One of the many things I enjoy about being back in Lexington is the natural beauty we have here. From the descent into Bluegrass Field over lush green horse farms, rendered Emerald Isle green by too much rain this spring, to the birds (and other critters) in my mom's backyard, Lexington is still a city carved into the countryside. (Be sure to click on the pictures for some incredible resolution.)
Eckhart Tolle says that birds are the enlightenment of the animal kingdom. Watch them for any length of time and it becomes difficult to disagree. (I'm not so sure about chipmunks but they are awfully cute.)
Even the commonplace blue-headed blackbird and robin inspire awe. The red-headed house finch is pleasing too.
And then there is the stately Kentucky cardinal.
"Using the word 'enlightenment' in a wider sense than the conventionally accepted one, we could look upon flowers as the enlightenment of plants," Tolle writes in A New Earth.
And birds are the enlightenment of animals; diamonds, crystals and other gems the enlightenment of stone.
"When you are alert and contemplate a flower, crystal or bird without naming it," says Tolle, "it becomes a window into the formless. There is an inner opening, however slight, into the realm of spirit. This is why these three "en-lightened" life-forms have played such an important part in the evolution in human consciousness since ancient times."
A white dove signifying the Holy Spirit in Christianity is an excellent example.
We have mourning doves. They aren't white but I think the point has been made.
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Hi Todd, Glad you have completed your journey back to Kentucky. I love the photos- did you take them yourself? I enjoyed reading this post. Welcome back to the U.S. of A.!
ReplyDeleteYes, I took them yesterday. It's the same in MO, I'm sure. It's good to be back. Thanks for the well wishes.
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