Care Of My Soul

Every year I have a ritual of cutting the Lavender.
I cut the stems and bundle them.
I hang the stems to dry.
Normally I have thousands of stems to cut.
This year I have very little.

I was not going to harvest any this year.
My idea was to let the lavender go to seed.

I have not been sleeping very well.
I needed to spend some time with the fresh lavender.
Lavender is my herb.
It restores me.

Connect

Today I am finding all the ways I connect with nature.
I am finding the ways I connect with people.
I am finding the ways I connect with my inner wisdom.

Passion

In March I was passionate.
I was filled with enthusiasm.
I had zest and zeal.

In April the bitter cold came.
I watched as bud and bloom froze.
I waited to see what would survive.

In May the Hummingbirds and Orioles returned.
Butterflies dried their wings.
I set up nectar pots.

Now I wait.

I am glad it is a rainy weekend.
I have sowed seeds.
I sowed millions of seeds.

My seed box is slowly emptying.
Soon there will be sprouts then blooms.
I will pick beans and tomatoes.


When the scent of Jasmine fills the air,
when the roses climb again
I will fill my vases.

In my despondency I do have hope.
Otherwise
I would never have planted all those seeds.

Moon shine

I am watching the fireflies and the moon.
Quietly I know summer is near.
It is cool still.
I have my sweater and my socks.
Tonight I sit in the beauty of the twilight.
Soon I will go walking.
I am waiting for the fireflies to finish.

Oracle

I call the Orchard Oriole

the Orchard Oracle.
I am not sure why.
It is the way my brain works.

Perhaps it is true.
Maybe the Orchard Oriole
has a message.
Maybe if I wait patiently
the Indigo Bunting will return.

Maybe I will be able to get a few photos.
Maybe I can be aware without being
anxious.
Maybe it is enough I saw the Indigo Bunting
in my own backyard.

Why?

Right.

I understand.

It is well worth the effort.
Thank you.
I needed inspiration.
I needed motivation.
I am excited.

Nap

I am taking a rest this afternoon.

I am laying down for a nap.

I took the pins out of my hair.
I closed the shade.
I turned on the fan.

It is naptime.

I shall not assume

The Chinese Lilac is in bloom and in new leaf.


When I let go of what I expected to be true

I saw the Red Admirals.

As I learn not to have expectations
I experience the fullness of life.

Gifts

It is up to me to find the gifts.

The Landscape

There is the outer landscape.

There is the inner landscape.

When I am aware I can see the beauty in both.

Letting Go

I often struggle.
When to let go,
when to hold on?

Often I need help to decide what to let go of and what to hold on to.

I will read, think and finally release that which I have no control over.
Yet I find I still hang on to a tiny piece, an emergency backup.
I can forgive.
I am not at forget.

I am not sure if I want to forget. Perhaps I can let go of forget and do forgive.

Enough

There is plenty for everyone.

There is abundance.
I must be mindful.
I must not hoard.

Some for me and some for you.

Today I look for sharing.

Mother-Grandmother

I called for my Mother but she did not come.
She was busy with her needles.
She had many children and many chores.
I understood.
I could watch the clouds by myself.

I called for my Grandmother but she did not come.
She was in the fields.
The chickens needed to be fed.
There were many grandchildren.
I was too small.

I learned to be my own Mother.
I learned to be my own Grandmother.
I learned to nurture myself.

I looked for Mother.

I looked for Grandmother.

They are everywhere present.

They are the wind and the rain.

They are the stars and the moon.

I am Mother; I am Grandmother.

A Place Of Ease

I can go, go, go.


I must remember to rest.

Today I relax.

I find where I am comfortable.

I find my place of ease.

All The Time I Need

I am aware of the passage of the daylight.
I make sure the birds are fed.
I often forget about me.



To care for my needs I need to be aware
of my inner clock.
I need breakfast too.
I need more than a cup of coffee and a gulp of protein drink.
It is fine to fix myself toast and eggs.



I have time to take care of me.

Reflecting

Each morning I choose a word.
Each morning I look for my word in my world.
Today I choose reflection.

I looked at me in my mirror.
I am round not pear or hour glass.
It is my shape today.

Call of the Blue Bird

The Blue Bird calls to us.



This is our time.

This is our walk.
We were born to be happy.
We were born in beauty.