Suzanne Askham

Wellbeing notes: A wellspring within you

Many years ago, in my 20s, I experienced one of those dreams that you never really forget. In this dream, I met an older version of myself. A fountain sparkled in her garden. She reassured me that my life might get bumpy at times, but it was ultimately going to be okay. 

Roll forward to the present day and who knows how it happened, but I’m now as old as that dream character. Even my home, and its setting, are like hers. But there is one difference. My garden contains no fountain.  

And yet I wonder if something does sparkle here: a sort of spiritual fountain or wellspring, that can be accessed in moments of quietness. This place, after all, has hosted countless meditators as well as those looking for sanctuary. The healing that has taken place here can seem quite tangible at times.

Recently I was sitting in the garden, listening to birdsong – a form of meditation in itself. I became refreshed. And I understood then that we each have a wellspring within us, that sparkles during moments of peace. Just like the water feature of my long-ago dream, this spiritual fountain is full of light. 

I invite you, now, to sit silently, focusing on the rhythm of your breath. If any worries crop up, let them pass through your mind without engaging, just for now. Feel your body and mind relax. In the quietness of this moment, right here, is your own inner wellspring.