Wednesday 8 January 2014

In Komorebi



Oh, man, being here is magical!  Something I never even believed could really happen or I could really have.



The afternoon sun is shining low through the winter trees, day’s eye looking at me.  The crows and the gulls are squawking and calling round the house.  The fire has its own sound in the stove.   The walls around me and roof over my head are wood with its beautiful aroma.   Wool blanket, cotton skirts made by women in America, pots from Japan, Morocco, Rajastan, England.  Baskets woven in Norfolk, in Ghana.  A world in here of artistry, the things of earth and trees formed into beauty, drawn into something that feels like home.



Here is the peace I hoped for.  This is what I wanted.  In this place I would never have to say anything because anyone who came in here would already know who I am.

When I met Michael Lorence in New Jersey, he said to me that Diana had always felt invisible, and Innermost House had made her visible.  He said that in the same way he thought Komorebi would make me visible.  He meant it as a kindness, like a gift, but I felt alarmed – not at all sure I wanted the unforgiving light of the world’s eye to fall upon me.   The vole that creeps along the bank is not pleased to catch the cat’s attention.  

But I realize this is different from being dragged out into the light.    Coming into this space allows something to become visible that I have tried and failed to communicate.   One room, where nothing can be hidden or absent, but nothing needs explaining, because it is, simply . . . here. Michael was right, but unexpectedly.   A wise man.

Here I could abide where in so many settings I feel merely detained.  Oh, I love this little house.




Day’s light fading as the sun sinks low.   Wood popping and snapping in the stove.  A blackbird singing as dusk falls.



20 comments:

Alice Y. said...

I am so glad to hear of your joy. Sounds like you have found the 'place just right'. May the blessings overflow.

Anonymous said...

you don't sound too happy-lol-I'm so jealous- silent reader-wishing you well

Yiayia Ann said...

Thanks for this Pen. I have been hoping you would post something about it all soon.

So you went to America and met Michael Lorence - how interesting, did you meet Diana as well? Are you able to say anything about that?

I was hoping for a picture of the famous stove but maybe another time.

Do you sleep and cook/eat/wash here? Or is it somewhere for the waking hours?

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Thanks, friends x

Yiayia Ann - Hiya - yes, I met Diana too. Do you follow the Innermost House Facebook page? Rebecca Sylvan and I wrote all about that experience in a post there. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=678534325510665&set=a.315281218502646.78075.307066622657439&type=1&stream_ref=10

You can see photos of the stove in Komorebi if you look at the post for the day before this one: here - http://kindredofthequietway.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/komorebi-as-prayed-for.html

:0) xx

Unknown said...

Welcome home, Dear Friend. With love from Julie.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Thank you. xx

Yiayia Ann said...

Thank you so much Pen. I missed that post as I have been reorganising my blogs and feeds.

Unknown said...

I tried to leave a comment earlier, but I never know if these blogger things work with their security numbers... it always seems to ask me to do it more than once. I'll try again just in case -

Dear Pen

I am so pleased that you are now in your wee house and that it is everything that you have longed for. I wish for you that the hours spent there will bring you everything that you need.

And I look forward to hearing more about your IH trip, once you have had more time to digest it all.

(I want to write to you soon about reading your simplicity book, but that will take more time and more thought)

Julie

Unknown said...

I tried to leave a comment earlier, but I never know if these blogger things work with their security numbers... it always seems to ask me to do it more than once. I'll try again just in case -

Dear Pen

I am so pleased that you are now in your wee house and that it is everything that you have longed for. I wish for you that the hours spent there will bring you everything that you need.

And I look forward to hearing more about your IH trip, once you have had more time to digest it all.

(I want to write to you soon about reading your simplicity book, but that will take more time and more thought)

Julie

Pen Wilcock said...

:0)

Hiya


Julie -our thoughts about the IH trip are here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=678534325510665&set=a.315281218502646.78075.307066622657439&type=1&stream_ref=10

Will look forward to reading your thoughts on the simplicity book.

xx

Anonymous said...

Pen, you have no idea how peace falls upon me when I see these tiny homey spaces! But yours is so special because I feel that I know you well because you always write from your heart about things large or small.


Actually, all I really wanted to post is:

YESSS!!!!!!


Sherry

Pen Wilcock said...

"peace falls upon me" - yes. I think we have inadvertently stumbled into a revolution. x

Unknown said...

May Komorebi be a place of peace & joy. May creativity well up in fountains of inspiration & may you always be blessed in your coming in & your going out. Happy for you, my friend. {{{♥}}}

Sandra Ann said...

So pleased, I have enjoyed my rock in the chair, a warm by the fire, hot tea in an earthenware mug and time spent with a kindred soul.

San xxxxx

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) xx

Rebecca said...

((sigh))

Paula said...

Now I know why you were so silent in December: you were in New Jersey! I hope that you will return to the states, and that you will tell us in advance so we can come to you. :) (I'll bet that sounds too overwhelming to you, though.)

Pen Wilcock said...

Ah, December was a hectic month! I was only three days in New Jersey - flew over on the Friday and back on the Monday - but what a time of vivid impressions and wonderful experiences!

Rapunzel said...

Goodness! While we were snowed in with no electricity 2 things happened.
1-I missed these last posts, Oh Pen your wee new home is beautious!
2-With no cookstove or furnace we cooked on the woodstove, put twice as many quilts on the bed, rediscovered the old fashioned stovetop corn popper, and read our bedtime s tories by candlelight. Best five days in as long as I can remember. It convinced me that there is a tiny off the grid home somewhere in my future.

I am Soooo Happy for you!

Pen Wilcock said...

Glad you kept warm! We have bought some wood briquettes made of compressed sawdust (and nothing else), which are proven absolutely brilliant - easy to light, long burn time and chuck out loads of heat.
I'm glad you like Komorebi :0) xx