It's harvest month here in The Kitchn, so a metaphor from the fields feels appropriate. The one that intrigues me the most these days is fallow time. Technically, fallow refers to not planting seed on a field, allowing it to rest, to be unproductive.
These days, being unproductive is a rather radical suggestion.
But it's one worth considering. Who are you when you're not doing, producing, creating a future in the present? Is it possible to try, even for a few hours, not to achieve anything? What might happen?
There's a beautiful image from the ancient texts of a still pond in the middle of the forest where eventually all sorts of animals come to drink. It might be interesting and informative to see what visits you when you're quiet and still.
Fallow time can be a Sunday afternoon, or it can be an entire phase of one's life. But it's important to allow for it and to respect it as part of a process, a part of life. I used to feel anxious in fallow times and it's only been recently that I've been able to consider the possibility that the anxiety is extra, that there's wisdom and trust in pausing. It's worth trying out.
Food for fallow time: since this is not about making anything, simple foods are best. Dried apricots, apples, almonds, a wedge of cheese. Maybe your fallow time food would be packaged peanut butter crackers and slim jims. Or maybe you'd fast, sipping weak tea.
The harvest is almost in, and despite these difficult times or perhaps even because of them, it will soon be the season to prepare for the coming quiet, the blanket of snow, the still and fallow field.
(Images: Dana V)
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Elizabeth Apron fro...
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good meditation. It's odd, isn't it, that the northern hemiwsphere's fallow time coincides with one of our busiest times, preparing for the winter holiday cycle?
De-lurking (at long last) to say how much I love your weekend meditations. This one reminds me a bit of a suggestion Michael Pollan made very very briefly in an article this past spring:
"Or you could try this: determine to observe the Sabbath. For one day a week, abstain completely from economic activity: no shopping, no driving, no electronics."
Although I really like this idea in the abstract, I've been putting off its actual implementation until a non-existent less busy time. Your meditation has prompted me to re-evaluate this particular disconnect between beliefs and actions.
That's an interesting thought, dksbook. I love the idea of not trying to achieve anything...and not feeling guilty for it. People clearly have a hard time just doing nothing. We'd do well to learn from the farmers and their treatment of the land.
I am entranced at this idea, and was thinking I would incorporate some "fallow time" into my day today. And then I realized I was scheduling it in just like everything else, that it had become something new to accomplish and produce. That doesn't mean I won't do it, just, well, it seemed interesting.
Sundays, I think, are a naturally still time for many. It isn't easy to rest, but of all the days, Sunday is most accommodating to the idea. Funny how difficult it is to relax and submit to stillness.
Another heartfelt thanks for your thoughtful, provocative, and insightful posts. Thanks for reminding me to relax, submit and be still.
Fallow time, indeed.
I love not doing anything. In fact, I spent a large portion of today not doing much. Went for a walk, puttered online. Pet the cats. It feels so good to not have any goals pressing down, I'll be productive on Monday but today is mine.
well...the field is recuperating...which isn't exactly unproductive. I suppose it just "looks" like it's doing nothing. (on a superficial positivist/empirical level)
the same as....meditating is not "doing nothing". It's being actively aware, and doing, by being, quiet. quiet enough to actually see that things are happening. Like in yoga when you hold an active pose and flex but don't move. (it's not really as easy as sticking a buddha in the corner of room)
Petting the cats and taking walks..... very productive, very necessary, very nice. Basically living life like you give a damn. It's a strange western logic, I think, that checklists and proof-of-purchase are involved.)