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| Blue Ridge Mountains |
I recently spent 3 days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. What a wonderful place for 'nature bathing' and keeping myself grounded during the collective angst of last week. I did not want to return home, to normal routines and news cycles, not even to my beloved Starry Meadows. Taking breaks from work and for self-care is so important, but returning is always part of leaving.
As we drove home down our long lane, two beautiful sights welcomed me ....a Great Blue Heron fishing in our creek, and Great Blue Lobelia blooming on our creek bank. I bought the book, "Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Parkway" for our trip and through researching blue flowers on the parkway, I discovered the name of flowers at home!
Sacred Spirit often communicates to me
through such surprising connections, often involving nature and color.
On my last day in the parkway, I watched a blue heron fishing. And I ID'ed blue lobelia flowers. I felt held, reassured, coming home to the same awe-inspiring sights that I loved on the parkway. My body and soul instantly knew the deep connection: I am seen and honored, here as well as there. In the midst of hectic life, and crazy times as well as in the calm of blue skies and smooth lakes.
Blue is the color of the calm sea and the clear sky, both of which are linked to inner serenity, calm and clarity. Blue has positive effects on the mind and the body. As the color of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming and exude feelings of tranquility. Blue helps to slow human metabolism, is cooling in nature, and helps with balance and self-expression. Blue was also shown to slow heart rate and breathing so it can be a good color to aid in meditation or relaxation.
Don't we all need some blue in our lives these days! Be gentle with yourselves this week. Walk under blue skies, or look for blue flowers, blue birds, or simply receive your belovedness every time you see the color blue. Spirit, Christ, Creation is in you, around you, under you, before you, behind you....open your heart to see.
"Just to be is a blessing, just to live is holy." ~ Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. My favorite quote from my years at Kairos School of Spiritual Formation.
From a blog post on my page at Starry Meadows - https://www.facebook.com/StarryMeadows/
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| Great Blue Lobelia on the banks of Brock Creek at Starry Meadows |
