A Small Summer Gift...Amor Flores

I would like to offer a small gift to the fifth person who sends me an email to mariabowling@me.com. 

It is a sample of my first liquid perfume! It took over a year to make and is rich with floral notes, the predominate notes are Jasmine, Damask Rose and Honeysuckle. (I only use natural botanicals). There are many other botanical  ingredients but when I made this perfume I wanted the person wearing it to feel like they were in a garden of fragrant flowers. 

In the subject line please write 'Amor'.

Where in the world will it go?

Messenger of the Heart

Maybe there is something in the stars this month, or maybe it is time to pay attention to the voice that speaks from the inner chamber of the Heart. I have recently been inspired by the writings of several sparkly people. They shared their truth as they are seeing and experiencing the events of this very accelerated time. Their topics are centered on the energies of going inward, reviewing our truths and speaking this inner knowing or wisdom from our Hearts. 

In my practice, this has been the theme for several weeks. As I was writing this I decided to chose a card from my deck of orchid essences, each one represents a different virtue or healing capacity. Low and behold...I picked the 'Messenger of the Heart' essence. 

(This orchid essence comes from the Living Tree Orchid Essences from Scotland. Their link is on my home page. This particular orchid is Phragmipedium Grouville.) 

This flower essence 'gives voice to the heart and communicates what you are feeling, without fear of the consequences for speaking your truth. To help become more aware of what is deeply valued within the heart.'

It is profound that I picked this essence because I have been thinking a lot about how our bodies and our health can be deeply affected by holding back our truths. Emotions like anger, grief and the energy of resentment can build within our systems leading to a cascade effect which can effect our immune system. We can also feel out of sorts, tired,  ill at ease in our bodies and know that we are feeling a bit 'off'. 

I feel that when we speak our truth, we must dip into great courage and then many subtle and profound things can happen, ultimately for the good. 

This lovely rose bud has been opening outside my window. Since roses speak to the heart I decided to add these pictures. 

As the light is changing all of the colors seem to be glowing and the last precious moments of summer are being savored.

The truth is always exciting. Speak it, then. Life is dull without it.

Pearl S. Buck

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

It appears to be butterfly week here.....this lovely butterfly has been here several times,  I recognize it because it is missing a part of its left wing. Fortunately it found enough nectar to keep it in the garden so that I could photograph it on the purple flowers. 

According to the language of Chinese symbols, I just learned that a butterfly may symbolize a man in his seventies because 'hu-die' the expression of butterfly phonetically resembles the pronunciation of 'die'... an older gentleman. A butterfly may also be symbolic of a deceased wife who reappears through nature to meet her living husband. Butterflies and plum blossoms together in a picture symbolize long life and immaculate beauty.

Feeding on nectar. 

Wishing everyone a very sparkly August.

Eastern Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Today I had the beautiful experience of photographing a male black swallowtail butterfly. I captured it while it was flying and feeding at the same time. It was such a pleasing sight to watch all of the colors come together and create so much beauty.

I was reminded of how much elegance is around us at all times if we take the time to notice what is before us. 

Females have faded yellow dots on their wings while males have a bolder yellow dots. 

In my research I have learned that this beauty is the state butterfly of Oklahoma!

The flowers in the pictures are of a pink Agastache cana 'Heather Queen' plant, this variety is called the 'pink panther'. 

Butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers.

In many cultures they are symbols of change, growth and joy,  

their medicine is about transformation. As the life cycle of the butterfly is about one month from egg, to larva, to cocoon to butterfly they are powerful symbols of rapid growth and the celebration of transition.  This energy seems to be the theme of the summer. 

 I love how these amazing creatures show up in just the right time to offer their messages and their wisdom. At the time that this particular butterfly appeared I was thinking about a very specific topic. Taking the time out of my day to be with this butterfly gave me the gift of serenity and awe. It was a moment in which I witnessed nature's 'grace' in action. 

Some of my pictures were a bit blurry because the butterfly was moving so quickly. To me they look almost like little fairies, especially this one. 

'Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.' 

Zhuangzi (c. 369 BC- c. 286 BC)

Chinese sage