“There has arisen from its narrow limits

My self and finds itself

As revelation of all worlds

Within the sway of time and space;

The world, as archetype divine,

Displays to me at every turn

The truth of my own likeness.”

– Taken from The Calendar of The Soul, by Rudolf Steiner.  Translated from the German by Ruth and Hans Pusch

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Always beginning with my disclosure of not being a long-time student or expert in Anthroposophy . . .

This little verse is pretty, I think.  It speaks to me of the expansion of our awareness of ourselves.  Our spirit’s swelling and filling within us.  Our realization of our limitless natures.

As we begin to honor and love our selves, we begin to honor and love others.  Other people, the animal kingdom, the plant kingdom, Mother Earth, the sun and moon and cosmos.  We begin to see ourselves reflected in all other aspects of creation.

We begin to notice those rhythmic movements within ourselves mirrored in the rising and setting of the sun, the phases of the moon, the changing of the seasons.  We start to feel the times of warmth and of cold.  The times of wetness and dryness.  The times of death and rebirth.  We begin to see that the mysteries of our inner life are reflected in the world around us.

There are great clues for us.  Clues about how to love . . . how to surrender . . .  how to grow . . . how to play . . . how to sing . . . how to dance . . .

Open yourself up to yourself — and then to your world around you.  And, see what you can see!

The magnolias are in bloom here in Memphis!  [deep breath, as if I can smell them here in front of my computer screen in the office -- I wish!]  They really are magnificent blooms.  They’re HUGE and rugged and they smell divine!  My little one said, “Mommy, you should make perfume out of this.”  She’s right.

Can I see myself in the magnolia?  The tree is an evergreen with large, glossy, dark green leaves.  This time of year they bloom and then leave behind very cool-looking woody cones.  I just found out that the blossoms are not pollinated by bees or butterflies, but rather by beetles (beetles as totem animals assist with resurrection and transformation).

I think it’s especially interesting that although the tree does not itself follow the cycle of “death” and rebirth like deciduous trees do, it’s flowers and fruit are pollinated and assisted by a totem animal of resurrection.  I like this!  Can we begin to see how death and rebirth may be an inner experience rather than an outer experience sometimes — and that the gift of this process is something that smells so sweet and looks so beautiful?

Thank you, Rudolf Steiner, and thank you, Magnolia Tree, for your messages today.  I carry you both in my heart and in my awareness today . . .

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