The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary 317
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre on day 27 of our latest lock down. This morning the neighbourhood is cold with the winter freeze but soon we will experience the death of winter and the birth of spring, but also this morning in Ballinwillin we mourn the death and passing of Joe Mulcahy our neighbour, a legend in the music business and a founding member of the famous Maurice Mulcahy Band. A band that gave huge enjoyment to thousands of people worldwide. This morning our prayers are with his family, friends and neighbours. Now destiny calls Joe to a place of music where his trumpet will sound again for all our spiritual enjoyment, where his heart will always remain generous, all heavenly doors will open to his musical light as you now quietly befriend your death and you have no need to fear. You are among your own orchestra in the big band with your pure white suit you are now equal to your destiny and nearer to Earths heart. Rest in peace Joe. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 135
Today I am going to talk to you about the soul, yours and mine as it will be part of tomorrows RetrEat. Each soul is so unique and hungers for warmth and longs to belong and it is our soul that makes all belonging possible.
Good morning all and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 135 of my diary and day 30 out of lock down. This week is setting out to be a busy one with the interest in RetrEats rising and bookings coming it. It is a serious indication already of the damage that Covid and the lock down has done to people. We are getting all kinds of requests for 1 hour sessions, half day RetrEats and the weekend RetrEats but yesterday I was asked if I would travel to some private work and it got me thinking that not all people can come to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens so why don’t I go to do RetrEats with people in their own homes and gardens so I am working with Aoife on putting together programs to commence by early September. Today I am going to talk to you about the soul, yours and mine as it will be part of tomorrows RetrEat. Each soul is so unique and hungers for warmth and longs to belong and it is our soul that makes all belonging possible. No soul is private. No soul is merely mortal as well as being the vital principal for your life, it is so ancient and eternal and weaves you into the great tapestry of spirit which connects everything, everywhere, it surrounds and protects your clay body and draws eternal light from your spiritual world that is always calling us and blessing us. So today, lets all bless each other, send healing to each other, continue with meaningful prayer and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 134
Today I am going to talk with you about “how unique each individual is”. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to meet some amazingly kind people, beautiful people and all so unique and that is why this subject comes to my mind today. Every one of us journeys alone into this world and we will depart the very same way but in the interim each one of us carries a “unique” world within our hearts so it is very important that we have an open, happy and full heart for all to see and benefit from.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome once again to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on another Monday and the beginning of another great week. Today I am going to talk with you about “how unique each individual is”. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to meet some amazingly kind people, beautiful people and all so unique and that is why this subject comes to my mind today. Every one of us journeys alone into this world and we will depart the very same way but in the interim each one of us carries a “unique” world within our hearts so it is very important that we have an open, happy and full heart for all to see and benefit from. No one will experience life as you do and yours is a totally unique story of experience and feelings. When we encounter people as I did yesterday their unique qualities shine like a beacon and sent warmth and healing and feeling to me. So who don’t we do the very same today and every day from henceforth. Continue to pray, continue to send healing and blessings to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 133
This morning during meditation I bent my thoughts as they strayed towards my “ancestors” and the Thinking Path at Ballinwillin House is flooded with spirits of my ancestors. An ancient bloodline flows from past generations until it reaches and creates us in the now.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on another Sunday morning and a day of rest, mindfulness and peace. Today is day 28 out of lock down. This morning during meditation I bent my thoughts as they strayed towards my “ancestors” and the Thinking Path at Ballinwillin House is flooded with spirits of my ancestors. An ancient bloodline flows from past generations until it reaches and creates us in the now. Blood holds, carries and gives life. Recently we had a beautiful family gathering and as I glanced across the room I thought how incredible was the multiple streams of ancestry, memory, shadow and light and I thought how our home and many homes love the opportunity to host the arrival and presence of history and in the departing creates a new destiny. I often say at these gatherings once you all report to your distant destinies I will still be able to hear your soft sweet voices bouncing from the walls and into my heart and yet I know full well ultimately and proximately it is our ancestors who have called us here. We belong to their lifeline. Today, this beautiful Sunday, let your minds stray as far back as you can go on the trail of your ancestors, hold them in your minds eye, say a little prayer with them and continue to bless and send healing to each other and wear that infectious smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 132
