Seeding Circularity
This drop will be live on the website on
Friday, November 14th at 5pm pst
Whenever there’s a surprise “warm day” at the beginning of Winter here in Central Oregon, I suddenly hear a crackling like popcorn outside my window. The pine trees lining my street are filled with pinecones that make their presence known, the resin that binds their scales together melting just enough to allow the pine cone to explode open, scattering her little precious seed cache. You can often smell the resin then, too.
Pinecone’s purpose is to serve as a spiny, spiraling fortress for her forebearer’s seeds. In fact, Pine trees use immense energy and time to nurture and grow their cones by the hundreds in the hopes of living on eternally. Only a few (if any) of her seeds will actually successfully fulfill their purpose. The process always reminds me of my own creative flow. Finding just the right ideas -or seeds- to nurture requires immense care and passion. It’s not always a linear path. The ebbs and flows of the process are seasonal and repeating. There are seasons where everything clicks and my workflow is on fire, opening up my cache of creative possibility. On the flip side, there are seasons that feel like my inner artist is in hibernation. Closed up to the world. I can create new and exciting work just as easily as I can make mistakes or create an imperfect design.
From farther afield, bamboo calls out to me with her astonishing superpowers. She is regenerating, fast growing and unbelievably strong. It’s no wonder this tropical rhizome is taking the enviro-sustainability industry by storm. Bamboo’s propulsive and relentless behavior is in so many ways the opposite of Pinecone’s pursuit and still their objectives are one in the same…to continue.
The synergy within pinecones and bamboo reminds me of the cyclical nature that I must always listen closely for when I am setting my pace for whatever season is upon me. It really puts some sense into the expression “take your time”. That doesn’t necessarily mean slow down. It means listen to the moment and to the pace that you need. It’s your time to take. The moment may need fuel to move forward and explode from the place you are to the place you are meant to be. Or, perhaps the moment needs nurture in the stillness and assurance that now is just not the right time for movement.
Happy Winter my friends! I hope that you are all choosing your pace and taking good care as you approach the next season of your life.
Take your time…