The day two report on my ‘Reading the Signs’ June challenge is being written on the morning of day three, because sometimes life is busy.
I had a family gathering scheduled for the early evening, as relatives who live in the USA were visiting. The timing had been changed, so much of my day had to be moved around to accommodate it.
Yesterday I drew the ‘Bee’ card from the Druid Animal Oracle, so this very important insect was much on my mind.
The weather is unusually hot and sunny in the West of Ireland at the moment, so this bright card seemed to replicate the conditions. Worker bees, all female, are dedicated, hard-working and rarely at rest - though this one is seems to be sunbathing. The Ogham symbol of ‘Ur’, heather, is visible, and the mead-making facility at Tara is in the background.
A card that’s meant to symbolise community, celebration and organisation, it was obvious to think it was hinting at the evening’s meeting with family members.
I had to re-arrange my gym session for a lunch-time slot to accommodate the change of timing. It wasn’t my preference, especially considering the heat. Since it wasn’t my usual allocation it seemed to creep up on me until suddenly it was do or don’t, and many excuses to abstain crowded my mind.
Then I thought about the Bee, who goes about her work fastidiously. I pulled on my gear, got to the gym on time, sweated out the session, and I was glad I had been inspired by the insect.
At one point later, as I sat in the passenger seat of our car, while Martin drove us into Galway city, past the water of Galway bay, a blinding sparkle of reflected light, my thoughts started to veer into unhelpful rumination.
When I noticed, I diverted my attention towards contemplating the bees: the hum of their lives, their dedication, their vital job of pollination, how humans are part of a chain of dependence that rests upon them always doing their job. I became lost in admiration and relaxing away from mental agitation.
Then I looked down at the bag sitting in my lap, which I had swapped out for another one seconds before I left the house.
I’ve no memory of knowing there was a bee on that bag. I selected it as it’s small and brightly coloured.
When I saw the bee, I smiled.
Then I joined my family, where we buzzed with memories, laughed a lot, and enjoyed being together for a time.