Comfort for Druids

Nimue Brown

Oct 23

(Nimue)

It's all too common to hear things around spirituality about getting uncomfortable. Being outside your comfort zone, challenged, raw and exposed is where the wildness and the magic have to be, right? Sometimes that's true, although not always. Even when it is, there's only so much of it that your soft animal body can deal with before it needs respite. So yes, howling naked in a winter storm might have its place if you want that, but you absolutely cannot live there.

Comfort allows us to reflect, contemplate, meditate and pray. It's very difficult to do any of those things well if you're in a state of distress or unmet need. I've tried doing rituals in highly adverse weather conditions and I can't honestly say I recommend it. If you want to teach, or create, or serve in some other way then you need a calm and comfortable place from which to do that.

With all the challenges we face right now, and all the horrors in the world, offering comfort is a meaningful thing to do. It's hard to make good decisions when you're struggling all the time. If you're overwhelmed, it's hard to think clearly or to act well. Creating sanctuary space, for yourself and others, is a good choice.

It's always worth asking what we can do to make the spaces we spend time in safer and more comfortable. It's worth thinking about that in terms of physical comfort, accessibility and social issues. What can we do to be more welcoming, and to reassure people? Treating spaces kindly and with respect can have a massive impact on the people sharing those spaces, who may feel supported, uplifted and inspired by really basic physical interventions.

One October many years ago, I spent a lot of time painting the outside woodwork at my then local school. I was surprised by the feedback I got from teachers about how it improved morale for them. Coming into work and seeing the place looking better was meaningful. What I did would help keep the wood in good condition for years to come, making it more useful to the school. It was a simple intervention, but it saved money and cheered people up.

My local Transition Towns folk have put in raised beds at the train station, brightening an otherwise not so cheery space. Murals in run-down areas can totally change the character of a place. Tree planting makes a huge difference to spaces. Picking up litter makes a huge difference. There are many different ways to approach this issue, and they're all worth exploring.

Doing something to make a place a bit nicer can seem like too small a gesture in response to the state of the world. When we improve comfort, we increase resilience. We share hope, and we build a sense of mutual responsibility and mutual care. When people feel cared for, and have reason to care for those around them, that has consequences. Experiences of gentleness can be powerful teachers.