gardening + spirituality + homesteading + creation care
There are mornings when the world greets me unexpectedly with a brilliant sunrise or a joyful birdsong. I sit in my meditation room, drink my tea, and soak in what Creation has to offer my soul. Ahhh, peace.
After reposting 86,400 Seconds, I journeyed to my bookshelf and pulled out the gratitude journal that I photographed for that posting. I looked at list after list after list, and I realized that most of the items on those pages weren’t milestones in my emotional… Continue Reading “lessons learned: the little things”
w The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. ~George Bernard Shaw, The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God, 1932 For the last couple of weeks, I have meditated on Anne Lamott’s reference… Continue Reading “dirty knees? yes, please”
Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the infinite peace to you. gaelic blessing This week,… Continue Reading “lessons learned: the gift of deep peace”
This one is resting in my spirit today. The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives… Continue Reading “Wendell Berry’s The Peace of Wild Things”
Tomorrow, a dear friend and I will be facilitating a women’s retreat at my little homestead. I am so excited to host my first workshop since we remodeled our home and revamped the gardens, and yet, last night, I sat in my kitchen looking… Continue Reading “lessons learned: fixer-uppers, mental lists, and peace within”
In honor of the UN’s International Day of Peace, September 21, 2015. The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life… Continue Reading “Wendell Berry’s The Peace of Wild Things”
Sometimes, the call is like a burning bush setting your heart on fire with passion. You race, you go, you change, you act. You are driven to respond, to fulfill, to minister. Then sometimes, the call is like a gentle whisper from the Beloved… Continue Reading “a gentle unfolding”
As I continue to grow in the ways of my faith, I find that I have become a collector of prayer practices. It is quite a colorful collection to suit different moods, situations, and spaces. These simple acts of prayer are mine, and I… Continue Reading “morning mantras”
A few weeks ago, I went to lunch with someone who asked me this: “If you could only speak one word for the rest of your life, what would it be?” He went on to explain that a couple of summers ago, he had… Continue Reading “one word”
This weekend, I will begin some indoor starts for spring and summer veggies and herbs. It is quite possibly one of my favorite activities on this little farm, for it is humbling to hold a little piece creation in your hands and nurture the… Continue Reading “holding a little piece of creation in your hands”
This coming Sunday, a dear friend and I will be co-leading a “Longest Night” service. Designed for healing and peace, this worship opportunity is often offered on the longest night of the year, the night when Darkness wraps her arms around us and holds… Continue Reading “lessons learned: the mosaic of brokenness and wholeness”
May all be filled with joy and peace. May all beings everywhere, The strong and the weak, The great and the small, The meek and the powerful, The short and the long, The subtle and the gross: May all beings everywhere, Both seen and… Continue Reading “Stephen H. Ruppenthal’s May All Be Filled with Joy and Peace”
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher… Continue Reading “choose now”
Ok, Holy Spirit, once again you amaze me. I’m not sure if I’ve shared on this blog that I’ve resumed my yoga practice. This time, it has been less about perfecting my form and more about getting into the corners of my body and… Continue Reading “lessons learned: tickling the roots”
It is a morning of expectation and delight as it is the first Saturday in quite some time that my daughter and I have not had a commitment beyond hanging out with each other. I am realistic though–I know that as she finishes out… Continue Reading “a happier life~reflection on a saturday morn”
The last couple of months, I’ve been very mindful of this practice, and I’m starting to experience the peace that comes with it. I thought I would repost this one as a reminder to us all. I rest as a spiritual act. ~Anne Lamott… Continue Reading “resting as a spiritual act”
I have spent some time this morning meditating on prayers that have been written over the years with regard to 9/11. I am so grateful to have found one website in particular that memorialized the 10th anniversary with a page of prayers and blessings… Continue Reading “prayers and blessings of remembrance for this day”
Deep Peace to You Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the infinite peace to you.… Continue Reading “deep peace”
Peace. Peace She says to me. Peace to your soul. I am the beauty in the leaf. I am the echo in a baby’s laugh. I am your Mother. I am the joy in the heart that beats. I am the free woman. I… Continue Reading “peace”
