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 503
Possessions don't matter in our lives as they come and go but the real things as outlined above are what matter and above all a good faith and it is that faith that has brought me to today, a day of great celebration in our house - little JJ's 2nd birthday, our beautiful grandson and blessed be the mind that dreamed his birth. Our world certainly has a new glow since his arrival, illuminating all our faces and minds.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. As a practice I give thanks each and every day for all that I have in life, family, friends, colleagues, the beauty around me, my home and so on. Possessions don't matter in our lives as they come and go but the real things as outlined above are what matter and above all a good faith and it is that faith that has brought me to today, a day of great celebration in our house - little JJ's 2nd birthday, our beautiful grandson and blessed be the mind that dreamed his birth. Our world certainly has a new glow since his arrival, illuminating all our faces and minds. So for today, this very special day, I pray that everything I do, say, think and feel will allow light to shine on all of us here today in Ballinwillin as we give thanks for happiness and the opportunity to celebrate. 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 502
Real and natural goodness in people is always through their simplicity. This simplicity of being is a very attractive feature in Irish people just like our world famous welcome. Isn't it strange that we are all so complex individually and yet so simple.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. As we are all very busy these days I had a situation recently where I required urgent assistance and I immediately found out that that instinctive generosity of people was all around me. This generosity of spirit is in all of us only to practice it more often. Real and natural goodness in people is always through their simplicity. This simplicity of being is a very attractive feature in Irish people just like our world famous welcome. Isn't it strange that we are all so complex individually and yet so simple. 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 501
Mother Earth yearns for nurture, yearns for caring, yearns for love just as we human beings do. We are all part of the same family so it is now time to give TLC, tender, loving, care to Mother Earth just as we do to our families and live as one
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. All the talk again at present is about the global warming situation. We see all over the world massive forest fires, huge flooding and even in Ireland we see from the past two weeks the heat wave. The earth, Mother Earth yearns for nurture, yearns for caring, yearns for love just as we human beings do. We are all part of the same family so it is now time to give TLC, tender, loving, care to Mother Earth just as we do to our families and live as one and bring the family and Mother Earth to live as one. Let us remember the clay within us, the ancient clay and let us live to the full and dream with Mother Earth in mind, spirit and light. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your Thursday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 500
Gradually we learn to deal with this invisible yet piercing pain. Will the work of grief ever be done? Will the weeping wounds fully heal? And yet I feel her presence with me in the gardens and on the farm all the time but then suddenly, just as it did today with no warning, I was again ambushed by grief. I feel sorrow will always remain faithful to itself.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. This morning as I was reading over some tributes to my late Mom by my daughter Elayne, I realised I am still grieving her loss nearly 12 years later. I suppose we are all pulled by the rope of grief and I wonder will the well of tears ever reduce to the last drop? Gradually we learn to deal with this invisible yet piercing pain. Will the work of grief ever be done? Will the weeping wounds fully heal? And yet I feel her presence with me in the gardens and on the farm all the time but then suddenly, just as it did today with no warning, I was again ambushed by grief. I feel sorrow will always remain faithful to itself. So this morning I am going to pray for all those who are grieving, that together we enter the hearts and souls of all the departed who are near and dear to us and become one with them and unity of our understanding of absence.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 499
We all need nourishment for body, soul and mind and that is why it is so important to take some time out during the day to nourish the mind. We nourish the body at breakfast, lunch and dinner time. We should also take special time each day to meditate, pray and bless all around us
Good afternoon everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. The rains have returned to the fields and gardens here at Ballinwillin House to nourish the lands and gardens after such a wonderful and dry spell and you can almost see nature saying "thanks for this nourishment". We all need nourishment for body, soul and mind and that is why it is so important to take some time out during the day to nourish the mind. We nourish the body at breakfast, lunch and dinner time. We should also take special time each day to meditate, pray and bless all around us and power healing to all who need it and fill your own world with love, joy and laughter. Have a wonderful and mindful Tuesday.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 498
We always said as we walked to the well for fresh water that the freedom of natures water reminded him of our "freedom of spirit". He would then go on that if people held on to their beliefs that their spirit would remain free and that would allow us to live happy and contented lives no matter where they lived or what their circumstances were.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Once again I refer back to the words of my great uncle Jack who was a complete true spirit. We always said as we walked to the well for fresh water that the freedom of natures water reminded him of our "freedom of spirit". He would then go on that if people held on to their beliefs that their spirit would remain free and that would allow us to live happy and contented lives no matter where they lived or what their circumstances were. Jack was considered in his time as very eccentric and an unusual man but much of what he said makes perfect sense and much of it was the best advice I have received. I still listen to Jacks advice and all my spiritual ancestors everyday, especially when I meditate. I find great solace in their company. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 496