This morning I am going to talk to you about “moments” all through my life. I have been fortunate enough to experience some wonderful moments in my life but they come and go so fleetingly, just like a heartbeat and it is very easy to miss them and not celebrate them.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on a misty July morning. It is great to see life at Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens slowly coming back to normal and it was great this week to see the RetrEats returning and lovely to be practising mindfulness with other people now that lock down from Covid19 is over for the moment at least, and hopefully for good. So this morning I am going to talk to you about “moments” all through my life. I have been fortunate enough to experience some wonderful moments in my life but they come and go so fleetingly, just like a heartbeat and it is very easy to miss them and not celebrate them. When you recognise and celebrate moments it lifts and lights up your heart and loosens all the tension in you and it is a beautiful experience to recognise when the moment has blossomed. We have these moments every day to today pick up on and blossom with some of your wonderful moments and continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that beautiful, soft smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 131
Today I would like to talk to you about the delicate art of freeing yourself and one way of doing this is through real friendship. Since lock down, many people are imprisoned physically and mentally and it is only your real friends who will help you to see the prisons within which you live. From inside our lives it is too difficult to gain enough vision and distance to look back on ourselves and see the outer shape of our lives.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm on day 131 of my daily diary and day 26 out of lock down. Today I would like to talk to you about the delicate art of freeing yourself and one way of doing this is through real friendship. Since lock down, many people are imprisoned physically and mentally and it is only your real friends who will help you to see the prisons within which you live. From inside our lives it is too difficult to gain enough vision and distance to look back on ourselves and see the outer shape of our lives. It is much easier for a true friend than it would be for you or me. What is very beautiful about a true friend is that they will never come with a battering ram to demolish the walls of our prison in which they see you. They know right well that it could be too soon. You may not be ready yet and if they demolish your prison cell to soon you may build a new one from the old materials. So today I ask you all to free yourself and live the new life you dream of and if you dream it, you can do it. Remember if it is to be it is up to me. Continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 130
Today I would like to talk to you about what came to my mind during my morning meditation “our secret companions - angels”. We know that we all have an “angel guardian” - it is our Celtic tradition and belief
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm on day 25 out of lock down and a nice fresh Thursday morning. Today I would like to talk to you about what came to my mind during my morning meditation “our secret companions - angels”. We know that we all have an “angel guardian” - it is our Celtic tradition and belief that we all have an invisible companion who walks the roads of life with us. It is my belief that our guardian angel is chosen from one, or a combination of, our past ancestors or as I refer to it “our spiritual ancestry” and its duty is to accompany us through every step of our life, right beside us and as near as your skin and inside your life with responsibility for your life to watch over you and keep a circle of light around you and sleeps in your soul.
Today I would like you to dwell on these thoughts as you think inwards and about your life and give a hug to your angel guardian knowing that walking together you will be minded.
Continue to pray, bless and heal each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 129
The real fresh air this morning had a penetrating strength and flavour, you could feel it was trusting those of us who were out early to savour its freshness and as the morning dew sprinkled over the grass my imagination was filled with wonder and hope. Some early morning this week you should walk barefoot in the dew and absorb its goodness.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm on day 24 out of lock down. Not so sunny today, and wet. This morning as I walked through the fields with my deer, wild boar and goats I could not but take notice of how relaxed they were in their surroundings and with nature. What came to my mind was is this is the way they measured their life, their health and well being and could we do the same and live our lives with faith, hope, love and in harmony with nature. The real fresh air this morning had a penetrating strength and flavour, you could feel it was trusting those of us who were out early to savour its freshness and as the morning dew sprinkled over the grass my imagination was filled with wonder and hope. Some early morning this week you should walk barefoot in the dew and absorb its goodness.
