They come as a little whisper. And you need to listen to it.
Welcome October and the beckoning of Winter!
Having spent time with family in the Lake District earlier in the month, I wanted to focus on the theme of a poem which I created whilst enjoying the peaceful wilderness of Nature and all that it offers to the human race. This time of year is demonstrated to me by the photo above which I took - a double rainbow signalling the meeting of sunshine and rain. In the same way, October acknowledges the meeting of Autumn and Winter, as the sun gives way to darkness for the next few months.
The subject of this month's blog centres around being at home, starting with yourself as your own personal home, which then extends to include your own physical home. I was listening to a podcast recently and came across the quote which starts this blog, which seems to send out a very powerful message that we should be open and aware to opportunities, changes or even moments of great understanding or discovery which may appear at the most surprising times in our lives. Opportunities may come when we least expect it, and if we are happy with ourselves and are feeling at home, then they can be acted upon.
Byron Katie said:
"Just keep coming home to yourself, you are the one who you've been waiting for"
These are very reassuring words and which demonstrate the power that we each hold as unique individuals in this world. I spent a lovely day creating the poem which I have included below, walking in the mountains and enjoying the clear air and brilliant views across the countryside. It reflects the power that a warm and comforting place can have upon you, and I think this should be how we feel about ourselves and our inner home. I have included the name of the property if you wish to look online, as well as the name of the host.
Home from Home Away
What a wonderful stay at How Bank!
It is Catherine now whom we need to thank,
A delightful home from home away,
Enjoying the hot tub day by day.
Sparkling kitchen, living rooms,
Bathrooms and spacious bedrooms,
With a garden resplendent in full bloom.
Beautiful landscape
The perfect escape
Nature’s curtain drapes
Over hours of fun recorded on tape.
Laughter echoes through the walls
As water rushes down the falls,
Yet a calm serenity pervades the halls
Staying soft and bright like tennis balls.
A house full of splendid generosity,
With nooks and crannies brimming with curiosity,
The timing of this visit was most opportune,
We will most definitely return soon.
(above is a photo taken at How Bank, looking through the front garden at a truly fantastic rainbow)
Eknath Easwaran said:
"When we are at home with ourselves, we are at home everywhere in the world.When we have found peace within ourselves, peace and love follow us wherever we go"
Eknath Easwaran was an Indian-born spiritual teacher, author and translator and interpreter of Indian religious texts which included the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. His words in the quote seem to confirm the experiences which led me to write the poem. Easwaran was influenced by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, whom he met when he was only a young man. During his life, Easwaran himself also inspired others to write a well-known vegetarian cookbook Laurel's Kitchen, in which it was demonstrated how the nutritional information concerning different types of foods could be beneficial for daily life. Here is a prime example of how individuals have found their inner home and have been able to share their discoveries and inspire others to continue improving themselves in their own lives, and so on...
Above is a picture taken during our long weekend away in the Lake District, at the beautiful Buddhist temple in Ulverston. The way in which monks serve customers with scrumptious tea and cakes in a quiet and careful manner, reflects the years of calm and peaceful practice which is displayed in the vibrancy of Nature and woodland which surrounds the buildings. A visit to this place demonstrated to me how impactful our surroundings can be on us. Everyone in the place, whether a resident or a visitor, seemed to be at home with themselves and it was a welcome reminder that we can be at home all of the time. We don't need to rely on a particular physical place to be at home with ourselves. Eknath Easwaran clearly recognised this in his own life, and felt the need to share his understanding with others.
The Indian-born teacher also said: "When the mind is still, we can become an instrument of peace" and these words make clear the power that we have to spread peace.
We do not necessarily need to become a spiritual teacher to attain this peace, although the quiet surroundings and lack of mundane distractions would be beneficial. Nevertheless, striving to find our inner home gives us the autonomy to accept more moments of stillness and peace. After that, we can then help to spread the message ourselves, about the advantages of these quiet times. It is during those times that we can often be of most help to our nearest and dearest, by being able to listen and bring reassurance. As the wintry days descend, this can become a very lonely time of year, particularly as the days become shorter and the hours of darkness increase their grip.
Be that as it may, finding your inner home and then appreciating your physical home can be a great way to remain balanced and happy during the chillier season.
Eknath Easwaran said:
"We look at the world through our likes and dislikes, hopes and fears, opinions and judgements. We want everyone to behave as we think they should; otherwise we get agitated. But we are here to accept the world as it is, even as we work to make it better."
The quote above shows how quickly we can tarnish our experiences and memories of the world with our thoughts and feelings about every situation. Yet, when we are at home, we can be more accommodating and willing to embrace whatever comes our way. Therefore, here is another great reason for us to work on feeling at home with our selves so that we can accept all that comes our way, whether apparently positive or negative. I wish you all the best of luck as you face the wintry months, and hope that you manage to find peace and comfort at home with yourself and in your physical surroundings also.
October is National Porridge month and I hope that you have been enjoying the variety of daily different porridge toppings, just like the above creation...Thank you for all your continued support for the brand instagram account and I have been delighted with the reception of the recent give-away. As Winter and Christmas are fast approaching, I thought it would be lovely to do one to celebrate all of the amazing followers of the brand. I do hope that the winner enjoys their nut butter treats and please do keep following the brand for daily foodie inspiration.
I am delighted to say that I have also started a new radio show every Wednesday 8-10pm on Lymm Radio. Wednesday Wind down With Sitara celebrates psychologist and sleep expert Hope Bastine's words "Winding down from the day is just as important as gearing up for the day" - take the time to tune in and enjoy a variety of different weekly themes, motivational quotes and uplifting music to end your #humpday with positivity and calm.
Tune into the radio show via your smart speaker or via this link...a positive way to start the day! #localradio
I conclude October's blog with a quote by Marcia Wieder:
"Practice being at home with yourself, as you step out to be with others"
Remember that you are your own best home, and that you make the choice to protect and cherish your home every day.
Happy October,
Sitara xx
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