“a rose of the West should not aspire to bloom like a lotus from the East”. - gareth knight

what a lovely quote and something to really think about as my mind floats around today. the rose brings to my mind the Glastonbury thorn and my own personal search for the western Nirvana, otherwise known as Avalon.

i had an amazing experience with a cardinal this morning. the bird kind, not the pope kind. he came to my windowsill at work and flapped a bit at the window. i don’t believe he could see me as i was able to put my hand right up against the glass, just a mere half inch from his face. he was protecting his lady friend, hiding in the bushes. he flitted back and forth a few times, but didn’t really ‘attack’ the window like some birds i’ve seen.

some research has his appearance taking on much deeper meanings for me. a reminder to eat better, to keep in touch with my feminine creative energies and a connection to my religious explorations in trying to understand what keys the Hospitallers have yet to show me.

all that and he was just so full of vibrant life and intense energy. and he was quite the handsome one, too!