11 November

Peaceful Warrior, Grateful Being

by Jon Katz
Peaceful Warrior, Grateful Being

I woke up at 3 o’clock this morning, and I could not sleep, my mind racing to so many things ahead and behind. I got up and went downstairs. Red and Lenore came down with me and curled up by my feet. I decided to meditate, to distract and settle myself. An analyst once told me that meditation could change my life and it has, and is.

I am learning – I have a  meditation teacher who is helping me – to set some intentions for me, in my mind, in my head, in my meditation. This morning and then this afternoon I intended the hero on his  journey, walking from the dark into the light. I intended the Peaceful Warrior doing joyous battle for a meaningful life. I intended the grateful being. I intended a life of love and encouragement. I focused on the life I want – I have the life I want –  and heard a voice telling me to look for the light everywhere. It is there, it is everywhere.

I was drawn to the idea of the Peaceful Warrior. I saw him in my dreams. He was magnificent, tall, with a golden shield and a walking stick for a spear. Enemies pursued and surrounded him, but he walked right through them, his shining light blazing a path.  Every day, I am challenged by fear, by anger, by the voices of confusion that entered my consciousness so long ago and live their still, so entrenched with my identity I sometimes think I don’t wish them to ever leave.  The Peaceful Warrior rejects fear and anger, brushes it aside, he pursues determination and strength, he climbs over all of the many obstacles the world throws in his path, and then climbs over some more.

Around him, the angels sing. Do not surrender to fear. Never surrender to anger. Focus on the life I want, not the life others want for me, every day in every way and each morning, take a vow to faith, take a leap of faith and let go of the small voices in my head. In my meditation, I heard a voice saying, let go, let go, let go.  Let it go.

The grateful being appreciates the gift of life. Of love. Of each day and its opportunity. He is a light unto the world, a model, a glowing place in the dark. He brings stories of gratitude, gentleness, compassion and empathy. In the morning light, in the mist over the meadows and the pasture, I saw the Peaceful Warrior, the Grateful Being, walking hand in hand into the morning light. Which was waiting for me, to embrace me and kiss me on my lips.

So this is my intention. To be a Peaceful Warrior for my life. To be a grateful being in the world.

11 November

Minnie Emerging

by Jon Katz
Minnie Emerging

Minnie is expanding her territory. She sleeps on hay bales in the barn (Maria, I suspect, has made a bed for her somewhere there with blankets and sheepskin) and has made her daytime headquarters the rocking chair on the back porch, which gets the best afternoon sun. In the morning she roams the pastures, hanging out with the donkeys, who she loves, and the chickens.  She has become a presence on the farm, which she was not really at the other farm. We have heard nothing from or about Mother (she is not at the other farm. We are increasingly certain she was taken by a predator.

11 November

Thank You, Red

by Jon Katz
Thank You Red

Red had an absolutely day today, helping us round up the sheep to put coats on them to protect the wool for yarn. He was everywhere, moving the sheep, holding them, getting them back into the pasture. We kept thanking him all day, and I decided to share the experience. Come and see Red’s work, a great working dog in his prime. I also included some video of the new painting on the studio barn. It was an important day on the farm, great fun, hard work, lots of meaning, sore feet.

This is the kind of day I most love on a farm, sharing it with Maria, having good work to do on a beautiful day. The farm is really coming together as our place.

 

11 November

The Schoolhouse Studio: Primed.

by Jon Katz
Primed

We got up early and headed for the new Ace Hardware store nearby and got a caulking gun, primer and a gallon of the yellow paint Maria wants to paint her Schoolhouse Studio. It was a beautiful day here, and we were soon surrounded by animals – curious donkeys, dogs, chickens, the barn cat – all gathered around us. It was the Peaceable Kingdom today. Simon leaned over the fence and observed the proceedings and Frieda was calm as a cow, sitting and sunning herself right next to the sheep.

We worked all day long – I am happy and very sore – but we both loved the new yellow color of the studio and will finish it when the weather permits again – cold weather coming the rest of the week, looks like. Then Red got the sheep into the Pole Barn and Maria got some coats on them – to protect the wool from hair and dirt – and Red was astounding. I got some nice video of his great day I think, and I’ll post it later tonight. I love days like this, hard and meaningful work, doing it with someone you love. The farm and the house is becoming ours.

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