This month I’m exploring pronoia (the belief that the universe is conspiring to shower us with blessings), peace, and quiety (serenity) through the lens of words that are unusual, obscure or simply delight me. I’m working my way through the alphabet in the A-to-Z blogging challenge, and today we’re visiting the letter B.
B is for benison – a blessing, beatitude, or benediction.
I suppose there may be tendency to think of blessings somehow in a religious context, but let’s remove them from that limitation. Let’s be far more expansive than that and consider benison and benediction are rooted in the Latin bene dicere which means “to speak well of.” Benison has been in our language since the 14th century. Let’s reflect on benison as something that promotes goodness or well-being or is an expression of good wishes.
Now those are wonderful things to contemplate. Can you imagine what a shift would occur if each one of us spent even a few moments considering what was currently blessing us? The ability to see magic, to appreciate beauty, to hold wondrous things in our heart is a proficiency that seems to be diminishing at an exponential pace. Let’s be emissaries to change that.
I’ve been dreaming a lot about bees lately, and last night I had an extraordinary nighttime adventure where I WAS a bee. Drinking nectar, my feet and body covered pollen, the sun on my back, a field of flowers beckoning, it was a bliss-charged experience. The dream itself was a benison but unfold it a little more, and we can’t help but appreciate the benison our beautiful bees are. Each year bees pollinate 95 crops worth an estimated $10 billion dollars in the U.S. alone.
When we make these connections, these acknowledgements of what blesses us, we are have opened our hearts. We move out of separation into unity, and that in itself is a benison. We find ways to act that sustains and nourishes our connection – to work on behalf of the bees in whatever ways we can and are inspired to.
That leads me to another benison, a blessing offered by Maya Angelou:
“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart.”
Now isn’t that a beautiful wish? Are you up to accepting the invitation?
That is a beautiful sentiment. Too many people forget to appreciate what they have, always striving for the new big thing in detriment to what is already there. Thank you for the reminder.
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings – Shapeshifters and Werewolves
It only takes a little mindfulness to really shift things, doesn’t it? Thanks so much for stopping by today Tasha.
Hi Deborah – you manage to bring us back to earth and take our time to consider life. I think is is a great idea – B for Benison … I like to walk around without worry as I journey along to my next call so to speak – I’m about to go out – so I’ll take Benison with me … cheers Hilary
http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/b-is-for-british-breeds-introduction.html
What a lovely thing Hilary. Wishing you a wonderful benison-filled day.
Bees are quite marvellous creatures, wouldn’t mind being one at all. Being human isn’t too bad either. Definitely a benison. Great word choice for B.
Nilanjana
From Madly-in-Verse
I’ve always wanted a bee costume – that’s one way to have the best of both worlds. Thanks for stopping by and wishing you a beautiful day.
Deborah, well said. Often times we forget what we are blessed with and long for or complain about what we don’t have.
— Usha
B for Bokeh
How true. I imagine your photography helps keep you mindful of all the beauty around you – and the beauty you’re adding to the world with your photos. Blessings all around.
Excellent quote from Maya Angelou. And a good inspiration, especially for these times. I’ve been trying to be more aware of cultivating bee-friendly plants in my yard. Bees are indeed a blessing.
Yes to bee-friendly gardens! We have some goldenrod that is a huge bee magnet come late summer/early fall. Many types of bees stop by – and I literally spend hours mesmerized by all their activity.
This is so very lovely Deborah thank you. Benison – even the sound of it – bene – good, as in benevolent and benediction .. NB: Note Bene – note well … I’m noting this very well and am thankful for the benisons that come my way. What a lovely dream! You ARE a queen bee 🙂 Thank you for the lovely Maya Angelou quote …
Your kind words are a benison Susan – thank you!
What a nice word! I can just see you as a bee, flitting around and spreading joy.
B is for Bon Jovi
LOL – love that Janet!
That’s a fabulous benison by Maya Angelou, and a wonderful post! Yes, we must utilize our gifts to make a difference in this world of great turmoil. And I am with you on the quest to keep the BEES in business! I am blessed that the honeybee farm is down the country road from me! SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
It delights me Vicki thinking you’re near a honeybee farm. And that Spring has sprung. We’re having some of those infamous April showers today that will be resulting in May flowers I hope.
