Page 43 - The Flickering Cauldron Magazine - May 2022

The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - Farleys Mount | 43
Firstly, most importantly if you feel like you cannot cope anymore, ask for help! You will be surprised how many people care about you and will be there for you to help you, and support you through, often from where you least expect it.
People are not mind readers, they may not realise your desperation, even those closest to you... Remember you are never alone, so make that call for help!
So how do you clear your mind?
Most, think or say, I need a holiday as they feel this is the only way to clear the mind. It does to a degree, as it is a form of running away temporarily, as you can shut off on holiday away from all the problems, and not think about them and it works.
Of course on arrival home, it hits you like a ton of bricks, as they have not gone away, and now all you want to do is go back to where you have just come from, and it can actually make you feel worse than you did before you left. Many though as they have rested, are able to tackle them head on when they return, but even this will take its toll.
So, what do we do to clear our heads, how do we do it?
There are so many ways in which you can clear your mind, you could write a book, in fact there are many in book shops with various techniques, but we are just going to talk about one, based on personal experience.
Let me firstly tell you about a wonderful place, a hill called Farleys Mount. It has spectacular views, filled with such lovely energy it cannot fail to help brush away the cobwebs and energise your soul.
Sitting in Farley Mount Country Park, about 4 miles outside of Winchester in Hampshire, it is one of the highest points in Hampshire, so not surprised the view is breathtaking. The hill and surrounding area are steeped in history, that even in Celtic times the roads were called old. There is so much to see, it would be a wonderful day out.
Someone close suggested a visit to this place. I didn’t really give it much hope at the time, but thought
what the hell, anything is worth a try! So, set off to visit. The day was cloudy, looking like rain and quite windy, but it mattered not! On arrival, pulling into the unimpressively small car park at the bottom of the mount, I wasn’t filled with any sort of optimism, but I was there now.
I rather miserably set off up the little path to the top of the mount. Either side of the trek filled with woodlands on one side and shrubs and trees the other, it was nature at its best.
The further up the trek I walked, (which took me a while as I can’t do hills and breathe at the same time!) I began to feel more positive (albeit out of breath). On reaching the gateway to the mount, you are totally open to the elements and wow!. The wind hit me from all directions, what a wonderful feeling it was!. A very light rain began, but it just added to the energy that was pushing its way through me in the wind.
I remember thinking, I made it, without having a heart attack walking up the hill, and I actually feel wonderful.
Thinking that was it, how wrong I was, the best was yet to come...
In the middle of the mount on top of a small hill, there was what looked like a little steeple. I could feel myself hurrying to reach it, excited with so much energy, the most I had felt in weeks. On reaching you realise the 360 degree view that beholds you and it is breathtaking. You can’t help but smile, I could feel my misery fade and it started to turn to invigoration.