Yes Name - No Name

As I was writing my last post discussing various plants and my new adventure 'gardening', I began thinking about names and how I have read by multiple spiritual, esoteric writers that names are inherently 'bad' or negative and do not help in our oneness. A few days later I was listening to a radio show by one spiritual author who just happened to state during that show, "Names divide us..." and pull us apart.

I think that maybe I am not far enough along my spiritual path or too far along on my scientific path to completely believe this about names.

I believe and agree with a lot, but I cannot completely get behind this or see the importance of this teaching. Names add context and substance, facts and knowledge about something, which in science includes more information and expands our knowledge. It is in the name and facts where differences lie and where I see the differences bringing us full circle to our oneness, our relations to each. It is in those differences where I see my connection to all things. My statement would be, "Names divide us and highlight are uniqueness in our oneness."

What is in a name....

Phoebastria immutabilis

Phoebastria nigripes

Above are pictures of two albatross species, the Laysan's and Black-footed albatross. By just hearing their scientific latin names, as a scientist, I know that they are closely related species and must have many attributes in common. As a non-scientist just hearing their names invokes beautiful pictures of the ocean, since both of these birds spend their entire lives at sea except to breed. Additionally, in my mind, these names invoke pictures of their majestic wing span and how the way they use air currents is extremely similar to man-made aircraft.

And these names bring up (unfortunately) pictures of just how connected we all our do to their ingestions of plastic that they digest in the middle of oceans and on far from

mainland atolls.

On a personal note, their names invoke feelings of joy and adventure from various research cruises as a scientist that I have done at sea. The way that they come up to the boat and are curious and inquisitive. Their names bring up a deep connection to family, the way they fly for days out at sea collecting food for their young back at the nest, flying thousands of miles to do so.

So, in the end the names initially divide, but if you choose to move past the division into a world where names invoke images, thoughts, feelings, and compassion, which can draw one ever closer to oneness....

What does a name mean to you? Does it divide or conquer?

Sweet Pea Mom

It is true. I finally did it. I started a blog and a patio garden this month. It is turning into quite the spring season of new adventures.....

As to why I started a blog, well, we will save that for another day. As to why I started a garden, well, I thought it was about time. I love the feeling that one receives from fresh, beautiful, incredibly delicate, yet intricately obvious flowers. I also love the feeling of using vegetables and herbs that have been grown with love, tenderness, and care. All of these feelings got me thinking that I could do grow these flowers and vegetables myself....

Unfortunately, I may love the outdoors, but my 'green thumb' is not quite so green - it is more mustard colored. I have been afraid to grow...well....everything! What if I kill them? What if I do not get them to grow? What if I forget about them? What if they decide to be obstinate (if even possible) and not grow? What if I torture poor unsuspecting plants with my lack of a correct color thumb?Ugh ah blah.

Thus begins my gardening adventure and all the questions that ran through my mind on GardenDay #1. GD#1:I received some seeds from a friend. Sweet pea seeds in fact. I feel like I am in 1st grade for gardeners, which is hilarious because I am an ecology student and one would think plants wouldn't scare me, but they do! So I planted the sweet peas, as my friend directed (overnight the seeds in a paper towel in the fridge, then plant 1" deep in soil) and you should obtain this:

Two weeks went by and I got this:

Feeling of Gardener-First-Grade failure began to sink in. What if I planted them too deep? What if I planted them too shallow and birds at them? Did I water them too much or too little!?!?! And these were the questions running through my head on GardenDay#12.

GardenDay#15: As all hope was lost, I stepped out on my patio to find A SEEDLING!!! I did not, in fact, fail as a sweet pea mom!

GardenDay#25:

It is almost time to replant in a bigger pot, which I'm sure will incite more questions of gardener inadequacy - stay tuned.

Today as I smile and cheer on my little seedlings, I learned that the meanings associated with Sweet Pears are 'blissful pleasure, delicate pleasure, good-bye, and thank you for a lovely time.' I would like to think this is rather apt to my feelings of overjoy at graduating 'Gardener 1st Grade'. Good-bye 1st Grade, here I come Middle School. Next up: Sage ('wisdom/esteem').