Beautiful Garden Beds and Flood Mud

During this low season in Pai - with less travellers here during the heavy rainy season - we have been working on a few projects at the Garden. Chinua has been revamping the workshop, organising and researching what tools we need to set it up as a decent woodworking space. Joshua has finished the Labyrinth. And Neil (and I, and other helpers who come along, but mostly Neil!) has been making beautiful red brick garden beds for all our vegetables and flowers at the front of the Shekina Garden property. The progress has been slow but satisfying, as we learn how to lay bricks together. If you listen to our podcast, you’ve probably heard Rae and I speak about them often over the last months. Many hours have gone into these garden beds, and as we creep closer to them all being finished, we have been talking about throwing a party to celebrate their completion, with Neil as the guest of honour! They’ve been planted with ginger, corn, okra, beans, mint, rosella, zinnias, lettuces and amaranth, and have been truly looking beautiful.

But as you may have read last week, three floods (so far) have come through our property, bringing mud, debris and chaos.

Thankfully they haven't been as high as the flood we experienced in 2016, and we had a little bit of prior warning, so were able to move valuable things up high onto benches and shelves. However, the whole property has gone underwater 3 times and there is weeks of cleaning and fixing and gardening work ahead. The frustrating and disheartening thing was that after the first two floods - which happened within 24 hours - we spent a whole week cleaning, fixing the fence, removing debris, setting fruit trees upright, high-pressure hosing out the kitchen and workshop, salvaging wood and other items... Just to have that work totally destroyed again a week later.

We are so thankful, however, that we haven't had any really serious damage - all our buildings are still standing and most of our fruit trees have survived. As have our beautiful brick garden beds! The ginger is happy as ever, the beans and okra are fruiting like mad and the mint seems ok too. There’s even been a papaya seedling and some sweet potato spring up that we didn’t know were there.

And we are so so thankful that we all have safe, dry homes to go to. So as the rains continue every day, we are waiting until the threat of any further flooding passes before we do any serious cleaning work.

There really is so much to learn from the work of gardening and interacting with nature in a hands-on way. Sometimes our work is undone. Sometimes it endures, or is changed. Our patience is tested, our bodies are tired out. We learn new ways to co-operate. We are reminded how tiny and helpless we are. We give thanks.

(a post by Ro)

Episode #46- Contemplation of Nature with Chinua

Well, finally!

I’m happy to be getting this podcast episode up. 

We’ve had a wild couple of weeks, with three floods overcoming our garden. The last one was the highest and the most disappointing, as some of our superhero Shekina fam had commenced with a LOT of cleaning.

Rainy season is not always like this, but we’re learning about patience and acceptance, I think, through this rainy season.

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* I talk a little about the flood and our beautiful bhajan night at a chai shop in town. (Indian traditional worship songs- these ones have been compiled and written by friends and Jesus devotees.)

* Chinua guides a contemplation of nature meditation.

(If you want to skip to the meditation, it’s at 09:10 but don’t skip the intro! It’s not a soggy donut.) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

Stay dry friends.

Love to you all,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Podcast on Break this week.

Hi everyone, due to a combination of things, there won’t be a podcast episode this week. See you next week with more meditation!

Love to all,

Rae

Walking the Labyrinth

We have a labyrinth at Shekina Garden!

After hours of dreaming and planning and drawing and thinking and a lot of weeding; laying down of rice husks, tracing out a path with large rocks and creating a small fish pond in the middle - done almost entirely by the amazing Joshua - we have a beautiful labyrinth in the Food Forest at Shekina Garden. (see this post for more about the Food Forest)

I've had a tiny bit of experience with walking labyrinths in the past, but since we have our very own, I decided I wanted to learn more about them. I've started running Labyrinth Workshops at the Garden, where we learn a little about the history of the practice of the labyrinth, and then try walking it ourselves. And I thought it might be worthwhile to share my research and thoughts here too.

