Stanton Park
Healing comes in so many forms and in so many strengths. The most heroic form of healing is probably surgery. I think of a surgeon removing a bullet from the shoulder of some army guy. Now that's heroic. Several levels down from that magnitude, healing comes in forms more common to most of us, like the taking of an aspirin, or washing a finger you cut while cooking, then applying a band aid. These are acts of healing, but maybe not so heroic.
The most gentle form of healing has to do with witnessing. I think of Walt Whitman sitting with the Civil War soldiers, giving them cigarettes and just talking to them. That was tremendously powerful healing, but gentle, oh so NOT heroic. Thanks Walt! You made a big difference, I know you did.
On the National Mall. Can you imagine walking underneath this pink bower? I did it, smiling and ooo-ing and ahhhh-ing the whole way.
In my own life I experience gentle healing every day. For example, the way my dog's ears flop up and down while he walks is so sweet, it's actually healing. Watching that flopping erases all kinds of minor scratches on my heart, tiny abrasions I am perhaps unaware of until I notice they are being healed. Thanks, Jake, for your sweet mutt ears and their healing floppage.
Every spring there is a week in Washington DC when the Pepto pink profusions of the cherry bloom bring the most delicate, loving energy into the city. Don't ask me how it works, I can't explain it, but I know in my heart of hearts that gazing up into the pink love clouds that are everywhere this week does so much good for my soul. It does. I'm sure, too, that I'm not the only one who benefits from this pink healing.
Yesterday I walked around for hours, taking in the shapes, color, the pouffiness, the pinkness, so milky sweet next to the dark trunks and branches. Fantastic! I felt like I was drinking, through my eyes, the most delicious spring elixir.
As usual I ate a couple of blossoms, tasted the bitter cherry taste. And I took a lot of pictures, too. It's possible that I'm radiating pinkness this morning as a result. Don't know about that, but I do know that I am smiling, for "no reason."
Many thanks to the cherries for doing what they do best: blooming, and filling my heart with their goodness. Bravo!!
North side of the Capitol.
37 comments:
What a lovely meditation; a poem, really. Thanks for the pinkness to start the day. I would never have thought to eat a blossom.
Tut I am such a pagan. They taste like cough medicine.
So pretty! I am going to start three planters today for my front porch. Watching them grow will be healing for me.
Healing things for me are also watching animals. My dogs & cats. Playing, Sleeping, just enjoying a warm day. Also children are healing to me, particularly my own. Seeing them and who they have become. Watching young children, playing and being happy. Kindness..
Oh and my Blog addiction too!
So true about healing powers of the landscape if one can relax enough to let it happen. Interesting about the cherry blossoms' taste. We have cherry trees here for pie cherries-- more acidic. I wonder if they pack more of a wallop....
John I would love to see pics of the meadow you walk through.
Janis, for me there are shapes that are healing, too. Like constellation charts, for instance. Simple geometrical shapes do wonders for me: the perfect circle, cube or pyramid for instance. The symmetry helps something in my neural network, and God knows, it needs help!
There really is something about those wonderful Cherry tree's. It makes me wish that I was outside soaking up the gorgeous weather and not stuck here in this office.
The simple things how they heal the soul. A lovely post Reya and your photos are beautiful. The second photo with that beautiful spring green lawn....I can feel the warmth. Thank you for sharing.
Smiles
sweet mutt ears and their healing floppage - pink love clouds -- minor scratches on my heart, tiny abrasions I am perhaps unaware of until I notice they are being healed.
Your words make my heart happy.
the best thing about having a pagan for a friend is that they worship the very ground you stand on...........
yes,yes, about the healing xx
You are such a beautiful, integral part of your surroundings Reya... you ARE those blossoms!!!
Pinkness everywhere, must be awesome, I think the pictures are just beautiful and gentle healing sounds so blissful. Would love some of that right now. Thank you for a beautiful post as always.
I have something that I think you and the others will really like a gift to you all. I hope you will come by and pick it up. It is not a meme, it is not something to pass on to others it is just a simple gift to give to you and everyone. Kinda goes with what you wrote here today. I hope you accept this gift.
God bless.
The Tibetan doctors would say that the major healing all has to do with healing the spritual disturbances. The minor healing would be patching the physically wounded flesh, treating the symptoms rather than curing the soul. (You always make me think.)
There is a wonderful cherry blosoom tea in Japan, Sakura-Yu. It is made by steeping salt preserved cherry blossoms in hot water. You have to pick the blossoms when they are most fragrant and covery them lightly in sea salt. It is salty, but quite wonderful, like drinking perfume.
in the pink - clouds of it - am there with you dreaming it all in :-)
oh and i love jakes ears too :-)
yesterday people tossed grass seed onto the remaining snow drifts
an act of faith
in a way
as we looked at the emerging blooms and blossoms
on limbs broken by
recent ice and heavy snow
and those which survived
reaching for the sun
snow melting in tiny tree
showers all about
and so healing for those of us
so through with winter
love you so
Reya:
There are a handful of pix from the pasture (taken on a walk this last Monday) scattered thru today's slideshow at RFB-- maybe I'll devote a post to the pasture either Friday or next Monday.
Thanks!
Cherrily, cheerily, cherrmendous!
Reya,
your pictures - always had and always been - the embodiment of serenity and beauty...i must say, that i was simply amazed by them all.
for me, the rain is my healer... and also the blue sky.
once, i was so happy that it rained - i stayed outside playing for about half and hour. An unwise moves there i must admit...
the next day, i went to class wearing three layers of clothing, equipped with a box of tissue in one hand, holding some notes in the other - looking grumpy.
but still, i'll do it again anytime =)
The sun is one of my favorite healers, but my surgeons top the list. I am in awe of them.
The pinkness of your post is wonderful! Pink is my very favorite, right after purple. If those trees had lilacs hanging off of them, I would have passed out from delight!
As they are...breathtaking.
I love that you ate the cherry blossoms. I would never think of doing that! :)
The image of Jake's ears flopping is so cute. It's healing even to hear about!
A gentle umbrella of pink, you opened over all of us with your photos! Another healer, the sea.
I saw a documentary about Whitman not too long ago. I was touched at his kindness to the wounded Civil War soldiers, how he gave them cigarettes and would just sit and chat with them. A little kindness goes such a long way.
Moonshin, that cold was probably all the way worth it, yes? It's such a funny image, you singing in the rain, then sniffling and looking grumpy.
Had to turn on comment moderation because I'm getting some Asian spam. (THANK YOU BUTTERNUT)
I'm sorry this year i cannot venture south to meet Spring and the sun, but now am all the more anxious to bicycle along the river greenway and sit in my garden watching the spaces fill in with green and pink and purple. Have not thought of tasting the blooms...
Are all cherry blooms safe to eat, I wonder?
Safe? Who knows? I only eat a couple of them. So far they have done me no harm, and the process makes me feel a part of the bloom.
You always have some surprising little snippet Reya, hidden in your stories.
Your stories are like the blossoms, they colour our days, cheer us, make us think and often leave us with a lingering perfume...
thank you
P.S. And that is HEALING...
It seems that there are healing moments, sounds, smells, shapes, visions and tastes all around us. We are usually to busy to notice...like stopping to smell the roses.
I've never eaten cherry blossoms, but out here on the left coast, the manzanita blossoms are pink little bells that are so light and sweet.
You know this crazy weather we've been having here in Maryland is making me a little nuts. I think it's time to take a sick day and hop on the subway to see the blossoms. If not, your pictures will do the trick. Thanks!
Hey Reya! I thought of you today watching the Today show & on my AOL News. Did you see / hear all the buzz about the Cherry Blossoms? They showed some footage but not near as beautiful as your pics! I felt like telling them, "we already know & have seen better shots through the Gold Puppy! You are a few days late CBS!"
i feel healed right now, my heart dancing to your words, mutt ears and bouncing cherry blossoms.
Just reading your words and seeing your beautiful images made me feel all floaty and pink. The dog's ears flopping up and down? That made me smile in recognition. Thanks, Reya, wonderful, uplifting and joyous post.
beautiful, thank you so much! I couldn't agree more about the healing powers of nature...
its true reya, there is healing everywhere
including reading this
Post a Comment