French Sheep & A Potager
Before you begin to read this journal, do yourself the most amazing favor and take a moment to slow down. This is an invitation to be present and respect it for what it is giving you, a true gift of reflection.
It is ok to simply sit with the words you are about to read. They have been shared with a deep resonance born from a mutual respect for the land, the country, and my reader.
For those who have chosen to read beyond the first sentence, welcome to my world — I am so glad you are here.
As some of you may know, I was in France for just shy of two weeks, and I learned so much that it startled me a bit. I noticed my inner interior feeling rather cold, almost like being left out in the rain with no shelter. I knew deep in my heart the answers would reveal themselves and goodness did they ever.
One early and very clear morning, we passed by a flock of sheep grazing in a field - they looked so content in the tall grass, enjoying one another's company. The energy coming from this field was almost poetic; it was soft and calm, and it felt like a place I could linger and just witness the joy.
The moments I spent there were enough, but I could have stayed all day. I immediately took the moment and solidified it in my heart; it is now there forever. It felt warm, full in the most beautiful way. You know those moments that are just so simple yet profound?
After this moment, I paid very close attention as I felt that this trip was going to be filled with more than sourcing. It was yet another adventure in noticing how the outer world was restructuring my inner world. I have learned these moments of realization are ones that need to be recognized as pillars of growth and depth that only move me forward.
As I went about my day, I felt a subtle shift in my heart. It went from being energized to a calmness that is difficult to put into words. Life was suddenly standing still, the sheep became symbols, and simply because we stopped. We pulled over on the side of the road to observe and be transported into a state of joy that can only come from the natural world.
I learned a very important lesson that I personally feel has been a century in the making - if we consistently look to the success of the outcome, we are disrespecting the present moment. When we respect the moment, we embrace everything it offers, and I have found this incredibly valuable. I would go as far as saying it is everything.
The chateau we stayed at is one I have been to three times before, at different times of the year. It was lovely to see everything in its first flush of blooms, eagerly accepting the warmer temperatures and abundant sunshine.
From my room, which was on the second floor, I stood as high as the enormous linden trees. My windows were open all the time, and the breeze felt so refreshing. I was lucky to have a view of the potager garden, which was just off the kitchen. The depth of green in this garden is like nothing I have ever seen before. The soil had finally become warm enough to send up shoots of beautiful hues of green, with flashes of lime and, of course, the gorgeous purple artichokes and poppies.
The simplicity of the garden was beyond inspiring. The way the wooden gate was connected to the tower of the chateau, built in the 16th century. How amazing it was to just be there. To capture it was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. I felt so lucky to be there. It did occur to me at one point that what is needed to fully experience the value of a moment is to embrace it slowly and not devour it all in a second. The air was fresh with rain, gently pattering down on my camera. The birds were singing the most glorious chorus I have ever heard; it was a wonderful nervous system reset.
I hope you find the gallery of the potager garden to be inspiring, evoking calm, and resetting your nervous system. Allow yourself to be immersed in a kind of energy that inspires growth and sparks that inner inspiration. I hope you find this kind of energy balancing and it settles you into an internal space that feels gentle and slow.
I hope you enjoyed the gallery and your soul is soothed. Next week I will be sharing some special images of the roses from the grounds of the chateau. I hope you enjoyed this little snippet of my life and it served you well.
Take good care,
Jocelyn xx