Saturday, October 30, 2010

Flexibility

Flexibility

"May we never be so straight that we
  cannot bend;
May we never be so unapproachable
  that children
Cannot climb up into our lower branches."
    ___ Caitlin Matthews ("Avebury Easter")


    Wherever we have set our roots, there will we grow. The ability to be flexible and adaptable to different growing conditions determines the nature of our development. Learning to change and adapt with each new circumstance is a human gift that we share with all life. Evolution itself shows us that those species that cannot change die out. Opinions and attitudes can become like carapaces that harden about our shoulders, bringing rigidity to our life-flow. Rigidity of opinion cause us to become unapproachable, which may increase our sense of isolation or confirm us in our self-contented stasis. We begin to lose opportunities to exchange views, to receive love, to find other sources of nurture. It take courage to allow children to swarm our branches, to allow the questions and opinions of those younger than ourselves to bend our trunks to their fresh breeze. The beauty of the many-leveled generations alive at one time allows us great opportunities to practice our flexibility and share our wisdom.

"Visualize what kind of tree you are. Check on how vital your root system is; access the flexibility of your trunk, the reach of your branches. What opportunities for change and adaptability are available and needed by at this time?"
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]

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