The seed hides the seedling, in the seedling hides the tree
In the holy tree hides all the seeds of forests yet to be
Gift of food, gift of shelter, blessed presence on this earth
She will lay her broken body down to bring new seeds to earth.
One great circle of life, living circle of love
Plants and trees, seas and rivers
and the blessed sky above.
Creatures great, creatures small
form the web that weaves us all
In the circle of life.
We are moving in a holy dance of life and death and birth.
a beautiful hymn that you can hear here.
The circumference of the circle of life seems small at this stage of my life, and especially in this season - perhaps my favorite season. A brilliantly colored leaf stood out on the grass today, reminding me that soon the trees will be brilliant in the late afternoon sun behind my fence. Already the sassafras is turning.
But there is new life in the garden even as the trees remind us so beautifully that
their branches will soon be bare.
The tri-color sedum is at its finest, and prettier this year than in years past.
Mums are full and promising a riot of blooms.
Hardy ageratum has budded and will soon color the garden blue.
And the asters that bloomed in Spring are back with their cheery yellow centers.
And the creatures that remind me most of this circle of life - the butterflies - are most abundant now. Twice this week a tiger swallowtail danced in the air around me, and I was happy to resist the
temptation to rush for the camera. Yesterday, on a walk through the neighborhood, I saw a giant swallowtail and took these pictures with my phone camera.
It is, indeed, a holy dance.
