Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully each moment
and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.
by Thick Nhat Hanh
Waking Up
Lovely “Loving Yourself” Workshop
Monday evening was a good time to be outside – the temperature was warm but not humid. We gathered in the shade of the gazebo, the freshly cut lawn underfoot, sitting by the cherry and the apple trees, overlooking the horses’ pasture and the perennial gardens. The bees drowsed in the asters and Shanti my calico cat dropped by as well.
We started our workshop with a brief meditation on our breath, feeling the earth beneath our feet and realizing that our breath is always with us.
We then discussed the facets of ourselves that we need to pay attention to – our physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects. We talked about how we could care for these aspects of ourselves, how to make the time, save the energy for ourselves and accept ourselves just as we are now.
The harvest moon rose and outdid the sunset, I haven’t been able to command the sunset to perform – and tonight the harvest moon was warm and full and luminous. Thank you.
Birdsong and Haying
I am savouring the morning concert of the birds with a solo performance by the ruby-throated hummingbird at his feeder. The solo is more acrobatic than acoustic; accompanied by the whirr of his wings. The solo stands out nicely from the other birdsong which is melodic and liquid. I try to pick out the different calls of the robin, the crow, the phoebe, and the mourning doves, This concert is in honour of the morning and I am celebrating our getting in the hay for the year.
This spring was cool and very wet delaying the growth of new grass in our pasture, so we fed hay longer than usual and used up all our reserves of hay. We’ve had so much rain this summer that the farmers could not harvest the hay.
This past weekend was one of the few where there were enough dry days in a row to cut, dry and bale the hay. So Bill and I along with our neighbors put in more than 300 bales; 100 for them, 200 for us. We owe them some labour. I am so thankful for their assistance, without it we would still be working on getting in the hay. I find the work itself so satisfying, since it proves that we are again strong and fit enough to pick up, carry and stack all this hay. It shows that the body can still stretch and throw and sweat and replenish itself, a wonderful tool.
It is a way of marking the season, we can relax now that our horses’ feed for the winter is in. I think I need to start planning a summer BBQ for all our neighbours to keep those ties deep and strong.
Back to my Beautiful Life
Well, you may have noticed that I haven’t been blogging and trying to share my opinions with you for quite a while. I was taking part in that great exercise of democracy – the Federal election campaign. I was supporting my local candidate by canvassing door to door, erecting and replacing and replacing signs that were blown down by the wind. Mother Nature wanted to be sure she wasn’t ignored during this campaign, but alas, most did not recognize her interventions.
By canvassing door to door, I’ve learned a great deal about how large and diverse and yet similar my electoral riding is. More on this later. Today I’m just glad – yes even elated to be back to a more reasonably paced life.
Yesterday, I saw only one of the pair of geese that have been visiting my horse pasture every day. They usually return to join their flock at night to be safe. Maybe they are honeymooners, wanting a little together time. Last evening, just the male was there calling constantly. There was also a fox in the pasture – the first one I’ve seen here in more than 10 years. Eventually the male goose ran toward the fox, then turned, and flew away. Perhaps he was trying to lure it away from something. I fear for the female, I hope she isn’t hurt.
This morning, I saw three wild turkeys regally stalking across my pasture, walking under the electrical fence and off into the brush. The warm spring weather is enticing many animals to show themselves. I am happy to witness them.
The Peace of Wild Things
This is my absolute favourite poem. It used to comfort me greatly when I was struggling through the pain of raising two young children by myself, and juggling those responsibilities with a full time job. Now twenty years later, I have significantly more time and less money to juggle, and my children have grown into two wonderful, wacky and compassionate adults. The poem is still wonderful. I now have different fears, now my fears are for my grandchildren and the Wild Things that are struggling themselves with Climate Change and loss of habitat. This poem still has the ability to calm me; to remind me to rest in the grace of the world; to savour that grace and be thankful.
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
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Wendell Berry (Thank you SLOWest Times, March 1, 2011, for printing this poem)