On March 20 was the Spring Equinox and we did a celebration which included the blessing of seeds and planting them. As I was holding a tomato seed in my hand I became more fully aware of the potential in that little seed. I could see last year's tomato plants in the garden laden with red tomatoes. All this was in this little seed that I held in my hand! What a marvel!
I am listening!
It reminded me also of when my dad would test the grain seeds from the granaries to see which ones he would use for seeding that year. He would take so many seeds, spread them out in a box and keep it moist and in a warm place. After a week, he would count the ones that germinated. That was his way of determining which batch of seeds he was going to use.
I am listening!
During the celebration we planted some tomato 6 tomato seeds and 4 zucchini seeds in pellets. My mom always planted her tomatoes on March 19th, the feast day of St. Joseph! A week later, 1 zucchini plant is growing and 3 tomato plants. The joy of seeing these fragile plants is a meditation in itself.
I am listening!
How are we celebrating Spring?
How quietly the earth breathes forth new life
How eagerly the sun bleeds forth the spring,
I am listening.
I am listening to seeds breaking open,
To roots growing strong beneath the ground,
To green shoots rising up from winter wombs.
I am listening.
(taken from The Circle of Life by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr p. 90)