Spring Close-Up

Spring lets us in on her secrets. They are the same the world over. Rebirth. Renewal. Hope. But what do the individual flowers say?

The waxy lanterns of the andromeda shrub remind me that my light shines from within. A white magnolia offers the same wisdom as it virtually glows against the darkness.

A rhododendron bloom blurts out joy like a noisemaker at a child’s birthday party. A wine-edged hellebore bows in reverence as it blooms. I can follow their lead and do both.

Twin euphorbia bracts reveal their artistry as I delve inside their protective outer layer. Showing my vulnerability doesn’t illicit disdain as I once imagined, but actually increases my preciousness in the eyes of others.

This purple flower appears to be inside-out. When I wear my heart on my sleeve, everyone can see my truth at a glance.

A forget-me-not ages without apology: purple, blue, then gray. When I was a child I thought and acted as a child; but is it time to put away childish things and accept who I now am?

Cheery yellow posies invite me to look on the sunny side of life.

When I want to truly commune with The Divine, I don’t just remain on the surface, but dig deeply into the center of mystery as these tantalizing blooms illustrate.

Symmetry is overrated. As you can see from this whiskered viola, the subtle imperfections create a wabi-sabi beauty. And the fissures in a developing pine cone may mar its perfection, but allow it to eventually break out of its gummy constraints and grow.

Finally, a sweet pea and fuchsia open themselves to the world without holding back. Will I dare do the same?

All photos © Sondra Sula.

My most recent daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula, is available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions. It is also sold at the Gallery Bookshop in Mendocino.