More Information
Publication Date: 18 Sept 2025
Publisher: Form
Page Count: 200
Author: Rachel Bearn
ISBN-13: 9780281091126, 9780281091133

A Year to Slow Down

A Christian guide to embracing handmade & homegrown
By Rachel Bearn
In the busyness of life find new ways to draw near to God with slow and simple living, working with our hands and trusting in his plan each day.
In stock
ISBN-13
9780281091133-grouped

From £11.99

Hardback
£15.99
eBook
£11.99
Grouped product items
For many of us, the modern world is overwhelming. Fast-paced. Hard-edged. Exhausting. People are craving more peace. It's no wonder we have seen the social media trend of returning to traditional skills and ways of life. People are craving change. A return to simple and peaceful living. But could this be more than a pretty aesthetic? Is there more connection to be found in living a handmade, homegrown and slow life?

In A YEAR TO SLOW DOWN Rachel Bearn shares her own experience of how reducing her pace helped her begin to heal from severe chronic illness and connect deeper with her faith. Over twelve months she shares the benefits of living slowly, quietly and in the present moment, dependent on God and God alone - as he always intended for us.

This is a practical guidebook that takes readers through the four seasons of the year, incorporating the festivals and celebrations that have punctuated the Christian calendar for generations and encouraging you to live seasonally and in the moment.

"RACHEL BEARN was forced to halt the pace of life when she became chronically ill in her twenties. But something born out of privation blossomed into a kinder way of living, one in harmony with the natural rhythms of the earth, the counsel of the Bible, the Church's year, and the habits that were second nature to our grandmothers... She calls it "a Christian guide to embracing the handmade and homegrown". It is a veritable Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management in some respects, packed with practical suggestions for everything from making lavender soap and and garlic butter to cutting down on screen time and and looking after your knitwear; for living life at such a pace has lost us all connection to the home, she suggests."

- Pat Ashworth, Church Times

'At a time when our world seems to be changing so quickly, when the uncertainty of the future can feel so overwhelming and I often want to hide away from marketing messages vying for our attention, Rachel's book is a gift! Her quietly wise words gently take us by the hand and remind us to travel with God through life to enjoy and protect his creation.'

- Sarah P. Corbett, author of the award-winning The Craftivist Collective Handbook

'Join Rachel, a gentle guide to all things slow and intentional, as she prompts us to consider what really matters in life. Her lovely and thought-provoking book is one to return to throughout the seasons as we wake up to God's wonders around us. I can't wait to make the cheese and wild garlic scones...'

- Amy Boucher Pye, spiritual director and author of Transforming Love

'With theological depth and quiet resilience, Rachel weaves her personal story of chronic illness, creativity and faith into a rich tapestry of slow living and spiritual presence. Her words are gentle, grounded and truly life-giving - a balm for the weary and a compass for those seeking a quieter, more rooted way to live with God. Thank you, Rachel, for all this hard-earned truth-telling, it was a gift to me and I know it will be to others too.'

- Jo Hargreaves, The Faith-filled Therapist

'When did chronic busyness become normal? And what if we can no longer live at warp-speed for whatever reason? Rachel's writing and hard-earned insight help the weary soul to recalibrate, allowing us to rediscover rhythms, practices and mindsets that restore us physically and emotionally. This book is a much needed dose of wisdom for every season.'

- Cathy Madavan, writer, speaker and author of Why Less Means More

'A gentle guide from a wise friend on seeking a slower pace amid a racing world with practical tips to help us make it a reality - comforting and challenging in equal measures.'

- Rachael Newham, author of Learning to Breathe, And Yet and Beloved Is Where We Begin

'In a culture that constantly demands we do more and more, this book invites us to step into the life of simplicity that Jesus offers and shows us the joy of finding more in less.'

- Dr Jon Room, Pastor, Chipping Norton Community Church

"At the start of the year, many of us create an unrealistic set of New Year's resolutions, which we break before February! But what if there were a guide that could help you to intentionally slow down, bit by bit, over the course of a whole year? That is exactly what this book provides. An anecdote to the pace of our frenetic society, which is often overwhelming, it is full of everything author Rachel Bearn has been learning, creating and posting about online for years. This isn't just a book for those who are ill or struggling, though; the ideas contained within it are so helpful for anyone tired of being swept along by busyness and desperate for the space just to breathe, as well as live more ethically."

