I couldn’t remember any dream messages this morning so I did a meditation and the first word that popped into my mind was “radishes”, which made me smile.
I remember as a child in a Catholic primary school, the nuns would have little vegetable gardens that they would encourage us to help out with. My favourite things to grow were radishes, with their cherry red exterior and the surprisingly white crispy flesh inside that tasted of pepper. I always loved to play outside as a child and as a Virgo Sun this was made even more wonderful by having a practical task to complete.
My love of the outdoors found its way inside with the vast variety of butterflies, bugs, flowers, twigs and rocks that I would collect and carefully display.
Another of my favourite things to do indoors was to read and as I was reading my granddaughter a story this morning I was reminded of the many fun adventures I would find myself in through these stories.
One of my favourite stories as a child was The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. In the story Peter disobeys his mothers orders and sneaks into Mr McGregor’s garden, eating as many vegetables as he can before Mr. McGregor spots and chases him. “First he ate some lettuces and some French beans; and then he ate some radishes.” Peter manages to escape, but not before losing his jacket and shoes, which Mr. McGregor uses to dress a scarecrow. Peter returns home weary, ill, and naked and is put to bed with a dose of chamomile tea.
Peter is definitely an adventurous young rabbit who often does things that he is not supposed to do, but the wonderful part of the story is that his mother always forgives and loves him.
From discovering the wonder of a full vegetable garden including the beautiful rounded crimson gift of a radish, the Tale of Peter Rabbit tells of the innate curiosity, imagination and exploration that is natural for children. Josephine Rabbit, Peter’s mother was very wise. She allowed Peter the freedom to make his own choices based on his own curiosity and interests rather than her complete direction. Most likely Mrs Rabbit also knew the boundaries of Peter’s adventuring while at the same time allowing Peter to learn through his curiosity, even if it meant making mistakes.
In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic such severe social restrictions and rules has had an effect on every member of people’s households. We can no longer take for granted our normal far ranging parameters of movement or social gatherings. But what these limitations have allowed for is the opening up a new creative space for knowing freedoms within limits.
Perhaps the change in focus from external to internal has allowed you to re-engage your imagination in ways that you had forgotten. Maybe it has brought you back to who you were, to the things that brought you joy before life stood in the way and imposed its hindrances upon you. Maybe the space has allowed you to have deeper connection with your family and maybe, just maybe it has brought you love and forgiveness and chamomile tea.