The Healing Touch

I love walking to my grandmother’s house. It is close to but not inside a vast wooded area. It is a small walk from my house to hers so when I was little I was able to walk down the quiet village road all by myself to go and visit granny. I used to pretend I was Little Red Riding Hood (even though I didn’t have a red hood) and I made sure that I kept a wary eye open for any signs of a wolf.

As I passed the last cottage and came upon the field that bordered Granny’s cottage I looked up in anticipation and slowed my pace a bit. Filimore never failed me. The minute he became aware of my presence he galloped up to the fence separating us, nuzzling my arm, and coat pockets in his search for treats. The field belonged to a riding school. I could see the top of its bright red roof at the other end of the field.

Today I had a carrot for him. His eyes sparked interest as I pulled it out of my pocket and he waited patiently until I offered it to him. He took it gently from my fingers. I watched him while he ate. His beautiful eyes, framed by long silky eyelashes seemed to reflect his joy while he ate. As the last bit of carrot disappeared I stroked his muzzle and whispered “Goodbye, see you next time.”

I turned back to the road and carried on walking to Gran’s house. Now as I looked at it, it seemed to resemble the little Gingerbread House. It was painted in a splash of a variety of vibrant colours which reflected Gran’s obsession with art. The porch was frilled with startling white broekie-lace.

Looking at the house I understood why some people may regard her with slight suspicion of being a witch. I suspected that she was a very good witch as she always had help for everyone whether that help was spiritual, physical or mental. She was a thoroughly good woman who was gifted with the healing touch.

 

The Capricious Sea

 

The mood of the sea can affect our moods. The sea is dictated to by the moon. I consist of so much water that the moon and in its turn the sea can affect me. It’s amazing to examine my mood every day and realise that so much of the sea is reflected in me. I think pf myself as a child of the sea.

I am fortunate to live on the beach. The stairs from my verandah sit firmly on the edge of the sand. As I sit on the second step from the bottom, my hands clutch the warm mug and my toes wiggle in the sand and the full moon shines on me, the sand and the sea. The ripples of the sea reflect the silver moon sparks. A total calmness creeps over me as I watch the sea. It seems as if the tide is coming in as the water is creeping closer to my house.

I love living on this almost paradise island. It is safe and it is beautiful but it is also exposed to the vagaries of the sea.

I haven’t witnessed it myself but I have been told that two years before I arrived, a tsunami all but destroyed the entire island. As the people took what shelter they could on the highest ground, they watched the destruction in front of them. Helpless to do anything but pray for their lives.

Industry and tenacity came in to play and by the time I arrived two years later there was no sign of the destruction but everyone has learned to treat the sea with respect.

© Vera Alexander

The Playful Dog

The little dog is running around enjoying his freedom. It is autumn. The leaves are dying on the trees and they are drifting down to make a carpet on the ground.

He dives at the floating leaves, snapping at them, going after this leaf, leaping at that one then running back to the man he loves, tongue lolling out of his mouth. Fred watches his dog with joy that almost matches Rusty’s joy.

For a while Rusty is content to walk beside Fred until he spots another leaf descending to the ground. The wind has dropped so the leaf floats slowly, just out of reach of the jumping dog. A little breeze catches the leaf and a game of tag between leaf and dog starts up. Rusty rushes at the just out of reach leaf and snaps his jowls in an ineffectual attempt to catch the leaf. The breeze gently lays the leaf on the ground. Rusty dives at it, worries it a bit and is then distracted by the next leaf descending. At last Rusty discovers a leaf that will be a fitting gift for his god. He plays with it for a few moments and then trots up to Fred and drops the leaf at his feet. He watches Fred for a moment and when there is no reaction he walks back a few steps then rises onto to his back legs and pretend pounces at Fred. His backside lifts to the air, tail wagging, waiting in excited anticipation for Fred to cooperate.

Fred laughs and says “I can’t throw that! We need to look for a small branch or something.”

The dog watches expectantly as Fred’s eyes roam around the ground. He sees a perfect stick and starts to move towards it. Rusty has been watching Fred and spots the stick before Fred gets to it. It is now a race for the prize. Fred scoops it up almost as Rusty’s open mouth reaches for it. The game is on!

© Vera Alexander

Time

 Life has made a few U-turns with this Covid: Disruptions to family life and friendships have become the norm.

Mother Nature has taken the whip and cracked it several times. Weather has been hot, dry, cold, wet. Storms abound and each time rain appears, Mother Nature uses it to wash the world with her healing touch.

She does not see the false divisions we have set up. She has her own clock and she keeps time with it. To her, all that matters are the 4 seasons and the preparation for each.

Trees follow her and know exactly when to flower or drop their leaves. Underground the roots ready themselves for when they must send up new shoots.