I often notice things in my life that are good and I generally feel blessed to have them happen.
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Good for you!
That IS a beautiful sentiment from Maya Angelou. I find the world is full of blessings from other people, whether they be well wishes or something more tangible. But to get the most benefit from them one has to trust that others mean well and open themselves to hurt, which isn’t always easy, especially when one has been hurt before.
I think you’re right Alex – vulnerability is like nourishing soil that allows tender seedlings to grow in.
That’s a lovely sentiment.
I remember when we were waiting to find out how many of our embryos had survived to day five for freezing in February I spent the five days carrying a sort of cosmic score sheet. Sightings such as a particular bird with some symbolism to me were a sign that things were going to be okay, my own personal benison.
Cait @ Click’s Clan
Keeping our hearts and our eyes open on our journeys is always a wonderful thing. I appreciate you stopping by Cait.
Thank you for the lovely new word. <3
My pleasure Sue. It’a always fun to make new friends – whether they be persons or words.
What a wonderful word!
Thanks for stopping in on my bee (B) posting which led me to yours —
Lots of buzzing around going on in April. 🙂
That meaning of blessing, or benison does have an interesting application even within Biblical speech – “bless the Lord, oh my soul.” We would normally think of God blessing us, but we bless him when we speak well of him. You have an interesting theme.
That is indeed interesting Shirley, and brings to mind something else I believe is important – reciprocity. Giving and receiving in flow. I definitely do NOT mean, I give you something valued at X and you need to give me something of equal value in return. It’s not transactional in that way. But rather the exchange of energy keeps things flowing in balance. When my eyes look upon a tree, the tree is gifted with being seen and I receive the beauty of the witnessing. This to me is an important part of flow. I appreciate you stopping by and commenting – thank you.
Your stopping by my blog was a benison, Deborah, because it led me to yours, brought me into this gentle, safe space you’ve created, and I hope the honey bees come back, and I love the design of your blog and Maya Angelou’s quote. Que bueno, as Spanish speakers say, how good, what a blessing.
What kind words Lizbeth – thank you!
This is a lovely post. I’ve never heard or read this word before, yet feel like it should be front and center of my life right now. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and giving me a new way to think about and act in the coming days.
You make me smile Ally Bean. Journey well with benisons.
Asking a blessing for, well, for anyone, releases all good vibes and changes the day! Always!
It does indeed Yolanda!
“The ability to see magic, to appreciate beauty, to hold wondrous things in our heart is a proficiency that seems to be diminishing at an exponential pace.” So true. For me, writing has helped me hold on to that more than I otherwise would have, and I hope it comes through in my stories. Beautiful post! Also, how amazing to have dreamed being a bee!
It’s wonderful when you find a way (or several) that bring you to that place and open the way to express it. Thanks for your kind words Sara, and thanks for stopping by.
I’m still working on the pages I opened under B.
We indeed have many blessings. It’s important to count them.
Letter D, oh my the alphabet moves quickly.
Hey, It’s Ann visiting from A to Z So Much to Choose From and
Science Ladybug
I agree Ann.
Sounds like a great dream, to be a bee. I remember in first school we used to have school hikes to a local bee keeper to learn about what he did, and to see the hives and try some honey and honeycomb. 🙂
Good post and really good message in it!
Here is my “B” post 🙂 http://nataliewestgate.com/2017/04/body-secret-diary-of-a-serial-killer
Sounds like a wonderful experience to have when you’re a child. Well, even as an adult. The more understanding we have about bees the better it is.
I appreciate you stopping by Natalie and happy a-to-z-ing.
What a brilliant dream – it fills my heart with sunshine just thinking about it. We’re blessed with lots of bees around here – the farmer next door has several hives that dine regularly on our fuchsia. In Irish there’s a greeting – beannacht leat (pronounced banakt lat) which means blessings on you – a real benison – as is your lovely blog Deborah.
Oh what a lovely greeting Fil! And how wonderful you have a bounty of bees enjoying your fuchsia. Sounds like a fair trade – dinner for them and beauty for you.