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 682
When we sit in silence it enables us to hear the chaos inside of us and when we do we recognise our own faults and fragility and so we are less quick to condemn others and less certain of our own convictions. Life is a gift, live it to the fullest.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is another beautiful morning here this morning. Very unusual weather for this time of year but it is wonderful to sit here in the gardens in silence only for the music of the birds. When we sit in silence it enables us to hear the chaos inside of us and when we do we recognise our own faults and fragility and so we are less quick to condemn others and less certain of our own convictions. Life is a gift, live it to the fullest. Within our hearts and souls it is the invisible sun within us. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 681
We are here to live life again to the fullest and we are here to learn and to love. If we approach life mindfully and caringly we can do each of these much better and live fully in the now.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is said that people aged a lot during the past 681 days and not in proportion to this almost two year span but many retired people aged more considerably due to isolation and loneliness. But now this is a time to ignore every effect of age except the wisdom it brings. We are here to live life again to the fullest and we are here to learn and to love. If we approach life mindfully and caringly we can do each of these much better and live fully in the now. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Wednesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 680
What helped me through these difficult and sometimes awful episodes was my time spent in quiet places in the garden or sitting on a ditch out on the farm, sitting in quiet places and in prayer.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Yes it is 680 since our first lockdown and 680 days since I decided on this route to document my thoughts and feelings on a daily basis. My wish was that it might help some people along the way, a way of many twists and turns, bereavement, chaos and at times happiness. What helped me through these difficult and sometimes awful episodes was my time spent in quiet places in the garden or sitting on a ditch out on the farm, sitting in quiet places and in prayer. During these times I felt God holding my hand in trust and I in turn asking for this trust to be extended to all who were near and dear to me, family, friends, colleagues and everyone and anyone that came to my mind. We were all in this together and it may not be over yet but now we are more experienced and resistant at taking it step by step, moment by moment and we must continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear our Tuesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 679
Take time for some silence and meditation in the evening. Concentrate all day on your breath and give yourself a chance to remember who you really are and what this life, your life, is all about.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is another Monday and the beginning of another new week. This Monday morning I am asking you all out there to lose yourselves into the week firstly with a few thoughts of thanksgiving for what you have in life, refrain from the noise of the radio, try and protect yourself through prayer as you go through your daily routines of traffic, phones, gadgets and then home again in the evening. Protect yourself. Play a mindful tape on your radio or a mindful blog. Take time for some silence and meditation in the evening. Concentrate all day on your breath and give yourself a chance to remember who you really are and what this life, your life, is all about. The well of providence is deep, it is up to us to measure our buckets. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 678
I have often referred to Sunday as a day of rest in my previous blogs but this morning what came to my mind was "wouldn't it be lovely if we had a day where we disturbed no one." I thought it would bring peace into the hearts, souls and minds for those who wished it for and to.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is another Sunday and what a beautiful day here on the farm and in the gardens. I have often referred to Sunday as a day of rest in my previous blogs but this morning what came to my mind was "wouldn't it be lovely if we had a day where we disturbed no one." I thought it would bring peace into the hearts, souls and minds for those who wished it for and to. A day where we didn't complain, didn't criticize, didn't try to improve things just appreciate them just as they are. I am sure it would make a big difference to many people and bring peace and mindfulness rushing into their hearts and minds. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 677
I sometimes think that more of a return to farming and a more rural way of life could be a source of great renewal but this change is down to all of us from the community and not from outside experts who have never witnessed the ancient ways and rules of neighbourhood ness.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Earlier this morning I was joined by my little grandson JJ as we looked out our window of wonder together and he was stilled in his gaze. After a while I asked him what he saw and he replied birdies, in the trees, birdies eating from their little houses in the trees, flowers, trees and the deer eating their breakfasts in the fields. Then his attention span was over and he went about his daily business. For me, this was magic, having these special moments as we cuddled together. I sometimes think that more of a return to farming and a more rural way of life could be a source of great renewal but this change is down to all of us from the community and not from outside experts who have never witnessed the ancient ways and rules of neighbourhood ness. The love of all that is precious to us and the wish and smell of home, home sweet home. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Saturday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 676
Friendship is a grace that warms and sweetens our lives and no matter what you have achieved in life, without good, great and close friends you have achieved nothing. Friendship for me reflects the beauty of a perfect dawn.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. The dawn is a refreshing time. A time of possibility and a time of purpose. All the elements of nature, rivers, lakes, mountains, fields, animals and young children are all refreshed and full of vigor in the fresh dawn light. This feeling was renewed yesterday in a meeting with a close friend of mine. A friend is one that wishes well and all that is good for the other. Our feelings towards our friends reflect our feelings towards ourselves. Friendship is a grace that warms and sweetens our lives and no matter what you have achieved in life, without good, great and close friends you have achieved nothing. Friendship for me reflects the beauty of a perfect dawn. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 675
