of my choice doing something that interests me as a volunteer when out of work and that has always proved so far to be an excellent stepping stone to employed work and also a huge motivator to get out of bed and rewarding me with enjoyment and self respect.

I had up until recently been contributing small amounts or money each month to the Green Party and also a charity called International Rescue. I stopped those payments recently and it has to some extent been playing on my mind. How can someone like me help people those with less than what I have.

I would like to think there are many ways I can continue to help others. Such as how I vote, what I advocate for in the political system. What I say on my blog, what I believe in and live by. Helping a friend with less cash than me with a drink on a night out or making sure they have enough money to safely get a taxi home or other little things like that are small wins that help the people that I respect and want to support.

Poverty has felt like a real life possibility for me at times one which could if I am unlucky enough or we are all propelled into some cataclysm come back top haunt me. I was homeless (for a very short time myself once, which lead to me having the home that I have now lived in for over 15 years provided by a housing association which I now also work voluntarily for on a scrutiny panel to help improve the housing association for others, they have helped me so I am helping them now. I have always found in life that when I can not afford to give to a charity or good cause financially I can always make up for by giving my time and effort instead.

I have also been on benefits in the past when out of work or unwell with which without which I could have had nothing although saying that I have always had the love and support of my parents. They will not always be around to help me though which does make me focus my mind on ensuring I am there to stand on my own two feet on my own. To think of safety nets is not just theoretical for me but absolutely vital in order to have gone from where I was to where I am today.

To pay my way in life and hold my own not relying on anyone now financially but myself is a huge achievement to me. Though some might see holding your own and paying your way as perhaps a form of failure to me it is a genuine success. Well it must be some kind of religious quotes day for me so I will bail out with another interesting quote from the bible. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.

JAMES – Sit Down (Original Rough Trade Version Music Video)

Scientists have confirmed that Schizophrenia “voices” are the brain mishearing its own thoughts

In late October 2025, researchers from UNSW Sydney published a study providing the strongest evidence yet for the long-held theory that auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia result from the brain misinterpreting its own inner speech. Using brainwave analysis, the study showed that the brains of people experiencing hallucinations reacted to their own internal monologue as if it were an external voice.

How the brain typically processes inner speech

In a healthy brain, a mechanism called “corollary discharge” helps to distinguish internal thoughts from external sounds.

When a person thinks to themselves, a corollary discharge signal is sent to the auditory cortex to quiet the “inner voice”.
This signal informs the brain that the thought is self-generated, so the auditory cortex does not react to it as an outside sound.

What happens in a schizophrenic brain

The recent EEG study revealed how this process breaks down in people with schizophrenia who hear voices.

In those experiencing hallucinations, the normal suppression of the auditory cortex does not occur during inner speech.
Instead, the brain reacts more strongly to the person’s own internal voice, similar to how it would react to someone else speaking.
This confusion leads the brain to perceive internal thoughts as external voices, which can feel incredibly real and intrusive.

Implications of the discovery

A new biomarker: The brainwave measurement used in the study has the potential to serve as a biomarker for the development of psychosis, enabling earlier detection and intervention.
Improved treatment: Understanding the biological basis of these hallucinations is a critical step toward developing more effective and targeted treatments beyond traditional talk therapy.
Reduced stigma: The findings emphasize that auditory hallucinations are not imagined or an indication of “losing touch with reality.” Instead, they are a result of complex changes in how the brain processes and attributes thoughts.

😍Weird is Wonderful 😍

I’ve never really wished to be normal, I often get confused by and fearful of those that express how normal they are and then start to say how different from their norm others that they hate are. The UK is really starting to have to consider the possibility that we could have a right wing Farage Reform government in place after the next general election cycle.

Those that vote for him like those that vote for Trump feel ignored by what is described as the establishment and will be offered electoral treats to endorse him and his policies so that they turn around and go, what the hell, why shouldn’t I vote for Farage and his right wing party. He has already boasted that no taxes will go to health care services or in other words will be making tax cuts at the expense of not having a National Health Service.