Smiles invite smiles. Respect generates respect. Gratitude evokes gratitude. Serenity, peace and mindfulness reduces stress and tension in people. If we as people behave in this way it will ripple out in wondrous ways across the world.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Positive behaviour is very powerful when we choose a life to love people, love life, and be kind to people. This type of positive approach will always evoke positive responses from people. Smiles invite smiles. Respect generates respect. Gratitude evokes gratitude. Serenity, peace and mindfulness reduces stress and tension in people. If we as people behave in this way it will ripple out in wondrous ways across the world. 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 495
No one can take it from you but sometimes it is ourselves that lets the world and its worries distract us. So from today on lets practice keeping peace and calm in our hearts and let nothing break in and steal it from us. It is the greatest gift and possession of all - peace, calm and happiness in our hearts. Tell the world.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Out on the farm and gardens this morning after washing my face in the morning dew just like my Mam did every day I noticed that the peace and calm was almost touchable. It was just after daybreak but then I thought if only we could all take this peace and calm with us throughout the day and every day. No one has the power to disturb your peace. No one can take it from you but sometimes it is ourselves that lets the world and its worries distract us. So from today on lets practice keeping peace and calm in our hearts and let nothing break in and steal it from us. It is the greatest gift and possession of all - peace, calm and happiness in our hearts. Tell the world. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 494
It is a lovely time for families to sit out and enjoy the sunshine where we can enjoy and picnic in the evening sun and not too hot.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Well we certainly are enjoying the marvelous, fine weather at present and it is what we have been hoping for all this year. It is a lovely time for families to sit out and enjoy the sunshine where we can enjoy and picnic in the evening sun and not too hot. It is important at this time of year to enjoy ourselves and our families. Unless we show appreciation and love to ourselves and our families and friends we are wasting our lives. I really believe this. When we are here on this earth and enjoying this beautiful weather we should give thanks, bless and honour the experience of joy. 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 492
One of the greatest gifts we can bestow is thanksgiving. When we give thanks we give something greater that the gift we have received no matter what it is. When we give gifts we give often what we have to spare but whenever we give thanks we give ourselves and ourselves wholly.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. One of the greatest gifts we can bestow is thanksgiving. When we give thanks we give something greater that the gift we have received no matter what it is. When we give gifts we give often what we have to spare but whenever we give thanks we give ourselves and ourselves wholly. Gratitude is a gift which makes everyone aware of the real value of life. Give thanks today for all who have received in this world. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 491
the mind is always engaging and often forgets who we are but the heart never forgets. The heart holds all our stories. It is the archive of our intimate memory. And then of course we all carry the book of our life inside our hearts. Much of our life can be spent on the outside but the real impact of our lives is registered in our hearts.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Yesterday on the Brendan O'Connor radio show as I was listening as usual, I was delighted to hear much talk about mental health. We all know that the human body is a masterpiece. With all our senses we see, hear, taste, smell and touch all around us. That is the mystery inside us. But with the mind we try and make sense of all that is external and with our face we always try and present that all is well but we cannot fool the heart. It is with the heart that we feel the human side. The heart allows our human spirit to come alive. Without our hearts we would have no feelings and when you feel for someone you become united with them in a very special and intimate way - you come alive. Then to compare mind and heart - the mind is always engaging and often forgets who we are but the heart never forgets. The heart holds all our stories. It is the archive of our intimate memory. And then of course we all carry the book of our life inside our hearts. Much of our life can be spent on the outside but the real impact of our lives is registered in our hearts. When we speak of mental care, we should also place caring for the heart at the centre of our wellbeing. A loving heart will guide a troubled mind and when we pray for each other and bless each other we can power healing all our troubled minds and loving hearts. We can heal all. Have a relaxing and mindful Monday.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 490
Sunday should always be a day of rest as much as we possibly can. We seem to live now in a world that glorifies busyness and now time has become a tyrant who is out of control and controlling many of our lives. Sundays always give us a chance to think better, rest better, meditate better and be better people and no matter what your beliefs are, Sundays make you feel closer to your faith.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Well it is another beautiful Sunday morning with the sun blazing down on us to lift our spirits and give us all the vitamin D we require for a healthier body. Sunday should always be a day of rest as much as we possibly can. We seem to live now in a world that glorifies busyness and now time has become a tyrant who is out of control and controlling many of our lives. Sundays always give us a chance to think better, rest better, meditate better and be better people and no matter what your beliefs are, Sundays make you feel closer to your faith. You can then bless others through your faith and prayers.So continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your glorious Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 489
The various demands on their time momentarily set aside to help someone they have never met before but are in great need. The selflessness that these people provide us with reassures me that there is hope for humanity in the future.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Many times on the road we meet the flashing lights of an ambulance and we all pull over to help and God speed them on their way to get the people the necessary medical attention they are in need of. The Mindful Farmer earlier this year was one such person that benefited from the service of an emergency ambulance and the amazing people who perform this great service. The various demands on their time momentarily set aside to help someone they have never met before but are in great need. The selflessness that these people provide us with reassures me that there is hope for humanity in the future. 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 488
