Mindful Living: A Connection of Mind, Body and Spirit
The Wheel turns towards Lughnasadh (August 1st) and in the United States the Midwest is in the height of Summer. Vacations and day trips are scheduled to make one more summer memory before the grind of school and school related activities becomes the primary focus of many for the bulk of the year.
Gentle buds and blossoms have given way to the hearty heat loving plants and flowers. Solace can be found under shade trees, in creeks, pools and water parks. Those who live in accordance with nature often split their days to rise early to work outside then afternoon rest and work later in the day as the heat ebbs.
Lughnasadh’s origins are a Celtic Festival honoring the god Lugh and the first harvest. If you have not read the Celtic stories of Lugh this would be a great season to do so. It can deepen your understanding of why this sabbat is honored, where the traditions came from and how it is practiced today.
Regardless of your spiritual path or pantheon connections, the first harvest is important to all humankind. In a world where the majority of the population is removed from where we receive our fruits, vegetables, herbs and meats it is a wonderful time to check in with our mindfulness about the food we take into our bodies and how it arrives on our plate.
As you wander the grocery store take a moment to consider the work involved to bring such a variety of food to the shelves. Pause and reflect at the work to bring fresher foods to you and frozen goods that preserve as much nutrition as possible. Another step into mindful connection with your food is to visit the local farmers market and talk to those who have brought goods to the market. They often have a wonderful amount of wisdom and funny stories about farm life, especially if animals are involved.
Reflect in the work for them to live farm to table and the ability to bring those goods to you. Allow yourself to be immersed in the experience and mindful of the collaboration necessary to feed so many people. Another option is to visit a working farm in the area or U-Pick orchards to have the experience of putting your hands on the freshest harvest. All of this can be you closer to understanding a different but necessary part of our life, where our food comes from.
Festivals and weekend events can be found to honor the games of Lugh, as well as feasting and trading. Feasting, trading and baking fresh bread to share are important traditions for the first harvest. Also, if you are looking for events local to you to expand community or join a festival or games, check out the community listings on PaganPagesOrg calendar.
The first harvest signals a time to live in the present and celebrate the bounty of the moment but have an eye to the months ahead. This is a wonderful balance to your mindfulness practice. Mindfulness teaches us to be aware of the present moment. This is so we can be fully present and aware for ourselves. However, there are certain aspects of life that do require we turn our focus towards the future.
A prime example is the harvest. Fresh foods can only grow outside at certain times of the year. The ability to preserve part of that bounty for the future months before food will be growing is necessary to ensure our well-being during Winter and early Spring. Homesteaders and Farmers often practice canning, dehydration and freeze drying foods. With the modern farming practices, mass preservation techniques and the ability to ship food long distances the concern for harvest preservation is different today that it was for our ancestors. Mindfulness of the options available to you will tell you where your concerns need to be and future planning necessary for you and yours.
Now let’s take the harvest to another level. It does not have to be food. As a spiritual person with a mindfulness practice, you are always working on yourself and personal growth. Harvest time is a wonderful time to reflect on what you have learned since the wheel has last turned. This reflect can be by meditating on yourself and life choices, reading journal and/or Book of Shadow entries, reviewing finances and your calendar to see how you are spending time and money.
Mindful living is a beautiful way to be present in the bounty of the moment. Celebrating with joy and gratitude. Even if life is not ideal, we can find something to be grateful for. This gratitude aligns us with the universe and ourselves. There are small things we can do to bring this to our environment.
For this turn of the wheel the colors of greens, earthen brown, reds and dark orange can adorn our homes, clothing and jewelry. Seasonal flowers, grains, aloe plants and potted herbs of calendula, heather, vervain, rosemary, and chamomile can adorn our homes and altars. If you have an herb garden this is a lovely time to check the harvest, preservation and seed collection. If your interaction with herbs is for cooking, then take stock of your pantry and refresh the dried herbs. Tea lover? Again take stock and head to the farmers market for fresh teas.
The simple joys of our life become more present when we are mindful. Hopefully, you take time each day to just sit and observe the environment around you. Hear nature, laughter of children, or the chatter of friends and family. Perhaps your favorite moment is the sound of silence and solitude; whatever it is in that moment be grateful. Drink it in and let it fill your inner wells.
Harvest time is a great time to reflect on your mindfulness practice. How have you incorporated it into your daily life? Do you still need reminders or has it become a part of you or somewhere in between?
Do you prefer an organic practice or has it morphed into one with set times to meditate, journal, practice yoga, prayer or something else?
Have you incorporated color, plants, crystals, or aromatherapy into your living space? Is it your style to do so? If so, do you want to change things up seasonally to bring the energy of the cycle of the wheel into your home in this manner?
Do you feel your life is becoming more simple or complex with mindful living? Is it taking you in a direction you want to go?
Mindfulness is not a goal, but a way of living that keeps you connected to your authentic self and the Universe. This practice reminds us to stay aware of the present moment and to truly see things as they are. A habit that will allow you to be the best version of yourself each moment.
Mindful Blessings
*Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
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About the Author:
Irisa MacKenzie can be found on Instagram at SassyVikingMama honestly discussing life, motherhood, meditation, mindfulness. Her current focus is incorporating farm to table and nature to nurture into her spirituality, business and daily life. Viking Woman Creations is a woman owned business that began with creations to nurture your soul, but has also become women artists supporting each other. Viking Woman Creations can be found on Instagram and facebook along with our show schedule.
