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 606
The light of love from a child is like a morning star which can live in the hearts of us all.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Earlier this morning I was saying goodbye to my two grandchildren as they were about to leave for creche and as they approached the front door with their parents they looked back at me and ran down the hall to give me a kiss and a cuddle. Now, how about that for a start to the day? These two little angels filled my heart with joy for the day ahead. Their generosity and unconditional love will fill me with warmth, a warmth that enables me to recognise the blessings that are all around me and that will continue to increase. This love is all around us. Are we awake to it? The light of love from a child is like a morning star which can live in the hearts of us all. 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 605
In bygone days at home we always grace before and after meals, a thanksgiving for the food. We should not forget these practices as there are people starving around the world who would be very happy to say thanks for their food, for the people who grow, supply and deliver to us in all weather.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. On these dark, wet, winter mornings I look out my window of wonder and brace myself for the morning ahead. After my prayers and meditation I have a healthy breakfast with food from the farm and I give thanks for all the people involved who helped me have an enjoyable breakfast. In bygone days at home we always grace before and after meals, a thanksgiving for the food. We should not forget these practices as there are people starving around the world who would be very happy to say thanks for their food, for the people who grow, supply and deliver to us in all weather. Blessed are we for such people. Say a prayer for them always when you sit and enjoy your meals. When we are mindful we have a much more meaningful experience and we will feel happier. 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 604
We are all well aware that death does not mean separation of spirit. It is the unity of the spirits in a mysterious way. My parents would always say that the dead are nearer to us than you think and are closer to us in spirit than they were when they were alive and I really feel and believe this to be true and it makes me feel really relaxed, protected and supported.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. All during this month we are remembering our past relatives and friends, praying for them, visiting their place of rest and listening to their messages as they sit right beside us. We are all well aware that death does not mean separation of spirit. It is the unity of the spirits in a mysterious way. My parents would always say that the dead are nearer to us than you think and are closer to us in spirit than they were when they were alive and I really feel and believe this to be true and it makes me feel really relaxed, protected and supported. I often think how little do we know of who we are and who they are. We just need to embrace them. 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 603
Never put off 'till tomorrow what you can do today
Good morning and welcome and once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Earlier this morning during my meditation and prayers I heard the voices of my Mom and Dad say to me "never put off 'till tomorrow what you can do today". There had been a few issues I had been hesitating about, I could excuse the heavy workload but I should have known the true value of time. It is so important and we should seize it, snatch it and enjoy every minute and experience. If we can make the most of today it could be that tomorrows worries might find themselves already taken care of. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Monday smile. Be mindful, be caring and have a wonderful day.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 602
Their gift is their will to play without the need to succeed at everything. As adults we became frightened at the thought of failure that we are paralised and afraid of what people will think. We can overcome these fears by connecting with nature, getting out in the forests and lands and living and connecting with Mother Nature and being in the now.
Good morning and welcome and once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. While out walking earlier this morning I noticed a group of children out playing, running around with abandon, splashing in pools and rolling around in the wet grass. What really struck me was their ability to play so freely and that marks them out as very different to us adults. Their gift is their will to play without the need to succeed at everything. As adults we became frightened at the thought of failure that we are paralised and afraid of what people will think. We can overcome these fears by connecting with nature, getting out in the forests and lands and living and connecting with Mother Nature and being in the now. We all think we know what people think but he who knows himself is really at home, at peace and enlightened. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your smile. Be mindful, be caring and have a beautiful, restful Sunday.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 601
No matter where we travel there is no place like our patch, our home, where we spend most of our time and if we are away for a while we will always long for home. We think and dream about the sounds, the views, the smells. It is in this way our place speaks to us, through our heart and soul and nothing can cure the soul but the senses and nothing can cure the senses but the soul.
Good morning and welcome and once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is all about climate change at the moment and we must all do our part in our own patch. Our place, our patch is a piece of the environment that has been claimed by our thoughts, our feelings, our passion. No matter where we travel there is no place like our patch, our home, where we spend most of our time and if we are away for a while we will always long for home. We think and dream about the sounds, the views, the smells. It is in this way our place speaks to us, through our heart and soul and nothing can cure the soul but the senses and nothing can cure the senses but the soul. It is our duty to protect all with a caring, loving attitude to our place. Continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it and wear your Saturday smile. Be mindful, be caring and have a beautiful, happy weekend.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 600
We cannot control all situations but what we can do is to behave responsibly as individuals and collectively. We must choose to be content in the present and the now no matter how difficult the circumstances are. We must put more energy into our life, God and enjoying His presence and growing into it.
Good morning and welcome and once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It has been six hundred days since I started my daily blogs. Call them messages, prayers, whatever the title, it doesn't really matter. When I began at the beginning of the first lockdown I decided I would begin daily prayers for the ending of Covid19. It has ebbed and flowed since then like an ocean, a storm, ferocious and then calm and then ferocious again and it still is howling away taking victim after victim and affecting if not destroying many a home and livelihood in its path. We as a people cannot allow Covid19 to determine the quality of our lives totally. We cannot control all situations but what we can do is to behave responsibly as individuals and collectively. We must choose to be content in the present and the now no matter how difficult the circumstances are. We must put more energy into our life, God and enjoying His presence and growing into it. We must continue to pray, bless, power healing and peace to all who need it, we must practice mindfulness, caring and healing towards all and wear our warm, Celtic smile always.
