Emotional pain can be a window to light.

During my daily wander through the woods, I was pondering the best TED talk I’ve seen on topic of gratitude, a great reminder that leaning in, touching, embracing our pain, sadness, grief, whatever is our suffering helps us live with more equanimity.  Then I encountered this.

What I learned from this tree echoes my lived experience. That when we touch sadness, grief, rather than push it away, it becomes possible to recognize even darkness exists inside a container capable of refracting light. Once we know this in our cells, we unburden ourselves from at least some of the heaviness of our suffering.

Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees. ~ Karle Wilson Baker

This morning an industrious orb weaver set up a shop window, spanning its web from door frame to plant stem.  As I watered plants I became mindful to allow the concentric circles this weaver is building to remain unbroken.

Very little grows on jagged rock. Be ground. Be crumbled, so wildflowers will come up where you are.

~ Rumi

Windows on Greenbank Farm