Welcome,
Friends,
To these brand-new cozy autumnal journeys.
Time for meditation,
Story and a savouring of the beauty of this golden season.
As always,
Take your time to settle and relax.
Make sure that you feel warm and supported.
And if you wish,
You can close your eyes and breathe easy.
Let the body and the breath settle into easeful rhythm.
Let go of the worries of your day.
As we take a little pause to walk in a different realm within our mind's eye,
You can hear the rain falling as soon as you wake.
As you stretch and move from your bed,
You can see the morning autumnal light shining through the windows,
Watery through the rain.
You feel a desire to smell and feel this rain and the autumnal earth,
So you put on your wellies and a waterproof coat and head out for a short walk.
The falling rain casts a soft veil all around you and a rhythm of pitter-patter on the earth.
Perhaps a few sparkling drops drip from your waterproof hood and kiss your cheeks.
Through the rain,
The autumnal trees are shining in reds and yellows,
Orange and ochre,
And brighter colours still as you come across a tree that is laden with shining apples.
You catch a scent of sweet apple in the air,
Along with the scent of earth and grass and leaf.
And as you admire the tree,
You put your hands in your pockets and realise you have a little bag folded up small,
Ready for just when such abundance might come your way.
And from this heavily laden tree,
You decide to pick twelve beautiful apples,
Leaving plenty for the animals or the next forager that may come this way.
Wildings,
That's what we call them in England,
These wild apple trees and their apples.
Trees and fruits that belong to no one and to everyone.
With your bounty of twelve shining apples,
You make your way gently back home,
Glad you have had a chance to breathe fresh air and feel the pitter-patter of the rain upon your skin.
But now it is time to journey homewards.
And as you open your front door,
The home feels warm and welcoming.
You turn on some lamps to help cast soft light on this rainy day.
And you turn the radio on as it plays gentle music through the house.
You take a warm shower or bath to refresh after your time outside.
And when you feel ready,
You climb into your very favourite cosy autumnal clothes.
Woolen knits and soft shirts,
Maybe soft slippers or woolly socks.
You listen to the weather report on the radio.
And the report is for rain all day.
There are some winds too,
Nothing to cause concern.
But they advise not to travel unless you absolutely have to,
So it is best to stay home.
You take this as invitation to enjoy the day that stretches out before you in cosiness,
In restfulness.
And of course,
To make the most of those apples.
In the kitchen,
You light a few candles to light your work.
And you start by slicing up the apples.
Each apple is glistening with the last of the rainwater already washed for you by nature.
You take your time to slice them.
Maybe treating yourself to a few fresh,
Crunchy slices,
Enjoying their sweetness,
Their juiciness.
Next,
In a bowl,
The slices of apple are stirred with your very favourite spices.
Cinnamon,
Clove perhaps,
Star anise,
Nutmeg.
Perhaps a crumbling of dark brown sugar.
Perhaps you even stir in a sweet sparkle of honey or caramel.
Already the smell is permeating the kitchen and your house.
Sweet,
Warm and gently spiced.
You lay out pastry in a dish and ladle these beautiful apples,
Dressed in their finest spices.
And decorate your pie as you wish.
Lattice pastry or shapes or maybe a little more crumbled sugar.
And the time comes to place the pie into a warm oven.
And the scents of cooking apple pie drift around you in whirls of sweetness.
In the time it takes for the pie to cook,
You set up a cosy space.
Perhaps in your living room with cushions and blankets.
Perhaps by a window laid out with your favourite books.
Perhaps you place your favourite drink upon a table and lay out the cutlery.
Perhaps a jug of cream or custard or a scoop of ice cream.
And when the timer goes off and you take the pie from the oven,
It is golden and glistening and steaming with sweet scent.
Those wilding apples have become something so comforting and nourishing for you today.
With a little of your time and love.
Cut yourself a generous slice and place it on a beautiful plate.
And carry it into your soft space that you have arranged.
And when it has cooled just a little,
Take a big scoop and enjoy a delicious mouthful of apple pie.
Warm.
Spiced.
Comforting.
Familiar.
This place so peaceful and warm.
There is nowhere you need to be but here.
No place but now.
Enjoying the blessings to have a place such as this.
A soft place to land.
Warm.
Dry.
And filled with abundance and pies.
As you sit and enjoy your pie,
You watch and listen to the rain upon the windows and the trees sway.
You feel nourished that you have everything you need right here.
A moment of perfect peace on a rainy day.
With the finest of autumn's abundance before you.
Just when you feel ready,
Perhaps we'll take a lovely deep breath in.
And sigh and exhale out.
You can take a stretch or movement if you like.
If you are preparing to rest or sleep,
Then feel free to stay exactly where you are.
We can arrive to whatever place we need now.
As this little journey gently comes to an end.
May all your coming journeys of autumn be cozy and easeful.
Farewell for now.
