The rhythm of your breath.

Hello, lovely one,

I am so happy to be writing my second ‘Nurtured by Nature’ blog on this: the end of the autumn season. I am so lucky to have Fridays free, and today, I did my sunrise walk while listening to my favourite podcast, Jack Kornfield, episode 255, powerfully called "Listening to the Song of the Present Moment."

This season focuses on introspection, mirroring nature's journey toward winter. For many, winter has already arrived, with snow covering parts of the country.

As part of my love for journaling and nurturing myself from within, I’m making a conscious effort to create time for stillness, silence, and listening to my inner world more over the next few weeks in this season of inwardness. I'm learning how to do that even better from Jack Kornfield's Heart Wisdom.

I enjoy getting up early each day to journal, have breakfast, and then go for a walk. This is my daily ritual since moving here in March 2022. It's part of my rhythm now.

The stillness, quiet, and deep healing power it provides are invaluable.

Often, I walk mindfully, staying present in the moment. I feel the energy around me and notice the light and changes in the air. It reminds me so much more than I need less. This morning, a murmuration of fieldfare, a Kite silhouetted against the gold sunrise. I feel its rhythm; I sense the song of my breath. What melody does my body sing?

The tension, tightness, restlessness, fear, doubt, and contractions—Paying attention to them. I find balance by walking in nature. I let it rise and pass. I don’t resist.

We need that balance, don’t we?

Just being there. Just being with. It comes because it wants to.

Being with, I guess, my unfinished business – Loss, longing, loneliness, grief, boredom, sadness, unexpressed love, shutting myself down because what was wasn’t ok, and what should be what I wanted. Honouring all of this. Not trying to fix it. What wants, need to be felt?

Jack Kornfield states, "We have top ten tunes"—the feelings and thoughts we frequently experience. What are your top ten?

Nature helps us pay attention and dance with it. Letting go of our rigid sense of self and diving into the fluidity of life. What do you want to focus on as we approach winter, aside from the joy of twinkling lights and cosy evenings? What do you not want to take into winter with you?

Let’s embrace the season’s magic and bring more of it into our lives. And I leave you with this:

You don’t have to hold on.

“The rhythm of your breath is no different than the rhythm of stars,” said John Kornfield.

Allow nature to gift you the answer and wisdom to connect back to you.

Always,

The time is now.