Valentines Day today, but the first blog is just to catch up a bit. My computer is ill so I could only write on paper for a few days, 13th = background info about me and my hubbie, + when we went to Paris Disney last year to celebrate my mother-in-law's 90th birthday. 15th is mostly about Valentine's day, love and relationships in general - mostly me and my hubbie. I was asked to prepare a Biography for something else - but I thought it might interest my blog-readers. Sorry for blog-gaps. My laptop died and I have little access to a computer.

Follows previous blog - starts on 17th April but I will include the ones from 12th and 16th to give some background info for anyone who may come fresh to this. I am in New York, taking part in a spiritual festival. I came on 3rd and in two days I will return to England. Returned on 20th. Just added blog with photos for 26th and info on good habits for 27th plus another file on good habits from a zenhabits site my son likes. link to brilliant youtube film 'I AM' on 29th 30th includes a Birthday poem.

With Mr Gove admitting that he has messed up RE I was inspired tonight to set out why I think RE is important and how it could be improved. There is much too much here for a real letter to an MP but you may find material to adapt and send to Mr Gove or your own MP. One way or another we need to strike while the iron is hot if we can, to pressure Mr G to make some changes that will improve things. just added Stephen Lloyd's excellent article Do give your comments and suggestions here or as a personal message. Best wishes to everyone, DurgaMata

This first blog 11th - 12th March follows the previous blog file, 13th March includes some pictures of silk paint cards I made last autumn, inspired by the lovely leaves - and a worksheet that you are welcome to try out. It is a resource in progress. 28th 'shorter' includes a picture of two of my cards. I tried to include the most popular 7 but they refuse to load - hence the 'shorter' in the title. April 8th includes the story of my mouse-friend and sets the scene for 7th-8th parts 1 and 2 which explore criticism. just added a bit to my blog for 12th (on 15rh)

Creating a Faith-Friendly Learning Environment. Event on 4th February for teachers and TA's in Primary, Secondary and FE - from any curriculum subjects and schools outside the Faith Sector. Developing spaces for prayer and reflection in 'secular schools' - etc

This simple overview of Sikhism can be used to revise or consolidate a unit of KS3 work or to refresh and introduce a unit for further study in KS4. Including both a Word Search and Cross-Word Puzzle to reinforce Key Words, this resource will link with further ones which explore each area in more detail. Currently Under Construction.....

details to follow in haste (referred to in December blog)

This simple overview of Islam can be used to revise or consolidate a unit of KS3 work or to refresh and introduce a unit for further study in KS4. Including both a Word Search and Cross-Word Puzzle to reinforce Key Words, this resource will link with further ones which explore each area in more detail. Currently Under Construction.....

in haste - the prev site is full so starting another.\nSorry not a regular blog at the moment, Life is a bit hectic.\n\nBella-the kitten who just caught a mouse at Mums is sitting on my knee purring like a steam engine, very proud of herself.\n\nLove and Peace \n\nDurgaMata

this is a power-point, quite straightforward - giving an outline of who St John the Baptist was and outlining something of the meaning behind 8 symbols associated with him - The Head - The Lamb - The Shell - The Holly -The The Maltese Cross - The Reed -The Grasshopper and The Camel Hair.\nAll suggestions for improvement and feedback or comments - welcome. \n\nI will be adding - after these images - all the texts which relate to St John the Baptist - but this is enough for teachers to work with so it is a useful start.

Yr 9 experience a good place to start. Readings / examples of missionaries. Success - eg Bruce Olson (from Wikki), \nfaith challenged - remaining Christian but no longer exclusivist fundamentalist - more liberal - eg blog by Lana Hope in Missions from an unfundamentalist Christian\nsome put Christianity to aside and became atheist in response to their experiences eg Daniel Everett - in the articles about his book 'Don&'t Sleep, There are Snakes.&';\nI hope to add more examples - please suggest some and give your comments.

From HOD in Religious Education to giving my own Mindfulness-Meditation and Empowerment Workshops for resilience, improved mental health and happiness, in this little book, I am sharing something of the journey which has taken me from teaching RE in schools to offering an On line Seven Steps to Happiness Programme. My approach to Health and Wellbeing is holistic, with special insight into balancing the mind, body and spirit - which comes from an awareness that we humans are spiritual beings. My workshops are tried and tested - this programme works - and The spiritual side of life has always been important to me and I have been practising meditation for over 40 years. In this account I look back at how circumstances moved me from joyful and devoted Head of Religious Education in a large Secondary School, through a challenging time of unemployment as the Ebacc changed the educational landscape, through depression when during a period of deep questioning I received unexpected answers to my prayers - to becoming a Silk-Paint Artist, Pipe and Tabor Player - sharing the positive energy I receive in meditation, to developing increasing expertise in Health and Wellbeing - especially mental health, Resilience and Empowerment. After retiring from teaching, I have developed a unique and comprehensive program ‘The Seven Steps to Happiness.’ My approach to bringing about transformation, focuses on Raising Consciousness. Low consciousness is when we are feeling f Here I am sharing free the first three chapters of a book I am just releasing. The full book is also available from my shop. Before 2020 my Wellbeing and Empowerment Workshops were all face to face. I was about to expand into offering retreats abroad. Corona-virus has turned that on its head, forcing me to take my signature Program ‘The Seven Steps to Happiness’ on-line. Everyone is suffering from stress - but my particular concern is to support and empower teachers in every way I can, so I dedicate this little book to you. By offering the first three chapters here free you will find some practical strategies and exercises for reducing stress as well as an introduction to my full On-line Seven Steps to Happiness Program - which as an 8-week course. I am sharing the entire book as a paid resource and in it you will find my own philosophy and approach to dealing with stress. I worked on Supply for many years and saw more of the crazy side of classrooms than most, so I had to develop a strategy which worked. Brene Brown taught me a good lesson when she shared her research which showed that the most compassionate people have Boundaries of Steel! Watch her You Tube interview with Russel Brand. That’s where she shares this insight. When do you find the time for yourself that you need? What are your own strategies for reducing stress and increasing happiness? How can I best support you through my resources here? When we all share our experience everyone wins. Love and Peace DurgaMata

