Where do you go to pray?
How do you meditate?
How do you connect with the Divine within?
For years, this was my church. Everyday, I would walk down the hill and herd the cows into the temple of that land- the dairy barn. I enjoyed watching the sun rising, and feeling the crispness of the early morning air. There was an inner calm with the stillness as I gazed over the sleepy town in the valley below.
One by one, I brought each girl into the stanchion to milk. I brushed her- thanking her, loving and appreciating her. I gave thanks for all that she did for my family and me. On that land there was an abundance of sunlight and water. And with those resources- beautiful fields of pasture were grown. The cow, the holy and sacred cow, is one of the most ideal animals to transform lush pasture into digestible nutrients for the human body. Imagine how much wheat grass juice you would have to consume to equal the amount of fat found in 1 tablespoon of butter!
The holy cows transformed the grasses of Bella Farm into milk- which I could then make butter, ghee, cheese, and yogurt from. All of this nutrition coming from the energy of father sun shining down upon the earth to grow the grass, and the water from the mother earth that nourishes the grass. It is such an amazing process that still blows my mind!
That is a whole other topic though- What I am really trying to say is that you can pray anywhere. You can give thanks anywhere. It could be in a church, a temple, in the forest, by the ocean, or in your own home.
Now a days- I meditate every morning at sunrise and every evening at sun set as I walk the dog. It is a perfect time to connect with the land- the trees, the birds, the air and my surroundings. To allow my mind to clear and allow my senses to be kissed by the sweetness of Mother Nature all around.
So I ask you- how do you meditate? Where do you pray? Is it in the car on your way to work, or in bed doing the breathing exercise? Maybe you have a ritual at dinner that you do with your kids?
There are infinite ways to give thanks and pray. May your work be a blessing and your life be a living prayer!
Love,
Ali
P.S. 
This is one of my favorite pictures from my years on Bella Farm. It captures my love for the cows, and the bounty that they provided.
Photo Credit: one of my kids.