Roman mosaic depicting the battle between Theseus and the Minotaur in the labyrinth

For starters, let me clear up the difference between a labyrinth and a maze. In a maze, there are many paths and there's the distinct possibility of getting lost. A labyrinth is unicursal - meaning one line - there's only one path in, and out again. No decisions to be made, no possibility of getting lost. It is not designed to trick or confuse, the only decision to be made along the way is to walk... or not.

The term 'labyrinth' itself is Greek in origin, and there's a rich history of the labyrinth in Greek mythology - including the story of Theseus and the Minotaur on Knossos (ancient Crete).
There have also been coins found with labyrinths on them from Ancient Crete, which are up to 4000 years old! Cool!

In the realm of spiritual practice, the walking of a labyrinth has been used for meditation and contemplation in the Christian tradition for centuries.

The labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral, France

There are a number of classical designs of labyrinth. Ours at Shekina Garden is based on the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth design set into the floor of the cathedral, built in the early 1200s. This design is similar to other Gothic cathedral designs from around Europe. The Chartres Cathedral design is an 11 circuit design, whereas the Shekina Garden design is for a smaller space, and has 5 circuits.

People in Chartres who could not afford to make a pilgrimage - to Jerusalem or other holy sites - could walk the labyrinth in a symbolic way to represent to journey of pilgrimage. In this way, pilgrimage was more widely accessible by all - I love this idea!

The walking of a labyrinth is a contemplative practice. A quiet, slow, meditative and prayerful spiritual practice with many different styles.

Some ways we have experimented with at Shekina Garden include the following:

Using a Breath Prayer as you walk (eg: inhale "Guide me", exhale "Jesus")

Pick up a stone at the entry to the labyrinth to represent something you would like to release to the Divine. Leave it in the centre.

Hold your palms facing downward as you walk inwards, as a symbol of letting go. Pause for reflection and prayer in the centre. Hold your palms upward on the way out, as a symbol of receiving from the Divine. Perhaps join them together in prayer as you exit the labyrinth.

Some other ideas or prompts we have found helpful are:

Don't rush. Pause at the entryway, the middle, the end. Is there a prayer you can speak silently in your heart? Perhaps giving a bow, nod, or other gesture to begin and end the walk. Engage the senses. Observe the actual walking, mindfully - the journey, the path, the feeling of moving towards and away from a destination.

Sound interesting? Come walk with us, sometime!

(a post by Ro)

Episode #45- Lectio Divina on Psalm 42 with Rae

Hello Dear Ones, 

The meditation today comes from Psalm 42, and verse 8 says, “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me.” 

I’m saying that verse to myself today, all day long. It’s so good. To be the ones receiving that directed love. 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Ro and I discuss the week, including garden beds, yes, garden beds, helping a teen into his new school year, and planting rice. 

* I guide a Lectio Divina meditation on Psalm 42. 

(If you want to skip to the meditation, it’s at 07:50 but don’t skip the intro because you’ll miss the the symmetrical lines of rice.) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

Have a beautiful week friends,

Love to you all,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Episode #44- Many Version Lectio Divina on John 8:12 with Ro

Hello Friends, 

It’s so so rainy out! The kind where the ground is soaked and algae is growing on the stones, and you slip and slide and try to keep your balance, but end up looking like you’re doing interpretive dance, just walking down the street.

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Ro and I talk about the week (mistakenly calling this episode 45- it’s actually Episode 44) while sitting in a café, including new roof hats at the garden, tiny biting flies, and my trip to Mae Sot, where I visited my friends from The Charis Project, an organization that provides education and support for under-served migrant families. You can check them out here. 

* Ro guides a form of Lectio Divina where she reads John 8:12 in a lot of different versions, with a lot of space in between each reading. It’s a great way to truly soak in one verse.