Warmest regards and prayers,
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 599
I was light years old when I first started making my little boats of dreams and in my mind today and nearly sixty years on I still do it. It is a wonderful kind of meditation.
Good morning and welcome and once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Last night I had a wonderful dream about my childhood. I was walking along the bank of the river at the back of our house, watching my handmade boat made of wood sail away with my dreams and wishes on board. I was light years old when I first started making my little boats of dreams and in my mind today and nearly sixty years on I still do it. It is a wonderful kind of meditation. A child's imagination is an under utilized gift and resource and should always be encouraged as today will be a new voyage for all of 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 598
When we roll back these memories, especially on a busy day, such good and peaceful things can happen to us.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. All our childhood experiences are so important to us. These memories and experiences help shape our creativity, our self worth and our self esteem. These are all connected with our early socialisation and memories. It is very important to remember the pleasures of childhood, helping out on the farm, feeding the animals, saving the hay, resting and dreaming on the riverbank, the celebration at harvest times looking and working with the mind. When we roll back these memories, especially on a busy day, such good and peaceful things can happen to us. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace and prayer to all who need it and wear your smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 597
She waits for me at night, she waits for me in silence. She gives me all her tenderness and takes my pain away. She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain. It's all about the soul.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Yesterday was All Saints Day and last night we celebrated All Souls Day. There was always a belief among our people that All Souls Night was a night the dead revisited their homes and their people. To honour this custom we leave lit candles outside our homes to welcome them back and guide them in our direction for our future protection. It was also a custom to leave out some food and wine as refreshments for them and we will continue this custom at Ballinwillin House this year and every year. It makes me feel happy, warm and protected to be in their company, a soul within souls. She waits for me at night, she waits for me in silence. She gives me all her tenderness and takes my pain away. She still believes in miracles while others cry in vain. It's all about the soul. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, health and blessings to all who need it and wear your Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 596
Today is the day for visiting the graves of our loved ones who have passed. It is celebrated in West Limerick and Celtic times from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st. It is a day of prayer for those who have died and also a celebration to continue the strong spiritual bond between those in heaven and those on earth.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Today is the day for visiting the graves of our loved ones who have passed. It is celebrated in West Limerick and Celtic times from sunset on October 31st to sunset on November 1st. It is a day of prayer for those who have died and also a celebration to continue the strong spiritual bond between those in heaven and those on earth. It was with mixed emotions that we visited the resting places yesterday and placed flowers to light up and reignite the bond between us and them. On our return last night we had a celebratory meal to remember all and to welcome all our past ancestors back to the family table. It was a most powerful experience and always is in our home. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, health and blessings to all who need it and wear your Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 595
I thought that we should relax and linger for a while in the presence of someone we know, someone we love and in the almighty and he has said "relax with me while I ready you for action.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. It is another Sunday morning. Aren't the weeks flying by. Yesterday was a very busy day here for many reasons and by chance our old friend just happened to call in for a cup of coffee. He told me he was on his way to West Cork and that he would "drop in and linger for a little while in your company". I thought it was a beautiful saying. We sat and chatted for over an hour and then he went on his way. I was delighted with this chance meeting and felt really relaxed when he left. Therefore I thought that we should relax and linger for a while in the presence of someone we know, someone we love and in the almighty and he has said "relax with me while I ready you for action. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, health and blessings to all who need it and wear your Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 594
Biffo is going home to his eternal home. He will take a part of us with him. He will take our tears with him to his eternal bed of perpetual sleep. Death is a lonely visitor and nothing will be the same on the farm again. There is an empty space at his paddock.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. This morning is a grey, dull and sad morning here at Ballinwillin House Farm. Our main stud wild boar Biffo passed away at fourteen years old. I travelled all over Ireland to shows with him, he entertained thousands of people over the years, especially children. He was a giant and a gentle one and was one of our family. We are all heartbroken. He will be buried today on the grounds of Ballinwillin House and later a monument will be erected in his memory. Biffo is going home to his eternal home. He will take a part of us with him. He will take our tears with him to his eternal bed of perpetual sleep. Death is a lonely visitor and nothing will be the same on the farm again. There is an empty space at his paddock. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace and prayer to all who need it and wear your smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 593
We too have our own gifts and our world is only as good as the many gifts and talents we commit ourselves to, developing, discovering and offering. We cannot take credit for the talents and gifts God has bestowed on us but they are duty bound to use and develop these gifts and talents to the utmost of our ability and for the good of others.
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 see beauty in many forms and given as gifts to us to enjoy by Mother Nature. We too have our own gifts and our world is only as good as the many gifts and talents we commit ourselves to, developing, discovering and offering. We cannot take credit for the talents and gifts God has bestowed on us but they are duty bound to use and develop these gifts and talents to the utmost of our ability and for the good of others. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace and healing to all who need it and wear your Friday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 592
when someone believes in you their own special beauty and gifts can shine out". We all have a duty to help the beauty and gifts and good nature to shine from beneath the clouds of life. When the sun shines on the river of our perceptions, minds can be transformed.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting a man who worked here in the mid eighties as then a very young man. At times a fugitive from a very torn family, he worked here in his young years and after about fifteen years he met a lovely young woman from the North of Ireland and they decided to relocate there. We were heart broken. They went on to have a lovely boy and girl in the family and returned for a visit recently and paid a lovely tribute to us. He said "when someone believes in you their own special beauty and gifts can shine out". We all have a duty to help the beauty and gifts and good nature to shine from beneath the clouds of life. When the sun shines on the river of our perceptions, minds can be transformed. Then the river and the sun are of the same nature. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, health and happiness to all who need it and wear your Thursday smile, the smile of God.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 591
One of the most magical and beautiful ways we express ourselves through our soul is through thought. It is a form of inner swiftness and there is nothing as fast and fleeting as thought, you can fly anywhere, be with anyone.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. On this wet and windy October morning as I look out my window of wonder I think "what will the day bring me?" One of the most magical and beautiful ways we express ourselves through our soul is through thought. It is a form of inner swiftness and there is nothing as fast and fleeting as thought, you can fly anywhere, be with anyone. For us all to flourish we need to express and form our thoughts into action in life, in work and in the home. Bring them into reality into a visible and tangible form, our nature hangs deeply for this possibility where our thoughts can grow and put down their roots. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace and blessings to all who need them and wear your Wednesday smile and keep that smile on God's face also.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 590
The world of yesterday has passed and will be no more. We must view each new day as a time of blessing, reflection and peace which embraces God, self and all others.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Welcome to a new day and as I gaze through my window of wonder I think about all the possibilities that this day will bring. Grand uncle Jack who was a modest writer and poet used to say "it is easier to write a book than to spend a day well" .Yes, and The Mindful Farmer is endeavouring to do both. We need to enter a new day full of humour and engage in an open way. The world of yesterday has passed and will be no more. We must view each new day as a time of blessing, reflection and peace which embraces God, self and all others. Have a lovely, mindful, peaceful day and continue to pray, bless, power healing, health and peace to all who need it and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 589
I often refer to my window of wonder but my window of wonder has many divisions and the view that I have is different every day, the outside view and the inner view. . The view of outside beauty, the beauty and sanctity of the inner soul each day.
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. Another week of growth and change. When we speak of growth we immediately think of grass, trees, nature etc especially as farmers but I believe that the most beautiful and exciting growth is the journey inwards. How we grow as a person, moment by moment. The growth of the soul, heart and mind all infused together and in peace. I often refer to my window of wonder but my window of wonder has many divisions and the view that I have is different every day, the outside view and the inner view. . The view of outside beauty, the beauty and sanctity of the inner soul each day. We all have a different view that awaits us if we draw back the curtains and wake up to the new vistas of possibilities , presence and creativity. Watch out for complacency , habit and blindness as they will prevent you from feeling your real life and being who you are meant to be. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, health and peace to all who need it and wear your Monday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 588
How strange the world we live in when people feel guilty about this basic need to rest. We waste far too much time and energy being busy and rushing into the cul de sacs of unimportant striving. On Sundays and days like this, let's all rest a little and take a mindful walk down the path of our own peace,
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. Another Sunday, another beautiful sunny day and above all, a day of rest, appreciation and peace .Rest and peace are so important in our lives. How strange the world we live in when people feel guilty about this basic need to rest. We waste far too much time and energy being busy and rushing into the cul de sacs of unimportant striving. On Sundays and days like this, let's all rest a little and take a mindful walk down the path of our own peace, Continue to pray, bless, power healing, peace and health to all who need it and wear your Sunday smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick
The Mindful Farmers Daily Diary Day 587
It is a wonderful feeling for our guests and ourselves when you come in from the bleak weather to the magic and warmth of the fire. It is there waiting and welcoming you. It is an ancient presence.
Good morning everyone and welcome once more to Ballinwillin House Farm, gardens and RetrEat centre. As Autumn is ending and Winter begins to take its grip on us, The Mindful Farmer is again lighting up the fire in the kitchen. It is a wonderful feeling for our guests and ourselves when you come in from the bleak weather to the magic and warmth of the fire. It is there waiting and welcoming you. It is an ancient presence. We burn turn and fallen wood from the farm. These products come from Mother Earth and carry the memories and dreams of days gone by. It is strange to see the earth burning within the domestic home and it will always remain with me. The image of the hearth as a place of home and a place of warmth, return and a place of peace. We all possess that immer solitude that is bright and warm. Let it burn and shine. Continue to pray, bless, power healing, health and peace to all who need it and wear your smile.
The Mindful Farmer
Patrick