Equality

The underlying ethos behind Soft. Simple. Still.

Hi! My name is Sam. I am a Gardener and Storyteller of the Soul who weaves shamanism, story-telling, spiritual counsel and earth-based wisdom, to create a gentle and profound space for healing and transformation.

Welcome to Soft. Simple. Still. where like gentle butterflies that land upon your hand, soft words will land in your heart for profound healing, stillness and simplicity.

It was held in balance
Tenderly
Softly
Honourably.

It was held in balance
for everyone to feel safe
heard
loved.

It was held in balance
and everyone felt heard
and acknowledged
and respected.

It was held in balance…

And then
somewhere along the line
the scales tipped.
One way.
And then the other.

Was it ever really straight?
Did it ever really stop swinging?
Was it ever really offering the same thing?

It was held in balance.
Once upon a time…

Yet maybe though -
it was only in my dreams.

Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash

Once when my mum was alive, we were sitting together in her garden with the sun shining and the flowers blooming.
She asked me something along the lines of “If you could wish for anything what would that be? “

I remember that I paused. Not for long. Just a second or so.
PEACE. World Peace.
To imagine a world where there is no fighting, no wars…
Peace.
To imagine a world where everyone feels they are safe.
Peace.
It is a word that, when I say it, feels special. Like a spell. A mantra. A secret password to something else. Something more.

It is something that I strive for in my life - to be a peaceful person. To align my words and actions, thoughts and deeds in a way that ripples peace to all those that I interact with.

I feel that if we can encourage and strive for peace we will thrive - physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. And this will just automatically ripple out through our actions and deeds into nature and the wider world.

Do you dream of world peace?
Do you dream of a peaceful environment for our children’s children to grow up in?

I didn’t answer Peace.

I answered EQUALITY.

It was as though the word just popped out of my mind after that tiny pause. To be honest it surprised me. And then when my Mumma asked why, I explained the following:

Because this is a world…

Where some can receive wonderful education opportunities and others are unable to afford an education
Where some live in beautiful houses and others live in broken down shanties
Where some can receive free medical care and others have to sell their homes to access the same
Where some due to their gender can receive a top wage and others simply because of their gender receive a lower wage
Where some because of colour or religion or choice of clothing are easily accepted and others targeted.
Where some because of personality or shyness or the way they walk or stand are easily accepted in the school playground and others because of their shyness or quirkiness or the way they talk or walk are teased and bullied

And it goes on…
and on
and on

In every news article
In every war
In every fight or battle or protest there seems an underlying energy that says one side is better and stronger and fitter and richer and more educated and
and
and
MORE
something than the other side

And as a result some group or race or person chooses then to inflict certain rules on other groups or races or people to degrade them and hurt them and inflict some kind of physical, emotional, mental or spiritual pain on them.

And the scales are tipped.
And the balance changes.
And then the word Peace has to be sought or found or re-understood or or or…

I don’t have any answers.
I don’t even know where to go with a topic as huge as this.
Even in the natural world of animals there is a hierarchy of sorts,
yet for some reason that seems “natural” and for me being a human in an unequal world is anything but!

In my ideal world, we would all be equal
We would all be able to share and express and live in a way that empowers EVERYONE
no matter what
no matter what race or culture or religion or gender anyone is

In my ideal world no one is left out.

No one is left behind.

No one is isolated because they are different.

In my ideal world equality equates to peace.

Maybe, though I’m just a dreamer, an idealist.

It’s a big topic.
A topic I don’t usually write about.

Why am I writing about this at the moment…

I was chatting to my partner about this publication - Soft Simple Still - and about my choice of subscription rates and the word EQUALITY came up again

I have a very simple theory.

I want EVERYONE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME INFORMATION here on Soft Simple Still.

I saw the power of this during COVID when the world was shutdown and I would share a weekly newsletter and or meditation. This provided such simple pleasures and deep connections. Folk shared how much they appreciated and looked forward to Wholesome Wednesday and Chat time with Sam (this is now called Meditations with Sam). Folk shared how much they appreciated words of kindness and hope, words of healing and encouragement, words for a different way of connecting and healing and being in the world.