This is a great way to introduce the world religions to KS3 pupils. Ideally set it in Autumn term so the observational drawing can stimulate some wonder-muscles.\nCross curricular with science and art this approach gives a strong grounding for the world religions and is popular, improving attitudes to RE in the process.\n\nto be completed -

This is a lesson plan for introducing Christianity and the Holy Land. It includes an overview of the history of Europe - with particular attention to the Holy Land - from the 21st Century back to the building of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. \n\nI aim to create a Power Point to go with this plan.

in haste, I just answered a question about miracles in relation of GCSE RE. My answer (here) may be helpful but I will improve on it soon. I want to add the model and examples of miracles with the Bible Refs on. plus a suggested questionnaire and how to analyse results (cross curricular maths.) but no time for that tonight.

An overview of Quakers and some of the important issues that they take a stand on - Peace, Simplicity, The Environment etc. \n\nA great denomination to use to highlight the diversity that exists within one religion.\n\nQuakers also don't have the outer sacraments as they take the view that all of life is sacramental and the outer sacraments invite hypocrisy.

what Jesus says about Love. Where might a Christian start when reading the Bible -\n\nStudents can have little idea about how Christians seek guidance, through prayer and Bible reading.\nThis starts with a post from a conversation with an atheist. I've added a bit which reflects on Jesus in an inter-faith way. \nThe Sunday School experience story is in italics. \nUse with exam classes - to give students insight into what it is like to practise a religion \nOther resources which relate to this passage and to text-analysis and understanding the Bible are added

Resources to use when exploring the story of Creation in the Bible, Genesis 1\n\nAn exploration of Genre and the different ways the Creation Story (Poem or Song) can be interpreted.\n\nLink this with some quotes from the Native American resource and environmental issues.

New Year Resolutions? Meditation, Conscious Breathing, Mindfulness and A Gratitude-Attitude. Part of an article I wrote for an online magazine about turning failure into success. The full article is shared as a paid resource for £5.00. There is a lot of material here to help in reducing stress, building resilience and increasing happiness - tried and tested, practical strategies which you can fit into your day. Since I retired I switched from teaching RE to working in Health and Wellbeing. I am keen to serve my wonderful colleagues. - so here is the first part free… A New Year has begun. Lots of people are talking about New Year’s Resolutions. The opportunity to make a fresh start is important – but it is not just restricted to New Year’s Day. Each day offers us the opportunity for a new beginning. Stress My work is all about reducing stress, building resilience and increasing happiness. I have developed a unique programme I call ‘The Seven Steps to Happiness’ which was in face to face workshops before 2020 but is now online. Most people know that a lot of stress is related to the thoughts we hold in our mind. Conscious Breathing is a strategy which gives our mind something positive and powerful to focus on. It is with us all the time. The outside situation may still be stressful. We may not be able to reduce the causes of our stress, but with this simple exercise, our mind can become our friend and ally instead of our chief tormentor. It’s like having an umbrella on a rainy day. The rain is still falling but we are not getting wet. In this case it is the mental exercise of consciously taking our mind away from our fears or negative mental chatter and directing it instead to our breath, then choosing to make our breath gentle, slow and deep. When we do that, our brain does not perceive the situation we are in as so alarming or dangerous anymore so stress is reduced and happiness increases. When we are in danger, our brain releases cortisol and adrenaline to prepare us for fight and flight. This is called the Stress response. If we are in physical danger, it prepares us for immediate action. But if the source of stress is not physical – and keeps recurring, these hormones build up and can cause both physical and mental illness. That is called Chronic Stress and is one of the biggest causes of ill-health in the world today. But by using conscious breathing, because we have calmed our mind, our brain stays quiet. No stress response. Risk of Chronic Stress - eliminated. Feelings come and go Like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor. Thich Nhat Hanh

Most of these relate to the conflict between Israel and Palestine - the 'Gaza Crisis&' of July-August 2014. \nA separate resource is being prepared relating to individuals and organisations which are working towards Peace and Reconciliation.\n\nplease let me know of any resources you find that may help inform our classes about the conflict in the Middle East - aiming for a greater understanding of the issues underlying both sides of the conflict and pointing towards hope + enduring peace.