“I’m going to make everything around me beautiful - that will be my life.” — Elsie de Wolfe

Tuesday 2 August 2011

A Message from Nature - The Story of a Heart

Something happened today to trigger a memory, I wanted to share it here with you. . .

Seven years ago we were living in quite an isolated country cottage surrounded by nature. We had deer and foxes visit our garden and rabbits hopping around on the grass, it was open on one side to a three acre wild flower meadow that led to the bluebell filled woods beyond.

It was while living there that I became attuned to nature. I had never lived so far from a town and all it contained. Here nature was almost palpable in its presence and I grew to love the space, the garden, the animals. The wildness of it all.

It was rented from an old lady, and we had lived there for seven years when the old lady died and out of the blue a letter arrived from solicitors acting on behalf of her family. We had one month to move out as her family wanted to sell up. I was in shock, it should have been expected but it wasn't.

So the packing and goodbyes began. . . I said goodbye to the big old stone workshop attached to the house - it had been my art studio, full of creativity and inspiration. I emptied the outbuildings that our once feral cat had given birth in the year before, to the kittens that taught me that I could love cats as well as dogs! I walked into the meadow to the spot we had buried our old dog Harvey just a few months before. . .

I strolled around the garden. That magical place where I had learned so much from trial and error and from just loving it and allowing it to bloom. Where I had sensed the energy of the place, where things had happened that changed my relationship with nature forever. Full to the brim with emotion and goodbyes, I went to sit quietly on my usual perch. The huge flat rock/stone that had been here long before we came. It was then that I saw it. . .

A perfect heart made out of moss, growing there on that big lump of granite.

And through the burning tears that immediately leapt to my eyes, I smiled, because I understood the message from this house, this space, from nature itself. . . It loved me back!

The photo that I took of that special message, sits among the pictures in the header to this blog, its story untold. Until today when I decided to share the story here with you. . .

"Ultimately magic finds you, if you let it." - Tony Wheeler

18 comments:

Ann said...

What a lovely story. The moss heart is just wonderful. What a special moment discovering that. I hope the new space you settled in is as wonderful or more so!

Warren said...

An utterly beautiful story you've shared with us - I think that magic will find you again, because it seems your heart will always be receptive.

Warren

Elizabeth said...

I can identify with much of what you've said. Finding that heart of moss has to be one of your very treasured memories. We write so much about nature, but too often fail to see her responses to our own presence. Wonderful post, Susannah and thanks so much for sharing.

Susannah said...

Ann, yes isn't it wonderful! And yes, the new place (that we have now lived in just as long as the old,) is wonderful too. Each place had different gifts and though the wildness there was wonderful, I don't miss the small and drafty windows! Here we have huge windows and lots of light (double glazing too!) Nice to see you again Ann, it has been a while. x


Warren, thank you. :-) and yes you are right about magic finding me again, it did, and continues to do so. As you so wisely say, if your heart is receptive it will find you. It is good to see you again. Thanks for popping by. :-)


Thank you Elizabeth, and I think that is a really good point that we observe and write about nature but don't look for responses. We may be missing so much. I could have walked passed that heart and it not registered, but because I was emotionally 'open' it was SO obvious. Interesting thoughts to explore there. Thanks for that Elizabeth - and as always it is good to see you. x

Janece said...

oh my gosh...this brought tears to MY eyes! What a beautiful story...I imagine that the house and gardens and beautiful surroundings were definitely going to miss you as much as you would miss them.

This was just the kind of story I needed to read this morning..thank you!

Susannah said...

Janece, thank you so much for popping in, I am really glad you liked the story, it was good to share it. :-) x

Paul Andrew Russell said...

What a beautiful story, Susannah. And if you hadn't been open to it you may never have seen the heart. :-)

Susannah said...

Thanks Paul. :-)

Good to see you. x

Ginny said...

What a beautiful story. I could feel so many emotions as I went through this journey with you. Thank you for sharing these special moments and feelings.

Susannah said...

Hi Ginny, thank you very much for popping in and saying hello, it is good to meet you. :-) x

teri said...

Isn't it good when we are able to hear what the world's heart is saying to us. You wrote this beautifully.

Susannah said...

Thanks so much Teri, and yes it is! :-) Good to see you here. x

vivinfrance said...

I'm glad you left a link to this, Susannah - I would have missed it. It is a beautiful memory that you have shared with us. You must have been so sad to leave your home.

Susannah said...

Hi Viv, I am glad you read it. :-)

Yes, it was sad, but luckily where we live now has its own beauty too.

Morvah said...

Thank you so much for sharing this lovely story - it's close enough to recent events to bring a lump to my throat too. It's a perfect heart isn't it? Leo's chakra of course - love M x

Susannah said...

Hi Morvah, I am glad you got to read it. Yes it was a perfect heart...it really was a magical moment.

Good to see you (and I hope your Leo is having a good birthday.) x

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing it. It went straight to my heart!

Susannah said...

Dream with the fishes, thank you. :-)

It is good to meet you. x

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