Spring, by Rumi

Again the violet bows to the lily.

Again, the rose is tearing off her gown.

The green ones have come from the other world,

tipsy like the breeze up to some new foolishness.

Again, near the top of the mountain

the anemone's sweet features appear.

The hyacinth speaks formally to the jasmine.

Peace be with you. And peace to you, lad.

Come walk with me in the meadow.

The Friend is here like water in the stream,

like a lotus on the water.

The ringdove comes asking, Where,

where is the Friend? With one note

the nightingale indicates the rose.

Many things must be left unsaid because it is late,

but whatever conversation we have not had

tonight, we will have tomorrow.

A Scottish Ancestor?

"A Young Daughter of the Picts"

by Jacquesle Moyne de Morgues

c. 1585

Here is a woman truly celebrating the beauty and bounty of earth. The Picts were Celts from ancient Scotland. Their name comes from the Latin pictus, "pictures", because they completely tattooed their bodies with images of magical beauty--flowers, birds, beasts, and fish belonging to the Great Mother. These powerful women were shamans, visionaries, and healers. 

They also ritually initiated and taught the Celtic warrior-heroes the sacred mysteries of sexuality and power. They were known for their great physical strength and bravery as they led the Celtic tribes into battle, wearing only their tattooed flowers and swords. 

(From Cultivating Sacred Space, Gardening for the Soul by Elizabeth Murray)

Spring is Here

It's official. Spring arrived this morning at 04:47 PDT. There wasn't snow or hail or any other signs of winter. In fact it was actually warm outside. I put some pansies in the planter by the front door so it looks cheery now. 

The garden was soaking wet. I tiptoed in and pruned some roses and perennials. After awhile, I noticed the sound of the wind stirring up the sea in the distance. I knew I'd better call it a day and barely made it back up to the house before it started pouring rain. As I look out the window now, about an hour later, it is sunny again, but very windy.

To say the least the weather is very unstable today, but that's typical of our temperate maritime climate. It's the energy that causes spring to "burst forth". The word spring or "spreng" is about a thousand years old and found in many Germanic languages. It appears as "spring" in Old English a thousand years later. Reference to spring as the season after winter is more recent and is found in writings as the "springing time" (1387) and the "spring of the leaf" (1538).

Signs of spring have been coming ever since the beginning of February. The song bird scouts have come and flocks of robins. There are melodies in the forest in the morning that are waking me out of my winter hibernation. Bugs are hatching, hawks and eagles, and migrating flocks of geese are all coming as if invited to feast at nature's great banquet.

Pussywillows were the first to bloom. Then the heather bloomed and the heather bee returned. This last week the Red-flowering Currant bloomed and now the hummingbirds are back. It won't be long before the swallows return, the frogs fill the ponds, and the dragonflies will be flying around the meadow. Each day will be filled with new joys.