spring

Wonders to Hold and Keep

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“Behold the white wistarias –

The Milky Way blown by the wind.”

– Hajin –

translated by Asataro Miyamori

 

Long ago, before behold meant to gaze upon or observe, it meant hold or keep. In a way, that’s what we do when we observe something. Each season brings us wonders. Hold on to them. Keep them in your mind and heart so that, in turn, they may hold you and keep you in a place of calm and peace.

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week –wisteria hanging over our driveway through the neighbor’s bamboo:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Season of the Sakura

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“Spring night,

cherry-

blossom dawn.”

– Matsuo Basho –

Two years ago, I was in Japan during cherry blossom season. My son’s family and I picnicked alongside other families in a park full of cherry trees – sakura – rich with blooms. We strolled paths lined with cherry blossoms and delighted in delicate petals, breeze-blown, drifting gently to the ground. It was a time to pause in wonder at the beauty and the peace of spring. I hope you, too, can pause and find moments of peace as you experience the wonders of this season.

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Divine Peace, Enthusiastic Joy

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“Every day opens and closes like a flower,

noiseless, effortless.

Divine peace glows on all the majestic landscape,

like the silent enthusiastic joy

that sometimes transfigures a noble human face.”

– John Muir –

 

“Silent enthusiastic joy.” That’s what I often see in Thursday night art class at Art and Soul. Music plays softly in the background as my friends and I work independently but side by side, each of us creating art that comes from our souls and nourishes our souls. It’s then that I often see in my friends’ faces a “silent enthusiastic joy.”

But I picture other faces as well – my dad and sisters laughing uproariously in enthusiastic joy – delightfully not silent. Then there are my friends in the church choir as we listen to our director in silent, enthusiastic joy – which transforms into the joy of song. Whose faces do you picture when you think of enthusiastic joy – silent or not?

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, “Earth laughs in flowers.” In our part of the world, nature is now in bloom. As each day opens and closes like a flower, I wish you the divine peace that comes with earth’s joy and laughter. Happy Spring!

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – peach blossoms:

Shadow of the Week – stems in a back-porch pot:

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Text and photos © 2019 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Every Leaf

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“What is autumn? . . . A second spring, where every leaf is a flower.”

– Albert Camus, Le Malentendu –

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

For my longer posts on the art of noticing, link here.

http://karynhenley.com

 

Text and photos © 2018 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

What Spring Whispers

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On the old plum tree,

One blossom by one blossom,

The spring thaw is born.

 – Ransetsu –

 

Spring is born in whispers: “A gift! For you. Enjoy!”

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week: quince

Shadow of the Week:

 

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For my posts on life and the wonder of it all, link here.

 

Text and photos © 2018 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Dancing Toward Spring

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“. . . O Wind,

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind.”

– Percy Bysshe Shelley, from “Ode to the West Wind” –

 

Winter and Spring are in their annual dance until Winter bows out and Spring takes center stage. Enjoy the dance of the seasons!

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – Lenten rose:

Shadow of the Week – missed the cat but caught the shadow of her tail:

 

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on life and the wonder of it all, link here.

 

Text and photos © 2018 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Before the Robins Sing

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“We must live through the dreary winter

If we would value the spring;

And the woods must be cold and silent

Before the robins sing.

The flowers must be buried in darkness

Before they can bud and bloom,

And the sweetest, warmest sunshine

Comes after the storm and gloom.”

– unknown author, from Poems That Live Forever –

 

The seasons of our lives seem to follow that same pattern – storm, gloom, and then sweet warmth. “I have been bent and broken,” said Charles Dickens, “but – I hope – into a better shape.”

May your heart bloom in the warm sunshine of hope.

Nurture peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

 

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on life and the wonder of it all, link here.

 

Text and photos © 2018 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Every Leaf a Flower

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From Le Malentendu by Albert Camus –

Martha: What is autumn?

Jan: A second spring, where every leaf is a flower.

If autumn is beginning to display her colors in your part of the world, I hope you can pause for a moment to breathe deeply of her beauty as she quietly and steadily transforms into a second, and very rich, spring.

Pay deep attention. Nurture peace, cultivate loving-kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week – signs of autumn found on my back deck:

Shadow of the Week – on my garden shoes:

 

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on life, faith, and the mystery we call God, link here. http://karynhenley.com

 

Text and photos © 2017 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Laughing in the Colors of Spring

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“Earth laughs in flowers.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson –

Wishing you earth’s laughter this week!

Nurture peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

 

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each week, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on life, faith, and the mystery we call God, link here.

 

Text and photos © 2017 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Colors of the Spirit

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“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”

– Emerson, “Nature” –

The word nature comes from the Latin nasci, which means “to be born.” Leaves are peeking out and stretching, buds are opening – must be the earth’s birthday. Enjoy!

Nurture peace, cultivate loving-kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week – a redbud blossoming all along its branches:

This week, a double shadow:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each week, simply sign up on the right.

For my posts on life, faith, and the mystery we call God, link here.

 

Text and photos © 2017 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.