Soft Animal

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

- Mary Oliver

 Alone. For the first time in eight years. Just me and some sweet friends of mine and a group of like-minded women. I cannot explain my need for outdoors, fresh air, hands in the dirt, sitting and staring for too long at something small and explainable (a bee, a crab, a bird, the wind in the trees and the list goes on...). I came to the beautiful gardens late because Kasper was crying and had a hard time letting me go. Magnus just waved and carried on, AnaSofia gave me many deep, meaningful hugs, but surprisingly, Kasper clung and pulled at my heartstrings the most. Still I set off on the three hour drive and let the stress, homesickness and responsibilities peel away. I arrived and everyone else had already set up their tents around one another in a glade surrounded by flowers and I was told to either join them or choose the last spot set back in behind the big oak tree. I could not believe my good fortune and quickly set up camp in the quiet circle alone behind grandfather oak. That night I woke at 11 pm and came out of my tent to gaze at the fireflies circling my circle. The next two mornings I awoke at 4:30 am, kissed the oak and gained a deep respect for the need for silence for the next two hours as I walked, watched and soaked it all in. They say you need to be still and quiet for awhile after you awake to allow your soul to come back to you from the dream world. It is quite true.
These days of learning about herbs, herbal medicine and myself were just what this witchy mama needed. So very thankful for those friends of mine for pushing me to jump on board...