The Splendor Of A Cabbage & The Grace Of An Eagle

In the May 2008 issue of Oprah there was an article that asked many well-known individuals from all walks of life: What’s a Moment That Defined Spirituality for You?

Edward Espe Brown, author of The Tassajara Bread Book, was quoted as saying:

“When I cut open a red pepper and a purple cabbage for the first time, I was in awe at the splendor, the integrity, the “perfection” of their interiors.”

I am one of those people, who like him, find amazing perfection in some foods and in flowers and plants. It always thrills and intrigues me when I see a food with its rose-like swirls such as red cabbage or a flower from my garden whose colour, scent or shape speaks of mystery to me. I find it magical and surprising every spring when the plants bud again even though it happens every year. It’s always a joyful surprise to me.

I also love huge trees as their stillness seems to almost reach out to me. This morning I sat on my back deck sipping my morning coffee, and thought “I just don’t know where to begin today”. There were so many things to deal with in my business, with my “self-assigned” summer chores like outside painting including my studio, and attempting to keep my garden up, not to mention spening time to my mother, who’s taking her first handy-dart trip to my house tomorrow. So my mind kicked in and started its game of uproar.

I looked out at the giant coniferous trees that grow beside the little trail about 100 years behind and to one side of our backyard. It all felt peaceful and very still and beautiful. I thought, this is what counts, not all the rushing around (literally and figuratively).

Then I realized that what initially looked like lighter coloured branches in one of the trees was actually birds - one at the very top of the tree, another a bit lower to the right and a third bird lower down again to the left. I initially thought they were all eagles, but when the very top bird straightened out fully, pointing its neck upwards, I could tell it was a blue heron. When the bird on the right flew away suddenly, I saw that it was indeed a mid-sized eagle. The third bird was another heron.

In North American Native tradition the eagle is connected to the Spirit of the Great Mystery and to the earth and is a symbol for a combined use of wisdom and courage. Herons represent self-determination and self-reliance and the importance of following owns’ own unique path.

Taking the time to just notice…to notice and soak in the incredible natural beauty literally outside my back door has made a difference to my day. It’s definitely helped me to be more mindful. As I breath in and recount this to you, I feel noticeably calmer and slower inside. I also feel that these messengers reflect on my life in a deeper way.