On the edges of Lescure’s woodlands there’s a hint of wholeness, the promise of recovery of something lost.

With the confinement extended through May (and my mental clutter on the rise), Thomas and I decided on a fresh approach to the abundance of work here. We no longer focus on catching up on all those odd-jobs that we had on our list for a long time. Instead, we’re trusting our intuition to tell us what to do. Each morning we have a conversation about how we’re feeling, what our bodies are telling us, and what we energetically want to let go of, or bring in.

That’s why we’ve been clearing an old overgrown path. It used to connect the lower part of the field behind the château terrace with the orchard. This work is not a priority by any means. Not for the quality of our daily life here, not for the retreats we create and host. And yet, this is what we want to do.

At the end of each day, we’re left with a great sense of achievement and giant stacks of wood to keep us comfortable for many chilly evenings to come. We’re grounding ourselves through physical exercise, but perhaps clearing the bush is also giving our bodies the opportunity to express hope for the future.

SATOYAMA

I love how this work connects the house to the lush green nature that surrounds it. Years ago, we placed an antique bench under a majestic tree for this reason and we put large garden pots on the edge of the cedar park. It reminds me of the Japanese term of satoyama that expresses the coexistence of human-made landscapes and the natural world.

In the spirit of satoyama I have put a lantern in a tree along the path in the making. The trail will wander around a large chestnut tree and I intend to put a bench there too. Just imagine strolling through this wild natural garden on your way to sit quietly under the canopy of leaves. To connect to your inner world and listen to the tree’s wisdom of the unseen, the intangible and the non-rational. Just what I need most right now.

Satoyama (里 – sato, or village; 山- yama, or mountain) is translated as countryside in English, however that term falls short in expressing the importance of this intersection of human society and nature. Rather than simply being a place distant 
from the urban centers, Satoyama are places where human presence is integrated in such a way that promotes the wellbeing of the natural landscapes rather than a desire to conquer it. Source: Kokorocares