Free Your Pen: The Real Cause of All Your Problems

09/03/201720/02/2018 Jessica Davidson13 Comments

Continuing the extracts from Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. Last time we looked at why mastering your mind is so important. In this post we’ll have a closer look at the real cause of the problem with another extract from chapter one: Meet Your Mind Although everybody writes for different reasons, the fears… Continue reading Free Your Pen: The Real Cause of All Your Problems

How to Free your Pen: Mind Training for Writers

03/03/201709/08/2025 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

What does it take to be a writer? The one thing that all writers have in common is very simple: they write. But more than that, a writer writes – no matter what. It seems obvious, but it’s the ‘no matter what’ that causes all the problems. To be a writer it helps if you… Continue reading How to Free your Pen: Mind Training for Writers

Buddhism · Free Your Pen · Writing

Abandon Hope and other crazy advice

27/02/201720/02/2018 Jessica Davidson6 Comments

Today I’m celebrating the release of my latest book, Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. It’s been a long and convoluted journey, and for a while I thought this day would never arrive. I wanted to write the book for years. Life had other ideas, as life usually does. But the book is here,… Continue reading Abandon Hope and other crazy advice

Book Reviews

Review: Jake Fades by David Guy

31/01/201729/01/2020 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

This week I’m reading Jake Fades: a novel of impermanence by David Guy, about a Zen master who fixes bicycles and teaches meditation in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The tale is told by Hank, his long-time student, and the ageing Jake hopes that Hank will take over teaching from him. Commitment phobic Hank doesn’t feel ready to… Continue reading Review: Jake Fades by David Guy

Apocalypse · Buddhism

A Prophecy for Our Time: Shambhala Warrior Prophecy

30/01/201726/06/2020 Jessica DavidsonVideo5 Comments

This prophecy is about the rise of the Bodhisattva, or Spiritual Warrior – a person of great courage who fights with compassion and insight. All of us are potential spiritual warriors. Joanna Macy tells the tale beautifully in this inspiring video and shows what it takes to be a Bodhisattva today…

“There comes a time when all life on earth is in danger. At that time, great powers have arisen – barbarian powers. And although they waste their wealth in preparation to annihilate each other, they have much in common…”

Buddhism

Don’t Believe Everything You Read

23/01/201726/06/2020 Jessica Davidson2 Comments

Here’s a timely reminder to not get caught up in the propaganda free-for-all that seems to have replaced online and broadcast news media. Truth is never an easy thing to discern, and even harder to act on sometimes. But there is a way. The Kalama Sutra – you’ll have seen it all over the internet… Continue reading Don’t Believe Everything You Read

Awakening

You are the sky

31/10/201626/06/2020 Jessica DavidsonQuote3 Comments

you-are-the-sky

“You are the sky. Everything else, it’s just the weather.”

This is my favourite quote from Pema Chodron. No matter what I’m going through, remembering this simple truth can clear my mind and bring me back to my centre faster than almost anything else. Even during the worst storms, the sky is clear behind the clouds…

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path: Right Concentration

30/09/201611/12/2016 Jessica DavidsonLeave a comment

Right Concentration is the final practice of Mental Discipline on the Eightfold Path and is about disciplining the mind to see reality as it is. It’s also known as Right Meditation or Samadhi, and is the practice of focusing your mind on one thing until you’ve reached meditative absorption or jhana. Samadhi means concentration, and… Continue reading The Eightfold Path: Right Concentration

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path: Right Mindfulness

28/09/201612/12/2016 Jessica DavidsonLeave a comment

Right Mindfulness is the second practice in Mental Discipline on the Eightfold Path and involves being aware of the present moment with a clear focus. Right Mindfulness is the heart of Buddhist practice and applies across the whole Eightfold Path. When you’re mindful, your thinking is Right Thought, your speech is Right Speech, your actions… Continue reading The Eightfold Path: Right Mindfulness

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path: Right Effort

26/09/201612/12/2016 Jessica DavidsonLeave a comment

Right Effort is the first practice in Mental Discipline on the Eightfold Path and is also known as Right Diligence. This practice supports all the others because it gives you the energy to keep practising, even through difficulties. It involves cultivating a positive attitude and cheerful determination on your quest for freedom from suffering. Right… Continue reading The Eightfold Path: Right Effort

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path: Right Livelihood

23/09/201611/12/2016 Jessica Davidson1 Comment

Right Livelihood is the final practice in Ethical Conduct on the Eightfold Path and is about how you earn a living and take responsibility for your choices. The ideal is to earn a living without going against the principles of love and compassion, and to do work that expresses the truth of your deepest Self.… Continue reading The Eightfold Path: Right Livelihood

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path: Right Action

21/09/201612/12/2016 Jessica Davidson3 Comments

Right Action is the second Ethical Conduct practice on the Eightfold Path and is about acting appropriately in every situation. It builds on all the other practices and can only work if you’re mindful of your true intentions. If you watch your thoughts and develop the right understanding of yourself and reality, your actions shouldn’t… Continue reading The Eightfold Path: Right Action