Summer
Blessings
“…May
the nourishment of the earth be yours;
may
the slow clarity of light be yours,
may
the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may
the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And
so may a slow
wind
work these words
of
love around you,
an
invisible cloak
to
mind your life.”
John
O’Donohue (Bennact/Blessing; from Echoes of Memory)
Finally,
we had rain last night. Real rain—hard and long enough to soak the ground. This
summer so far had been unrelentingly hot—yesterday before the rain, the
temperature was 98* and the heat index, 107. I felt truly sorry for the
contenders at the World Games which are being played around town, especially for
athletes from cold climates. But the rain has cooled us and shown us how
important the elements of nature are to the health and happiness of human life.
The quote
above is an excerpt from John O’Donohue’s blessing for his mother, Josie. Every
time I read something by him, I wonder if he will be sainted. His poems and
blessings are simply gorgeous. Especially in these times of fractured trust and
international fear, we could use a voice like O’Donohue’s to remind us of the
needs of our souls, both individually and collectively. He might help us to set
our ego-driven lives aside for a moment and focus on healing our souls.
Behind
me in the tall trees, I hear the baby hawks attempting once again to catch some
breakfast. They must be getting better at it since they’re still here. I count
my blessings in rain and wildlife, in birdsong and train whistles. The world is
still here, still beautiful, and we are blessed to be alive in this time of
great transition. Hold whatever is sacred to you close to your heart and be
aware of the abundance that surrounds you.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
No comments:
Post a Comment