"Free and critical minds can emerge only by a return to the source-the primary sources. A free and critical mind takes nothing for granted and is not intimidated by "authorities" who frequently may be more confused than the general public. Free and critical minds seek truth without chauvinism or shame."-Asa G. Hilliard III

If you do not understand racism (white supremacy) and how it works, everything else you understand will only confuse you. - Neely Fuller

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We need something to clarify everything for us, because we get confused...but if we use the concept of Asili, we will understand that whatever it is they are doing, whatever terms they use, however they come at you, you need to be thinking about what? How is this going to facilitate their power and help them to dominate me? -Marimba Ani
Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Natural World Observations: Going Wild Like A Flower In Spring Breaking Free

Wild & Free Like Spring Breaking

As soon as Winter starts turning and walking away through the revolving door, yard workers begin fidgeting. First, cracking open windows, looking, listening and breathing deeply. They are attempting to recapture the sensing of seasons changing, the way firsthand cultures are still doing. Next, they are often standing in doorways, hoping and wondering. Finally breaking out of confinement, they are seen lingering in Spring's welcoming personality.

Natural Child's Wild Birth

I'm one of them. My written plan has gone through several revisions until a perfect, colorful, all-season paradise exists – on paper. It is mentally-contrived and includes shrubs, bushes, climbers, creepers, changers and weepers. Once at the store, I ignore this plan and start going wild because my head is easily turned by a canister of wildflower spirits who speak to me. I abandon the idea of buying dozens of plants to fill three flower beds. I take home one can of seeds promising a variety of shapes, sizes and bloom times.

Observing And Waiting

During the next three weeks I watch Winter & Spring dance back and forth. Finally, a warm dry stretch allows me to free the main flower bed of wood chips, red rocks and black plastic. Earth exhales a deep breath of relief. I loosen the soil and spread the wildflower mixture while wondering if this will be a fiasco. I sense similar concerns from onlookers.

“Whatcha growing, weeds?” someone asks. “No, wildflowers,” I reply, stopping short of saying weeds don't exist. There are simply plants we want and plants we don't want, plants we appreciate and plants we don't understand. Vindication comes just a month later. Silent explosions splash beauty throughout as though the Painter dropped this palette from above.

Natural World Observations

Now in the presence of wildflowers and unrestrained soil, I realize I've missed living bouquets of elegance and all that comes with it like paper-making wasps, floating swallowtails and birds mouth-to mouth feeding their babies. I am consoled with unique pleasures like Junebug sleeping atop a blossom cradle rocking in evening's breeze. “Welcome home little one.” A slate gray and charcoal hummingbird is surveying the selection of nectar-promising fragrances. Hovering within arm's reach, its wings are etching silvery blurs into the air against the backdrop of wildflowers.

Reborn Wild & Free

My rural-rooted nature is blossoming again. It is drawing from places where yards are a patchwork of playgrounds and wild things happen, naturally of course. I am one of those things, again. I spend hours playing with dandelions and seeking lifelong luck in four-leaf clovers, once found to be neatly tucked between scriptures for added effect. At other times I run, dance, dodge balls, chew mud pies for pretend tobacco-spitting, dig trenches for army men and operate child-sized trucks and tractors in the front yard. The neighborhoods, creek banks, waterfalls, mountainsides and all there is in the rest of the natural world, activate imagination and teach relationships. This is just like a world filling with wildflowers breaking free.

See Also:
Early Signs Of Spring -Four Divine – Geb, Shu, Tefnut, Nut
Reconstructing Natural Habitat
10 Easy Gardening Tips. Food Fight #16
Gardens: 12 Signs of Spring – Soil Music
Poem - Spring Means Things
Spring & Things Unseen
Gardening – The Hardest Part
Living Instinctively, Pollination, Nectar, Pollen

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Early Signs Of Spring - Four Divine - Geb, Shu, Tefnut, Nut

Before plants like the dandelion, daffodil or any budding branches, there are signs Winter is out of encores and Spring is about to take centerstage. Animals know it before plants begin to show it. It's the instinctive living of early birds that has mostly given away one of Earth's most anticipated surprise gifts.

1. The ground has puffed up like a spongy, air-filled cake. This can be felt when walking on it. It's as if the womb has expanded to take in air and water and allow stretching room for roots and seedcoats. Geb accommodating Shu and Tefnut under the overseeing presence of Nut.
2. A solitary robin or two has been hanging out on this puffy earth whereas all Winter they have not done so. They must hear and feel the earthworms and other insects rising towards the warming surface.
3. The nomadic sparrows have rebuilt their nest.
4. Cardinals were bark-hopping - two males in pursuit of one female.

Related:

Gardens: 12 Signs of Spring – Soil Music
Poem - Spring Means Things
Spring & Things Unseen
Gardening – The Hardest Part
Living Instinctively, Pollination, Nectar, Pollen
Natural World Observations: Going Wild Like A Flower In Spring Breaking Free

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Gardens: 12 Signs of Spring - Soil Music

1. Plants at the borders such as Crocus, Bearded Iris, Daffodils and Dandelions sending up green flares.

2. Thickening buds nearing popping points on bushes and trees such as Forsythia, Lilac, Rose, Butterfly and Maple seemingly getting goosebumps of anticipation from the warming flowing through them.

3. Chives, Garlic, Onions, Kale and Brussels Sprouts coming to life in the garden. Garlic in a pot in a cold garage without moisture showing top growth after being brought outside to breathe again.

4. Robins returning and Geese leaving northward and north by northwest honking their goodbyes. Many birds gawking at the transients.

5. Sparrows building new nests before it becomes yard waste.

6. Winds increasing, taking care of dead branches and trees before the rest of nature is underfoot.

7. Temperatures rising bringing higher highs and higher lows.

8. Moisture softening the ground and awakening zillions to do most of the work for the rest of us.

9. House-kept plants increasing in luster absorbing the increasing light, pressing their bodies towards windows of time when they were out there too.

10. Greening grass forwarding the border call.

11. Biorhythms tapping their feet to it all signaling older humans to migrate outdoors and take leisurely walks.

12. Humming and vibrating being felt by those with bare feet, hands and ears in touch with soil music.

What are a few Signs of Spring in your part of the world?

See Also:
Natural World Observations: Going Wild Like A Flower In Spring Breaking Free

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Poem - Spring Means Things


The Nature of Things by Usiku

Spring's in the air and I can taste
the smell of renewal and yard waste.
Soon I'll be fussing over flower beds
getting way in over my head.
My veggies will be organic for sure
because I'm using cow manure.
The backyard is neglected since
I have a six foot privacy fence.

See Also Natural World Observations: Going Wild Like A Flower In Spring Breaking Free

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Spring & Things Unseen


It's Spring and Earth has begun revealing its many gifts from plants to animals to insects. The rain is providing moisture and nutrients in anticipation. Evidence of nature's great abundance will be visible soon. What we don't see is the combination of consistency, ingredients, effort and struggle it takes. We don't recognize wind blessings and rain blessings. We assume we can have it all without the urgency, the understanding, the preparation, the planting, the tending, the adjusting, the patience and the faith.

The Earth and its bountifulness are personal gifts to us. Our individual gifts are for the World. We are constantly being prepared to release one gift and then another, initially and in more abundance. The rain and its nurturing effects are advantages along with sunshine and warmer times. Spring seasons souls to release talents and join the living landscape. Others will be inspired and fulfilled by the sustaining fruit and beauty of the gifts we unwrap. With a combination of consistent conditions we can all enjoy new seasons of renewed life by recognizing the raw materials within us and around us.

See Also: Natural World Observations: Going Wild Like A Flower In Spring Breaking Free