Paths to Connection
Writing Signs, Symbols & Metaphors about our relationships to living things
Dear Friend,
This bonsai tree is new to my home, a gift that came this week from some dear friends. Plants fill my house–but this is my first time caring for a bonsai tree.
My Grandma Min taught me to care for plants by picking off their dead leaves, moving them to bigger planters as they grew and talking to them. She was always in relationship to her plants–she loved them and in turn, they thrived.
I try to follow Grandma’s example and mostly do okay. I’ve never had a bonsai tree before. I want to do right by her. I want to keep her alive.
I’m reading about bonsai tree care but don’t have an intuitive sense yet of how much to water this plant or where best to place her for the amount of sunlight she needs.
Grandma used to sing to her plants, too. I just remembered that.
Looking at my new bonsai tree makes me feel connected to my grandmother who was brave and funny and intuitive. I feel connected to the things that she loved, liked her plants. Her love lives in me; now it will feed this tree that she never knew.
What’s given you a sense of connection this week?
On the second Sunday of the month, our creative prompt invites us to notice signs, symbols and metaphors.
Connection comes in all kinds of forms, shows up in different ways…a connection could be a moment of synchronicity, a powerful dream you’re still thinking about, something that you experienced in your landscape or a memory that’s just returned. As you write, stay open to whatever kinds of connections make their way to your page.
Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.
Prompt: Take a few breaths. Get comfortable. Write out a list of moments from this week when you felt in relationship–with another person, an animal friend, a plant or other part of nature, a work of art, a book or any other kind of connection.
Look over your list. Notice which connection draws your attention the most. Go with that one.
Is there a sign or symbol that represents your connection? You could also play with a metaphor to describe the connection. Describe the connection, how it made you feel, what it helped you to discover.
I’d love to read your responses. Comment below or use the new ‘message’ feature.
Deepening Practice: Take a moment every evening to notice what made you feel connected through your day–or start a journal where you can jot down connections you feel through the day. Notice if there are patterns or kinds of relationships about what makes you feel connected.
Wishing you a week full of relating to the world around you and inside of you in unexpected ways! With love, Gabrielle Ariella
PS: I love the collection of poems for mothers. I feel connected to many of them and the complex journey of being a mom, missing my mom and praying for all the moms in the world who are struggling.