I feel the world beneath my feet as a connection, as a healing, a deep connection, a deep sense of belonging and peace. This connection is silence.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Earlier this morning I was sitting mindfully in the garden in silence. I just empty myself, wait and listen. There is nothing there but the sounds of nature, those God created discreetly , growing, swaying or being rained on or frosted and glistening. I feel the world beneath my feet as a connection, as a healing, a deep connection, a deep sense of belonging and peace. This connection is silence. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Thursday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 674
The best life won’t seek validation, it just beams.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is said that you can rewire your brain to be happy by simply recalling three things you are grateful for every day for twenty nine days. I feel this is true and it is something I practice morning and night. There is a great happiness in this feeling and when you are happy the most convincing sign of it is that you are living your life to the fullest and you don’t have to show it to the world. The best life won’t seek validation, it just beams.
Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Tuesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 673
It is time now for us to focus on our hopes and intentions as we journey deeper on our way, a way that will show our footprints in the snow leading clearly and stridently on our new road holding the right hand of God tightly to guide us.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Recently we have had some snow on the neighbouring Galtee mountains and it cloaked right down to the townlands also. These beautiful frosty mornings give us a white carpet right down and it is beautiful and picturesque, glistening in brilliant sunshine. When we experience such natural beauty we should give thanks as we travel along the road and admire it. We should also give thanks for our other journey, a journey deeper into our inner strength that has helped us navigate these challenging times of Covid. It is time now for us to focus on our hopes and intentions as we journey deeper on our way, a way that will show our footprints in the snow leading clearly and stridently on our new road holding the right hand of God tightly to guide us. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Tuesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 672
Rest helps us become clearer, stronger and prepares us for the week ahead. It enables us to face all of life's challenges with vigor and ready for action.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Well yesterday being a Sunday and a day of rest leads me into a Monday full of energy. Rest helps us become clearer, stronger and prepares us for the week ahead. It enables us to face all of life's challenges with vigor and ready for action. It enables us to live out who we are meant to be and who we are right now. In my opinion, rest allows us all to be human beings rather than human doers. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 671
my Granny Ellen used to say we are surrounded by a sea of problems and those are waves of them out there in the sea and in the distance. Then she would say that with prayer, peace and belief in God by the time those waves reach us they will be shrunk into oblivion.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Many of us, all through our lives, have faced problems of all sorts and my Granny Ellen used to say we are surrounded by a sea of problems and those are waves of them out there in the sea and in the distance. Then she would say that with prayer, peace and belief in God by the time those waves reach us they will be shrunk into oblivion. It is important to remember that the future is phantom and oftentimes will create huge anxiety in our lives. Live in the now and live by faith not sight. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Sunday best smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 670
The beautiful morning sun beaming in my window brought my mind to our wonderful Celtic traditions and observing my connection to the natural rhythm of life. We are now traveling from a deep winter time towards the rebirth of spring and the beaming of light. Our land, bodies and minds long for the renewal that spring brings.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. When I looked through my window of wonder this morning I was inspired by the birds' song. The beautiful morning sun beaming in my window brought my mind to our wonderful Celtic traditions and observing my connection to the natural rhythm of life. We are now traveling from a deep winter time towards the rebirth of spring and the beaming of light. Our land, bodies and minds long for the renewal that spring brings. We must be awake to this wonder and open our hearts and minds to whatever comes our way. Everything that lives is Holy and this morning's beautiful light delights in life. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Saturday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 669
We can feel unhappy with where we are in the world but if we take a little time to relax and be in the present and in the now, we might be exactly where we are meant to be. Always do your best to be in the now and remember that your best is good enough.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Everywhere we go now, everyone we meet all seem to have a mobile phone to their ear or in their hands or if not, very close by. There is no doubt it is an amazing piece of apparatus and most useful to us all nowadays. However do we ever think that the most amazing and exquisite apparatus is placed right at our heads but yet at times we don't feel well, we have headaches, we have bone pains, we get depressed and so on. We can feel unhappy with where we are in the world but if we take a little time to relax and be in the present and in the now, we might be exactly where we are meant to be. Always do your best to be in the now and remember that your best is good enough. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 668
I felt the sky, the Atlantic ocean and the earth were whispering in my heart. I stopped the car, got out and embraced it all and the moment. I thought to myself "yes, I am content, refreshed and rested in the moment and yes I am a child of this beautiful earth."
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Last evening as I was driving along the west coast of Connemara a beautiful pink sky dashed the ocean and splashed the islands. The sky rested over the earth. This was an experience to be inhaled and absorbed. I felt the sky, the Atlantic ocean and the earth were whispering in my heart. I stopped the car, got out and embraced it all and the moment. I thought to myself "yes, I am content, refreshed and rested in the moment and yes I am a child of this beautiful earth." Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Thursday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 667
I see life, death and resurrection and it leaves me more in tune with life, more free, more true. Each part of the garden is an invitation to grow and accept ourselves as who we are.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. As I look out my window of wonder this morning I believe I can mirror the story of my life in my garden. I see life, death and resurrection and it leaves me more in tune with life, more free, more true. Each part of the garden is an invitation to grow and accept ourselves as who we are. My wish for everyone out there today is that the holistic evaluation of the garden will encourage us all to have a better balance in this life and to live in a mindful, peaceful and caring manner It will soothe our hearts and refresh our sore and weary limbs, soften our hardness and redirect us when we are lost. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Wednesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 666
If we cannot be still and relax in silence at special times each day then we lose our powers of imagination and if we cannot imagine and dream then we will never be able to realise what we truly want out of life.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. As we ease ourselves into the new year we need to be mindful that life doesn't get too busy so we are distracted and unfocused. If we allow this to happen it will kill our powers of imagination. If we cannot be still and relax in silence at special times each day then we lose our powers of imagination and if we cannot imagine and dream then we will never be able to realise what we truly want out of life. Grand Uncle Jack often said when he would be sitting in the old orchard "isn't peace fantastic" and then he would go into poetic mode, "peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war" - wise words. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Tuesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 665
feelings come in all sorts of waves. They can be negative, angry, fearful, sad, but in mindfulness we don't judge them - they are just what they are. We tend to find some emotions more difficult than others but we simply observe these feelings in a peaceful and silent manner and often with curiosity and non judgmentally accepting them.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Yesterday I was asked a mindfulness question about feelings in a general discussion and I replied as follows:- feelings come in all sorts of waves. They can be negative, angry, fearful, sad, but in mindfulness we don't judge them - they are just what they are. We tend to find some emotions more difficult than others but we simply observe these feelings in a peaceful and silent manner and often with curiosity and non judgmentally accepting them. What is very important is that we respect the feelings of others and our own. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 664
Our beliefs lay a firm foundation for us to stand firmly on our feet and let peace and the love of God, our family and friends flood our hearts and souls.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is another Sunday and a day my Mam used to say was a very special day and a day to focus on loving God with all your heart, all your mind, all your strength and all your soul. I always try to focus on these words and actions in my daily life and stay away from the other matters in life that can lead you astray such as the other aspirations of other people, fame, and also it is easy to become distracted by daily issues and problems. Our beliefs lay a firm foundation for us to stand firmly on our feet and let peace and the love of God, our family and friends flood our hearts and souls. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Sunday best smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 663
What I find really healing is when there is too much noise I sit in a quiet place in silence, focus on my healing and pray, giving thanks and praise for what I have in my life, even the problems. This joyous discipline helps me live in intimacy with God and all around me.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. There is no doubt that there is too much noise going on in our world. Too much outside noise. Our lives are frittered away with detail. We live mindlessly and this takes a huge toll on our lives. What I find really healing is when there is too much noise I sit in a quiet place in silence, focus on my healing and pray, giving thanks and praise for what I have in my life, even the problems. This joyous discipline helps me live in intimacy with God and all around me. It is very healing and a thankful heart has plenty of room for everyone. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Saturday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick