Episode12 ⋆ Art of Homeschooling

Inner Quiet and Self-Reflection

The week between Christmas and the New Year is a great time for inner quiet and reflection to reset intentions for the coming year.

It’s one of my favorite times of the year. The days are short and the nights dark and long. Between the old year and the new, the world truly seems to slow down.

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” ~Neil Gaiman

I like to renew my commitment to what Rudolf Steiner (the founder of the Waldorf education movement) calls Inner Work.

Inner Work is a practice of reflection, meditation, or prayer. And it’s a wonderful, powerful undertaking for homeschooling parents.

The goal is to create a life-affirming practice that feeds your soul. So that you can renew your energy and bring your best to your children each and every day.

Finding Inner Quiet in the New Year

Here in this episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast, I want to inspire you to create ONE simple daily practice just for YOU. To reset and re-center, to seek inner quiet and to reflect, for just a moment, every day.

This simple practice sustained me through many years of homeschooling. And it looked something like this:

Every morning, I would silently and recite a poem or verse, in time with my breath, as I poured a cup of tea in my kitchen.

It was a pause to get centered and still, so that I could start each day from a place of inner quiet.

It was that simple! And it was enough!

So listen here to this episode of the podcast as I share these simple steps for finding your own place of inner quiet.

3 Simple Steps for Inner Quiet

Find a poem to focus and inspire you.
Memorize the poem. Or copy it onto a notecard or watercolor card.
Recite it every morning, from a place of stillness and quiet, as you breath in and out.

To get a printable copy of the poem shared in this episode, “Inner Quiet” by Rudolf Steiner, as well as these stirring quotes, check out the Inspiration Cards from Episode #12 here!

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke

I encourage you to renew your inner work practice and follow your own path on this homeschooling journey, my friend!

And have a happy new year!

More about Inner Work

Curious about exploring Inner Work? Then I invite you to join me for Inner Work Journey. This is a 12-week online experience with a small group of homeschooling mamas who are interested in exploring how to live life from a place of acceptance and possibility. We begin March 2nd. There’s space for you!

Check out this round up post, 10 Resources for Radical Self-Compassion.

And if you’re looking ahead to starting homeschool lessons after the holiday break, the ideas here may be helpful: How to Get Your Homeschool Rhythm Back After a Holiday.

About the Art of Homeschooling Podcast

The Art of Homeschooling Podcast is for parents who are ready to thrive in homeschooling. In each episode, we share stories and strategies so you can drop the overwhelm and get in touch with inspiration. You CAN create a homeschool life you love.

I’m your host, Jean Miller, homeschooling mother of three now-grown children. And here at the Art of Homeschooling, we keep it sweet and simple so you can focus on cultivating creativity and connection at home.

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