Walking the Pollen Path...
Recently
in my
Transformative Moment post
of the meme
so brilliantly organised
by the inspiring Steven
I mentioned the Pollen Path
In Navajo Indian tradition
The Pollen Path
is sacred
The path represents
the source of life,
and the path
to the centre of existence
The Navajo Indians
have a short song
they sing about the Pollen Path
that goes like this:
Oh beauty before me
Oh Beauty behind me
Beauty to my right
Beauty to my left
Beauty above me
Beauty below me
I am on the Pollen path
The images I have used in this post
are some of my favourite
John William Waterhouse,
1849-1917, paintings
*
How lovely to start the day with your poetry and the beautiful paintings of John William Waterhouse. All those pre-Raphaellite images of women from the Greek mythology. Good morning to you and thanks for your nice comment in my blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post! I love the Navajo appreciation of the beauty of the natural world that surrounds and blesses us always. It is our true center and true home. I would not have thought to illustrate these words with the Waterhouse paintings of young women, but it totally works. They're enchanting images. Thank you for again brightening my day, Delwyn.
ReplyDeleteYou found the perfect paintings! Everything is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMost of the times people are rushing around in this city, it would be so nice if we could all walk a little slower and take in the nature we have around us.
Thank you for the reminder!
I never tire of looking at Waterhouse paintings, they speak volumes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, I love pre-Raphaelite art, especially Waterhouse. Just delightful.
ReplyDeleteSunny :)
Delwyn...the serene richness you have given me early in my morning is so valued...the Waterhouse paintings and the Navajo Indian song that you presented together make me proud that I am not blind to the beauty of life and nature...you really made my eyes tear up with this post...your ability to "create" even more beauty with them is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSmiles Always,
Wanda
Delwyn: What a fabulous juxtaposition of the Waterhouse women and the Navajo words. Very creative - and it works.
ReplyDeleteThe last one must hold some special meaning for you - but you leave it as a mystery for us to figure out. I just tried, as I write this comment, to scroll back to her, but it won't work. I will go back and look at her eyes and facial expression again - it was captivating.
Thanks Delwyn.
Hello Celeste
ReplyDeletethere could be no better words of gratitude and appreciation than the pollen path and the Waterhouse images move me the same way...
thanks for coming in this morning/night for me...
Happy days
Hi there Dan
ReplyDeleteAre you back at school yet? I wish you the best for a fresh beginning...
both the words and the images enchant Dan...
Happy days
Hello Tulsa
ReplyDeleteyou might have a hard job convincing your fellow men to do that...and they do have so much natural beauty there...and beautiful aesthetics too...
Happy days
Hi Alaine
ReplyDeleteI think Dan had the word - they enchant us...The first one I love so much I keep going back to look at and each time I see it I sigh...I just love it, have always loved it...
I think maybe she is intoxicated by the perfume of nature...I think I am a little too...
and she exemplifies that saying 'stop and smell the roses...'
Happy days
Hello bright Sunny
ReplyDeleteWell I am glad you will enjoy this...
thanks for visiting today...
Happy days
Hi Wanda
ReplyDeleteI was deliberating which post to actually post tonight and decided on one I had written but as I went to post it the Pollen Path jumped in and demanded my attention...
That you can feel this way is a strong indication that you have a lovely gentle heart Wanda and a real love for nature...and of course I knew that...
Happy days
Hi Bonnie
ReplyDeleteI wanted to elaborate on the Pollen Path I had alluded to the other day and then I wondered how best to illustrate the story, as you know I love the juxtapositioning of imagery and words...
I thought of my nature or flower photographs but wanted something softer, more mellow, something that stood alongside but didn't override the text and then I thought of the lovely Waterhouse collection I had made recently...and voila...
It just so happened that I gathered one more than was necessary but it felt right to leave her there, she felt very connected to me...she looks serene and soft, fresh, and youthful...a little wistful...perhaps she reminds me of myself in times past...
Happy days
Beauty in the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteThank you Delwyn.
hello delwyn, the beautiful gentle words of the navajo - i've heard of the pollen path - and the beautiful gentle paintings of waterhouse (a favourite artist of mine for his portrayal of romantic feminine essence) - a tender meeting point. many of the bloggers i adore appear to follow the words of the pollen path in their passage through life. a rich sensitivity to and awareness of the world(s) around them. delwyn that's you. i know that you deeply experience this world. thanks for sharing that experiencing so fully. have a lovely night by the river. steven
ReplyDeleteI could sing that song most days in my mountains. Thanks for an uplifting start to my day!
ReplyDeleteAnd, in answer to your question over at my blog, I'm not currently working due to my difficulty with sitting in any type of normal chair for any length of time (the darn spine is the problem). Writing is one of the 'next' undertakings that I'm considering. That's part of why I started a blog. Thanks so much for your support.
A beautiful post, Delywn. Waterhouse is one of my favorite artists. I have several of his prints and a set of greeting cards with his women on the cover. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThe Navajo are the Sufis of the West, in my opinion. How we can live so close to these traditions and think about only football and burritos is beyond me. The great thing about pollen is that it is always changing. Look to the left again, and it is different. This is a wonderful post, with gorgeous art. I am glad I found you.
