Welcome to the Barnwood Monk!
I’m Rick Baldwin— writer, artist, and spiritual practitioner. The Barnwood Monk is where I share my journey and insights. Reflections on presence, spirituality, art, and everyday life, written with equal parts reverence, curiosity and a willingness to shake things up a bit to see what happens.
This isn’t about dogma. It’s about asking honest questions, finding beauty in unlikely places, and learning how to live awake in a mostly unconscious world.
The Latest From The Blog
Thoughts, Meditations, Questions and Insights from the Barnwood Monk.
Many posts have summaries and questions for discussion and inquiry.
No Way To Know
I often find myself thinking about how limited language is when it comes to describing spirituality, or reality itself. Much of what I write here is really a conversation with myself. I write to work things out, to revisit ideas, to look again at moments of insight that felt important when they first appeared. In that sense, this blog functions less like a teaching platform and more like a notebook. It’s a place to pause, reflect, and circle back later to see what still holds up.
Distraction
Truth—whatever name we give it—tends to be quiet, still, and unchanged. Illusion, on the other hand, is busy. It moves. It creates drama. It tells stories. And because of that, our attention is naturally pulled toward the activity of the mind rather than the stillness beneath it. Even when we have a sense that we are not the thoughts themselves, but the awareness in which they appear, it’s remarkably easy to get drawn back into the motion.
Random Renaissance Person
Today I’ve been thinking about something I call a Random Renaissance Person. You’re welcome to think about this with me.
Work With Me
If you’re seeking personal guidance, I offer one-on-one sessions. Whether you’re deconstructing old beliefs, navigating a faith shift, or simply wanting to live more present. My role is to help you find clarity and direction when the path feels uncertain or you feel like you may have wandered off track.
Spiritual journeys can sometimes feel lonely. A practitioner doesn’t replace your inner teacher but walks alongside you—as a trusted companion offering support, perspective, and guidance for the road ahead.
