In the rhythm of nature, ripening is not rushed. It happens slowly, quietly, under the warmth of the sun — a patient unfolding from within.
So often, we are asked to move quickly, perform, and produce. But in Dharma practice, we are invited into a different kind of time — one where value is not measured by urgency, but by presence.
Ripening, in this sense, is not about striving for self-improvement. It’s about relaxing into the fullness of who we already are.
During the summer, I have often found myself appreciating the blackcurrant bushes where I live — watching, day after day, as the berries shift from small and green to dark and full. It’s a transformation that unfolds over time, without any effort. There’s a quiet wisdom in the way summer ripens things: not all at once, but steadily, given the right conditions.
These moments remind us that our inner growth is often the same. When we soften, slow down, and offer ourselves warmth and care, something begins to open on its own.
This is the spirit of our upcoming Day of Practice. We will gather not to fix or improve ourselves, but to rest into presence — creating the conditions for clarity, compassion, and renewal to naturally emerge. Through guided meditation and Dharma reflections, we will explore the art of allowing: letting ourselves be just as we are, in the fullness of this moment.
Join Antonia’s LIVE Day of Practice on July 26, 2025 here!
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