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 1406
People in rural Ireland have a wisdom for nature that always soars and seldom roams far from home and their kindred spirit paints always to heaven and home where the clay dance of rural Ireland will always balance you.
Good morning everyone and welcome. Last evening I was in the company of a fellow farmer from rural Ireland and he was telling me that his son who is about to take over the farm cannot get permission to build a bungalow on his own land. It is hard to believe that it is government policy to denude rural Ireland of its greatest asset, its people. A community always grows and survives from within and not by so called experts from outside. People in rural Ireland live with a love for their place, land and community. The love of precious things, the wisdom and the desire to be at home and raise a family, that was always the way. Have we lost our way so much? Have the ruling classes lost their way so much? I believe they have and we must make a stand. People in rural Ireland have a wisdom for nature that always soars and seldom roams far from home and their kindred spirit paints always to heaven and home where the clay dance of rural Ireland will always balance you. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Sunday best smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1405
We can only live fully and spontaneously if we have learned to be open to the now. The more present we are to the now the more open we are, the more accepting we are and the less critical we are to ourselves and others and we need to have open hearts and minds. Remembering that everything that lives is Holy and life delights in life.
Good morning everyone and welcome. Another very cold -6 here and combined with being frosted and iced in, unable to travel safely and me not being able to drive yet with my new knee I have no choice but to rest up and live in the now. It is easy to talk about it, easy to lecture it to clients but not too easy to live in it and practice it on a large scale. We can only live fully and spontaneously if we have learned to be open to the now. The more present we are to the now the more open we are, the more accepting we are and the less critical we are to ourselves and others and we need to have open hearts and minds. Remembering that everything that lives is Holy and life delights in life. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Saturday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1404
I then thought to myself that this is how some people behave and even some families. On one side you have the defensive and aggressive and on the other side you have beautiful and peaceful. The difference between the plants and us humans is that we can choose.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm, Gardens and RetrEat centre. I am getting a little bolder with my new knee and visited the gardens earlier this morning. Everything is very beautiful, like the Christmas cards I remember as a child and I was feeling very thankful for this beauty. All of a sudden I got caught in a protruding whitethorn from the boundary hedge and I am still picking out some thorns. I then moved further and safely into the three gardens and saw one brave young rose braving the elements and trying to bloom. I then thought to myself that these are two plants from the same family. One aggressively protruding and the other trying to bring peace, colour and beauty to our lives. I then thought to myself that this is how some people behave and even some families. On one side you have the defensive and aggressive and on the other side you have beautiful and peaceful. The difference between the plants and us humans is that we can choose. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1403
The following daily practice will help: when we wake up each morning give thanks for life, love and gratitude and before we fall asleep at night we give thanks for health, trust and peace. Then dream on and come home to your greatest gifts of emotional freedom and peace.
Good morning everyone and welcome. As a peace coach I focus a lot with clients on calm and knowing ourselves, trying to understand where our emotions come from and the reasons we react in an emotional way to certain triggers and situations. When we are committed to inner peace we can choose to let everything else go, then we are committed more to our own happiness, our own peace, than our suffering. It is then we fill ourselves with positive and healing love. Our emotions fluctuate less and we begin to live with this inner freedom, this inner emotional bliss. The following daily practice will help: when we wake up each morning give thanks for life, love and gratitude and before we fall asleep at night we give thanks for health, trust and peace. Then dream on and come home to your greatest gifts of emotional freedom and peace. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Thursday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1402
"If we stay in an emotional state for a few hours it is just a state, if we stay in it for a longer period it becomes our mood and if we srat in it for long enough it becomes our personality." Right then, get out in the fresh air, go for a walk or sit and watch nature for a while. Sit in silence and say a prayer for someone in need
Good morning everyone and welcome. It is Baltic here at Ballinwillin House Farm, Gardens and RetrEat centre. When the weather hits -4 to -7 degrees here at the foot of the Galtees it can feel like Siberia yet very beautiful in a crisp, white setting. Some people give out about this type of weather then next weekend the wind and storms are coming back and some people will complain about this also. Well, you know that saying "there is no pleasing some people". If we complain all of the time here is an interesting concept: "If we stay in an emotional state for a few hours it is just a state, if we stay in it for a longer period it becomes our mood and if we srat in it for long enough it becomes our personality." Right then, get out in the fresh air, go for a walk or sit and watch nature for a while. Sit in silence and say a prayer for someone in need and continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Wednesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1401
Then when I went to the hospital earlier the first person I saw was a young man with his left leg amputated from the knee down and in a wheelchair beaming a smile and blessing me "dia dhuit" as he passed. I immediately turn left and go into the beautiful little peaceful chapel in the hospital. I say a prayer for the young man that taught me the lesson of being thankful.
Good morning everyone and welcome. I often recommend that people rest as much as they can and leave behind our cozy, busy world if only for a few minutes per day. In my case I am in day 40 with my new knee and being unable to do any physical work over this time means something different when it comes to rest. When I am resting now the pain from the knee replacement can be violent, can be silent and then just churning away before it strikes up again. In normal times rest can fill us with vigour and readiness for action as we go about living out who we are but for me at this time pain filled resting is another world. Then when I went to the hospital earlier the first person I saw was a young man with his left leg amputated from the knee down and in a wheelchair beaming a smile and blessing me "dia dhuit" as he passed. I immediately turn left and go into the beautiful little peaceful chapel in the hospital. I say a prayer for the young man that taught me the lesson of being thankful. As I leave the chapel it is like I am put through a washer and I thank God for all the gifts and pleasures I enjoy including pain. A thankful heart has room for all, a royal road to heaven. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Tuesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1400
No matter what happens this day or this week, no matter the problems, the surprises, no matter how steep or treacherous the path before us is, the safest place is at the Lord's side. Awaken your spirit of adventure, hold nothing back as you will sense the world that awaits us.
Good morning everyone and welcome. It is the beginning of another new week for which I give thanks because it is a precious and unreputable gift. No matter what happens this day or this week, no matter the problems, the surprises, no matter how steep or treacherous the path before us is, the safest place is at the Lord's side. Awaken your spirit of adventure, hold nothing back as you will sense the world that awaits us. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1399
A blessing can be like discovering a fresh well in a parched desert. I often think our modern society exists just like a parched desert when it comes to prayer and blessings. Regardless of our differences in religion, language or concept there is no heart that is without this inner divine reference or need. When a blessing is invoked it changes our entire atmosphere, it changes everything.
Good morning everyone and welcome. As I am spending some time in Connemara on my knee rehab program I do a lot of walking on the crutches and now this new brace. The pace is slow and careful, therefore a lot of people stop me to ask what happened and so on. First each and every one blesses my knee, my family and wishes me a speedy recovery. It is a very warm and friendly environment. When I think of this culture of blessing that exists in this community I would dearly love to see it spread nationwide. A blessing can be like discovering a fresh well in a parched desert. I often think our modern society exists just like a parched desert when it comes to prayer and blessings. Regardless of our differences in religion, language or concept there is no heart that is without this inner divine reference or need. When a blessing is invoked it changes our entire atmosphere, it changes everything. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1398
We are born, we live our lives and then we depart this earthly coil. We are back home in the house and gardens that we never have left for long. It is important to leave a message and some gifts behind, two of which are peace and love.
Good morning everyone and welcome. Last evening I was watching TV and a programme about a lady who set up a business called The Treasure Box. It is a business videoing a family from youth to old age, all the generations, and it was a beautiful idea and the theme was love and peace. I was very impressed with the idea and will certainly be looking into it from a posterity point of view. We are born, we live our lives and then we depart this earthly coil. We are back home in the house and gardens that we never have left for long. It is important to leave a message and some gifts behind, two of which are peace and love. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Saturday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1397
We hope and pray and trust in God to prepare the way for me and my companion who will guide me every step of the way so that I can experience each coming day as a sacred gift woven around my heart with wonder and acceptance.
Good morning everyone and welcome. Well, it is a critical day for The Mindful Farmer as I am back in hospital to ascertain if my new knee has been seriously damaged after a recent fall. We hope and pray and trust in God to prepare the way for me and my companion who will guide me every step of the way so that I can experience each coming day as a sacred gift woven around my heart with wonder and acceptance. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1396
We cannot ignore the situation and do nothing and if our lives are too busy and distracted then we will lose that power that can be achieved by prayer and then never be able to realise what the world needs, peace. Peace hath her varieties no less renowned than war.
Good morning everyone and welcome. We live in a world besieged by war visiting suffering and hunger to millions of innocent people. What can we do? On the surface it would appear not a lot but continued prayer by all people will have an amazing effect. We cannot ignore the situation and do nothing and if our lives are too busy and distracted then we will lose that power that can be achieved by prayer and then never be able to realise what the world needs, peace. Peace hath her varieties no less renowned than war. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Thursday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1395
Each day is a field of brightness. No day is ever the same and no day stands still. Each day moves forward in moments and once a moment has flickered into life it vanishes and is replaced by the next. When a moment, a great moment knocks on the door of our lives its sound is often no louder than the beating of our hearts and it is very easy to miss it. So listen carefully to your heart and listen carefully to what a friend is saying.
Good morning everyone and welcome to another day of beautiful frosty conditions. Everything everywhere is crisp, solid and while I feel good even with my crutches and my new leg brace and the accompanying pain I am grateful for the gift of another day and the manner in which this morning is unfolding and the miracle of colour illuminating the personality of the sea, rivers, mountains and trees. They are all overseen by a bright clear sky. Each day is a field of brightness. No day is ever the same and no day stands still. Each day moves forward in moments and once a moment has flickered into life it vanishes and is replaced by the next. When a moment, a great moment knocks on the door of our lives its sound is often no louder than the beating of our hearts and it is very easy to miss it. So listen carefully to your heart and listen carefully to what a friend is saying. Listening is all we need to say. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Wednesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1394
To describe its beauty is beyond me only to say that the bareness and wildness of this landscape really epitomises the wonder of nature and fills and refocuses my energy. This land below, the amazing sky above, and me in the middle.
Good morning everyone and welcome. Last evening while driving along the coast road the beaming pure red sunset lit up all Connemara and bounced off everything all around. To describe its beauty is beyond me only to say that the bareness and wildness of this landscape really epitomises the wonder of nature and fills and refocuses my energy. This land below, the amazing sky above, and me in the middle. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Tuesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1393
Risk can be our greatest ally. Many times in our lives through the innocence of beginning we are often seduced into growth and our greatest challenge is to actually begin so on this monday morning begin something and watch it grow
Good morning everyone and welcome. Today marks the beginning of another working year, another beginning. A beginning is ultimately an invitation to open towards the gifts and growth that are stored up for us and it is said that refusing to begin can be an act of self neglect. Beginnings can make us anxious but oftentimes in our lives beginning with the risk for growth is always rewarded even for that act alone. Risk can be our greatest ally. Many times in our lives through the innocence of beginning we are often seduced into growth and our greatest challenge is to actually begin so on this monday morning begin something and watch it grow and continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1392
If we listen more attentively to nature it can soothe our troubled hearts, refresh our weary limbs, soften all that is hard in us. It is then that the world will become an inexhaustible source of delight and completely recharge our spirits.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome. It is a beautiful sunny day here today, crisp and cold towered over by a clear blue sky. When one is rehabbing like I am at present and I walk around very slowly I am trying to inhale nature's treasures even more so than before. If we listen more attentively to nature it can soothe our troubled hearts, refresh our weary limbs, soften all that is hard in us. It is then that the world will become an inexhaustible source of delight and completely recharge our spirits. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Sunday best smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1391
The answer I believe is that the women of the house symbolize Mary the mother of God. Her nearness always fills the air around us, always stirring our hearts, nurturing and fastening us always. She knows us inside out. No deeds, no seas, no others could ever erase that beauty, that kindness, that total and inexhaustible giving that was my mom and she inspires me each and every day and walks beside me and guides me and speaks in a beautiful silence that can only exist between a mother and her son.
Good morning everyone and welcome. This is a very special day and in my youth back in West Limerick it was called "Little Christmas" or "Women's Christmas". Much of what I learnt of this day was from my dad and the example he set for this day. My mum, God rest her in heaven, was treated like a queen on this day for the other 364 days she was an angel and I don't say that lightly. Growing up on a small farm the women had lots of work both inside the home and outside such as milking cows, feeding calves and pigs and foul etc. The man would go to the creamery and work on the land all day. On January 6th every year mum was not allowed to lift a finger and dad and I did all the household jobs and farming while mum would meet with neighbouring women in the parish and have no work at all. In the evening time she would come back to a feast of roast goose and all the trimmings. Dad was a great cook also and I learned a lot from him. We would also have a clumsily wrapped present for her. It was very special and I try to do the same now for Miriam. Why do we do this? The answer I believe is that the women of the house symbolize Mary the mother of God. Her nearness always fills the air around us, always stirring our hearts, nurturing and fastening us always. She knows us inside out. No deeds, no seas, no others could ever erase that beauty, that kindness, that total and inexhaustible giving that was my mom and she inspires me each and every day and walks beside me and guides me and speaks in a beautiful silence that can only exist between a mother and her son. It is a difficult one to follow for all women but I know they all measure up. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your smile for all the women in your life.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1390
I realised that as well as absorbing the tranquil beauty I feel all that is unlived in me will blossom into a future of love, peace and happiness. I am alive today even if I am hobbling around with my new knee. This too will pass.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome. Today as I breathe in the beautiful clean air, admire the beautiful green grass, admire the yellow flowers of the gorse that continues to shine and smile in spite of a heavy frost I admire the few daring daffodils and heathers and then the vibrant waters of the Atlantic. I realised that as well as absorbing the tranquil beauty I feel all that is unlived in me will blossom into a future of love, peace and happiness. I am alive today even if I am hobbling around with my new knee. This too will pass. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1389
We never know when it is our station to vacate our seat on the train and that is why it is so important for us to leave a positive memory behind, one of love and kindness, the very best of what we are and who we are so that the remaining passengers on our train will be influenced by our presence. The message I want to leave behind is one of thankfulness, peace and forgiveness and wishing the remaining passengers on my train of life the very same.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome. Earlier today I received a beautiful and interesting message from my great friend of many years now "BiBi the nun". It is about our train journey through life from the moment we are born to the moment we die. We visit many stations on the journey. People leave the train and people join the train. Some leave a huge and positive impact on our lives and more none at all. We never know when it is our station to vacate our seat on the train and that is why it is so important for us to leave a positive memory behind, one of love and kindness, the very best of what we are and who we are so that the remaining passengers on our train will be influenced by our presence. The message I want to leave behind is one of thankfulness, peace and forgiveness and wishing the remaining passengers on my train of life the very same. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Thursday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1388
All through our life and our work there is a lot of noise that is chattering for our attention. The thing we must try to do is quietly notice it but park it in a quiet place and that will lessen its destructive effect.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome. I am really enjoying my rehab time. I have a great exercise program and in between I am writing and reading with great peace. All through our life and our work there is a lot of noise that is chattering for our attention. The thing we must try to do is quietly notice it but park it in a quiet place and that will lessen its destructive effect. Grand uncle Jack used to say that "millions of people all over the world long for immortality and they don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon". Don't let silence be a stranger. Welcome it with open arms. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Wednesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 1387
At this time of year I usually spend a lot of time in meditation and prayer. I find it a wonderful time to dwell in the silent sanctuary of my heart and in peace with my soul and this leaves room for the transforming power of love to grow from within. If we do so it will radiate through us and unto others.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome. The weather is awful and stormy making it very difficult for me to get outside exercise but I'm doing well on the bike inside. At this time of year I usually spend a lot of time in meditation and prayer. I find it a wonderful time to dwell in the silent sanctuary of my heart and in peace with my soul and this leaves room for the transforming power of love to grow from within. If we do so it will radiate through us and unto others. It is also a time to allow our judgments to disappear. Progress for 2024 must come from deep within and cannot be forced or hastened. We must listen to our inner wisdom, identify our special uniqueness and march to our own individual beat happily listening to the music of our heart no matter how measured or far away. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace, hope and love to all and wear your Tuesday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick