How do you relax?
Relaxing while budgeting on a social security income can be nerve racking, but on the other hand, one must find the bare minimum truths about oneself and here are a few of mine when it comes down to relaxing and peacefulness.
The Druids taught that excess distracts from truth. Living with little allows one to notice the sacred in the ordinary:
1. Examining moss on the side of a tree and noticing that it prefers to grow on the northern side of most natural trees. Why?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the north side of a tree usually gets less direct sunlight. Less sun = more shade = cooler, damper conditions. Moss loves moisture and shade, so it often thrives there. The south side, by contrast, gets more sun, dries out quicker, and is less favorable for moss.
2. In Celtic thought, life moves in spirals, not straight lines. Retirement is not decline, but the wintering season — a time of gathering wisdom, conserving energy, and tending the inner fire. Just as trees rest in winter before new growth, so do humans.
3. When money is thin, the forest, the riverbank, and the open sky become the most splendid cathedrals. Watch the stars as your ancestors did, knowing you are part of the same eternal pattern. Sit beneath a tree and listen. Just breathe in with the eyes closed and relax. Allowing yourself to expand on all the wisdom that you have gained knowledge about in this life.
Like Druids of old who carried lore instead of gold, your value lies in the stories you tell, the kindness you give, and the lessons you pass on.
The Druid path encourages acceptance: rivers do not fight their banks, and trees do not mourn their leaves when autumn comes. Retirement invites you to release what is no longer needed and trust the flow of life.
Philosophical Reflection
Moss grows where the sun does not blaze strongest. It teaches us that life flourishes not only in light, but also in shade. Just as in retirement, or in times of minimal income, one may find unexpected richness in the quiet, shaded parts of life.
Meditation on Moss
Walk slowly.
Pause where the green carpet clings to stone or tree.
Bend closer, for moss is the forest’s whisper,
soft as breath, ancient as time.
See how it thrives in shadow,
where sunlight is scarce,
yet it spreads in quiet abundance.
It teaches: life does not need excess to be full.
Touch it gently.
Feel the patience of centuries in its softness.
Moss grows not by rushing,
but by resting, absorbing, and enduring.
Stand still.
Let the north side of the tree remind you:
the shaded path is also sacred.
Beauty is born in hidden places,
and strength lives in stillness.
Breathe deep.
As moss holds moisture,
so you may hold peace.
As moss endures in quiet,
so you may endure with grace.
Leave it unharmed, but take its wisdom:
to thrive in simplicity,
to rest in shadow,
to soften the hard places of the world.
My art
Following the Inspiration of The Celtics
My Near Death Experience Arts and Thoughts 