Heron Payne
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heronpayne.bsky.social
Heron Payne
@heronpayne.bsky.social
I'm a mindfulness coach, counsellor and artist living the off-grid life. Learn more about my mindfulness coaching and counselling at embodymind.co. You can find my photography at www.patreon.com/landscapeart. Locate in beautiful Bridgetown, NS!
“Real change doesn’t come from trying harder. It starts with safety.” A collapse on a snowy mountain pushed me into the darkest stretch of my life—and unexpectedly into real transformation. I share how #selfacceptance and #selfcompassion helped me finally shift. Full piece: buff.ly/b2MRuXy
November 10, 2025 at 3:35 PM
The forest burns. Thick smoke in the air. I’ve fled fire before, yet here it is again. No escape from #climatechange. Grief, guilt, anger rise, but so does tenderness. #selfcompassion is survival. Love, not fear, is what heals us—and the Earth. 🌍 buff.ly/oqGVw58 and #mindfulness #innerecology
September 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
For years, I abandoned my ideas, quitting before I'd “fail” in public. Shifting wasn't about pushing harder. It involved self-compassion. It made me stronger. More resilient. Less avoidant. Real strength is having your back when things get hard. #SelfCompassion #MindfulLeadership #PersonalGrowth
August 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Parenting didn’t just bring out the best in me. It surfaced old patterns I was unaware of. I judged myself harshly. But shame doesn’t make us better parents. #Selfcompassion does. Read more and subscribe at buff.ly/Mq6t8b3. #parenting #innercritic #breakingcycles #doingthework #gentleparenting
July 29, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I used to lose sleep over one awkward comment in a meeting. My #innercritic would spiral, trying to protect me from rejection with harsh words & outdated tools. This week’s post explores meeting that voice with clarity & compassion. 👉 buff.ly/gS8Kgy2 #selfcompassion #personalgrowth
July 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
I was sad to learn the other day that #joannamacy is in hospice. I came to her teachings late but really resonated with her #ecodharma. Wishing her ease and joy for her passing and transition to whatever is next. #mindfulness #embodymind #engagedbuddhism #theworkthatreconnects
July 9, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Most weekends, I didn’t summit the mountain.
For years, I called that failure.
Now I call it wisdom.

New Substack: The Soul of the Climb
On self-compassion, ambition & letting the path change you.
🗻👉 buff.ly/B2BBFuP

#selfcompassion #mindfulness #personalgrowth #bskysangha
June 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
June 21, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Chasing self-esteem can leave us stuck. #selfcompassion offers something steadier. It’s not a shortcut—it’s a return. My latest Substack's about why kindness > constant striving. Check it out here: www.befriendingyourself.org/p/meet-self-... #mindfulness #mentalhealth #bskysangha #innercritic
June 18, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I've been quiet for a while. Building something. My latest read is @ralphdelarosa.bsky.social's Outshining Trauma. It's a powerful book filled with healing magic and fundamental truths like this one. So grateful! #mindfulness #meditation #ifs #traumahealing
April 30, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The Buddha said something to the effect that people who cling to their opinions go around annoying people. But it can be much more extreme than that. Can we hold our opinions lightly? Especially those about ourselves? #mindfulness #meditation #buddhism #selfcompassion #bskysangha #pemachodron
March 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM
When we want to turn away and create bad others is the hardest and most important time to see clearly and practice #compassion. More from from #whenthingsfallapart. #pemachodron #mindfulnesss #meditation #buddhism #bskysangha
March 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM
All is subject to change & nothing is guaranteed. No matter how wise our actions, we may not get the outcome we want. Knowing this, can we still approach our lives with gratitude & tenderness with the intention of personal and collective healing?

#pemachodron #mindfulness #meditation #bskysangha
March 6, 2025 at 12:17 PM
#mindfulness is a word we often use, but what does it MEAN? I offer this simple definition. When practicing #mindfulnessmeditation, we set an intention to stay with our present moment experience without assigning labels like good or bad, right or wrong. #meditation #bskysangha #insightmeditation
March 5, 2025 at 6:21 PM
🤔 I know many places where we can practice #mindfulness #meditation and #compassion, the "weapons" of the spiritual warrior. Sitting, watching the mind, opening to what's there with kindness = simple but powerful acts that can dissolve the causes of war.

#pemachodron #insightmeditation #bskysangha
March 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM
"Certain people" want us to think they have all the power. They fear us remembering our inherent goodness, love, beauty, strength, & natural intelligence. I invite you to: Pause, feel the ground meeting your feet, notice your breath & look inside for it. #mindfulness #meditation #bskysangha #rumi
March 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Feelings can be scary and/or overwhelming but they are essentially sources of information about our inner and external worlds. Gently opening to them can offer the gifts of insight and compassion for self and others.

#pemachodron #mindfulness #meditation #bskysangha #insightmeditation
March 4, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Put otherwise, we should free ourselves to feel all the feels. They can be uncomfortable but “no feeling is final.” More from #pemachodron When Things Fall Apart. #buddhism #bskysangha #mindfulness #compassion #embodymind
February 27, 2025 at 5:21 PM
From my re-reading of #pemachodron ‘s When Things Fall Apart. Can we let go of right & wrong, good & bad? Can we be with people as they are without agreeing or disagreeing? If so, it could help stop the culture war & focus on the things that really matter. #mindfulness #bskysangha #buddhism
February 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
This pretty much sums up my approach to teaching and my perspective on why we are where we are in the world rn. Too many people hating themselves, unable to stay with that pain and coping by inflicting it on others. #buddhism #mindfulness #pemachodron #selfcompassion #bskysangha #embodymind
February 20, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Happy #valentinesday folks, my first on #bluesky. What we pay attention to grows stronger. By paying attention to our inner life, to our children, our partners, our world, they will know our love and be nourished by it. ❤️🌈 #mindfulness #meditation #bskysangha #insightmeditation #tarabrach #buddhism
February 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
“Do not look away. Do not avert your gaze. Do not turn aside.” This is a time for radical attention and total acceptance of events around and within us. Stay awake. Keep your heart open. Bear witness. ❤️🙏 #buddhism #meditation #joannamacy #thegreatturning #bskysangha
February 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Looking for an inclusive space to develop your #mindfulness practice and connect with like-minded folks? Join me for this online drop-in #meditation group each Sunday. Pay what you can to attend! Learn more and sign up here: embodymind.co/meditation-g...

#bskysangha #insightmeditation #buddhism
February 11, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I've been spending way too much time reading the news lately & not enough time walking in #nature. But my regular #mindfulness #meditation practice sustains me & helps me keep my composure amidst everything that's going on in the world rn! 🙏❤️ #insightmeditation #jackkornfield #bskysangha #embodymind
February 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
More wisdom from #pemachodron ‘s When Things Fall Apart. Endings are also beginnings. Empires rise & fall, new ones replace them. Old systems get broken, new ones get built. We may have to experience pain in the bardo as we aspire toward the new world we want. #mindfulness #buddhism #bskysangha
February 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM