Spring is here and one of the most odd looking wildflowers has arrived once again in Louisville, Kentucky, the Pasture Thistle. As you can see from the picture above it is pink and full of bristles. The pink blossom itself is soft to the touch. I have often seen bees quietly buzzing all over it. The tall stalk the blossoms rise up from is another matter, sharp and prickly. Though I can only attest to this by the looks of it, because I have never dared to reach out and actually touch it.

But I will tell you what I have done with this uninviting wildflower. As I tell you I ask you to call upon your imagination. If you feel you don’t have much of an imagination you are welcome to borrow some of mine. It may be something you want to try if you come across this plant when walking down a country road or through a grassy field.

I have lived here in Our Treehouse for thirteen years and walked these fields and farm roads every spring. Each spring season I walk up to the Pasture Thistle, finding one just about my height, and I pretend it’s a microphone. Yes, a microphone. The first year I tried it I felt a little silly, and looked around making sure no one was around, or driving by in a car. But you know what? Not any more. It’s very therapeutic! One can pick any topic in the world and begin to speak out loud whatever is on one’s mind.

Years ago when I was dealing with a marriage that was dissolving into a divorce I spoke right into that pink blossom and told the whole world about the emotional pain and anger I was dealing with. I let that flower have it! And at times I have walked up to that plant and pretended I was giving a TED talk on topics that were dear to my heart, greeting the world with an endearing salutation, and then sharing my thoughts on what was on my mind: World Peace, That No Child Should Ever Be Abused, Children are Our Greatest National Treasure, Kindness Can Be the Answer to All Our Problems, We are All in This Together Worldwide, The Whole Universe is Cheering for Me, All Beings Deserve Respect, Cancer I Will Kick Your Butt, Why Me Lord?, Radiation Bring It Because I’m Not Afraid of You, Let’s Talk About Grief, I Can Tell You How to be a Great Nurse!, I Am a Very Successful Writer, I’ve Got Big Dreams That are Getting Bigger,… well, you get the idea.

I feel like I am speaking to the whole universe. It’s powerful for me because I believe the words that come out of our mouths are powerful and something we all need to be mindful of when we speak them. It’s healing for me because sometimes my heart hurts because of the meanness out there, and we all can forget we really do belong to each other. And it’s comforting to me because I understand that I do have a voice, and telling my Higher Power what’s on my mind and how I feel gives me peace, and serenity. Sometimes I speak for five to ten minutes, other times I only say a few sentences. But each time I feel that pressure. You’ve felt it. It rises up in your chest and out of your throat because it’s all so important and needs to be spoken. Sometimes my words bring tears to my eyes, other times I laugh out loud, or end up shaking my fist in the air. But I always feel good after my “microphone time”. It’s like no one is listening , yet everyone is listening.

Later this evening I will take my prayer walk. I will step up to the Pasture Thistle and begin my talk: Open My Mind to My Highest Good, Serenity Come Flow All Around Me and Help Me Take You Out into the World, Why I Love This Healthy/Sacred Body I Have Been Given, I Am Dreaming of World Peace, The Joys of Falling in Love… I am not sure which topic I will choose today. But I am lucky. There are bunches of Pasture Thistles just my height out in the fields waiting for me to speak up and sooth my soul and express my thoughts and desires.

I hope you try my prickly microphone. If Pasture Thistles are not handy perhaps you can try a different kind of prop, like a mop, or a big stick, or even a small tree. What really matters to you? What would you speak out for? Who will you stand up for? How do you really feel today? What’s on your mind and heart? Speak it out into the world!

I will be listening. I will put my ear down on Mother Earth and hear her pulse. She will be listening, too. Enjoy.

c   Love, Joan