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Abigail Thomas's avatar

"You don't earn rest. Rest is holy." Oh, I'm writing that down so I never forget it. Thank you, Prajna.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Hi Abby, Me too. I need to remember this. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate you!

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

After reading this Prajna, the John O'Donohue quote lands even deeper. I really loved this part.. "Full-body collapse. The ground beneath the ground. River beneath the river. Breathing beneath my body." YES, there truly is a fullness that is present that lies beneath it all. I really love how you phrased that. It grabbed my attention immediately. A release that is the underbelly of life, a falling that seems to land yet keeps going, beneath the beneath...

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Hi Julie, Thank you. This is from his book on Belonging. So good. I'm glad it works well. Your words move like breath through the spine of this piece.

Yes—beneath the beneath.

That strange, silent fullness we don’t find, but fall into.

Thank you for naming it.

You’re reading with your whole body, and I feel that.

Much love, P

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

What replenishes your soul—your remembrance—your belonging?:

I feel the most at home among trees and birdsong; by slow rivers and gentle streams. I love pools of water where deer and fox come to drink and I can lose myself in their stillness.

I'm at home in my backyard, with the ancient Spanish Oak that watches over this house. I swing in the hammock and lulled by her humming.

My dog, who like all good dogs, really should have been named Underfoot, relaxes me by laying his head in my lap, by rolling and twisting on the grass, by taking joy to its height in found sticks that are treasures -- he constantly shows me how to be present in this abundance.

I feel your heart on moon lit nights, longing as mine does for that brush against a knowing but un-namable Divine that feeds us both, and in this sisterhood of seeking, I exhale gratitude, happy that in the feeling tone of words and poetic musings, we are connected. My love and appreciation, Prajna. ~S

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Hi Stephanie, This is exquisite—devotional and grounded in beauty. Your language is textured, intimate, and alive with belonging. Your voice mirrors the depth and sensory grace you always offer.

Your words are a balm—full of wild kinship and quiet knowing.

I feel the swing of your hammock, the hum of the Spanish Oak, the presence of Underfoot, whose joy is the teaching and needs to meet Woody!

You remind me: the soul doesn’t shout. It hums.

Thank you for meeting me here—in the space where words are less about telling, and more about remembering.

Grateful for your companionship in the unseen,

Much Love, Prajna

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Stephanie Raffelock's avatar

Oh I love this: “companionship in the unseen.” I’ll meet you here regularly. Let’s look for each other in the light of the moon and the first rays of morning sunshine!

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

It's a deal, written in the moonlight rising with the sun. FUN!

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Kathy Napoli's avatar

From the soul to each one who reads your words about what life has given you is profound. I don’t know anyone who has connected their spirit with the Universe as you have. “Rest is holy” are words worth remembering. They say so much. Believing in personal power as a gift from universal power, earth if you will, is a blessing beyond blessings. You live your life empowered with that beauty that lightens your soul and shines upon all around you including your readers lucky enough to understand even if they have not found the same power that you do. I believe in a spiritual embodiment that can happen when control is no longer your own and there is nothing you can do to gain it back in the same way it was once there. I experienced that light only once in my life but the peace from it has stayed with me always. I relinquished myself to it all those years ago and have no regret in doing so. It is mysterious in a way where explanation is impossible for me. It’s solely a belief and a feeling. Thank you for your amazing words and sharing yourself always. ❤️💐

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Wow Kathy, this is a deeply reverent and heartfelt offering — a testimony more than a comment.

Your words feel like a soul bow.

Yes—mysterious, impossible to explain, but never forgotten.

What you described… that one light-filled moment, that relinquishing—

I know that place. It marks us.

And like you, I don't need to explain it to trust it.

Thank you for meeting me here with such grace, and for holding the sacred with your own two hands.

We don’t always need to name it to live inside it.

Ah "Rest is holy." I know this now.

With deep gratitude,

Prajna

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Kathy Napoli's avatar

With deep respect, thank you for understanding me. ❤️🌹

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Robin Payes's avatar

Soul replenishment for me: my two little granddaughters, 2 years old and 6 months, respectively. And also - handing them back to their parents after a fun day together so I can replenish from all that plenty!

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Thank you, Robin, for reading.

Ah yes—plenty, indeed.

What soul doesn’t stretch and fill in the presence of little ones… and then quietly rejoice in the return to stillness.

Thank you for naming both the joy and the need for restoration.

That rhythm—of giving and then letting go—is its own sacred cycle.

Warmth to you and your granddaughters,

Prajna

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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

Beautiful Prajna! My very first time I had an experience like this. Instead of rest, it was comfort. I realized I’d never been comfortable in my body before. “This is what it feels like,” I thought. At the time I was dealing with debilitating back pain. It was a vision, a gift. I spent the next three years making that vision real. That’s when I started practicing hot yoga.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Dear Susan, I love this and that deep knowing of yes, this is what it feels like. Comfort rest wonderful.

This makes me want you to live next-door to me so we can be comfortable together and rest after a fantastic hot yoga class

It sounds like your back is doing well. I’m happy for you.