I have been writing here on this platform, Substack, for just over a year now. I have written over 60 letters to you that have included written meditations and voice-overs (you may wish to reread your favourite by looking though my archives and maybe next week I’ll share my favourite pieces with you) and as mentioned I have recently started a podcast - Meditations with Sam which pops into your inbox every Sunday evening.

Why, you may wonder do I do this. It is simple…

• I strongly believe in the power of story telling. Through storytelling we heal. I believe my words and stories open doors within that can soothe your heart helping you to create a softer, simpler life. 

• I am passionate about planting the seeds of gentleness and compassion, inner strength and empowerment, peace and simplicity, for when we do this we help our heart to heal and our mind to feel safe. My writings offer seeds of gentleness and compassion, self healing and self empowerment.

• I am passionate about nature connection and heart connection and how they help each other. I write to connect both.

• I believe that my meditations (via my podcast, voice overs and the written word) will help you create a more peaceful inner landscape and therefore a more peaceful outer landscape.

• I am passionate about creating a soft simple still world for the next generation to come. When we live a soft, simple still world we are changing our footprint - we are healing the past and we are creating a new future for the next generation.

• I love sharing my skills. I write for healing and transformation. While some of you may book in for an individual healing / mentoring session, some of you may be unable too. These writings and meditations enable you to access my healing skills and therefore self healing in another kind of way.

• I heal myself by writing and recording. And in healing my own wounds and pain I can hold a more authentic space for you.

• I write and record to keep my own inner light shining so that I can hold sacred space for you in many different ways.

  

  You may notice that at the bottom of each letter is a button to support me in some way…maybe you share these posts with you friends, maybe you comment, maybe you upgrade your subscription to become a financial patron.
  
  I know some have wondered why even bother to upgrade to become a paid subscriber if you receive the same information as someone who doesn’t…

  
  Here are some reasons why folk upgrade and why you may choose to upgrade too…

• Because you too believe in equality and know that by subscribing you are passing these letters forward.

• Because you believe in what I do and what I have to offer.

• Because you wish to help me create a sustainable lifestyle for myself and my family without burning out.

• Because you appreciate the time and energy that is required to write these posts and record these meditations of you.

• Because you want more people to live a soft simple still lifestyle.

• Because you feel that in the words I write there is a frequency of hope and love, peace and healing, self empowerment and kindness, and you wish those words to continually spread out into the wider world.

• Because you know that I am a lighthouse and that your financial support ensures that my stones are strong and solid so that I can stand tall in all that I am and all that I offer you and the wider world.
  

  For less than $70pa or $7m/p

  (at the moment I have a special offer until Friday)

  you will receive 1 x written post on a Wednesday with healing words and written meditations plus a voice over on some of them
  plus 1 recorded podcast meditation every Sunday

  You may wish to offer some Extra Love and pay $250p/a
  and receive all the above plus a personalised 75-90 minute healing session with me for each year you subscribe at THE EXTRA LOVE level.

"Sam is a precious sprite/faery in this world. Her other worldly and alchemical ways of story telling have a way of grounding me into this world. Finding an adventure in what could be seen as mundane, making it extraordinary. Bringing me home to the beauty of life, seeing nature in all Her simple and profound ways. "

Julie Schmidt

"I supported your work because I believe attending to our heart is essential ✨️ and the more people who embark on this journey, the greater the healing and well-being for everyone 💖 Dimitrios

"I felt Divinely held when I read your post this morning, and I feel I need more instances of that in my life. 🥰"

Dawna Kreis

“This is a beautiful invitation to explore your inner knowing through words, ritual and ceremony. To pause and take sanctuary in a place where you can breathe, connect and allow the healing energy to wash over you.”

Louise Hallam

Thank you for your support,

For sharing space with me twice a week.
For texting me, writing to me, ringing me up,
For sharing my words with your community, for pressing the like button,
For subscribing and commenting
and most importantly for encouraging me to continue shining my light.

In honour of this journey we share together.

Blessed be.

What does your ideal world look like?
What are your thoughts on PEACE?
What are your thoughts on EQUALITY (or Inequality)?
What are your thoughts on finding Equality and Peace in YOUR OWN inner landscape? How do you do this?

I would really love your comments, however this is not a political post nor is it a post to push morals or ideals. Please if you are commenting comment from your HEART and from a place of PEACE. I would rather no-one comment than to feel that my words are mis-heard.