To the Glory

Just a tribute to the glory of May. The month dedicated to the mother of Jesus. When the cloak of blue adorns the corners of the wooded wilds, and fondly lays a royal carpet at the foot of every standing tree.

The month is almost over, and the bluebells will fade from view; but their beauty is eternal, and there is a blessing in the knowing that they will return again next year. And hopefully, I will return again next month. Until then, remember every day to shut out the raging cacophony as often you can. Truly there is peace to be found in silence.

Do you see yourself, abiding within yourself, in pure solitude? Does nothing now remain to shatter that interior unity, nor anything cling to your authentic self? Are you entirely that sole true light which is not contained by space, not confined to any circumscribed form, not diffused as something without term, but ever immeasurable as something greater than all measure and something more than all quantity?

Plotinus.

 

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

Advertisement

Reminders

 

Greetings, and top of the day to everyone. The above pics are reminders of a truly great summer, just passed. All too soon the land must sleep, as though dead – and all will dream of spring. The first eight pics were taken in our garden by me. Amanda took the others whilst out and about. All these pics were taken in July, except the sun seen shining through leaves; which belongs to the next paragraph. Please enjoy.

The beauty of the natural world soothes the soul, and calms the mind. When I stand beneath our tallest leafy tree, in silence, and warm Autumnal sunbeams dance merrily across my face – then, above all else, I know that I am standing in the light of our Creator’s love for all. I hope you feel this way too.

Until next time, peace – and may you enjoy many more days of warmest sunshine.

 

‘Tis hard for man to rouse his spirit up–

It is the human creative agony,

Though but to hold the heart an empty cup,

Or tighten on the team the rigid rein.

Many will rather lie among the slain

Than creep through narrow ways the light to gain–

Than wake the will, and be born bitterly.

But he who would be born again indeed,

Must wake his soul unnumbered times a day,

And urge himself to life with holy greed;

Now ope his bosom to the Wind’s free play;

And now, with patience forceful, hard, lie still,

Submiss and ready to the making will,

Athirst and empty, for God’s breath to fill.

~ George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul.

Hope Returns

Greetings. During May, when these pics were taken, there was a daily die-off of the bees that grace our garden. Little bodies of every variety lay everywhere. Throughout June I didn’t count a single bee. The extreme cold, and wet of June gave way to a dull, but warmer July. We have never, by the way, used weed killers, pesticides, or any suchlike chemicals on our garden. Today, at last, I saw one living bee hovering amongst our wild roses. Hope returns; there is still time for our bees. 

This post, as promised is the last of three. Next time, we will leave May for June, and fly together to a remote location somewhere in the mystical green hills of England.

Before I go, thank you to all who stop by – and if you are willing to read a little bit more, I would like to offer you these words, taken from an Irish blessing: “May you always remember when the shadows fall – you do not walk alone.”

The sun, the moon, the stars, the seas, the hills and the plains,- 

Are not these, O Soul, the Vision of Him who reigns? 

Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Photography ©Francis Moloney.

Kew Gardens

Hello readers. These pics were taken very recently, when Amanda and Luke visited Kew Gardens, in London.

I have been somewhat distracted by increased pain and discomfort. It’s been ongoing for a while – making writing, and just about everything else rather challenging. With that thought, please bear with me while I keep posts short. And if a prayerful healer sends relief my way, I will not be ungrateful. 

Back soon with more from Kew. Until then, I hope you spend each day in peace.

Speak to Him, thou, for He hears, and Spirit with Spirit can meet- Closer is He than breathing, and nearer than hands and feet.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

Artificial Habitat

Greetings, and best ever Christmas wishes to you. These pics were taken recently at a nearby Public Aquarium.

I feel that from the point of view of these marvellous and beautiful creatures, their world is a sort of prison. We have built a prison for them, even as we build prisons for ourselves. Encouragingly enough though, these particular captives don’t seem to suffer from any shortage of stimulation in this well-kept artificial habitat of theirs. How lovely it is too, to see the faces of visiting children light up in wonder at their first ever glimpse of these living marvels.

I wish that all captive creatures* were treated so well; and I hope that one day soon, we will agree to honour them all, and nature, in deep and wiser ways. 

With that, may I wish you strength, and peace, to carry you into what promises to be a very stimulating New Year.

Be undivided in your affectionate kindness for all life. Keep your mind flexible.

*Including mermaids.

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.