Continue to pray, bless and send healings to each other, be mindful and wear your infectious smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 128
Life can be like a bright torch and we only get to hold it for a brief while but while we hold it our aim must be to make it burn as brightly as possible before we hand it over to the next generation.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 23 out of lock down. It is a beautiful Tuesday morning. Well yesterday we began back with our first retreats and it was wonderful to be back healing people and meditating with people and the retreats at Ballinwillin House Farm was the perfect thing to look forward to now that we are back to the now and new normal. The theme for our retreat yesterday was “compassion”. Compassion is not an end in itself but part of our journey in life. We must listen more, judge less, we must loosen our opinion of self and its models and now we must begin to recognise the essence of each person we meet. Compassion gradually becomes an offering. First to those who we are with but also to God. Helping becomes an art of reverence, worship and gratitude. Life can be like a bright torch and we only get to hold it for a brief while but while we hold it our aim must be to make it burn as brightly as possible before we hand it over to the next generation. Retreats will now continue via prior daily/hourly appointments to The Mindful Farmers website. Continue to bless, pray and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 127
yesterday I was planning a lament for my 105 beautiful rose bushes, they were being battered, bruised and torrentially rained on for the past month but then yesterday all was forgiven and they once more expressed all their beautiful petals with wide open hands. They once more showed their extravagant and outrageous beauty and splendour and then followed on with their intoxicating and knock out perfumes.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this beautiful Monday morning and the beginning of yet another week with today being day 22 out of lock down. Onwards and upwards I always say! Yesterday was a most beautiful day, a most beautiful Sunday and up until yesterday I was planning a lament for my 105 beautiful rose bushes, they were being battered, bruised and torrentially rained on for the past month but then yesterday all was forgiven and they once more expressed all their beautiful petals with wide open hands. They once more showed their extravagant and outrageous beauty and splendour and then followed on with their intoxicating and knock out perfumes. When you like in this environment at Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens it is very conclusive to being mindful and relaxed and eases your soul to protect your spiritual presence and being and it tells me in a whisper from nature “Patrick, if you want to be happy, just be!”
Today I wish you all happiness and contentment and in our usual mindful manner send blessings, healings and prayers to all who need them and wear your infectious smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 126
life is not happening to us it is responding to us and the energy we give it and of course we must give out positive energy at all times. Reality is flowing and science tells us so. Everything is moving, changing and the time we ordinarily think of is not real time but a picture of space
Welcome everyone to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens. Last evening we launched “Donate A Slate” at St. Georges Arts and Heritage Centre where I am a director and I was honored to say a few words and I referred to the fact that life is not happening to us it is responding to us and the energy we give it and of course we must give out positive energy at all times. Reality is flowing and science tells us so. Everything is moving, changing and the time we ordinarily think of is not real time but a picture of space and when I am out on the farm relaxing in the company of my deer, wild boar and goats, I have to sit on the ground whereby I am nearer to nature and Mother Earth and able to think more deeply and feel more keenly and in touch with my surroundings and my soul. So today, Sunday, sit a little while in nature, relax and dream and continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 125
Today I am going to ask you to look at this day. Why? For its life and the very life of life and in its brief course all the varieties and realities of your existence, the bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendour of beauty.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this wet day and day 20 out of lock down.
Today I am going to ask you to look at this day. Why? For its life and the very life of life and in its brief course all the varities and realities of your existence, the bliss of growth, the glory of action, the splendour of beauty. Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision but today well lived makes yesterday a dream of happiness and tomorrow is a vision of hope. Look well at this day and breathe beauty and love into it and continue to pray, bless and heal each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 124
Surprise is the starting point for gratitude. It opens our inner eye but of course the amazing fact is that everything is a gift and nothing can be taken for granted. As we begin to be grateful for the small things in life, that gratitude grows and grows and expands like ripples on the surface of a pool. When it starts off it can just be a little stone, a little surprise, a little openness, but as the ripple expands it became more alive to what it is given.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this July Friday morning and day 19 out of lock down. Today I am going to talk to you about “surprise”. Yesterday I was surprised with a very special gift from a client, friends of mine from our meditation group. It really filled my heart. Surprise is the starting point for gratitude. It opens our inner eye but of course the amazing fact is that everything is a gift and nothing can be taken for granted. As we begin to be grateful for the small things in life, that gratitude grows and grows and expands like ripples on the surface of a pool. When it starts off it can just be a little stone, a little surprise, a little openness, but as the ripple expands it became more alive to what it is given. More and more to the giver and more to the giving. Expectations are limitless. Life doesn’t happen to us, it responds to us and responds to our positivity. For today, surprise somebody with a little gesture and make their day and continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 123
This morning I am going to talk to you once more about living in the now as yesterday I had a session with a client who kept referring to the future and what if this and what if that??? We cannot worry about tomorrow and this is a command not a suggestion. Our days are divided into nights and fays so that we have only manageable portions of life to deal with. Our Lord gives us our daily breath to live for only the now and this time why you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy day frame. You then struggle and stagger under the heavy load which we are not built to carry physically or mentally.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on day 123 of my daily diary and day 18 out of lock down.
This morning I am going to talk to you once more about living in the now as yesterday I had a session with a client who kept referring to the future and what if this and what if that??? We cannot worry about tomorrow and this is a command not a suggestion. Our days are divided into nights and fays so that we have only manageable portions of life to deal with. Our Lord gives us our daily breath to live for only the now and this time why you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy day frame. You then struggle and stagger under the heavy load which we are not built to carry physically or mentally. Anxiety thoughts would always meander across your brain but when you trust in the divine there is no need to worry about tomorrow. From now onwards live in the now and devote now to all who you encounter you will not only light up their life but also illuminate your own. Continue to pray, bless and heal each other and live your life in the fullness of mindfulness and wear that beautiful smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 122
So this morning, sit in a comfortable position and take a few moments to tune into your breath and allow yourself to settle and relax. Now bring someone to mind who you really care about. It may be your own partner, child, a friend, or a pet or animal and now imagine this person or animal and hold them in your minds eye. Offer them love and good wishes and warmth by silently repeating “may you be well”, “may you be happy”, “may you be free from suffering”. Repeat these short phrases and let them resonate like a pebble falling down a well.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on a misty July morning and day 17 out of lock down. Today I am going to talk to you about kindness as yesterday I encountered a lovely person who showed tremendous kindness to me. So this morning, sit in a comfortable position and take a few moments to tune into your breath and allow yourself to settle and relax. Now bring someone to mind who you really care about. It may be your own partner, child, a friend, or a pet or animal and now imagine this person or animal and hold them in your minds eye. Offer them love and good wishes and warmth by silently repeating “may you be well”, “may you be happy”, “may you be free from suffering”. Repeat these short phrases and let them resonate like a pebble falling down a well. Practice this exercise regularly when you are sending healing, prayers, blessings and kindness to each other after a days work and the more people doing it the more powerful we become, powerful enough to heal the world. So today, I ask you to mindfully send love and healing to those near and dear to you and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 121
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on what is an exciting day for us all here as from next Monday July 20th we will be hosting one to one RetrEats here at Balllinwillin House and we are commencing with hourly private half day sessions and this is directly as a result of feedback from the lock down Facebook live sessions and people are saying that a retreat at Ballinwillin House is the perfect thing to look forward to as we are getting back to normal.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on what is an exciting day for us all here as from next Monday July 20th we will be hosting one to one RetrEats here at Balllinwillin House and we are commencing with hourly private half day sessions and this is directly as a result of feedback from the lock down Facebook live sessions and people are saying that a retreat at Ballinwillin House is the perfect thing to look forward to as we are getting back to normal. The RetrEats will be an exercise in escaping from the constant stress and strivings of our daily routines and cultivating an appreciation and a contentment in being and living in the now. So if you have an interest in signing up do not hesitate to contact us by email or send us a message om themindfulfarmerpatrick@gmail.com.
In the meantime, until we see you at Ballinwillin, continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 120
During this day and now, relax and be mindful and let things take their natural course then your mind will become still in any surroundings like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful animals from the farm will drink at the pool and then we will see the true nature of all things.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on a wet and damp Monday morning. It is the start of another week but we wont let the weather dampen our spirits will we. During this day and now, relax and be mindful and let things take their natural course then your mind will become still in any surroundings like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful animals from the farm will drink at the pool and then we will see the true nature of all things. Meditation can help us embrace our worries, our fears, our anger and that is very healing. Then let our own natural capacity for healing do the work.
Continue to pray, continue to send blessings and healings to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 119
You all know that Sundays are special to me and my family as I rest and relax in my beautiful surroundings at Ballinwillin House. I like to make special mention on Sundays of my garden that I lovingly care for on a regular basis and here I meditate at various times on the Mindful, Meditation and Forgiveness gardens. It is a huge part of my life and as I walk the circular thinking path that surrounds these 3 gardens I think of a circle of life that is so imprinted in our spirituality.