That will seriously impact on my health with life long medical condition such as diabetes and also a mental health condition that requires daily lifelong medication, I know I will be uninsurable or a waste of money to any health insurance scheme. A good health service is there to treat the ill not profit from them. We are learning the hard way in this country that the privatisation of utilities such as water and transport links on the rail result in poor services with ever increasing profits for share holders as things get worse. I would love to invest in shares of a ethical company that sees’ providing clean transport links and clean water to customers as a force for profitable good but sadly that’s just not the way it works in the UK.

My present political perspective is to try and vote for someone that will not make things shitter than what they already are which for a blue-sky thinker, dreamer kind of person is very disappointing.

Sit Down By The Fire – The Veils

Early springs of emotions due to my Da – Neil Edwards

In memory of those gone but not forgotten, loved and not lost

Today is 2 months to the day since my lovely father passed away and though I think often of him miss him and feel and know that he is no longer here – I do so in what I feel to be a fond farewell light and positive imprint of him on my mind and soul.

Some people I know are horrified by the death of a love one or terrorised by no longer having a loved one in their life or fear when others lose people close to them too and keep their distance from people who have recently lost or are bereaving. Depending on the circumstances of a death, I know it can be brutal to lose someone that you deeply love.

But I don’t feel we should use our own self suffering as a barometer to how much we loved someone or even how much they are now missed. There are many joys to life and being alive and living in the moment are things which my father enjoyed to do in life himself and he would wish for me in some way I’m sure to appreciate the experience of being alive and not be tied up in knots due to his death or the death of other who were loved and lost.

Years ago in university during what was possibly a sociology class I remember a lecture announcing to us that when we cry we only cry for ourselves and for what those tears mean to us. We have no empthy and emotions for others whatsoever. I was instantly enraged and engaged in this opinion and perspective and that is exactly what the lecture wanted us to do to challenge him to engage with him and ultimately gain an emotional reaction on what his statement said. To this day I have often still wondered about the concept of crying for other s or simply crying for our selves and was the lecturer trying in some way to express a simple truth of his or get us to engage in emotive intellectual debate. Who knows? What I do know is that idea still remains with me some 30 years later.

I suppose the debate will always rage, do we cry for ourselves? or for others? What we have lost or for those whom were taken away or maybe from knowing that we will one day be in the same situation sitting in a coffin ourselves and before that day comes for us crying or morning that day getting closer and closer for us as with each day that passes as well as those others that we love and have in our lives that we will one day lose. Why do we hurt for what was taken away or for what we might yet lose?

Dad, my brother Andy and my Mum at Andy’s passing out parade at his official graduation ceremony following the completion of his course at Culdrose Cornwall.

I sat down to write this as a way of saying I’m ok and hello and its also ok to not be ok. But it appears to be more and deeper than that as the words flow out. What I’m trying to say is to me I want to love those that I have lost, appreciate them in this living alive world and show little signs of respect and love for those I care about where I can by how I live, whether that’s by being a little kinder at times, older and wiser at others but definitely not feeling sad for sadness sake or hurt for the sake of being heartbroken sake.

The people that I have and love in this life I have enjoyed their company at their highs and lows and mostly enjoyed being with them at their highs when they too enjoyed their life. I aspire to enjoy my life and honour theirs.

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence

Keywords across site

Goodnight and God bless you Dad

Is this year nearly over yet! So sadly on Friday 31^st January my father sadly passed away in hospital after a short battle with cancer and other complications in his body he was just 73 which feels still so young. He was very ill in his last month of life although it was a pleasure and honour to spend time around him even at this difficult time. I was trying to do a little bit of everything, visit him in hospital, continue to work and also look after myself.

January was a tough month and more so for my Dad than anyone of us. In his time in hospital he also had a bleed on the brain which led to confusion and considerable forgetfulness, which made communication difficult at times. We hoped he could be cured of the diagnosed cancer but also had a considerable fear that this he was dying.

One of the most heartfelt and warm, comforting things Dad has ever said to me was, while he was lying on his hospital bed he said after I told him that I was trying to do a little bit of everything and failing to do them all well. He told me that I had failed at nothing, which was just so beautiful and in his moment of need and support he was their supporting me and making me feel so very proud of him being my Dad.

I was able to let many people know on Facebook that he had passed away and the love and support people have posted has been a huge comfort for which me, mum and Shamen are very grateful for.

Me and his partner Shamen will be meeting with the funeral director tomorrow and we have hopes and plans for what we would like to do for my Dads funeral. Which I will update more information on here as and when it has been planed or taken place.

The Parting Glass – Cara Dillon

Trumpism’s

Trump a successful misogynist who is now president-elect and leader of the free world in waiting, after beating two women at the ballot box.

We not only get the leaders that we vote for, we get the leaders that we deserve.

We live on a dysfunctional planet where you could ask 100 people what makes a perfect world and you would get 100 different answers. One man’s version of heaven is another’s living hell.

The Source Ft. Candi Station, You Got The Love – 1991

US Decides 2024 Election

Nobody knows what is going to happen after the US election!

“2,000 years ago one man got nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be if everyone was nice to each other for a change.”― Douglas Adams

Most people know who they are going to vote for and why.

Nobody knows what the electorate will look like.

Most people know what they want to happen after the US election.

Nobody knows just yet how it will play out.

What happens tomorrow night will send a shock wave down the ages no matter what is the result that will happen.

Will America still be a functioning democracy if Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins?

Will your world be a safer place if Donald Trump or Kamala Harris are elected?

May god bless us everyone.

First Aid Kit – America (Cover)

Admin Bitch Extraordinaire

Yes that’s me, the one you give the jobs no one else wants to do to. The one that smiles at the challenge and appreciates the results of their own work, even if no one else does.

Well I ran into the milestone of being 48 years old, last month amazed that I got here with not too many regrets and still some joy and happiness and a definite zest for life. But it’s also another year of working for the man. My job role sounds almost exciting as a Projects and Support Officer but make no mistake about it, I was chosen in my interview and undertake the role on a daily basis of an office admin bitch extraordinaire. I answer phone calls into our department, I speak to people about a huge range of issues sometimes nothing to do with my job, but I quickly google their issue and give them the number for someone else that can help if needed, I respond to emails I make sure the bills get paid and other essential but low grade office stuff that keeps the wheels of the business turning.

We have been informed and seen in other organisations the shutting of phone lines and streamlining of emails on a straight to a database email system rather than to a person first and with no one there to answer phone calls coming into a department in the office anymore my days appear numbered in the job I do and enjoy. I have been in my current job for 4 years from July and I would be ready to move on if there were any where for an admin bitch roles to move onto but sadly my days and skills appear at present to not be in demand.

Don’t get me wrong I’m busy I get results and work hard in my job it’s just that managers and those above them have decided my role will no longer be needed in the future and even though I am busy as ever their eyeing up those P45 exit papers for me and people like me. It’s not like the work wont still need to be done when I am gone they will just either hire someone after me to do the job cheaper or get in someone with a degree and pay them the same or more than me and call it a career.

In my present admin role over the last 18 months our office manager resigned due to ill health and we have been doing a considerable amount of her work since she left, when one of us now has holiday the other person does a hell of a lot in order to just keep things ticking over, its a bit of a nightmare. It has been to a point though a fantastic work experience and an opportunity to develop my admin/project/finance skills even more though. But they see our ability not to fail as almost a failure in itself. We have been pleading for extra support and a decision on what happens to admin bods in the office like me. That decision has been made in that are roles are up for redundancy and we might be up for redundancy too, if we don’t play our cards right and even if we do play our cards right we could still find ourselves out of a job – catch 22 situation, we will make you redundant because your job is to important to be done by you or not important enough to be done by you any longer. We will tell you which we decide when we hand you your departure papers.

To be continued or to be discontinued!

Distance, Light & Sky – Don’t Go Dark On Me (Official Video)

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