Saturday, September 6, 2008

gratitude 2

Yesterday I spoke of the gifts from afar I received a few weeks ago. Today I will recount the amazing experience of opening lynne's parcel.

The box was a pleasure to behold. Pictures of butterflies, birds, castles, Pissaro paintings, ancient sculpture, and jewellery pieces decorated the box, making it very intriguing.

When I carefully opened the box with my trusty x-acto knife, this is what I saw first. A list of the precious contents of the box. The title was made with those same familiar letters that I see on lynne's banner whenever I visit her blog (every day!). The paper had been painted with something that made it subtly sparkly. Magic...just like lynne! On the back was a lovely message that warmed my heart. What happened next made me gasp in awe...

This was more than a goodie package. This was something wondrous. Something sacred. Me, the "nest person", was gazing at a nest of swaddled objects somehow protected by feather and cedar sprig talismans. I couldn't take my eyes off them. I was mesmerized.

I removed them one by one marvelling at the beauty and mystery of them. They were wrapped in muslin dyed in walnut ink and each had a number written on a fragment of masking tape. To me they were shrouds containing priceless relics from another time. How did lynne know that I am fascinated by all things wrapped? And these were wrapped in such an artful way. There was an aroma of cedar and (perhaps?) incense. An experience for the senses.

I have had these precious bundles for 2 weeks now and have still not unwrapped them. At the time that I opened the parcel, I could not bear to open them. I could not even consider it. They were art objects in themselves and were too heartbreakingly beautiful to unwrap. And it seemed to me that they were not meant to be unwrapped...yet. I decided that I would unwrap them when I was ready, using my gut as my guide. I am almost ready...

This gift was given in such a meaningful way. For that, I thank you, lynne. You have an old soul. Tree woman, nymph of the woods, generous being, roots in the earth, spirit soaring. Thank you.

21 comments:

notmassproduced said...

oh wow -these do look so beautiful but being one of the most imaptient beings on the planet i don't know how you could stop yourself from rummaging inside. gorgeous photos as usual

Jeane Myers said...

I agree, they would be very had to open, but I would totally sucummb because I must be the second most impatient being on earth next to notmassproduced!

lynne h said...

kate, you have photographed everything so beautifully! that montage!!!

well, the thanks really goes to you because this got me going on whole the wrapping thing. don't know that i would have come to it if i hadn't had to ponder a way to present treasures to you...

xo

ArtPropelled said...

So intriguing.....but the suspense is killing me.

jo horswill said...

I just couldn't sleep...had to get up and see the next post...
Well Kate, it leaves me enchanted and intrigued...the package, the nest, the note....
I understand, not wanting to unwrap these wonderous gifts...Kate, two weeks to just ponder them, what a joy...
Looking forward to THE GREAT UNWRAPPING...soon I hope:)
Lynne and Kathy are amazing...this was such a warm heartening thing to do...I can only imagine the delight you must feel...

Ian France said...

What a beautiful post - I love the box alone.

lynne h said...

hi kate, i've tagged you over at my place -- feel free to participate or not!!

Terry said...

Fabulous packages!

I'm enjoying my recent discovery of your blog so much that I want to share it with everybody - to that end I am passing along the Brillante award; you can read more about it on my site (Sept. 6 post) and pass it along it you choose -

Thanks,

Terry

http://terryrafferty.blogspot.com

Jacky said...

What an awesome package. I looove that everything is wrapped in muslin, such treasures.

You are soooo patient. I would have been too impatient to wait two weeks.

I am looking forward to the unwrapping ceremony ....

Thanks for sharing these wonderful gifts with us all and letting us share in your excitement.

kvk said...

It's kind of strange to see our little project transported and transmuted. It's so much easier to send little treasures out into the world than to receive any attention regarding the gift. Guess I need to work on that. The haiku is as much a gift - such an elegant form of communication.
Thank you Kate for providing the inspiration to re-distribute some of my cache of nature's bounty. -blessings

mansuetude said...

Yes, I am like you. The wrapping is like treasure and your attention to it makes it more powerful--to honor its every gesture.

I wouldn't open them either. I would wait, maybe peek at one in a hundred years. I think the bones of what are inside are dual purpose like we, to hold the flesh of something beautiful, to contain mystery. This is wonderful. You make magic together.

I am a bit like this at Christmas and such, love to open slowly.

Shayla said...

I love how she wrapped them and how fun to have a little suspense and mystery. I can't wait for the unveiling...

Wayfaring Wanderer said...

Wow! That is beautiful! What an awesome package....

rivergardenstudio said...

What beautiful posts these are! I love the way you photographed your gifts from Lynne, and the way you describe them! Roxanne

kate said...

kate...the funny thing is, I am the queen of immediate gratification. As I told lynne, I am the one who rips open the letter before I'm even out of the post office, sits in the car looking at photos that have been developed, or eats the chocolate bar before I'm even out of the store. I'm baffled at the way I've responded to these...

jeane...maybe you think you would but maybe you wouldn't? So speaks the queen of immediate gratification.

lynne...interesting. I guess that's what I meant in my haiku a few weeks ago: generosity, opens possibility, in realms unthought of. You, yourself, opened up that possibility.

robyn...you'll have to wait a little longer :)

jo...and still pondering them. but almost ready to unwrap!

arnold...the box is great, isn't it.

terry...thanks so much for visiting my blog and for honouring me with an award! Yet another gift!

jacky...thanks! Sharing in the excitement just adds to the joy of the whole experience!

kathy...you certainly started something. And who knows how many others have been inspired by your gesture. Accept it with unabashed (love that word ever since I read it on your blog) pride!

mansuetude...I may be patient, but I don't think I could wait 100 years! :) But I appreciate your sentiments on this!

shayla...soon...

ww...awesome in the true sense of the word, inspiring awe!

roxanne...thanks! So glad you enjoyed them.

Seth said...

Spectacular little objects that are most definitely works of art themselves. And what patience you have!!

kate said...

seth...patient no longer. Tomorrow is the day!

Terry said...

Thank goodness tomorrow is The Day - can't wait!

Anonymous said...

oh I cant wait to see what is inside..they look so intriguing, and sacred, you're right.

kate said...

terry and grrl...voila!

mansuetude said...

i never thanked you for your beautiful comment on my blog... re-reading this, i am wondering if Lynne's energy altered your own desire to "rip open" and it altered you a bit. Does that make any sense?