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I always tend to have a handful of books on the go, at least one novel and a few non-fiction books.
And this year I’ve added some books for inner work, that I pick up and read once a week or once a month. And I thought I would share a little about them *smile*
Each Sunday, I have been reading a verse from In the Light of a Child.
A verse is provided for each week of the year {I understand this is similar to Steiner’s Soul Calendar which was drawn on for inspiration for this book}
The verses are written for children or our ‘inner child’. And they resonate with the season {helpfully verses are provided for both the Southern and Northern Hemisphere}.
Here is the verse for the Southern Hemisphere in the fourth week of June…
A ROSE of pure white blooms in midnight’s dark hour. The spell of the darkness is broken and torn. In my heart there’s a bursting of magical power. For the heavenly Child on earth has been born!
He is pure as the snow. With my heart’s love aglow. I shall nourish this Child, and he surely shall grow!
So this week I will ponder this verse. Thinking about what I have read. Exploring what it means for me and my children… a kind of meditative practice.
Words for Parents in Small Doses
The second book that I read each Sunday is Words for Parents in Small Doses by Judith Frizlen. Again this book is organised seasonally, although for the Northern Hemisphere, so I do need to work out which week I need to read from (which is quite easy really).
In Words for Parents each week’s reading is a page which again speaks to the mood of the season. For this week the reading was about wonder, celebration and love…
At this time of year in the natural world, the light begins its return… It’s a time to pause and remember. We were all once infants, and by virtue of our humanity, we have the power to experience awe, to be tender with ourselves and others and to begin again.
When I read Words for Parents I feel uplifted. And I think reading the two books together has brought more to them both.
The third book that I am reading is not a Waldorf or anthroposophical book, but a book that encourages me to be a ‘spiritual homemaker’. To find joy in creating, nurturing and nourishing my home. The simple home, by Rhonda Hetzel is a ‘month-by month guide’ that complements the seasons to bring about contentment in the home.
I started reading in May, and laughed to discover the month was about devoting attention to my laundry space, since this is a task in homemaking a do not relish! And even more amusing, at the same time I had started to read a book by Torin M. Finser {see I told you I read too many books at once!}
A Second Classroom ~ Parent-Teacher Relationships in a Waldorf School
In A Second Classroom, Torin M. Finser writes
What we do not accept as a task today may simply come back at us again and again until we engage
I’m not always good at taking advice, but for once I did and actually did get my laundry under control for the month of May. And I might just admit that it did feel nice. However it is now June *chuckle*
And I might just finish up with another nice quote from Torin M. Finser, he wrote ‘Parents have angels too’, and went on to say
…all of us are striving human beings with a spiritual life, whether we take it up consciously or not.
What are you reading or doing as part of your inner work?
For more inspiration, you can see my Waldorf book list here and some of my favourite Waldorf craft books here.
??? And I share snippets of our days on Facebook and Instagram if you’d like to follow along ???
Blessings, Kelly
10 Comments
Oh I love the sound of The Simple Home, I’m putting that on my Christmas list!
I flicked through the Words for Parents book when I was at the (not so) local Steiner school fete a few years back and loved it… should have bought it when I had the chance!
I’m really enjoying going through it, and that it is manageable! And Words for Parents is lovely, if you’d like to borrow it next year just let me know.
Such beautiful books!! Funnily enough the seasonal verses one might be good for the dinner table readings too! Beautiful thoughtful books, I love how intentionally you live! x
Such a good point, the verses would be a lovely way to bring some special focus during family dinners.
I absolutely adore your recommendations Kelly. I am not sure which one I’d like to get first!
So glad you enjoyed reading about them Kate <3
Thanks for sharing these. I always have several books on the go too…I like the idea of reading some verses once a week to keep on track. Inner work is so important when you have young children, although we often don’t prioritise it… Well done for doing so! Might well be treating myself to one or two of those. 🙂
Lovely Anna, I hope you do treat yourself. And you are so right, we don’t often prioritise it, because of all the other things we need to do. But I think it does help to do so. I don’t always get to it, but when I do, I feel better for it.
I love Rhonda’s Down to Earth book you gave me, might have to look at reading The Simple Home one day too! xxx
I’m so glad you love that book – me too! And this one is great, I like how it is in manageable chunks xx