With September rapidly winding to a close, I didn’t want it to slip past without acknowledging it as National Honey Month. And it seems the universe conspired to inspire me to write about it today, gifting me with three honey-relevant experiences.
First I had a dream, where I was lying in a field of night-blooming flowers gazing up at the moon and something buzzed my head. I thought it was pretty interesting a bee would be out so late, but even as I had the thought I heard a snort and very indignant faery landed next to me. Turns out she was quite chatty, and not all that impressed with humans, whom she considered a little light in the intelligence department. But she did wonder why people thought the moon was made from cheese when clearly it was made from honey. She opined about many things, but it was the idea of honeymoon that stuck in my brain when I woke up.
I remembered I had once researched the etymology of honeymoon and had discovered a tidbit of information that delighted me. In the 1500s the term flitterwochen came into usage in Germany to describe what is commonly defined as that “indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newlywed couple.” Flitter means tinsel and wochen is week. Doesn’t the idea of a tinsel week spark delight in your heart?! Seriously, from this moment forward, I am absolutely adopting flitterwochen as the standard by which all my weeks need to measure up.
Today I spent a little more time out in the garden doing some autumn clean up. Just last week my goldenrod was at the height of its bee magnetism, but it’s in its waning stages now. Still, what a fabulous run it had this year. When in full bloom the stalks were literally bee-heavy with all different types of bees, including plenty of bumbles. There were literally hundreds of bees in bliss-charged delight each day on the goldenrod, and it was heart-bursting wonderful to watch. Even today, the few stragglers determined to find some small remaining goodness kept me smiling.
Earlier this summer I mentioned the FlowerEvolution book by Katie Hess, and last week I received the newly-published FlowerEvolution card deck. Here’s a peek.
The cards are lovely – there are 54 beautiful flower images. The back of each card gives the name of the flower, suggests some of the medicine of the flower, identifies what qualities the flower magnifies and those it dissolves; and offers a question to consider.
While the cards are a complete and delightful resource in themselves, you can actually dig a little bit deeper for many of the flowers by referring to the FlowerEvolution book itself. By no means is it necessary to have both, but I love that they can be layered like combining beautiful scents.
Katie Hess, the author, is the owner of LotusWei and creates flower essences/elixirs. So in fact many of the flowers depicted (perhaps all of them) have been made into flower elixirs. I’ve been working with this line of essences for a couple of years now and I quite enjoy them. Each contains a bit of honey.
So you can see, honey has been on my mind today, and I’ve been immersed in the love of flowers and bees. Watching a bee in the garden this afternoon I couldn’t help but think of this line from one of Mary Oliver’s poems:
“…it’s love almost too fierce to endure, the bee
nuzzling like that into the blouse
of the rose. And the fragrance, and the honey, and of course
the sun, the purely pure sun, shining, all the while, over
all of us.”
We only have to look about to see magic and beauty all around us. And then it takes very little effort at all before we’ve gathered more than enough to have a Flitterwochen. I hope you join me in creating yours, and may it be filled with honey and all manner of sweetness.
Hi Deborah – honey from those generous bees is a delight and so good for one in so many ways … love the idea of your flitterwochen … while the flower cards and the book look to be really interesting – cheers Hilary
So many flowers, so many honey varietals to taste. Life is good isn’t it Hilary?! Wishing you a sweet Flitterwochen.
Honeymoon! That is so lovely Deborah! The moon often looks like a glowing jar of honey, right now half-full! It’s always a delight for me to see bees buzzing around in my garden. Can we call the sun honeysun as we think of honeysuckle? Thank you for this lovely post!
YES to honeysun Susan – I love that! It delights me knowing that just as our gardens and industrious bees are winding down their production here, things are ramping up in your part of the world.
Flitterwochen! What a lovely word!
I remember being on retreat at a religious community and spending part of the Lesser Silence just watching the bees thronging around a magnificent rosemary bush. There was something immensely soothing about it.
Rosemary bees! That sounds like such a lovely experience Kathleen. I think bees can teach us so much on so many different levels, but perhaps just sitting with them is my favorite.
Wishing you a most fabulous Flitterwochen!
Flowers, bees, honey moons – oh, my! And tinsel week! I’m holding onto that, too. Looking for the tinsel in every week, and you know I need to. My grandfather raised bees and gathered honey for over 70 years. I loved the comb honey – sticking a knife into the comb and watching the honey ooze out so I could spread honey and wax on my toast – one of those lovely childhood memories.
Beekeeper’s Granddaughter – I love the sound of that Carol. What a wonderful memory – comb honey is truly magica! I’ll absolutely hold for you the energy of Flitterwochen. May your days be filled with sparkly fabulousness.
What a fabulous dream!! And I love flitterwochen, and incorporating it into each day.
Mary Oliver’s poem is …well she always leaves me shaking my head with amazement as she comes up with the perfect words. I have often though of the bees having relationships with the flowers with the sun shining over all. You and I have a sweet bee connection.
Your posts always touch my heart, Deborah. This one is no exception.
The Katie Hess book and cards look interesting. So funny – synchronous. I have been thinking of doing the same thing – making an oracle deck of beings found in Nature, with some words about it – what each might mean for the reader’s life – and writing a book that could go with them or not. Both standing on their own, but the book and the cards will be related, the book going into greater depth. Your writing about the flower book nudged me a bit. We all need those little nudges along the way, I think. So cool you met her. And the flower essence retreat sounds so great! What a wonderful feel good day (from another post of yours),
Anyway, Deborah Bee Spider Woman – so nice to connect with your this morning. You always inspire me.
Much love,
Mary
Oh Mary – I’m swooning at the thought of a deck with your photos. And a book! Consider me on the sidelines encouraging and cheering you on.