Today is day 119 of my daily diary and day 14 out of lock down.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this beautiful Sunday morning and at this stage you all know that Sundays are special to me and my family as I rest and relax in my beautiful surroundings at Ballinwillin House. I like to make special mention on Sundays of my garden that I lovingly care for on a regular basis and here I meditate at various times on the Mindful, Meditation and Forgiveness gardens. It is a huge part of my life and as I walk the circular thinking path that surrounds these 3 gardens I think of a circle of life that is so imprinted in our spirituality. It is here I find the colour, power and intensity of nature. How it beautifully recognises the wind, the flowers and the sound of birds and animals. It is here that I find the surrounding spirituality praises the new and it adores the life force of the sun. We are all natures people and it is our companion. It nourishes us, fills us with warmth, wonder and belonging. So today, spend a little time in nature and soak it up and continue to pray, bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 118
All day long on the radio was given over to tributes to Jack Charlton the former Irish soccer manager who passed away and the common theme was how he made the players dream the dream and make their dreams come true and to believe in themselves. There is an incredible power in the mind when it directs its light towards a task.
Today is day 118 of my daily diary and day 13 out of lock down. Good evening everyone and welcome once again to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on this beautiful Saturday evening. I am coming to you later today as the day was really busy, leaving this morning at 4am to do deliveries to Neighbour Food markets all over the south and then home and catch up with a busy farming schedule. All day long on the radio was given over to tributes to Jack Charlton the former Irish soccer manager who passed away and the common theme was how he made the players dream the dream and make their dreams come true and to believe in themselves. There is an incredible power in the mind when it directs its light towards a task. Also I am going to refer to blessings again. Blessings roam the territory of our memory which awakens us and draws forth possibilities we cannot even begin to imagine. So this evening and from now on dream your dreams and breathe blessings into them and make them happen.
Continue to pray, bless and send healing to all around you and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 117
Last night I was listening to Dr. Gerald Barry on Prime Time TV. He is an eminent virologist and expert on Corona Virus Covid19 and as he was explaining how the virus mutates and changes on a regular basis and how clever and cunning the virus is. The thought came to me that we have to be clever too and keep on doing all that is demanded from us re social distancing, washing our hands, not going on foreign holidays etc but is that enough? I don’t think so.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens on the 12th day out of lock down. Last night I was listening to Dr. Gerald Barry on Prime Time TV. He is an eminent virologist and expert on Corona Virus Covid19 and as he was explaining how the virus mutates and changes on a regular basis and how clever and cunning the virus is. The thought came to me that we have to be clever too and keep on doing all that is demanded from us re social distancing, washing our hands, not going on foreign holidays etc but is that enough? I don’t think so. Over the past few weeks I have been contentiously contacted by people responding to my daily request for prayer, blessing and healing and now a large group of people are saying they are back praying, they are back saying the rosary and this is wonderful. We have to be clever too but we have a vaccine available to us today and that is prayer. It need not be a rosary, a simple prayer of thought will do. I know how powerful this is and you will too if you try.
So for today, continue to pray, bless and heal each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 116
The grass is growing at pace but my poor roses and other flowering plants are not happy, their heads are down but maybe they are thankful inwardly for the nourishment of this fresh rain dropping softly on their heads. There are many things to ponder on in the garden and that is why I devote my gardens at Ballinwillin House to mindfulness. There is always something to be done in the garden that will make you thankful and mindful.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm and gardens. Today we are 11 days out of lock down. As you can see the rain and wind is back with us. The grass is growing at pace but my poor roses and other flowering plants are not happy, their heads are down but maybe they are thankful inwardly for the nourishment of this fresh rain dropping softly on their heads. There are many things to ponder on in the garden and that is why I devote my gardens at Ballinwillin House to mindfulness. There is always something to be done in the garden that will make you thankful and mindful. There is always something to admire in a flower or a tree. It could be a bird or a butterfly. All these little experiences could be life changing in their message of now. There are times when everything comes together in the garden like a symphony comes together to put you at complete peace. We all need these beautiful little messages and joys and experiences to restore our energy and recharge our hearts and amazing wonder is restored. All these moments, be it on a wet, dry or a sunny day, puts us in a state of grateful awareness and what really excites me about it all is that it is the mystery of beauty that surrounds us all. So today, experience this mystery and beauty in your own garden or any garden.
Continue to pray. Bless and send healing to each other and wear that smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick