I know I’m not alone in feeling rather like hibernating during the winter months. From my kitchen window I look out at the rain lashing down on the mountains and shiver at the thought of being out in the cold and wet.
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| View of the village from the lane |
Living in rural
Northern Spain, and having animals to look after (goats, chickens, ducks,
geese, rabbits, dogs) and an acre of land to farm, means that “venturing out”
under any weather conditions is a normal part of life. Whether it's to feed the
animals, collect firewood, turn soil, or plant garlics, there is always an
outside job that needs doing.
During the
winter months I often feel more like staying in my comfy pyjamas by the roaring fire, than donning boots and
waterproofs and tramping down the lane. Like so many of us, my body craves the
warmth.
But over
the years I’m learning more tricks to brave the cold and the wet: to wear more
clothes, to remember my gloves and, most significantly to adopt a bright,
optimistic attitude. Regardless of the weather or season, there is always a part
of me that craves movement, to be in the Great Outdoors, to connect with the
earth and to dance and soar freely under the vast sky.
The pleas
of my spirit generally outweigh the nagging of my body to stay inside, and I don
the wellies and waterproofs, and venture out. My body reacts: the tip of my
nose tingles and reddens in the cold, my shoulders hunch up closer to my ears,
my fingers curl into fists in an effort to stay warm. Yet, after some minutes
of brisk stomping, I find the cold air exhilarates me. My breath deepens, my
lungs fill as I take in that good country air. Arms and legs pump with every
stride, inviting oxygen to flow around my body more efficiently. My cheeks are
refreshed by droplets of rain.
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| The latest addition - baby goat |
As I walk,
I become struck as if for the first time, by the magnificent beauty of the
mountains; by the carefree playfulness of the baby goats; by the grand stateliness
of the prancing cockerel. A golden eagle soars overhead, seeming to reflect the
uplifting joy of my expanding spirit. And I feel a deep sense of peace and
oneness, an interconnectedness between all things.
Finding
delight in nature helps us to live in a more conscious way. When we are more
conscious, or aware of the natural world that surrounds us, we not only raise
our personal vibration, but it also raises the collective consciousness of
earth in an irreversible way.
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| Friends of ours getting to know the chickens! |
If you
don't have nature on your doorstep, search out a nearby forest/ field/ beach/
park. Stomp around in mud. Put on your wellies and splash in puddles. Roll in
the snow. Take off your shoes and feel the earth or sand between your toes, or the
grass underfoot. Do some gardening. Get your hands in the earth. Pause to watch
animals. If you don't have a garden, find a friend who does, or join a land share
like ours & connect yourself back to the earth.
We welcome anyone who wants to visit us and lend a hand on the farm. Details on how to connect with us are below.
Millie Brereton is a certified yoga teacher, nutritional advisor and general lover of life. She is the director of The Kula Centre of Learning and Personal Development and co-founder of Project Huerta. She delights in nature, Tantric philosophy and seeing the good in everyone who crosses her path. She can often be found in her kitchen blending juices and cooking up tasty treats from her organic farm, or bounding ecstatically through the mountains with her two dogs, Bonnie and Kin. You can connect with her by visiting her webpage,www.thekulacentre.com or connect with her on facebook.
