Sage
Today was a different kind of day. A friend came over to harvest sage for Native American religious ceremonies. I wasn't sure if she'd let me join her, but she did. First she smudged us both, and her harvesting knife, then we went out to ask permission from the grandmother sage plant. We were told to go ahead and harvest, so she did - paying careful attention to how much was taken from each plant, which plants were healthy, and blessing young plants.
Upon returning to the house, we shared lunch and conversation, then went to the front deck to tie the sage for drying. It cannot be knotted - so she showed me how to tie the sage in such a manner that it will stay together without knots. We made numerous bundles, which she will dry at home. The leaves shown above fell off the plants as we worked - I decided to leave them on the deck, until the wind disperses them.
As we worked, we talked and we listened to and watched the birds. A hummingbird flew by, a woodpecker was busy down by the river, several pelicans flew past. I shared with her the history of the pelican being an icon for Jesus, which makes them especially significant for me.
After she left, I headed out to the garden to take photos of the small beauties I do not always pay attention to. There is something exquisite about making room for openness to those things I don't always notice.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment