“Landscape has a secret and silent memory, a narrative of presence where nothing is ever forgotten.” John O’Donohue (this and all following quotes from “Anam Cara, A Book of Celtic Wisdom”).
According to the ancient Celts, “Landscape is not matter nor merely nature, rather it enjoys luminosity. Landscape is numinous”.
To “consider yourself as a complete stranger … who has just stepped ashore in your life” is to realize that you are not “the helpless owner of a deadened life but rather a temporary guest gifted with blessing and possibilities you could neither invent nor earn”.
Have a great weekend! I am off to the garden center with a friend and not likely to have clean fingernails for awhile.
Anam Cara is Gaelic for ‘soul friend’.
“A garden is a spell we cast against the world”
from “Spell” by Kathryn Williams & Neville Clay at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland UK 2008
I love the echoing of these words in my mind but my heart made this change to the words
“A garden is a spell we cast within the world”
I like your version better.
Nice post _I who long for a garden_and wonderful photographs.
Happy digging!
Thanks Michelle! Almost the entire day was spent in the garden. So great! Will you be coming up to Massachusetts any time soon? I hope you’re well enough.
Can words even hold the wonder of the earth? I will try to think of myself as a temporary guest, perhaps a bit softer, yes?