The order of versions she uses are:

New Living Translation

The Message

The Passion Translation

The Voice

English Standard Version

(If you want to skip to the meditation, it’s at 07:17 but don’t skip the intro because you’ll miss the lulling sounds of rain behind our dulcet tones.) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

Be loved and blessed dear friends!

Love to you all,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Episode #43- Narrative meditation on John 4: 1-28 with Naomi

Hi beautiful ones! 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Ro and I have a wee chat about our week. Full disclosure, we recorded the intro three times! First time the mic was off. Second time we had fits of giggles. Third time… here it is. 

* Naomi guides a narrative meditation on the story of the woman at the well in John 4. It’s a beautiful journey through the story with creativity and insight, and space in between for meditation and imagination.

(If you want to skip to the meditation, it’s at 07:58 but don’t skip the intro because you don’t want to miss hearing about the natural evolution of grass roofs!) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

Be loved and blessed dear friends!

Love,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

The Sacraments by St. Francis of Assisi

God snuggles up to me in a small dog

The Spirit curls up lattice in fast-growing beans

The face of Christ thanks me for a banana muffin

(a little post from Ro)

Episode #42- Contemplation of Nature with Chinua

Hi friends, 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* As usual, Ro and I talk about our week, including a worldwide leukena tree celebration, more singing, and love for contemplation of nature.

* Chinua guides a contemplation of nature meditation. You’ll need an object of nature for this meditation—either something you can hold and look at, or something you can see/feel.

(If you want to skip to the meditation, it’s at 06:54 but don’t skip the intro because you definitely need to hear the kids romping in the background.) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

I’ve been reading about Emerson, and his play between the life of action, and that free flying internal life of the spirit. Here we are for a purpose, but we still need to connect to the gentle and inspiring words of the Spirit, or we become thirsty and a bit angry, like hedgehogs. 

I pray that you find that connection this week. Pour your heart out. The Father inclines his ear to you.

Love to you all,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Episode #41- Meditation on Light with Rae

Hi beautiful ones, 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Ro and I talk about the week we’ve just had, including coming home, my new book, singing, and   butterflies. 

* I guide a lectio divina on Light with a short introductory imagination meditation on moving around in the dark. 

I used a collection of verses from different translations: 

Psalm 119: 105

Matthew 4:16

John 1:5

John 8: 12

Ephesians 5: 13 and 14

Ro mentioned that she thinks this meditation is an excellent one for people who are new to meditation, so if know anyone like that, or you are new, feel free to share! 

(If you want to skip to the meditation, it’s at 08:03 but don’t skip the intro because it’s a bit like a rare butterfly.)

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

This morning I’m thinking of the seemingly endless juggling of life. Tasks, food, clothing, lists, prayers, views, talks, things to do, things to see, things to pay. And in the midst of it all, a call to come away and be at rest. I pray that you find a little circle for yourself today, a place to be at rest, even in your heart while you do the things you need to do. 

Love to you all,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Episode #40- Imagination Meditation on Jesus healing the centurion's servant, with Neil

Hi beautiful ones, 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Ro and I chat about our week, including a soul care retreat, water buffalo, and food!

* Neil guides an imagination meditation on Matthew 8: 5-13

(If you want to skip to this, it’s at 08:40 but don’t skip the intro because it’s not a skimpy breakfast.) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

The retreat we just had brought so many emotions to the surface, and I’m reminded of how much we need God’s help in sorting through feelings, so we feel surrounded and embraced rather than lonely in emotion. So this week I pray that you feel the companionship of God in whatever you go through. 

Love to you all,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Episode #39- Meditation on the Jesus Prayer with Rae

Hi friends, 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Chinua and I chat about our week, including working with wood, music, singing, and a blessing way.

* I (Rae) guide a meditation on the Jesus Prayer

(If you want to skip to this, it’s at 07:26, but don’t skip the intro because you’ll miss Chin’s thoughts on the perfect chord.) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

This week may you have joy, and I have joy, and all of us have deep, deep joy. 

Much love,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

A Poem from Laura

I used to think I had to shove my doubts deep down

Keep them locked up

Only personal

Afraid the questions may make an earthquake

A trembling across the ocean of others’ faith

But a constant smashing up against the reality of the world - a tidal wave

Crashes my paper-thin and vulnerable faith

Confronted by my own shortcomings and denial of injustices, a turning a face

Maybe this is where real faith begins

When I am weighed to the ground with their cries

When I do not have answers

When it no longer makes sense

When pain reveals I do not understand creates a well deep of questions

This is where you offer me a drink

Of a water that is life

This is where I can offer you drink

In the midst of my uncertainty

In the midst of our uncertainties

When I do not feel God

There you are

Right in the midst of this wrestling

Spill your secrets and I’ll share mine

An exchange that brings connection

With you and the divine.

Episode #38- Contemplation of Nature with Ro

Hi friends, 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Ro and I chat about our week, including an embodiment workshop, immigration adventures, and the beauty of God in the midst of bureaucratic headaches.

* Ro guides a contemplation of nature meditation.

(If you want to skip to this, it’s at 10:55, but don’t skip the intro because you’ll miss some deep theological musings :) ) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

I pray this week that you hear the still small voice of God during the days and the nights. 

Much love,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Can we sing it again?

A couple of weeks ago we started our Devotion Circle times back up again. Meeting on a Monday afternoon as a community, welcoming travellers to join us. Making a rangoli in the centre of our space - a symbol of welcoming the Divine among us.

And then singing and singing and singing. We sang a few bhajans - worship songs to Jesus, in the Indian style. After finishing one song, a lovely new traveller friend Jaelle said “Can we sing that one again?”

And why not? These words are true and beautiful and we repeat them again and again. We sing them, we pray them to God, we sing them to our own hearts, we repeat them to remind and encourage each other.

Our Devotion Circles are pretty organic. Between songs, we intersperse prayers sometimes, or quotes and poems, verses from Scripture. I read a Mary Oliver poem called ‘Praying’:

It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

(a post by Ro)

Episode #37- Lectio Divina on 1 Kings 19: 11-13 with Naomi

Hi loves, 

I hope you’ve had a beautiful weekend, and if you’re in any space that celebrates Father’s Day this weekend, an excellent Father’s Day. Maybe a day of remembering, or celebrating, or even sifting through the good and bad of your experiences of fatherhood, whatever they are. 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

* Ro and I chat about a busy week, shouting out to my parents, who have been married for forty years, and shouting out to Ro and Neil, who have been married for 13. Ro tells us a bit about their epic road trip over the weekend, and we chat about people on their way, people who are leaving, garden work, and moving house. 

*Naomi guides an lectio divina mediation on 1 Kings 19: 11-13, reading from the Voice translation.

(If you want to skip to this, it’s at 09:50, but don’t skip the intro because you’ll miss the gardener and his whipper snipper!) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

I pray this week that you feel the expansiveness and promise of God’s love for you. 

Much love,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Episode #36- Lectio Divina on the theme of peace with Ro

Hi beloveds, 

I’m getting the podcast out after a day of unpacking at our new house, as well as a bit of puzzle time with Christy. Good times. 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

*Ro and I chat about the week, including a labyrinth, moving strong people, and singing our hearts out.

*Ro guides a Lectio Divina meditation on the theme of peace. 

She reads from Ezekiel 37:26-27, Philippians 4:6-7, John 14:27, Romans 5:1, and Romans 15:13. (If you want to skip to this, it’s at 07:47, but don’t skip the intro because there are night sounds! Night sounds!) 

Here’s a shot of the labyrinth Joshua made at Shekina Garden.

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

I pray that this would be a week of many, many tiny beautiful things for you.

Much love,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Community Lunch at Shekina Garden

It is lovely to be back home after adventures in the USA recently. Good to be back among my community, good to be back into our weekly rhythms. I do well with spontaneity in my life, but also with some good habits and rhythms and regular things that happen each week.