It is very important during each day to simply pause as often as you can and listen. Listen as if you have just arrived at your destination for the first time. Listen with curiosity. Listen to the sounds all around you, the birds, the bees, children playing, music, and listen as if this music was an orchestra playing just for you.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. In today's world we are all guilty of rushing around too much, we seem to think too much, seek too much, want too much and forget about the joy and happiness of living in the now. It is very important during each day to simply pause as often as you can and listen. Listen as if you have just arrived at your destination for the first time. Listen with curiosity. Listen to the sounds all around you, the birds, the bees, children playing, music, and listen as if this music was an orchestra playing just for you. This type of mindful listening will bring you back to the present moment and will help you to improve all aspects of your life and bring peace to you. So today continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 487
but it was really sad to see the rural villages practically all closed down. Much of the rural areas and the homesteads were derelict and in ruins. I was thinking of all the families that were reared in these communities now contributing hugely to ours and the world economy.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Yesterday I had reason to do some inter-county travel, from Cork to Limerick, Tipperary, Clare, Galway and all across rural areas with some fantastic beauty in all counties but it was really sad to see the rural villages practically all closed down. Much of the rural areas and the homesteads were derelict and in ruins. I was thinking of all the families that were reared in these communities now contributing hugely to ours and the world economy. For some reason it felt wrong and disturbing. Is it a fair question to ask that have successive government policies failed us and every large state or semi state companies control us remotely and facelessly. This failure is now casting a very dark shadow over our beautiful country. Promises hold no more, the dream that work would bring has vanished and withering. The light of failure has no mercy and the affection of a child of rural Ireland now shows no mercy as they say in Connemara "tá mo chroi bhriste"/ "my heart is broken" for rural Ireland. Can we all pray that the life will return to rural Ireland, the backbone of our country. 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 486
Imagine thick roots growing down from my feet into the centre of the earth rooting me with a very firm and solid foundation, rocklike.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. This morning, and most mornings, I will walk barefoot in the gardens. This helps me reconnect with Mother Earth. I call it grounding, where your feet connect electrically with the ground. This simple process helps bring me back into my body and helps me navigate what to do next. I then imagine thick roots growing down from my feet into the centre of the earth rooting me with a very firm and solid foundation, rock like. This process combined with deep breathing reduces stress and leaves me in a very relaxed position. With this meditation you begin to relax and just watch the movie of life. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your Wednesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 485
Over the RetrEat weekend we had a session on mindful eating. It reduces stress as you eat your meal but also increases your experience of positive emotions. One should slow down at eating times savouring every bite and smile to yourself between bites.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Over the RetrEat weekend we had a session on mindful eating. It reduces stress as you eat your meal but also increases your experience of positive emotions. One should slow down at eating times savouring every bite and smile to yourself between bites. Look at the food, smell it, sense it. Also savour the texture and how it feels in your mouth, let it linger for a while and then swallow it and afterwards let your lips turn up slightly and smile. Live in the actual moment, remembering "only this actual moment is life". 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 484
He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with empires
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. After our weekend RetrEat there was much emphasis placed on a healthy mind, body and soul and also the health of our planet. Isn't it wonderful when we take time out to consider all these aspects of life that are so important. We all agreed at the end of the RetrEat what a wonderful world we could have if we looked after Mother Earths planet as well as we looked after our bodies. There is a famous quotation that I love and it goes "he who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with empires". Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 483
"no seed ever sees the flower" and it reminds us all of the sacrifices and the good we do for other people and for their health and happiness need not be outworldly. The best of our work is done in peace and goodwill and may never be seen.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. The sun is not bursting through the rain clouds at Ballinwillin House this morning but happiness and peace are. We are very excited that our RetrEats are back with us this weekend although to six people for safe social distancing and as we rest and meditate at RetrEat and in the gardens there are plenty flowers surrounding us with their fragrances and I refer to the zen saying "no seed ever sees the flower" and it reminds us all of the sacrifices and the good we do for other people and for their health and happiness need not be outworldly. The best of our work is done in peace and goodwill and may never be seen. Continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 481
As we are all aware we cannot celebrate birthdays or occasions like in the past but we can still honor people and truly celebrate in a spiritual, powerful and blessed way can be the most thoughtful way to honor all people who are truly our friends.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Today a very good friend of mine over many years is celebrating a big birthday and there will be a big virtual celebration for this great man. As we are all aware we cannot celebrate birthdays or occasions like in the past but we can still honor people and truly celebrate in a spiritual, powerful and blessed way can be the most thoughtful way to honor all people who are truly our friends. So today, keep your friends to the forefront of your minds and prayers and continue to pray, bless and power healing to all who need it and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick