“Our ancestors planted trees and vines to bear fruit long after their deaths.”
Mary Catherine Bateson, Composing A Further Life
In our lifetime, many people have sowed seeds with us – seeds of enthusiasm, curiosity, knowledge, wisdom, and love of life – with the hope and faith that we would nurture those seeds into fruitfulness. As Winter Solstice approaches and we prepare to relinquish the old to welcome the new, it is a good time to reflect upon those who left seeds with you. Who were these people in your life? What gifts did they leave with you to tend? How did you nurture those gifts? And how do you honor those ancestors?
Not only are we seed carriers but we, too, are seed sowers bringing our gifts to those who will follow. Regardless of our roles – parent, grandparent, partner, lover, friend, teacher, worker, community member among them – we sow seeds that others will nurture and bring to fruit. Again reflect, what are the gifts that you have nurtured, honed and now sow with those who will follow? Where and how do you sow those seeds so that others will catch them? And how do you honor your gifts as a seed sower?
If you would like to explore further, you may want to read Chapter 3 – “New Beginnings – The East Shield of Birth and Rebirth” in Common Ground, Uncommon Gifts : Growing Peace and Harmony Through Stories, Reflections, and Practices in the Natural World. In celebration of the Winter Solstice and the unveiling of my web site, I am offering a special per copy price of $15 including shipping through January 15, 2014. Click here to read more about the book on the links page.
Mary Catherine Bateson, Composing A Further Life
In our lifetime, many people have sowed seeds with us – seeds of enthusiasm, curiosity, knowledge, wisdom, and love of life – with the hope and faith that we would nurture those seeds into fruitfulness. As Winter Solstice approaches and we prepare to relinquish the old to welcome the new, it is a good time to reflect upon those who left seeds with you. Who were these people in your life? What gifts did they leave with you to tend? How did you nurture those gifts? And how do you honor those ancestors?
Not only are we seed carriers but we, too, are seed sowers bringing our gifts to those who will follow. Regardless of our roles – parent, grandparent, partner, lover, friend, teacher, worker, community member among them – we sow seeds that others will nurture and bring to fruit. Again reflect, what are the gifts that you have nurtured, honed and now sow with those who will follow? Where and how do you sow those seeds so that others will catch them? And how do you honor your gifts as a seed sower?
If you would like to explore further, you may want to read Chapter 3 – “New Beginnings – The East Shield of Birth and Rebirth” in Common Ground, Uncommon Gifts : Growing Peace and Harmony Through Stories, Reflections, and Practices in the Natural World. In celebration of the Winter Solstice and the unveiling of my web site, I am offering a special per copy price of $15 including shipping through January 15, 2014. Click here to read more about the book on the links page.