Rev. Kathryn Kenyon
The Zen of Blackberry Picking
Greetings to all from Featherstone, my home, comprised of nearly 5 acres of beautiful Virginia countryside in a sleepy little, but oh so quaint town in Cartersville, Virginia. When I first moved here 5 years ago, I was so enamored with the energy here that I knew this would be my home for years to come. Right away I wanted to share this wonderful place with my Native teacher and shaman, Lakota Hasie, who told me that my “medicine” would grow naturally on my land, and to look for what grows naturally here. It didn’t take long for me to notice the fields of sassafras growing in the woods, and a plentiful supply of blackberry brambles growing…well, all over the place!
For the firs 4 years I allowed the dear deer to have at the blackberries, which were growing wild, and the grapes, which had been planted here some time ago. However, this year I decided to pick the blackberries and see what would come of them. Little did I know I was getting ready to embark on a journey into one of the most profound mystery schools on our planet!
The following describes the lessons and experiences I had while picking pounds of blackberries this year. The first lesson was about abundance. My first day of picking blackberries on my land produced 2.7 lbs. of berries as I gleaned over all the brambles on my land. Then, later in the week, I happened to find a “secret” bush, just in front of the local Food Lion just 20 minutes from my home. I stood in two positions at that one bush and picked over 8 lbs. of berries in only one hour’s time. I was so thrilled I have gone back to that one bush over and over again. The bounty has been plentiful, and all I had to do was be willing to consider other sources, and trust.
The second lesson was about harmony and peace with those we might consider threatening. In my youth I stepped in a ground nest of yellow jackets and proceeded to find out how allergic I am to their sting. My secret blackberry bush not only yields pounds of berries, but also has an equally abundant colony of yellow jackets and wasps eating away at its bounty. At first I was afraid, but then I decided that I would be at peace with the other creatures there, and move deliberately, but slowly amongst the berries and bees as I harvested while they ate. Imagine a bush buzzing happily with hundreds of bees, yet I have not been stung once! I moved round about them with the same intention and speed at which they were moving. They were only trying to get at the berries, the same thing I was doing. They wanted to taste that sweetness, the same way I wanted to. Of course, I did take measures to protect myself, and despite the glaring sun, wore a long sleeve jean shirt, and leather gloves. No need to test fate! If you decide to engage with threatening situation, protect yourself, and consider the energy with which you must engage. Ever tried to calm an angry person by yelling?
The third lesson I learned, and rather quickly, was how to get out of a tangled mess! I would often lean into the berries while reaching for the plumpest, and darkest berries, knowing they would be the sweetest. At first I found myself quite entangled and unable to free myself from the ripping, tearing thorns, which seemed to be everywhere. And, believe me, when your face is only inches from a buzz of stinging bees, you definitely do not want to be in a position like that! What I learned, however, was that if I did not panic and try and tear myself away from the thorns in a rush, I could get untangled very easily. What is required is to maintain one’s peace, lean into the brambles ever so slightly, which seems opposite of what you might think you should do, and lift up just a little. Because the thorns grow pointing toward their center, when you lean inward and pull away simultaneously, you release yourself from certain pain! I also learned to sort of roll out of the entanglement in a motion that reminded me very much of some Tai Chi moves I had learned during seminary.
A fourth lesson was about patience and waiting for the sweetest berries. After picking so many berries the first time and making the most delicious blackberry jam and ice cream, I went back and picked again. The second batch was good but more tart because the new berries that had been red upon my first visit had not completely ripened. I learned that if I wanted the sweetest berries I would have to wait a week or so between pickings. Often in life we rush things because of our eagerness, only to find out afterwards that things would have been a lot sweeter if we had just waited only a little while longer.
Another wonderful lesson I learned was about sharing. It was tempting to pick every last plump blackberry I could get my hands on from the secret blackberry bush, but it seemed quite insensitive to take all the berries when there were so many hungry bees there just trying to live as well. I decided I would leave all the berries in the front of the bush and along the top, where it was most difficult for me to reach, although not impossible, for the bees and wasps and beetles. I certainly could have reached those places; however, by sharing not only did I feel a deep sense of oneness with my flying friends, but also I didn’t have to work as hard, reaching across rows of threatening briars.
The little creatures themselves taught me the beauty of community. It was nothing to see 3 or 4 yellow jackets at a time on one berry, which always made me smile. I could always tell when the bees had been eating on one of the berries because they would masticate the berry with their chomping, which would cause the berry to begin rotting right away in the hot sun. As the insects congregated on one blackberry at a time, they would share their meal, and have plenty left over for other meals because the other berries would last longer. Sharing meals together as community is a beautiful way to increase the energy of our succor, a historic mission of our church, and have plenty to go around for the future. Bees showed me by demonstration the catch phrase, “Waste not, want not.”
There are many other things I have mused over in regards to my experience picking blackberries this year. The experience was peaceful, rich, rewarding, and delicious! I came away not fearing yellow jackets as much as I had before, and with a whole new knowledge base of blackberry wisdom. I thank the blackberries for growing so large and sweet, and I thank the bees for so joyfully and abundantly pollinating the berries. I found out that the more visits a blackberry flower has during its short blooming period, the larger the berry!
Be blessed with a life filled with abundance, harmony, sweetness, love, patience, sharing, and community.
Rev. Kathryn Kenyon
Previous Months in the Pastor's Corner...
April 2006 - Sarah Anderson
May 2006 - Cynthia Funk
June 2006 - Larry Jennings
For more information please call the Fellowship at: 757-428-5782
