Thursday, January 26, 2012

On Bees


Despite their humble appearance and the occasional sting, bees have many lessons to share. Being the makers of honey, a central ingredient in mead and honeyed wine, bees have an association with the gods as well as a long standing place in magic and non-magical society. They add sweetness to our lives and rituals and remind us not to work so hard that we forget to taste the 'honey' in our own lives. They tell us that the things of which we dream can be accomplished through perseverance, every day just by flying these wee creatures accomplish a seemingly impossible task.

Bees are most often associated with the qualities of hard work, focus, productivity, cooperation and wealth due to the way that they work in their hive. All aspects of the hive must function properly in order for it to continue to prosper and each individual bee becomes single-minded and sharp focused when performing a task. Due to their instinctive nature to fearlessly defend their home they are also associated with devotion to friends and family. Travel, messages from the gods, connection between the here and the Otherworld, life and death, sexuality and fertility are other traits and phenomena that are sometimes associated with the bee.

In spite of all that, the most important lesson of the bees is a simple one: Don't just take, give back as well. As they gather nectar and travel from flower to flower they help to pollinate the plants thereby giving them the ability to create more flowers or to bear fruit. A healthy population of bees is a gardeners best friend, regardless of the size of their plot. It is this departure from selfishly taking without thought of giving that makes this lesson one which is vitally important to take to heart. Humans seem to have forgotten this cycle, the bees have not.

If bees begin to appear in your life, and not just because it's Spring, take a few moments to sit and think about where your life is at the moment. Are you working so hard that you're forgetting to savor the fruits of your labor? Perhaps you've been in some sort of slump and your time has been anything but productive. What dreams have you been neglecting? Maybe you asked the Universe or the Gods something and the wee winged ones hold the answer you seek. Don't only take to heart the associations listed here; go out and really observe the bees that are around you, for their lessons may differ from these. Be silent and listen.

If you find that the bees move you or you just want to help out a creature that is dwindling despite its significant role in our ecosystems and agriculture, consider doing something for them. Plant a bee garden, filled with plants that are particularly attractive to them. Keep it organic so they don't slurp down chemicals at each meal. If you have a large yard and you won't miss having a chunk of it mowed and clipped allow it to grow tall and sow it with wildflowers and herbs, effectively creating your own mini meadow. Not only will the bees thank you, but birds and other small critters will appreciate it as well.

If you have the money, the space and the patience, consider taking up beekeeping. Yes, you will undoubtedly get stung at some point, but to equalize the hurt you'll have honey, wax and the knowledge that you're helping a thriving bee colony grow.

In nature and in spirituality, bees are truly magical creatures.

9 comments:

  1. Bees really are wonderful creatures. In their dance they can express concepts like direction, time etc., so we should remember that bees are quite extraordinary little creatures and not think us humans too smart and important.

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  2. and I have to say that I love the way your blog looks!

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  3. I agree... bees are such magnificent little creatures. They do so much for us as humans yet so often we consider them pest. I have grown to love them, even when they chase me around the yard. If one has bees in their lives they are blessed indeed.

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  4. Love this Danni. Bees share a special place in my heart as my name actually means sweet as a honeybee ; )

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  5. ~ah danni a beautiful post this morning...one that moved me and spoke to me...you said

    Perhaps you've been in some sort of slump and your time has been anything but productive. What dreams have you been neglecting? Maybe you asked the Universe or the Gods something and the wee winged ones hold the answer you seek. Don't only take to heart the associations listed here; go out and really observe the bees that are around you, for their lessons may differ from these. Be silent and listen.

    this resontes deeply within me...these words which were present in my life last year...i remember when spring arrived...i kond of woke from a long haze...i took my journal and began sitting or laying in the grass to write and read...and one day a little bee came and sat on my page...i looked at it startled at first then welcomed its presence...almost every time through the spring and summer days i went outside to write or read a wee little bee would come and sit upon the page...i would tell my wee littles though it was grandpa...he had a bee tattoo and when he was leaving our world i told him i would place him on my flower and he could watch over me...thank you for this post this morning...much love light and blessings~

    ps...i am trying to convince my family to start beekeeping...but after my loves experience with his run in with the hornets...he thinks not...not giving up!!!

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  6. I remember bees were buzzing around you a lot last year and apparently they have made a beautiful impact on your life Danni. I always buy local honey to support the beekeeers and the bees and am very, very worried with the possible wipe out of our bees. Then we're going to be in more trouble than we can imagine. I suppose people really DO need to tend to their own beeswax ; )

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  7. Lovely post! Can't wait to have bees buzzing my backyard. My Grandpa used to raise bees and they're so fascinating to watch. Even surrounded by bees as a curious child, I've never been stung.

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  8. I will do well to remember all you say about their ethics ... I look forward to spotting my first bee this year. Blessings x

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  9. Love this. ^-^
    I'm madly in love with bees... Someday I will indeed keep them... lots of them. <3 I can hardly wait. ^-^

    XOXO

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