With the onset of daylight savings and a shifting of priorities, I have returned to my routine of walking the dogs at my daughter’s former middle school. I love that place because I rarely have to share it with anyone, and it was built… Continue Reading “nature: the gift that keeps on giving”
This morning I came across this blessing in Jan Richardson’s book In the Sanctuary of Women. “Rootedness” seems to be a theme in my life right now so I thought I would repost this meditation. May your roots go deep and deeper still into… Continue Reading “lessons learned: dandelions and faith”
After a spiritually challenging day yesterday, I just wanted to curl up in my bed and forget the world for awhile. Instead, I took my own advice, put the dogs in the car, and drove out to my favorite spot in the country to… Continue Reading “lessons learned: waiting on the cows”
As I squatted by the trellis yesterday to plant more sugar snap peas, I looked down at the boots I was wearing. I’ve had them for a couple of years now, so they are not so colorful anymore, but I fondly remembered that I’d… Continue Reading “lessons learned: on growth, gardening boots, and grace”
This past weekend, I was given the gift of a spiritual walk with God. While it occurred within a community setting, the focus was on my own connection with my faith and how it shapes and reshapes who I am. A very powerful part… Continue Reading “lessons learned: brokenness like a mosaic”
Today, my sweet baby girl sheds another year and gracefully takes the next few steps on her life’s journey. There are days when I’m sure she wishes she could take a few leaps forward and be out in the big, wide world, and there… Continue Reading “lessons shared with my daughter”
With warm sun dancing about the farm this morning, the birds lift up their voices to rejoice. With eyes closed, I sit at my kitchen table and listen to their son. Peace. Such Singing in the Wild Branches It was spring and I finally… Continue Reading “Mary Oliver’s Such Singing in the Wild Branches”
Recently, I have been savoring the book In the Sanctuary of Women by Jan Richardson. If you do not know her work, please visit her website. You will not be disappointed! During my time away in Wisconsin, I spent several snowy evenings sitting in… Continue Reading “the long way ’round”
For the past two weeks, I have been working in Wisconsin, in the middle of 2 snow storms and frigid temperatures, and I have loved it. Seriously. I don’t know if my soul has just craved a real winter for so long that it… Continue Reading “lessons learned: craving winter”
May I become at all times, both now and forever A protector for those without protection A guide for those who have lost their way A ship for those with oceans to cross A bridge for those with rivers to cross A sanctuary for… Continue Reading “a buddhist prayer of peace”
I am reposting this one because we are on our third year of cold, wet winters, and I am longing for snow. Today may be the day it happens, and my spirit will be joyful! Out of the bosom of the Air, Out of… Continue Reading “silent snow”
I will be truthful. I will suffer no injustice. I will be free from fear. I will not use force. I will be of good will to all men. ~Mahatma Gandhi
I love snow. It’s as simple as that. Whether it’s a powdered sugar dusting or an up-to-my-knees accumulation, there is something about snow that puts my spirit at ease. Maybe it’s because the extra fluff absorbs all the sound and everything appears to be… Continue Reading “reflection on a snowy morning”
New Year Poem and Wishes Under the glorious canopy of redwood trees The New Year peacock dances Sun and moon rise into the blue sky The earth grows and happiness increases In this New Year — H.E. Khempo Yurmed Tinly Rinpoche Being Peace If… Continue Reading “Buddhist prayers and poetry for the new year”
May All Be Filled With Joy and Peace May all be filled with joy and peace. May all beings everywhere, The strong and the weak, The great and the small, The meek and the powerful, The short and the long, The subtle and the… Continue Reading “Stephen Ruppenthal’s May All Be Filled with Joy and Peace”
Although this meditation is two years old, I find that it still rings true on many levels. May you engage in “peaceful heart” activities this holiday season. My hands are small, I know But they’re not yours, they are my own ~Jewel, “Hands” Raising… Continue Reading “dirty hands, peaceful heart”
The Peace of Wild Things When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake… Continue Reading “Wendell Berry’s The Peace of Wild Things”
As I sit with “peace” this week, I thought this one might be appropriate to repost. ~Cameron As I prepare to go about my work today, may my intention to live life in your present moment be the pattern for this day and my… Continue Reading “a piece of peace”
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on… Continue Reading “peace within”