walk the green labyrinth,
end the year at the beginning,
follow root and stem to the source
December began with rain and wind so strong I thought the trees might blow down. But it is so much warmer now and the days are longer – the light and warmth make me happy.
The end of the year is coming so quickly, and with it comes the start of a new year. I wonder what 2020 will bring …
standing tall
arms heavy with flowers
you reach for the earth and greet the sky
This time of year – The trees are waking – stretching, rolling their shoulders. Their arms are laden with flowers, gifts to the warming air and the bees. Gifts given freely, part of the exchange between earth and sky.
waking slowly, you smile
and colour bursts across the hillsides,
fat, furry bees investigate your sleeves
The clocks went forward on the weekend here in NZ and now we live with the illusion that it takes longer for the darkness of night to settle over the land. Of course night and day come and go as they’ve always done – it’s just that we’ve adjusted our schedules to look at it differently.
And the land – she had started to wake – with trees opening their bright green hands, and blossoms everywhere – except now we’ve just had a dreaded cold snap.
I fear Spring is shivering in the rain and I wish I could wrap her in my arms and keep her warm.
awaken, unfold, arise,
bathe in sunlight and transform it,
green energy ebbs and flows in your veins
September – the start of Spring – so happy now the days are lengthening and we’re beginning to see more of the sun.
I have days when I wish I could be like a tree and live on sunlight and rain.
a little of madness, a little of wisdom
spin the compass in the midst of winter
a wild circling, a dance that keeps your heart awake
July – midwinter – sitting on one of the turning points of the year and feeling both the pull to go out into the dark, the cold, and the desire to keep warm and safe.
And realising that sitting in between these points achieves nothing.
There are choices to be made, risks to be taken.
Sometimes we need to use a tool to give us direction, and sometimes we need to be prepared to feel a little vulnerable, a little reckless.
It all keeps the blood pumping rich and hot, even if our breath and fingertips are freezing.
deepen your shadows,
rich histories beckon as we go into the dark,
slow mysteries in the undergrowth,
bright eyes watching
.
.
June – the start of winter.
Time to reflect and remember- to open our inner selves to the dark while we shelter and keep our bodies warm.
Time to notice the life that continues all around us, though it might slow and withdraw into the shadows.
Time to check the mirror for our own reflection, to notice our own bright eyes looking back.
release the lost ones
shelter those come home
clear a path, light a candle, set the table, close the door
The start of winter, days are shorter, nights becoming long and dark. This is a time to release the past, the people and places we’ve moved on from, or those who have left us. It’s a time to hold close the special ones who enter the circle of light that shines from our doorway out into the darkness. It’s a time to keep warm, to feed the soul, to rest.
bright jewels fall
from your fingers, paint the ground
in colours from a royal palette – amber, ruby, amethyst
Its taken a long time for autumn to start making her self felt, but the last few weeks have had a chilly nip in the air, and the daylight hours are getting shorter.
Many of our New Zealand trees are evergreen, and our winters are often more richly green than in the summer. But we have many exotic trees as well, and the contrast makes their fallen leaves and bare branches even more special.
filling the space,
every window shows your face,
your multitudes, your bright insistence
February calendar post at last!!
Why has it taken so long – no idea – beyond printer not working, going back to work after summer holiday, and putting my time into painting.
Anyway – here ‘tis. This is my world, my green view – this is what I see if I feel like a spot of daydreaming.
And now that the cicadas have come out in force at last, I wonder if a big shiny insect might have been a better image. Still – they need the trees and trust me – they are all over these.
veriditas
green hands
hold the sky, shelter the land
dance in the half-light, verdant choreography
filling the space
every window shows your face
your multitudes, your bright insistence
the falling begins
the withdrawal, the sheltering
hold life close to your heart and release the past
bright jewels fall
from your fingers, painting the ground
colours from a royal palette – amber, ruby, amethyst
release the lost ones
shelter those come home
clear a path, light a candle, set the table, close the door
deepen your shadows
rich histories beckon as we go into the dark
slow mysteries in the undergrowth, bright eyes watching
a little madness, a little wisdom
spin the compass in the midst of winter
a wild circling, a dance that keeps your heart awake
there is beauty in your ravaged body
and shelter still between your naked arms
not barren, only sleeping; not alone, the night birds are watching
awaken, unfold, arise
bathe in sunlight and transform it
green energy ebbs and flows in your veins
waking slowly, you smile
and colour bursts across the hillsides
fat, furry bees investigate your sleeves
standing tall
arms heavy with flowers
you reach for the earth and greet the sky
walk the green labyrinth
end the year at the beginning
follow root and stem to the source
veriditas
Unlike other years, when I’ve spent these weeks before the end of December putting together my calendar for the following year, this time I’ve started with and completed the text first.
Previously, I’ve chosen the photos that “spoke” to me, and then recorded their message. This time, I started gathering photos and realised I was choosing pictures of trees, and that there was a voice coming even though I didn’t have all the photos yet.
So I decided to let the voice speak, and I’ll revisit my selection and find or take new photos as required.
These verses begin with January and work their way to December. For those of you in the northern hemisphere, this might make more sense if you start in the middle.
And – veriditas – one of the three “v” words that have both well and truly settled into me and become a form of expression. I’ll post some work on the others in the new year.
©clairegriffin2018
invisible necessity 