gardening + spirituality + homesteading + creation care
Many years ago, I had the honor of attending a talk by Dr. Maya Angelou at Mars Hill College near my hometown of Asheville. My seat was near the back so there was no hope of seeing her facial expressions or appreciating the nuances… Continue Reading “rainbow in the clouds”
After a challenging day yesterday, I left work in a flurry. I was too early to meet my friend for dinner and did not want to sit in the parking lot of the restaurant–I needed to do something for my spirit. Then it dawned… Continue Reading “lessons learned: peaceful goats, peaceful spirit”
Every spring, the bunnies come to visit the garden and see if by some chance, there’s a hole in the chicken wire big enough to access the greens. Sadly, they are disappointed, but they hang around any way and give birth each Spring to… Continue Reading “lessons learned: bunnies and sacred space”
I’ve put the gardens to bed and shored up the chicken coop. I’ve stored the tools and stacked the pots behind the shed. I’ve left the last of the coneflower dead heads reaching toward the sky, in case finch and chickadee grow tired of… Continue Reading “wintering”
We cannot find God in noise and agitation. Nature: trees, flowers, and grass grow in silence. The stars, the moon, and the sun move in silence. What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us and what He tells others… Continue Reading “meditation on silence by Mother Teresa”
We cannot find God in noise and agitation. Nature: trees, flowers, and grass grow in silence. The stars, the moon, and the sun move in silence. What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us and what He tells others… Continue Reading “a meditation on silence by Mother Teresa”
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”
As a former early childhood educator, I continue to apply lessons learned from my life with young children (and my own daughter). This week, it seems that the idea of “play” has been planted in my spirit and continues to weave its way into… Continue Reading “lessons learned: let’s play”
I’m reposting this one not only for Advent but also because I have been reading several books that remind me of the importance of growing love–in and of yourself so you can reflect love in and of those around you. It is not always… Continue Reading “love is. . .”
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. ~Henry David Thoreau There are many days when I think Thoreau had it right–go off into the woods, live in a simple place, and… Continue Reading “lessons learned: on pumpkins and solitude”
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”
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”
As I prepare to go about my work today, may my intention to live in your present moment be the pattern for this day and my life. With your help, may I forever do only one thing at a time– always in communion with… Continue Reading “mindfulness–one step directions for the soul”
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”
Enter, Quiet, enter into this place. Wrap your arms around me like an old friend who reaches out and smiles and says, “I’m happy to see you.” Enter, Quiet, come and sit beside me as I ponder what it means to rest in your… Continue Reading “enter, quiet”
May the light of your soul guide you. May the light of your soul bless the work that you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart. May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul. May the… Continue Reading “may the light of your soul guide you~an Irish blessing”
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”
This morning as I sat down to write, nothing came to mind. Well, let me reframe that–a lot of words and thoughts competed for my attention, but none that were meant for this blog. I sat in my chair and closed my eyes. As… Continue Reading “lessons learned: preparing the space”
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”
Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before. ~William Butler Yeats This cloudy morning, I took the dogs outside for a walk around the chilly farm. As they wandered through the leaves, I… Continue Reading “lessons learned: weathered spirits”
Recently, I was asked why I returned to my hometown to live as an adult. I responded that I felt compelled to give back to the community that raised me. Typically that answer satisfies people, and they smile politely and we move on in… Continue Reading “lessons learned: giving back to the community that raised me”
In autumn, my daughter came home from a friend’s house and announced she wanted a bedroom downstairs. I have learned with teens that you don’t oblige too readily, or they forget that it was their idea and quickly withdraw the request. Secretly, I was… Continue Reading “lessons learned: lightening the load”
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”
Guardian of my Deepest Self, I need to be still, to listen not only to falling leaves and the gentle wind; I need to listen to my soul, too long neglected. . . Let me be still amid the beauty of the earth. Let… Continue Reading “from Joyce Rupp’s prayer, Listening to My Soul”
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir
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”
As a part of my faith journey, I sometimes spend time meditating through art instead of writing. My spiritual director introduced me to the concept of prayer cards a few years ago, and it has become one of my favorite spiritual practices. I find… Continue Reading “prayer card: joy”
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”
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion. ~Henry David Thoreau There are many days when I think Thoreau had it right–go off into the woods, live in a simple place, and… Continue Reading “lessons learned: on pumpkins and solitude”
I am always amazed how words work their way into my life at just the right time. I stumbled upon this one by chance and thought I’d repost. You must weed your mind as you would weed your garden. ~Terri Guillemet He who hunts… Continue Reading “lessons learned: pullin’ weeds”
When I was little, my grandparents gave me a book entitled “Love Is. . .” Each page had two little cartoon characters in a scene that illustrated a simple saying about love. Love is. . .when he looks at you and makes your tummy… Continue Reading “love is. . .”
I rest as a spiritual act. ~Anne Lamott For a night owl, it can be difficult to settle in early and rise with the sun, but in the past couple of weeks, I’ve done just that. Weekends have been filled with early morning chores… Continue Reading “resting as a spiritual act”
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 life. With your help, may I forever do only one thing at a time– always in communion… Continue Reading “a piece of peace”
Deep peace of the running waves 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 shades of night to you. Moon and stars… Continue Reading “deep peace”
Thanksgiving Prayer We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us. We return thanks to the rivers and streams, which supply us with water. We return thanks to all herbs, which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases. We return thanks… Continue Reading “an Iroquois Thanksgiving prayer”
Prayer of Thanksgiving O God, we thank you for this earth, our home; For the wide sky and the blessed sun, For the salt sea and the running water, For the everlasting hills And the never-resting winds, For trees and the common grass underfoot.… Continue Reading “a prayer of Thanksgiving”
I thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes. . . how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing… Continue Reading “gratitude for this day”
When I was in my “farm dreaming” stage, I sat at my kitchen table one day trying to determine why it was I felt so blue. I sat in the quiet and just listened to my heart and my spirit. Afterwards, I started thumbing… Continue Reading “meditation card: welcome to my farm”
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ~Eleanor Roosevelt