We as humans, need things to be much clearer defined so we have split time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years. We studiously follow our plans for each minute, each day and stupidly we put a false designation to our year end and we caper around like idiots welcoming in a new year – just another time span for Mother Nature. We continue with New Year’s resolutions which will be shed a few days, weeks or months into the New Year.

I prefer to set resolutions by the day but look at them as aims and ambitions for that day.

© Vera Alexander January 2021

2020

 

2020 has been a great teacher. It has taught us:

1.    That the earth needs healing. 2 short months of isolation and the world showed immense improvement. We need to remember this and do our best to keep it clean.

2.    That working from home is possible, can be enjoyable, productive and profitable.

3.    To value friends, neighbours and family.

4.    To follow rules to stay safe.

5.    To enjoy alone time

6.    To stop destructive behaviour and  implement positive habits

7.    To meet challenges with equanimity and finally

8.    To accept change.

Unfortunately

1.    Not all students follow the teachings

2.    Many students strutted around with complete and total disregard of their (or anyone else’s) safety

3.    Many students derided their government’s efforts to keep us safe

4.    Many students screamed fake news or conspiratory theories

To those who have lost people to Covid I send my heartfelt condolences.

To those who are struggling with the disease. Take one day at a time and celebrate each small achievement and milestone. Try to use the hard days as stepping stones to the next success.

To those who are caring for Covid patients. My heart goes out and I pray for your strength and immunity.

Statues in the Garden

The statues of Peter Pan and Wendy fascinated me. They were partially hidden by the undergrowth and a flowering tree branch extended over them. Every now and again a blossom detached and drifted down between them. As I watched the fallen blossoms became fairies who danced on the breeze touching Wendy’s hair as they drifted past. The wind changed direction slightly and the next batch of fairies played around Peter’s hat before falling into the space between Peter and Wendy

Peter was sitting with his eyes focused on the bird bath between them. Wendy had her arms linked behind her as she bent towards the bird bath.

A beautiful yellow bird fluttered down and sat on Peter’s cap, another one sat on Wendy’s hair. The two birds set up a conversation – each twittering in turn. They then companionably flew down to the birdbath and splattered in the water. Their joy was palpable

Bells

The bells calling the villagers to the fair sounded so joyful. It was hard to ignore the festive sound. In my mind’s eye I could see Johnathan pulling on the ropes in the bell tower.

Johnathan was born with Down’s syndrome but had always been an adventurous child. He was fascinated by the sound of the bells. Father Mullany watched him with  interest. When Johnathan was eight years old the father offered to teach him bell ringing. This would be the youngest person that Father had ever trained. He was also a bit worried that it might be too much for a child with Down’s syndrome.

Johnathan excitedly pulled his mother to the church on the afternoon of his first lesson. Father Mullany had arranged a table with a set of hand bells. Johnathan proudly counted them and turned to smile at his mother.

“Mom there are 8 bells. Father why are these bells so small? Are the ones in the tower this small?”

“No, Johnathan, The bells in the tower are very big and heavy so we always start off with a set of hand bells.”

Johnathan’s mom sat at the back of the church and watched the lesson. At the end of an hour, Father Mullany drew the lesson to a close.

“Johnathan we need to stop now. You have been one of the best pupils I have ever had. No one else has been able to play a tune at the end of an hour.”

Johnathan beamed. It wasn’t often that he was the best in anything.

“But can’t we do more?” he asked.

“Sorry Johnathan but I have to get ready for another appointment. Let’s plan when we can have our next lesson.”

Johnathan’s mom choked back the tears as she came forward to fetch him.

“He has got a wonderful knack,” said Father Mullany. “He has learnt so fast!”

Jonathan face was split by the biggest smile that his mom had ever seen.

Very soon he was ready to take his place with the bell ringing society. But the bells in the tower still fascinated him.

“You need to be very strong to handle those bells,” said Father Mullany.

“Why?” asked Johnathan.

“Because the bells are very heavy and you have to have strong arms and shoulders.”

“Okay. I’ll get strong,” replied Johnathan.

When Johnathan got home he asked his father to help him get stronger. Together they searched the internet for exercises. It soon became their special time, the time they spent together gathering tips and developing their shoulders and arms. Equipment was bought when they could afford it and finally when Johnathan turned thirteen he presented himself to Father Mullany. Together they climbed the stairs to the top of the bell tower and Father Mullany strapped noise mufflers onto Johnathan’s head and then put his own on. Johnathan tried the biggest bell and was thrilled when it produced a deep rolling tone. He skipped over to the next bell and then the next. He was in his element. He managed three of the bells but could not handle the other two as well. Father Mullany laughed at his disappointed face and told him that if he wanted to play tunes with these bells he needed to get some help. So together they pulled and released bells until they had a lovely harmony going.

Johnathan quickly became adept and proudly took his place as an official campanologist for the church.