OTHER: I love biology and it helps me to connect to the enchantment of the natural and often overlooked/mundane world around me but don't often remember to really look at and see. That passage is an important one for me. I first read it five years ago.. It was the first time I considered the pairing of yellow and purple blossoms and realised that we have similar pairings of native plants in Australia. In my region, early spring (the season we're now in) is marked by the profuse brilliant yellow puff-ball blossoms of the Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) and Cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana), at the same time the False Sarsparilla Vine, also called 'Happy Wanderer'; (Hardenbergia violacea) blooms in waves of purple. The honey bee is not native so revisiting this passage prompted me to research the native pollinators of these plants as I had no knowledge about this.
Apparently... "Wattles are opportunistic pollinators making the most of pretty much any beetle, wasp or bee which lands on them to do the job of spreading their genes around. Unlike many other plants, most wattles do not rely on a specific type of insect or bird for pollination. Instead, insects land on the blossom and become covered with pollen, carrying it from one plant to the next. Birds which forage for these insects also become incidental pollen carriers in the process." (ABC Science). They don't have nectar but their pollen is full of protein. They also exude a sticky, sweet substance on their leaves when they flower, which attracts birds, especially the honey-eater (Meliphagidae).
The Happy Wanderer is pollinated by native bees including the lovely Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla spp.), as well as the introduced honey bees. I couldn't find much else about it so my curiosity is not yet satisfied.
This passage has reminded me to reawaken my curiosity about the world around me and to see the 'umwelt' - the world through the eyes of other organisms (a concept I learned through another book I have recently finished, "Wild Signs and Star Paths" by Tristan Gooley").
Thanks for the wonderful prompt Amy and to all the commenters for your own umwelt (perspectives).
Thank you, I love hearing what translates and what doesn't between ecosystems (I really enjoyed thinking of the ecological niches that dinosaurs and modern animals shared, like elephants and giraffes are the modern sauropods, when my daughters were really into dinos). I love the idea of being an opportunistic pollinator, and letting whatever is coming by spread my pollen around :) I think Sophie Strand was just talking about umwelt on her Substack this week too!
Oh yes, sauropods! Completely outside of nature and ecosystems... excavators, loaders and backhoes still look like sauropods to me (I loved dinosaurs as a child too). I think being an opportunistic pollinator sounds fabulous!
I love the book and her discussion of purple and yellow. When she transmits her wisdom it validates the very healing connection that I tap into daily with bees, hummingbirds, plants, flowers, trees, birds etc. i feel grateful and open to a different way of being.
3. Deepening my craft. Trusting in my intuition and ability to see patterns even though I’m still learning some of the technical aspects. Knowing it is a process of time, focus, practice, and zooming in and then zooming out again. And continuing this meditative discussion of this wonderful book with you!
There is so much value in the technical craft and I think we sometimes focus on that to the exclusion of the tending and witnessing that are so healing (and that I'm guessing you're already quite proficient at). And you're right, there's always more we want to know, and yet, we usually know more than enough to begin.
c. I recently started a new job as a biomechanics movement practitioner and what drew me there was the combination of science and ability to recognize patterns and use intuition to assess client’s needs. It truly is a holistic way of working with the body. I feel it is a place that I can cultivate my gifts and work with both lenses.
Definitely some good feelings! Out of curiosity, is your biomechanics practice related to Katy Bowman's work at all? It's so interesting how the rational, intuitive, and spiritual/magical are in conversation with each other when we pause to listen, instead of negating each other.
Not specifically, but a lot of the foundational principles are similar! Sitting too much, wearing shoes, not moving our parts in integration and in relation to each other and the overall whole system. The system I work with is called Functional Patterns
Beautiful, I suspect our ancestors didn't even see a distinction between the two, all of the materials they engaged with were simply imbued with spirit.
2. a. Feel: open in the chest, roll of muscle under the right ribs, decrease in tension in neck and shoulders
b. peaceful, held, close to tears
c. I have been trying to answer questions of science, art, and beauty within my own life. As I discovered the shimmering threads that hold it all together, I realized it is so much more vast and awe-inspiring than objective reality can capture. I tried to bring love of the world, awe, beauty to my work, but many did not have eyes to see or ears to hear it. That left me feeling as if there was no one to see and help me cultivate my gifts. It left me feeling heartbroken.
3.
-Practice seeing through other eyes
-Find those with whom we can mutually be pollinated more than if we were growing alone.
-Behold the shimmering threads that hold it all together
-Help others love the world and rock back on their heels in awe.
