February in Amonines
Awakening, doing nothing, and longing: A journey through February's reflections and the promise of spring
The light is growing stronger
February was a quiet month, allowing space for awakening. The garden, sometimes still covered by a thin layer of white, is surprisingly green underneath for a winter garden. The first snowdrops with their delicate white flowers are increasing in number daily, standing in clusters, perhaps waiting to see which flower will follow in showing itself to the changing light and the warming rays of the sun.
Indoors, the major projects of the past weeks are coming to an end, with a beautiful, fresh meditation space ready to welcome the participants of the Nâm Retreat of Silence, who may share in this process of opening happening outside.
Silence and doing nothing, a great mirror
In the Nâm Retreat, doing nothing and inviting silence are important aspects that become like a mirror, reflecting the movements of the mind. The intention is not to dive into and examine these movements, but to do nothing and watch. The retreat days, with their Attunements, seem to touch something within that then comes to the surface. Like swirling dust, it can obscure the horizon. It may cause restlessness and pain.
As one participant mentioned at the end, the HarpMood by Yoginâm, both at the beginning and end of each retreat day, brings a sense of restful silence, leaving no choice but to smile in response to Yoginâm's radiance. As the signs of restlessness begin to fade, the participants take the time to stare into the fire.
Could it be that, just as the promise of spring resides within the bare branches, the hardened earth, and the closed buds, the promise of well-being resides behind our closed opinions and judgments, becoming visible once the dust of these attachments is cleared, opening our horizon for a different perception of ourselves and the world?
A passage from the Attunements in the Oh Abbah book, used for the recitations during the Nâm Retreat of Silence, comes to mind:
Oh Abbah
In knowledge you know yourself
In vision you witness yourself
In discrimination you discriminate in yourself
You are your own mirror
My attachments are the dust
That obstructs the reflection
Clear your mirror from yourself
And realisation will be all yours
New Developments
In the kitchen, there are always new developments. When we are open to them and ready to appreciate their value, a period of experimentation begins. The possibility of introducing a new flavour to the menu is always a reason for pleasure. Currently, the focus is on fermentation, with the first recipe already in the Weck jar.
Fermenting food not only has the advantage of preserving it longer while retaining its nutritional value, but it is also very helpful for digestion and protection against diseases. The world of fermentation is vast, with possibilities such as wine, miso, pickles, sourdough, sauerkraut, yogurt, and even the consistency of ice cream. Fermenting is also a way to reconnect with real, as opposed to industrially produced, food and the life process itself, as it is a partnership with microscopic life. As described in the book Wild Fermentation by Sandor Elix Katz:
This partnership leads to a reverence for all the processes that contribute to the well-being of the human race, from the contribution of enzymes by invisible bacteria to the gift of milk and meat from the sacred cow.
At the moment, we stick to kimchi, but with enough options for vegans, a new world opens up for us.
Longing
A long period was needed to prepare mentally for the decision to renew the pond. Already in 2010, it became clear that the pond was leaking, and for the past four years, there has been talk about renewal. Longing for a solution, it is time to take action. A concrete plan has been made, with measurements, choices for materials, and planning. In the week of April 8-13, all preparatory work will be carried out, such as securing plants around the pond and organising a tub for the fish. The following week, April 15-18, we will drain the pond and replace the liner. Especially during this week, one or two extra pairs of hands would be welcome. So, if you are handy, willing to work and available or have experience with laying liners in ponds, it would be greatly appreciated if you could join us in realising this long-standing project. Please let us know by sending a message to asharum@amonines.com.
