Simple Nature Gifts

Some of you know, I have a labyrinth in my yard. I have had this labyrinth for almost 6 yrs. There were a couple of years that I was unable to care for it and it became overgrown but the Fall of 2006, the time when I lost my step daughter Mary, I felt a huge pull to clean up and use the labyrinth again.

Since then I have spent many hours cleaning and raking and tending to the labyrinth. I have been placing rocks to outline each ring and I am still not finished. Caring for the labyrinth is a labor of love. I try to walk it everyday. I don't always get out there but I do try. I feel love and peace when I walk the labyrinth and this feeling lasts for a long time.

The past couple of years as I have been cleaning or planting flowers around the labyrinth, I have found gifts. One time I dug a small hole to plant some pansies and found a very old horse shoe. The horse shoe is a sign of luck. I truly felt that finding this horse shoe was a sign that I would be ok and I am ok.

I dug in on the other side and found a hammer. Well, you might wonder why a hammer would be meaningful to me. It took me awhile but I figured it out. Thor always had a hammer. My husband's nickname at work is Thor. My husband and I had been having difficulties and I had been wondering if I should stay. This was my sing to stay and I am so very grateful that I did.

One day I found a blue egg sitting on the largest rock in the labyrinth. The egg was empty so I knew I could have it. I have always loved robin's eggs. The color is so beautiful.

My friends are coming on May 4th to do a ceremony in the labyrinth so I have been raking again to get it ready. It is very time consuming because I can only do a little at a time so I don't hurt my back. Today I was rewarded for all my work. I found an antler from one of my deer who come to eat the pears and apples during winter. For so many years I have wanted to find a deer antler. I am always on the look out when walking in the woods. How lovely to find one in my own yard., in my own labyrinth. I am also thankful that I noticed it as I was raking.

If we look we will see treasures, simple nature gifts, signs that answer our questions. Maybe an antler isn't a treasure to some, but to me it is like finding gold. It is a connection to the deer who walk my property almost every night. We lost 2 of the deer who visit this past winter. They were hit by cars on our road. I was very sad. For all I know this could have belonged to one of them.

All these gifts have had meaning to me. They are not worth money but they are worth so much more than that. Be open to the gifts from Nature. They are truly gifts from God.

Love and Light Anne