Last night my husband and I walked to our local bakery, which is surrounded by plants. The lavender bushes were absolutely alive with bees–many types, sizes, and color variations busily working away. We stood and watched, knowing they wouldn’t hurt us because they were very focused on the bounty they collected.
Enjoying the view of an awesome lake, surrounded by majestic mountains and green forests, while driving. This sight lights up my morning and gives some comfort for a somewhat rough day.
Redwood Trees. I cannot get enough of their mighty glory. They are sacred. They are a direct link to the Divine for me. They have been & are my healing balm.
I am so blessed that I get to live amongst them.
Thank you Mother Earth.🙏🏻❤️
Some of the gifts from earth that bring me joy are dogs and the rain. My dogs are my babies and they bring me so much joy. The rain makes the perfect atmosphere for reading a good book and cuddling up with a blanket. I am so grateful for these gifts.
I love going out in nature and looking at all the trees. Many of them standing sturdy, strong. But I am captivated by the trees that are bent, that are snapped in half, that have fallen. At first, I used to be upset thinking how they are not longer as strong as they used to be, but I began to realize they still give life, they still have a place in this world. Plants may bloom around it, other branches and trees adapt and grow alongside the fallen tree. To me, it is a reminder that although we become banged and bruised up in this life time, we still matter and can move forward. Things may be different, but you are still apart of something beautiful.
“To me, it is a reminder that although we become banged and bruised up in this life time, we still matter and can move forward. Things may be different, but you are still apart of something beautiful.”
I will say that the gift from the earth that brings me immediate joy is the tree. Whether a tree is young, old or middle aged, I find it is my teacher. That said, my first reaction to the question was sorrow not joy. It reminded me of a poem I wrote after the massive Deep Water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. It personifies Mother Nature and I find when I do that I feel more deeply the importance of my relationship with her. I share the poem below:
Ode to Mother Nature by Carol Ann Conner
A Response to the 2010 Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
O Mother of us all,
We watch you while you bleed.
We’ve drilled a hole in your heart.
We’ve harmed your creative reed.
O Mother of us all,
Fingers point here and there.
We want to blame and shame.
Our guilt we cannot bear.
O Mother of us all,
When will we learn to see?
We dwell within your womb.
Without you, we cease to be.
Orphans we’ve become
Through our own collective fault
When will we stop this rampage,
this unrelenting assault
Like others here have said…the ocean. But I live very far away from the ocean now- but happily do get to visit it usually in the winter. Many years ago, I lived on the island of Nantucket…when it was not as elite as it now seems to be…I loved the winters when the crowds dare not visit…the ferry sometimes would not be bale to get in for day…a shortage of bread and milk…but ohh what peace! Walking on the shores of a deserted beach…what a feeling.
Nowadays…my home and solitude is found in the forests and mountains. I am grateful for all…I am at our cabin for a few days- as I look out the windeow…my view is trees, and trees, and the tops of some low mountains..with the sun streaming through. Yes, I am happy and blessed.
I sailed to Nantucket back in the 80’s and have also taken a ferry and just bikes for a week-end. I love it there but it is getting very elite. The second trip was during daffodil season in April, it was beautiful and quiet.
Many years ago I dated a man from Nantucket, so I got a chance to spend some time there in the Winter, when no tourists were around. I remember feeling such peace and calm there during this time.
There are many…our sister Mother Earth has so many gifts she wants us to receive. I’m thinking of St. Francis and his beautiful Canticle of Creation.
However if I had to pick one it would be trees. As a biologist I appreciate the importance of trees and our (and all living creatures) dependence on them for so many things, not the least of which is the very air we breathe. But more than that, trees have always been my spirit sisters. I have a deep connection to them on a spiritual level. I have felt this even more strongly in my second half of life. I give my trees names and regularly thank them for their gifts. These days when I arise and begin my morning meditations, I say gracias and buenos dias to our maple tree “Esperanza” who stands majestically outside my window. It’s a ritual that grounds me in gratitude.
me too. weeping willows have always been my favorite – I planted 2 of them at the house in Pa where my daughter lives. I love the spanish moss on the oaks down here in Fl. Birch trees are so pretty too. Poinciana trees, list can go on and on.
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Seeing the myriad of pollinators on my large lavender bushes: butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, hummingbird moths, and others that I can’t name.
Last night my husband and I walked to our local bakery, which is surrounded by plants. The lavender bushes were absolutely alive with bees–many types, sizes, and color variations busily working away. We stood and watched, knowing they wouldn’t hurt us because they were very focused on the bounty they collected.
Enjoying the view of an awesome lake, surrounded by majestic mountains and green forests, while driving. This sight lights up my morning and gives some comfort for a somewhat rough day.
The sun.
The Ocean!!
Oceans and rivers 💧🌊
In praise of Mother Earth and all her glory, with deep apologies
to William Carlos Williams and other authors unknown and anonymous.
so much depends upon
a red (and green to echo guardian frog) wheelbarrow
set in the ivy and painted by a friend….
an abundant black bamboo
and two hissing cats and a dog
chasing squirrels, and a loving gardener
to weed and mulch and water, Ummm….
the pungent smell of manure and dirt
go outside, look at the sky
let your mind get that big
invite your heart to burst
out of your chest
feel the earth pulse of life
birth, death, growing, fading
isn’t it magnificent? Don’t despair
just yet, don’t believe you are the only person
on earth not entitled to a noble heart
wait a few minutes
lie with your ear to the earth
listen to the grass grow
the earth and the sky will save you!
again, and again, and again
This is wonderful, Skye!
Redwood Trees. I cannot get enough of their mighty glory. They are sacred. They are a direct link to the Divine for me. They have been & are my healing balm.
I am so blessed that I get to live amongst them.
Thank you Mother Earth.🙏🏻❤️
Some of the gifts from earth that bring me joy are dogs and the rain. My dogs are my babies and they bring me so much joy. The rain makes the perfect atmosphere for reading a good book and cuddling up with a blanket. I am so grateful for these gifts.
Coffee!
And flowers.
And raspberries.
And arugula.
This will be a very long list and you said “one gift”.
Life.
Summer and heat. The feeling of everything growing around me.
I love going out in nature and looking at all the trees. Many of them standing sturdy, strong. But I am captivated by the trees that are bent, that are snapped in half, that have fallen. At first, I used to be upset thinking how they are not longer as strong as they used to be, but I began to realize they still give life, they still have a place in this world. Plants may bloom around it, other branches and trees adapt and grow alongside the fallen tree. To me, it is a reminder that although we become banged and bruised up in this life time, we still matter and can move forward. Things may be different, but you are still apart of something beautiful.
“To me, it is a reminder that although we become banged and bruised up in this life time, we still matter and can move forward. Things may be different, but you are still apart of something beautiful.”
Love it!
I will say that the gift from the earth that brings me immediate joy is the tree. Whether a tree is young, old or middle aged, I find it is my teacher. That said, my first reaction to the question was sorrow not joy. It reminded me of a poem I wrote after the massive Deep Water Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. It personifies Mother Nature and I find when I do that I feel more deeply the importance of my relationship with her. I share the poem below:
Ode to Mother Nature by Carol Ann Conner
A Response to the 2010 Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
O Mother of us all,
We watch you while you bleed.
We’ve drilled a hole in your heart.
We’ve harmed your creative reed.
O Mother of us all,
Fingers point here and there.
We want to blame and shame.
Our guilt we cannot bear.
O Mother of us all,
When will we learn to see?
We dwell within your womb.
Without you, we cease to be.
Orphans we’ve become
Through our own collective fault
When will we stop this rampage,
this unrelenting assault
on the Mother of us all?
Like others here have said…the ocean. But I live very far away from the ocean now- but happily do get to visit it usually in the winter. Many years ago, I lived on the island of Nantucket…when it was not as elite as it now seems to be…I loved the winters when the crowds dare not visit…the ferry sometimes would not be bale to get in for day…a shortage of bread and milk…but ohh what peace! Walking on the shores of a deserted beach…what a feeling.
Nowadays…my home and solitude is found in the forests and mountains. I am grateful for all…I am at our cabin for a few days- as I look out the windeow…my view is trees, and trees, and the tops of some low mountains..with the sun streaming through. Yes, I am happy and blessed.
I sailed to Nantucket back in the 80’s and have also taken a ferry and just bikes for a week-end. I love it there but it is getting very elite. The second trip was during daffodil season in April, it was beautiful and quiet.
Many years ago I dated a man from Nantucket, so I got a chance to spend some time there in the Winter, when no tourists were around. I remember feeling such peace and calm there during this time.
There are many…our sister Mother Earth has so many gifts she wants us to receive. I’m thinking of St. Francis and his beautiful Canticle of Creation.
However if I had to pick one it would be trees. As a biologist I appreciate the importance of trees and our (and all living creatures) dependence on them for so many things, not the least of which is the very air we breathe. But more than that, trees have always been my spirit sisters. I have a deep connection to them on a spiritual level. I have felt this even more strongly in my second half of life. I give my trees names and regularly thank them for their gifts. These days when I arise and begin my morning meditations, I say gracias and buenos dias to our maple tree “Esperanza” who stands majestically outside my window. It’s a ritual that grounds me in gratitude.
Thanks for sharing, Diane. I, too, am a “tree” person.
me too. weeping willows have always been my favorite – I planted 2 of them at the house in Pa where my daughter lives. I love the spanish moss on the oaks down here in Fl. Birch trees are so pretty too. Poinciana trees, list can go on and on.
Air