Walking Yourself Home

6 more days until Christmas...have you bought my book as a gift for your friends and family? You should probably buy at least 10 copies, I assume:) Link in comments or buy anywhere you enjoy buying books! "When you set out on a journey guided by the universe, magical experiences will find you. "A Knot In the Tree" is an ambitious work of fiction that shares one man's journey towards growth, self-actualization, and self-love. Nathan Aaron's novel reminds readers to embrace each step throughout life's journey, and to remember that life is about the journey, not the destination." (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmXWDy_vLfV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Need a gift idea for Christmas? Check out my book (link in comments) "When you set out on a journey guided by the universe, magical experiences will find you. "A Knot In the Tree" is an ambitious work of fiction that shares one man's journey towards growth, self-actualization, and self-love. Nathan Aaron's novel reminds readers to embrace each step throughout life's journey, and to remember that life is about the journey, not the destination." (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1Zraou3F0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

I first wrote this piece 5 years ago. Glow - The glow of light that illuminates the soul in times of darkness is more precious and valued than diamonds. Unassuming, It sneaks in at the right time being loved and appreciated like a family pet or life long friend. This glow - its warmth, its power, its subtlety, is familiar yet sometimes forgotten. But when it returns it brings the force and healing that has long been desired as it is quietly welcomed back home. The prodigal light shines like a beacon of hope and we grip the glow tightly so as to never let it escape our fingers knowing it will at some point retreat once again. But until then we look, savor, gaze and bask in the healing warmth of the Glow (at Sunnyside, Queens) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgnjZXTOkTl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hello All! I'm so proud to announce that I have taken the plunge to introduce my new page, Nathan Aaron Author. This page is formerly, Walking Yourself Home that corresponds (for now) with my website. However, since my book, A Knot in the Tree, has been published I wanted to focus on promoting my writing through this page. Not to worry Walking Yourself Home will always be part of my work and will remain a philosophy that I continue to use. Now go buy my book and we will begin a conversation about Joniah's spiritual and physical journey. Bookbaby link in comments. Also, it's available on any platform that you enjoy purchasing books! Cheers, NA https://www.instagram.com/p/CgmuCYQu2Tf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

My friend and former boss @rlm1025 is reading my book. Are you reading it? Also listen to his podcast @twelve_pounds https://www.instagram.com/p/CgArccuuetN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hi! I’m taking a break from being miserable about our country to let you know that my book, A Knot in the Tree, is featured as a staff pick for Pride month at BookBaby. Head over and purchase my book! Link in comments - Or you can find and purchase it at any of your preferred booksellers. https://www.instagram.com/p/CfSZHQlOgXx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Hey Sis, it's Christmas! Need an idea for a Christmas present? Why not buy my novel, A Knot in the Tree. It's a perfect gift for any reader. It has adventure, some romance, spirituality with theme's of courage, faith and risk. If you liked, The Alchemist; Eat, Pray, Love; or The Metamorphosis you are sure to enjoy this book. "When you set out on a journey guided by the universe, magical experiences will find you. "A Knot In the Tree" is an ambitious work of fiction that shares one man's journey towards growth, self-actualization, and self-love. Nathan Aaron's novel reminds readers to embrace each step throughout life's journey, and to remember that life is about the journey, not the destination. Joniah, a young gay man in a small European village, has reached a crossroads where he must decide if he will continue a life of mundanity or set out on a physical and spiritual adventure requiring risk, faith, and courage. He moves through several obstacles placed before him and he eventually learns that the universe is working in his favor if he will follow the signs. As he surrenders to the voice of his spirit, he not only learns to trust himself but meets friends along the way who help him discover his personal connection to the universe and its magic." Link in comments! (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXRKNvPjYpK/?utm_medium=tumblr

My dear friend and Senior Editor at Edge Media Network Matthew Wexler included my novel, A Knot in the Tree, in his "5 Unique Holiday Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything" list! Check out his full list and then make your way over to buy my book (as well as the rest of the items he included). Link to article in comments @edgemedianetwork (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW9lPLjNhjc/?utm_medium=tumblr

The print and ebook version of my novel, A Knot in the Tree, is now available on Bookbaby or wherever you buy your books. Link in comments. https://www.instagram.com/p/CVyZpnpvqDC/?utm_medium=tumblr

The ebook for my first novel, A Knot in the Tree is finally available on Bookbaby and Amazon (Print copies available within a month) This story follows a young gay man as he sets out on a physical and spiritual journey to find his purpose in life. Link to purchase in comments! (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVV06qzrh_x/?utm_medium=tumblr

Shout out to @fortwashingtonchurch for feeding the poor - just as the Bible instructs it’s followers to do 🤷🏻‍♂️✨❤️ (at Fort Washington Collegiate Church) https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7yP8SDZh8/?igshid=aom6bhyfqp0d

Quote 399 Series 3/19/2021 I love to watch dogs playing in the dog park. It’s something that gives me great delight. Yet, if I’m not careful I won’t allow myself the opportunity to experience it because I’m focused on whatever task I’m trying to accomplish. By enjoying the playful dogs for a few minutes, I am drawn out of the severity of my own thoughts and given the buoyancy of freedom and play.  “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.”  I have been practicing the work of the Artist Way by Julia Cameron for more than twelve years and one of the three main parts of the Artist Way besides, Morning Pages, and looking for synchronicity is doing a weekly Artist Date. What is an Artist Date you ask? It is taking an hour or two each week to do something that you enjoy by yourself. Examples of this can range from a lone trip to the movies, or an antique store adventure, or going into an art supply store to look at the colorful paints, canvases, and brushes while secretly committing to buying supplies to try your hand at painting. It doesn’t matter what it is it simply matters that you do something that you love and that you do it alone.  This line of text by Rumi reminds me of Artist Dates and is important for me to remember that the small things are as essential as the large ones. Sure, we can yield to the *big* callings regarding career, where we live, with whom we link up romantically etc. However, when I am able to stop at the dog park, or step inside the cake shop, or pick the dandelion growing between the cracks in the sidewalk my spirit begins to trust me by opening lines of communication between spirit and self.  The idea that paying attention and then acting upon what we are being drawn to is simple. When we heed the call to follow the small little pieces of bliss that our spirit loves, it will then recognize that we are willing participants in following and finding joy and therefore we will “all of a sudden” fine more opportunities for excitement than we ever knew existed.  Will you heed the strange pull of what you love today?  Feeling pulled, Nathan Aaron (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMm1wQ4D68S/?igshid=10sd5t2uufict

at Inwood https://www.instagram.com/p/CA8gxqpDsz0/?igshid=x4b6icgnox3s

Quote 399 Series 11/22/19 I have a confession. I have become a man obsessed with making French omelets. I make them, take photos of them, and show them to anyone who will sit still long enough to see them. One gloomy Saturday morning in late April while texting with a friend he asked what I would have for breakfast. Despite the fact that I had never made one I promptly wrote back, “I’ll be making a French omelet”. My lack of no-how didn’t deter my confidence. Contrary to what one might assume the ingredients of a French omelet remain quite simple. For the most part they consist of: 2-3 fresh eggs, salt, pepper, fresh herbs, a small amount of goat cheese crumble and butter. Lots of butter. What makes this dish so delightful is not a list of complex ingredients, but rather the technique and process that is used to create a beautifully, fluffy, layered experience of gastronomy you will not soon forget. As I was looking through my quote collection and came across today’s text by Mr. Tolstoy I marveled at how we, as humans, are much like the French omelet. We are comprised of simplicity, goodness and truth. Yet, It’s the process of how we live our lives that calls greatness into existence just as the technique used to prepare the omelet makes it great. Some greatness can be measured. Those who write best-selling novels, design important buildings, or make groundbreaking scientific discoveries are all considered great and with good reason. They have done work that can be measured and have surpassed many in their field providing them with accolades that clarify their greatness to others. Some greatness is not as easily measured. The empathetic smile at the stranger, helping the mother down the subway stairs with a stroller, deciding that today you will take a first step to deal with yourself so that you can stop patterns that have long plagued you. The simplicity of the molecular ingredients that encompass each of us, are the same ingredients that give us the chance to make a great difference. Like the French omelet the technique we use to begin the process is what makes us great – be it large or small. You are simple, good, and true. Nathan Aaron https://www.instagram.com/p/B5LkG9MJO04/?igshid=1og74cdha4ist

Quote 399 Series 11/15/19 More than two years ago I ended a long argument with myself about whether or not I should leave a very toxic work environment. I didn’t want to quit because I didn’t have anything lined up as I hadn’t applied for any other jobs because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. However, one bright, August, morning I sat down in my room in Astoria, Queens to meditate and posed a question to the universe. “How much longer must I endure my current situation?” I heard back: “You will find out this morning.” At some point in the morning I looked down at my phone, and had a voicemail from my boss telling me she was stopping payment on an invoice that was owed to me (she was running out of money but still wanted me to work for free). I had just received my answer. I crafted a resignation letter and sent it off that afternoon. I was shaking with fear as I moved into the unknown by taking that next right step. However, as I took that action I felt a spiritual door open and I knew I was heading in the right direction. I wish I could tell you that after I followed my instinct that the universe rewarded me by providing me with a $10,000.00 check for simply obeying it. Sadly, that’s not the way it happened. I struggled to the point where I had to leave my home in NYC and accept my sister’s generous offer to stay with her in North Carolina (for nearly a year) while I sorted myself out. Following your instinct will indeed lead you to your true destiny. The journey will grow darker before it becomes brighter but it will eventually get there as we take steps each day to follow our truth. In fact, Thich Nhat Hanh might say that we are in a state of arriving at our destiny each and every moment that we follow our instincts. While my life has certainly not been a bed of roses since that morning in August 2017, I can tell you that I am much closer to my destiny for having followed my instinct. Are you being asked to do something more? Quit a job? Take a class that you may not have the money for? Go on a pilgrimage? Following Instincts, Nathan Aaron (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B46CyLcpjQR/?igshid=4ftnglb6luzo

Quote 399 Series 11/8/19 I was recently having a conversation with a new acquaintance and we were giving each other a rundown of our lives by explaining what we did for fun. He informed me that his entire life was filled with work. Trying to be a supportive person who didn’t know him well I remarked that as long as it worked for him that was good. He then told me that it didn’t work for him, that he wanted to do more in his life, but he was comfortable and afraid of change so he felt his life would always stay the same. As I thought about that conversation over the next several days this quote by Claude Bernard came into my mind. After reading it, I began to ruminate at how I am mostly grateful for the changes in my life because they have led me to where I am today. However, the reality of the text stating that I can learn nothing unless I am constantly moving from what is comfortable into the uncomfortable makes me want to retreat into a world of my own making. My thoughts then turn to having to get out of bed on an early winter morning. It’s warm and inviting underneath a mélange of blankets. We know we must get up, but simply need five more minutes in bed. This is how I feel about the need of going from the known into the unknown. It is a necessary evil, but I always want five more minutes to soak up the familiarity of my surroundings just in case it never happens again. Yet, it always does. At some point I begin to resent the constant movement and then wonder aloud why it’s so important to always be entering doors that are unknown. The answer that I hear back is that it keeps me humble while also providing me with adventures that my soul deeply longs for. However, when I am humbled by the unfamiliar and seek a solution, I am far more likely to employ the principles of faith and courage which are also paramount to my life’s journey. Are you facing a situation that will cause you to move from the familiar into the unfamiliar that frightens you? Choosing courage and faith as our guides for humility and adventure will avail much. Moving (Tentatively) Into the Unknown, Nathan Aaron https://www.instagram.com/p/B4qMybhpj3a/?igshid=rquv1lnhqn4z