OTHER: I love biology and it helps me to connect to the enchantment of the natural and often overlooked/mundane world around me but don't often remember to really look at and see. That passage is an important one for me. I first read it five years ago.. It was the first time I considered the pairing of yellow and purple blossoms and realised that we have similar pairings of native plants in Australia. In my region, early spring (the season we're now in) is marked by the profuse brilliant yellow puff-ball blossoms of the Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) and Cootamundra wattle (Acacia baileyana), at the same time the False Sarsparilla Vine, also called 'Happy Wanderer'; (Hardenbergia violacea) blooms in waves of purple. The honey bee is not native so revisiting this passage prompted me to research the native pollinators of these plants as I had no knowledge about this.
Apparently... "Wattles are opportunistic pollinators making the most of pretty much any beetle, wasp or bee which lands on them to do the job of spreading their genes around. Unlike many other plants, most wattles do not rely on a specific type of insect or bird for pollination. Instead, insects land on the blossom and become covered with pollen, carrying it from one plant to the next. Birds which forage for these insects also become incidental pollen carriers in the process." (ABC Science). They don't have nectar but their pollen is full of protein. They also exude a sticky, sweet substance on their leaves when they flower, which attracts birds, especially the honey-eater (Meliphagidae).
The Happy Wanderer is pollinated by native bees including the lovely Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla spp.), as well as the introduced honey bees. I couldn't find much else about it so my curiosity is not yet satisfied.
This passage has reminded me to reawaken my curiosity about the world around me and to see the 'umwelt' - the world through the eyes of other organisms (a concept I learned through another book I have recently finished, "Wild Signs and Star Paths" by Tristan Gooley").
Thanks for the wonderful prompt Amy and to all the commenters for your own umwelt (perspectives).
Thank you, I love hearing what translates and what doesn't between ecosystems (I really enjoyed thinking of the ecological niches that dinosaurs and modern animals shared, like elephants and giraffes are the modern sauropods, when my daughters were really into dinos). I love the idea of being an opportunistic pollinator, and letting whatever is coming by spread my pollen around :) I think Sophie Strand was just talking about umwelt on her Substack this week too!
Oh yes, sauropods! Completely outside of nature and ecosystems... excavators, loaders and backhoes still look like sauropods to me (I loved dinosaurs as a child too). I think being an opportunistic pollinator sounds fabulous!
I had never thought of big machines that way. My daughter loves them, so I will now.
I love the book and her discussion of purple and yellow. When she transmits her wisdom it validates the very healing connection that I tap into daily with bees, hummingbirds, plants, flowers, trees, birds etc. i feel grateful and open to a different way of being.
Yes, I love the idea of seeing through bee or butterfly eyes!
3. Deepening my craft. Trusting in my intuition and ability to see patterns even though I’m still learning some of the technical aspects. Knowing it is a process of time, focus, practice, and zooming in and then zooming out again. And continuing this meditative discussion of this wonderful book with you!
There is so much value in the technical craft and I think we sometimes focus on that to the exclusion of the tending and witnessing that are so healing (and that I'm guessing you're already quite proficient at). And you're right, there's always more we want to know, and yet, we usually know more than enough to begin.
2. a. Sense of ease and excitement
b. Awe, Truth, inspired
c. I recently started a new job as a biomechanics movement practitioner and what drew me there was the combination of science and ability to recognize patterns and use intuition to assess client’s needs. It truly is a holistic way of working with the body. I feel it is a place that I can cultivate my gifts and work with both lenses.
Definitely some good feelings! Out of curiosity, is your biomechanics practice related to Katy Bowman's work at all? It's so interesting how the rational, intuitive, and spiritual/magical are in conversation with each other when we pause to listen, instead of negating each other.
Not specifically, but a lot of the foundational principles are similar! Sitting too much, wearing shoes, not moving our parts in integration and in relation to each other and the overall whole system. The system I work with is called Functional Patterns
1. We see the world more fully when we use both [material and spiritual].
Beautiful, I suspect our ancestors didn't even see a distinction between the two, all of the materials they engaged with were simply imbued with spirit.
Pleased to join this conversation.
Welcome! We'd love to hear your thoughts/impressions after you have a chance to contemplate the passage!
2. a. Feel: open in the chest, roll of muscle under the right ribs, decrease in tension in neck and shoulders
b. peaceful, held, close to tears
c. I have been trying to answer questions of science, art, and beauty within my own life. As I discovered the shimmering threads that hold it all together, I realized it is so much more vast and awe-inspiring than objective reality can capture. I tried to bring love of the world, awe, beauty to my work, but many did not have eyes to see or ears to hear it. That left me feeling as if there was no one to see and help me cultivate my gifts. It left me feeling heartbroken.
1. Shimmering threads.