State of the Garden
Appreciating the absence of fire and flood and holding in the light those in harm’s way.


Appreciating the absence of fire and flood and holding in the light those in harm’s way.


Those of you on the East Coast please start watching out and preparing for Florence.

A couple of weeks ago, I found a carved wood murti of Ganesha in a box on the sidewalk with some other stuff and a “free” sign. This Ganesha had serpents (nagas) rising over his head like a canopy–not uncommon imagery. Ganesha was “free” most likely because one of the nagas had broken off. It made me think of Ayyappa, Ganesha’s brother by a different mother. Ayyappa is apart from the others. Of Shiva’s three sons, he is the one who is either or both missing or extra. The trunk was also badly glued, but that can be remedied.


In the late afternoon, after it did not really rain again in this pocket of the DMV, I went out in the garden to get fresh herbs and greens to go with tomatoes picked earlier in the day. This was what the clouds were doing. I was called to pause and, with awe and appreciation, observe.