- Woman Alive
About
For many of us, the modern world is overwhelming. Fast-paced. Hard-edged. Exhausting. People are craving more peace. It's no wonder we have seen the social media trend of returning to traditional skills and ways of life. People are craving change. A return to simple and peaceful living. But could this be more than a pretty aesthetic? Is there more connection to be found in living a handmade, homegrown and slow life?

In A YEAR TO SLOW DOWN Rachel Bearn shares her own experience of how reducing her pace helped her begin to heal from severe chronic illness and connect deeper with her faith. Over twelve months she shares the benefits of living slowly, quietly and in the present moment, dependent on God and God alone - as he always intended for us.

This is a practical guidebook that takes readers through the four seasons of the year, incorporating the festivals and celebrations that have punctuated the Christian calendar for generations and encouraging you to live seasonally and in the moment.
Reviews

"RACHEL BEARN was forced to halt the pace of life when she became chronically ill in her twenties. But something born out of privation blossomed into a kinder way of living, one in harmony with the natural rhythms of the earth, the counsel of the Bible, the Church's year, and the habits that were second nature to our grandmothers... She calls it "a Christian guide to embracing the handmade and homegrown". It is a veritable Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management in some respects, packed with practical suggestions for everything from making lavender soap and and garlic butter to cutting down on screen time and and looking after your knitwear; for living life at such a pace has lost us all connection to the home, she suggests."

- Pat Ashworth, Church Times

'At a time when our world seems to be changing so quickly, when the uncertainty of the future can feel so overwhelming and I often want to hide away from marketing messages vying for our attention, Rachel's book is a gift! Her quietly wise words gently take us by the hand and remind us to travel with God through life to enjoy and protect his creation.'

- Sarah P. Corbett, author of the award-winning The Craftivist Collective Handbook

'Join Rachel, a gentle guide to all things slow and intentional, as she prompts us to consider what really matters in life. Her lovely and thought-provoking book is one to return to throughout the seasons as we wake up to God's wonders around us. I can't wait to make the cheese and wild garlic scones...'

- Amy Boucher Pye, spiritual director and author of Transforming Love

'With theological depth and quiet resilience, Rachel weaves her personal story of chronic illness, creativity and faith into a rich tapestry of slow living and spiritual presence. Her words are gentle, grounded and truly life-giving - a balm for the weary and a compass for those seeking a quieter, more rooted way to live with God. Thank you, Rachel, for all this hard-earned truth-telling, it was a gift to me and I know it will be to others too.'

- Jo Hargreaves, The Faith-filled Therapist

'When did chronic busyness become normal? And what if we can no longer live at warp-speed for whatever reason? Rachel's writing and hard-earned insight help the weary soul to recalibrate, allowing us to rediscover rhythms, practices and mindsets that restore us physically and emotionally. This book is a much needed dose of wisdom for every season.'

- Cathy Madavan, writer, speaker and author of Why Less Means More

'A gentle guide from a wise friend on seeking a slower pace amid a racing world with practical tips to help us make it a reality - comforting and challenging in equal measures.'

- Rachael Newham, author of Learning to Breathe, And Yet and Beloved Is Where We Begin

'In a culture that constantly demands we do more and more, this book invites us to step into the life of simplicity that Jesus offers and shows us the joy of finding more in less.'

- Dr Jon Room, Pastor, Chipping Norton Community Church

"At the start of the year, many of us create an unrealistic set of New Year's resolutions, which we break before February! But what if there were a guide that could help you to intentionally slow down, bit by bit, over the course of a whole year? That is exactly what this book provides. An anecdote to the pace of our frenetic society, which is often overwhelming, it is full of everything author Rachel Bearn has been learning, creating and posting about online for years. This isn't just a book for those who are ill or struggling, though; the ideas contained within it are so helpful for anyone tired of being swept along by busyness and desperate for the space just to breathe, as well as live more ethically."

- Woman Alive

Form Books