Someday Farm

The Science of Presence: an Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, commonly referred to as ACT, represents a significant evolution in the field of mental health. Developed in the 1980s by psychologist Steven C. Hayes, ACT is a core component of the “third wave” of cognitive-behavioral therapies. While traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has...

But first, an informational essay as prologue: The Buddha, his Bow, the Beach and a Behavioral Blueprint for Being an Introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (for the Buddhist-minded) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, represents a bridge between modern clinical science and the ancient practice of mindfulness. Developed by Steven C. Hayes in the 1980s, it is a “third wave” therap...

The Catalyst of the Middle Way In the rich tapestry of Buddhist tradition, few figures hold as much pivotal, yet quiet, significance as Sujata. Often remembered as a simple village girl, her intervention represents far more than a historical anecdote: it is the essential catalyst for the discovery of the Middle Path. Her name, derived from the Sanskrit roots Su (auspicious) and Jata (born), transl...

Prologue: Drawing inspiration from James Nestor’s book Breath , which emphasizes optimal breathing practices to enhance physical and mental well-being, here’s a Guided Meditation that incorporates its Principles. This meditation emphasizes key principles from Breath , such as nasal breathing, slowing the breath, diaphragmatic breathing, and extending the exhale. Book Summary: Breath: The New Scien...

Passing Circumstances, Passing Conditions - All Passersby Find a comfortable position, allowing your body to settle completely. Close your eyes, or soften your gaze downward. Take a deep breath in... and let it go. You’re sitting on a wide wooden porch in the Deep South. The boards beneath you are weathered smooth by decades of sun and rain, painted a soft gray that’s worn through in places to rev...

Everyone has some unconscious biases, but the key is to become aware of them and then figure out how to manage them. This could mean avoiding them, reducing them, or even getting rid of them. The word “voir” in “voir dire” doesn’t mean “to see,” even though it looks like it does in modern French. In this legal context, “voir” comes from Old French, where it meant “true” or “truthful.” So, in its o...

a Guided Meditation This is a practice of gentle breathing, complete releasing, and a profoundly deep surrendering, one that weaves Dàoist and Buddhist insights into a seated Tai Chi-inspired movement. In short, a practice for Easing Muscle Tightness, Softening Pain, and Returning to Harmony... Part 1: a Space of Comfort, Settling into the Present Moment Before beginning, find the most comfortable...

Noctilucent clouds, also known as night-shining clouds, are rare, high-altitude clouds that appear as electric blue or silvery wisps in the night sky, typically during summer months at higher latitudes. They form in the mesosphere, Earth’s third layer of the atmosphere, at altitudes between 47-53 miles (75-85 kilometers) above the surface, making them the highest clouds in our atmosphere. Their vi...

for Peggy… for Rob… Music Cue: Find a comfortable position. Let your eyes gently close, or soften your gaze downward. Take a deep breath in… and now - out. Today, we’re going to explore the Art of making a pie... Not rushing toward the finished product, but truly savoring each moment of creation. Because sometimes, the sweetest moments aren’t at the end - they’re baked right into the process itsel...

Prologue : In traditional Chinese tea culture, the absence of handles on cups is no accident. These simple vessels are designed to let the drinker connect directly with the tea through touch. If the cup is too hot to hold, the tea is too hot to drink. When the warmth feels comfortable in the hand, it signals that the tea is ready to be enjoyed. This design reflects more than practicality - it embo...

Ho‘oponopono for the Error-Prone Self a Guided Meditation in Making Oneself Right with Oneself Music Cue : https://youtu.be/-opAo7kjtSs You have come to sit - not to perfect. not to perform. but to return. to the breath that falters. to the spine that slumps. to the mind that wanders. to the self that forgets. You are not here to be correct. You are here to practice correction. To those faltering,...

Prologue: The ancient Japanese tea ceremony, known as Chadō (The Way of Tea) or Sado, rests upon four profound principles that transcend the simple act of preparing and drinking matcha. These principles - 和, Wa - Harmony; 敬, Kei - Respect; 清, Sei - Purity; and 寂, Jaku - Tranquility - form a complete philosophy for living, one that was formally articulated by Sen no Rikyū, the most influential...

Prologue: 🌲 Tree scent Trees like pine and cedar release phytoncides, which are antimicrobial compounds. These have been shown to lower cortisol levels and increase natural killer cell activity. That means stronger immune function and reduced stress. Phytoncides are volatile organic compounds emitted by many trees, especially conifers. Studies by Lǐ Qīng and others show that forest bathing increa...

Stepping Over the Flowers Begin by finding a quiet place. Let your body settle. Let your breath arrive. Now in...now gone... Let the weight of the day begin to soften. Inhale gently. Exhale slowly. Now in...now gone... Let the breath remind you: you are here. You are alive. You are free to choose your way. Inhale gently. Exhale slowly. Now in...now gone... Begin with stillness. Let your body settl...

Teaching Prologue: the Wisdom of the Storm-Walker Across the vast prairies, when dark clouds gather on the horizon and the wind begins to carry the scent of snow and lightning, most creatures know exactly what to do. The deer bound away toward distant shelter. The rabbits disappear into their warrens. Birds take flight for calmer skies. Even the proud horses turn their backs to the approaching dar...

Embracing Spontaneous Transformation Find a quiet space, and settle into a comfortable position. Close your eyes gently. Take a slow, deep breath in, and exhale softly, letting go of any tension. Allow your body to relax with each breath. 1. Grounding in the Present Moment Take a moment to center yourself. Feel the weight of your body where you sit, the floor beneath you supporting you. Let your s...

🦋 a Guided Meditation woven from the silk of Zhuāngzǐ’s butterfly dream, steeped in Dàoist wisdom and rendered in poetic breath. You may wish to read it aloud slowly, or let it unfold in silence, like morning's mist curling through a swaying pine grove. Prologue: Zhuāngzǐ’s butterfly dream is one of the most iconic parables in Dàoist philosophy. In it, Zhuāngzǐ dreams he is a butterfly, joyfully...

Prologue : a Summary of "The Overstory" by Richard Powers Richard Powers’ The Overstory is a sprawling, polyphonic novel that weaves together the lives of nine characters whose paths converge through their relationships with trees. The book is not about trees as backdrop - it is about trees as protagonists, as ancient intelligences, as systems of communication and resilience. Powers constructs a n...

a Guided Meditation for Renewing our Surface The Seasoning of the Self Begin seated. Spine upright. Breath: steady. Hands resting like a pan awaiting heat. Invocation Today we enter the forge - Not to burn. To temper. Not to erase. To season. Rust as Birthright Rust is not foreign. It is born of the self. Iron does not rust in isolation. It rusts in relationship. Water and oxygen - life-giving, es...

Meditation Prologue: The Gift of Cunda Welcome to this meditation. Before we begin our practice together, let me share a story that will guide our contemplation - a story about intention, compassion, and the profound grace found in our final offerings. In the ancient texts of Buddhism, preserved in the language called Pali, we find the account of a blacksmith named Cunda. His name, pronounced “Chu...

Introduction: The Gaze That Changes Us Before we begin, a reflection- The Hawthorne effect describes a subtle shift in behavior that arises when we know we’re being observed. It’s not the camera, the clipboard, or the gaze itself - it’s our awareness of it. That awareness reshapes us. In early factory studies, workers became more productive simply because they knew they were being watched. But thi...

Come to rest. Set down the rest and come to rest... Good, thank you. Now... Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, let your body soften. Let your shoulders drop, your jaw unclench, and your hands rest gently where ever they are. Close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing so, or simply let your gaze fall softly to the Earth before you. Let us begin this journey inward - into the quiet temple...

🌌 a Guided Meditation Ascent through the Atmosphere [Opening – Grounding in the Body] Find a comfortable position and settle in - perhaps seated or lying down. You can stand, too - if you like. Let your hands rest gently - on your lap, on your knees, or down by your sides. Close your eyes, too - if that feels safe. Take a slow, deep breath in… and exhale, letting the weight of the day begin to so...

The Empty Bowl Theme: Releasing Burden, Returning to Simplicity Duration: 25 minutes Setting: Quiet space, seated or lying down comfortably 🌀 Opening Breath: Entering Stillness Begin by settling into a comfortable, supported position. Let your hands rest gently somewhere - palms open to the empty Sky, as if holding Nothing. As if supporting Nothing. Close your eyes softly. Take a slow breath in…...

for a related, and far more brief version, please consider: https://www.swellcast.com/t/O1Uri0Gxs5RN7Th Rising Above the Weight of the World [Opening – Grounding the Body] Find a comfortable position - seated or lying down. You can stand too - if you like. Let your hands rest somewhere gently. Close your eyes, if that feels safe. Take a slow, deep breath in… and exhale gently... Again…inhale …and...