Yes, now the time of practice, gentleness and integration

Big hug

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Susan Kacvinsky's avatar

My back is strong and flexible. I wish I lived near you, too. For many reasons. Your posts surprise and delight. A cup of tea with that would be perfect.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

For sure. Where do you live? You can dm me.

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Simone Senisin's avatar

Hi Prajna, Thanks for notifying us that the comments were on 😊.

"Remembrance" and the "abundance" of nature when she answers our "yearning." Yes, how beautifully you place that aching heart on the page — and the ancient wisdom that called you 'home' in all of her dimensions. Just beautiful. I didn't finish reading with dry eyes, though my heart was warmed — sacred. Thank you. ❤️

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Oh Simone, your words have touched me deeply, exactly where I need it right now. Thank you for celebrating ancient wisdom with me and the possibility of returning home always. Fresh wild soulful.

Big hug

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Lily Pond's avatar

Thank you for this sacred reminder to relax and let go of grind, Prajna! I shall take this Rest Ministry more seriously. My body has protested yet I did not fully listen.

My soul remembers the joy it was born with when I touch the soil, plant seeds and admire plants. I draw them as a way to show my love for nature and to deeply connect with its beauty.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Thank you so much for reading and commenting, my dear Lily Pond. Your comment reminds me of this woman named Tricia who wrote a book called rest as rebellion and runs an organization called the nap ministry. I think you would love this.

Yes, let’s keep letting down attention to the grind culture and attend to relaxation that comes from seeding g soul nourishment as you say. Everything goes better when we’re relaxed don’t you think?

💙🌹🧡

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Lily Pond's avatar

Hi Prajna! I'm actually reading that book about rest as resistance/rebellion. It points to rest as an act of decolonization, which is very important to me. Thank you for mentioning it here.

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Wendy Varley's avatar

Very beautiful, Prajna. Reminds me of intense times in my life when I craved rest and it seemed near impossible, some of those bound up in memories of my children's births and infancies.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Thank you Wendy. Babies and birth definitely …. 💚

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Jeannie Ewing's avatar

Hi Prajna, just bought your memoir on my Kindle. Thank you! Can't wait to read your full story with your beautiful words.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Thank you so much Jeannie

💙🌹👏

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Jeannie Ewing's avatar

Happy to support you!

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

That means so much to me.

Can’t get out of bed this morning. I hurt my back, so I’ll be down for a bit.

🌹

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Lila Sterling's avatar

💐💐💐

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Jeannie Ewing's avatar

Hope so much you are feeling more rested, Prajna. Sending love.

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Nancy Jainchill's avatar

Rest. Is also life's blood.

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Oh Yes, so good. I will remember this, Nancy. Thank you for your wisdom.

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Lila Sterling's avatar

It’s late. My eye lids are weighted down by the minutes and hours of the day, nearly done…and I realize how blessed I am to be reading these words.

Your words, Prajna, the readers words. They all began to flow together-a symphony…lifting me up, belonging me…every comment reminding me that I am a part of something greater here. A sisterhood once dreamed of, now a reality.

I’ve slowed way down. I’m happy simply being in a way I never thought possible. I’m happiest among the trees, rivers and flowers. I look up more than ever. Awed by the vastness of the sky, the easeful flight of a crow, sunlight shimmering wherever it wills.

I notice the unhurriedness of nature. How did I ever miss this miracle right before my eyes? I notice how I inhabit my body in a way that taking up space doesn’t make me trembling inside anymore.

I’m wayyyyyy less afraid of being seen as I am. The beauty and the mess of having a human life makes me like everyone else…and we’re all doing the best we can.

And “REST IS HOLY.”

Thank each of you for your words here. What a shower of blessings. 💐💐💐

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Wow, Lila

I just read that, but I’m not able to type right now so I’m gonna come back and give you the response you deserve. My heart is blown open.

Thank you for your reverence

🌹🧡🌹

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Lila Sterling's avatar

I am hungry for your reply. 💐💐💐

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Marjorie Pezzoli's avatar

Relaxation is allowing myself to soak in an epson salt bath & remember to be more than kind to myself.

Heartfelt read, thank you

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Hello Marjorie, I love Eldon salt soaks. Yum always more kindness. Thank you for reading and remembering.

I wish you delicious kind soaks in the moon light. 🌹

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Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne's avatar

Receive, relax, rest~

Real remembrance return rites~

Stay open and soft~

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Beautiful. Marisol. Thank you for stopping by and reading. Wise resonance. 💙🌹💚

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Valeria Alberigo's avatar

I loved reading this dear Prajna! My body took a longer outbreath to experience that deeper relaxation you share here…in total abandonment and trust in being myself part of the mycelium. Thank you Soul Sister 🙏❤️

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Hello dear Valeria, thank you so much for reading. I love that you had a long out breath. Yes, to total abandonment and trust and knowing you are woven into every aspect of earth mother. She provides. 💚

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Caroline Mellor's avatar

Thank you, Prajna! Such a beautiful read ♡

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Hello Caroline,

Thank you so much for stopping by, reading and taking the time to comment. I I would love to hear what you resonated with.

🌹

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