ReplyDeleteEFH
The words resonate, the message true. The images are indeed enchanting. Beauty is all around us if only we take the time to pause, look, register, appreciate.
ReplyDeleteI walk in beauty is how I often describe my spiritual path (borrowed from the Navaho). We spent about two weeks in and out of the Navaho Reservation several weeks ago. An amazing people struggling to maintain their culture and not lose their children to America.
ReplyDeleteI just realized that your posts were not showing up on my reading list. I thought I had done the follower thing. I'm sure I did but I just looked through your list and I'm not there. Trying again.
The Navajo understood the simplicity of beauty and the beauty of simplicity. This is lovely.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Waterhouse paintings? Some of my favourites too!
Thank you Delwyn of such a lovely post. I love the John William Waterhouse paintings.
ReplyDeleteA Navajo chant to start the weekend; and lovely pictures to charm the path.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Navajo song. The paintings you chose to illustrate are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful paintings!!! Each tells a lovely story!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Delwyn, yes, I'm back in the classroom. I've got a fabulous group of 28 four and five year olds. They're keeping me up to my eyeballs in actual (not virtual) relationships with the predictable result of having much less time for keyboarding. But I do hope to continue blogging on weekends here at Mindful Heart and checking on your blog for my daily dose of sanity and uplift.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you do. You are a real treasure.
You walk in beauty, Delwyn, even when you're not on the pollen path.
ReplyDeleteI loved your post today.
Hi there Cook
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see you again and hope you gathered some pollen...even some honey or propolis...
Happy days
Hello Steven my inspiring friend
ReplyDeleteThank you Steven and I agree with your premise that the bloggers we gravitate toward are those with an experience of the pollen path...
Perhaps I chose the Waterhouse images unconsciously because they represent that essence within me and that growing sensitivity to nature that I feel more of every day...
You are an insightful sensitive man...thank you
Happy days
Hi KB
ReplyDeleteI bet you do, surrounded by it as you are...
I have not read of your mishap and injury. Did you post about it?
I will backtrack through your blog and catch up.
Yes start the biking, exploring narratives...link in with a wilderness travel group...toy have great talents both in writing and the my biking sport...
Happy days
Hi Marion
ReplyDeletethanks for that tip. I love to collect cards of art works. I always come home from holidays with a number of sets. It is a good way to take those experiences home with you and have little collections from which you can choose cards to share your adventure and travels with friends, or covet then, as I am prone to do...
Happy days
Hi expat
ReplyDeletethe burgeoning world of capitalism, industrialization and post war growth as well as scientific advances
saw many traditions get thrown out in the bathwater...
The holy grail shifted form the inside to the outside ...
Now we are lucky to have the choice...
I like your point that pollen is always different...and it differing amounts on differing flowers and plants too...there is always a variety of ways to source our happiness....
I am glad you found me too, so that we can share and learn from one another, thank you expat
Happy days
Hi Meri
ReplyDeletewe even breathe it in as anyone with allergies can tell you, so sometimes we don't have to see it, just slow down and breathe...
thanks dear Meri for visiting...
Happy days
Hello Ellen
ReplyDeleteThat must have been both interesting to visit and disturbing to see the loss of culture and breakdown of traditional ways. The Au Aboriginals are having a formidable struggle in their communities...
I see you there now, maybe the pixies played with the first attempt...
Happy days
Hello Sherry
ReplyDeleteI think I hit the double whammy today - both the pollen path and Waterhouse are great hits all around...
Happy days
Hi Ann
ReplyDeletewe are a like minded bunch aren't we...that makes us a stronger little community ...we have some shared values and preferences ...
Happy days
Hi Rosario
ReplyDeleteand I hope that it echoes around your beautiful spot on the ocean inlet as you enjoy your weekend...
Happy days
Hi Janie
ReplyDeletesometimes the simplest things are the most profound aren't they...you know that a mountain, a horse, and a dog make a song of praise don't you...
Happy days
Hello Rita
ReplyDeletethey do seem to extend the text don't they...and allow our imaginations space to carry the feeling of beauty further...
Happy days
Dan
ReplyDeleteI am going to email you...
I feel treasured by friends such as you...
Happy days
Hello Barry
ReplyDeletewhile it is true I am surrounded in beauty in this incredible part of the world, I guess that to feel on the pollen path I have to register and praise that beauty and be profoundly grateful for it...and then I glow with pollen....and some rubs off on others and they too can experience some of the beauty around me...
Happy days
What a lovely lovely and worthy post! I'm very glad to visit this wonderful blog...
ReplyDeleteAloha-
Comfort Spiral
Hello Cloudia in paradise...
ReplyDeleteand I'm glad to have you drop by...thank you...
Happy days
Hi Delwyn! I saw several labels for Warehouse's paintings above, but he is also definitely well-covered in my book on Victorian paintings. I think that is because he wasn't all fantasy and myth but placed his women firmly on the ground. These paintings are delicious and so aptly convey the pollen path. Very original! I loved it. xxox
ReplyDeleteHello Margaret
ReplyDeleteI like that Waterhouse paints very real girls, often with very strong jawlines. Each is beautiful but as you say not a fantasy woman...
thanks for enjoying the blend of images and song...
Happy days