This week was my first week back cooking for Community Lunch. I head out to the market in the morning and enjoy loading up my scooter with lots of fresh vegetables - this week I made Magic Orange Soup, named by Isaac, which is full of pumpkin and potato and carrot - and fresh bread. The ladies at the market enjoy seeing how much produce I can stack on my scooter.

I get to the Garden, open up the kitchen, turn the fan on full blast, load up a podcast (this week was Hidden Brain with Shankar Vedantam to begin with) and get chopping.

A little way into cooking, I get a message from Winnie that the funeral of the beloved Rachel Held Evans, who passed away just recently, is on YouTube. At first I feel hesitant to watch the funeral of a stranger, but then I re-read Winnie’s message: ‘I’m a mess, there are tears in the cake batter, but Jesus is so stinking beautiful.’ It is enough to make me turn it. on. Soon enough I am a mess too, crying into the soup as I listen to family and friends pour out their love, honouring Rachel and turning my eyes to Jesus.

I finish the soup, butter 5 loaves of bread, chop more veggies for a fresh salad with Japanese dressing and do some quick dishes. Other folks have come and swept and mopped the salaah, set out cushions to sit on, bowls to eat out of, and fresh water. Someone is playing slide guitar. Friends are starting to arrive and kids are running in and out of the kitchen, everyone greeting each other, hugging, catching up. Some tears, some shared words about the beautiful sad funeral and other life stuff.

Eventually we are ready to eat. We introduce our space to newcomers, telling people that all we do here is just an overflow of love that we have received form the Divine and want to splash around. We sing. We give thanks. We eat!

And the afternoon goes on, gypsy jazz music, kids playing, good chats about deep things and fun silly things. Our dear Reillys are up for the weekend, so we make sure to squeeze them extra tight and enjoy seeing them back in the circle, feeling so normal and natural and a bit sad because it isn’t the norm these days, since they moved to Chiang Mai.

Dishes are washed, little kids play with the hoses in the hot afternoon. Older kids embrace being hot and sweaty and hold push-up and sit-up competitions! Chai and cake is served. We have a Sharing Circle, answering the question “Are you happy?”, which can be as simple or as deep as you would like it to be. Beautiful people share their hearts together.

Ahh, it is good to be back.

Here are a few snaps from lunch yesterday. A quick comment on the last one - if you sneakily take my phone to take dozens of silly selfies, you may just end up with one of them on the Community Blog! :)

(a post by Ro)

Episode #35- Imagination Meditation on the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda

Hi beloveds, 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

*Ro is back! We chat about her travels and what’s been going on around here, including her visit to Nomad’s Land, hobbit houses, moving house, and vision talks. 

*Mili guides an imagination meditation on the man beside the pool of Bethesda. (If you want to skip to this, it’s at 08:33, but don’t skip the intro because if you do, you won’t hear the faint background sounds of Chinua playing jazz piano. :D) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

I pray that you find home in the heart of God this week. 

Much love,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!

Episode #34- Lectio Divina on Psalm 19: 1-3 with Ro

Hi beloveds, 

We’ve had rain! It’s glorious. 

Here’s what to expect in this episode of the podcast:

*In the introduction, I chat a bit about fences, climbing plants, and community lunch. (Next week Ro will be back for the introduction- yay!)

* Ro guides a Lectio Divina on Psalm 19:1-3. (If you want to skip to this, it’s at 06:07.) 

Here’s the podcast on iTunes. 

Here’s the episode on Youtube.

This week, let’s take some time to wander and see the things that God has made. Clouds, dirt, ants, and giant beetles are some things I saw today.

Much love,

~ Rae

The podcast will always be free, but you can support us on Patreon.com and get extra audio each month. We're so thankful for your support, which helps our communities to offer this kind of meditation and other Christ-centered practices for free. We need it! So, thank you!