Flowering Fridays: Envelope Yourself with Love

 Christmas — that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance — a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved — Augusta E. Rundel

Whenever I see petals on a flower, I am reminded how held and protected the beautiful, tender sacred centers of each flower are. For me, it's a visible reminder that we are always surrounded by loving protection.

There is something about this rose that says to me:

Hold everything close and immerse yourself in a blanket of love.

It's good message for me, and what I intend to do today.

We will enjoy a quiet morning (and likely an early one as Grace is promising to wake us at 5 a.m. to see what Santa brought!) before welcoming Michael's family over to our new place for dinner. While I am looking forward to having everyone here, I will also find time to be quiet with myself (a walk perhaps? maybe some journaling? a nap definitely!) and to remember and honor the memory of my mom, whose iced cookies, pecan pies and generous heart will be missed very much this year.

Blessings of love, peace, light and joy to one and all.

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Flowering Fridays is a weekly look at flowers through the lens of what they might teach us about flowering fully in our life. Past editions are here.

Nativity Poem

Roses, funeral flowers, November 2009

The Nativity

by John O'Donohue, from Conamara Blues

No man reaches where the moon touches a woman.
Even the moon leaves her when she opens
Deeper into the ripple in her womb
That encircles dark, to become flesh and bone.

Someone is coming ashore inside her,
A face deciphers itself from water,
And she curves around the gathering wave,
Opening to offer the life it craves.

In a corner stall of pilgrim strangers,
She falls and heaves, holding a tide of tears.
A red wire of pain feeds through every vein,
Until night unweaves and the child reaches dawn.

Outside each other now, she sees him first,
Flesh of her flesh, her dreamt son safe on earth.

Wishing those who celebrate the Christmas holiday a blessed day of love, light and warmth with those near to our heart!

P.S. I recommend clicking here to listen to author O'Donohue's lilting brogue reading this poem.

Monday Musings: Go Into Your Own Ground

Raunculus, Le Reve Cafe, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, February 2009

A human being has so many skins inside, covering the depths of the heart. We know so many things, but we don't know ourselves! Why, thirty or forty skins or hides, as thick and hard as an ox's or bear's, cover the soul. Go into your own ground and learn to know yourself there. 

— Meister Eckhart

What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.
— Meister Eckhart

The ripples of John O'Donohue continue to spread across my heart with his opening me to the wisdom of 13th century mystic theologian Meister Eckhart. For a spiritual practice, O'Donohue, an Eckhart scholar, recommends reading an Eckhart sermon every few days and letting the words "work their way into your heart."

May you find words of comfort and joy during the coming week!