Blessed Pussy Wiillow

On Saturday night, 

eve of the feast day 

of the 'Entrance of the Lord 

into Jerusalem'

("Palm Sunday") 

Orthodox churches welcome

foliage in their services.

Worshippers bring

what flowers they may, 

and especially branches 

of pussy willow.


Like the people of Jerusalem

those centuries ago,

the Orthodox  

greet Christ 

with tree branches. 
(in Church Slavonic "s vaiyami")

Of course, 

Russia has no palm trees. 

The local trees they do enjoy,

do not leaf so early in the 

legendary climate. 


Only the pussy willow 

shares her tender catkins.



And so, the pussy willow 

is an especial emblem 

of Spring,
 
A featured solo 

in the season's theme 

of spiritual rebirth. 

Modest pussy willow

cheers the people,

hails a King,

 
but her tender leaves 

of green 

bloom only later. 

Royal velvet

soothes eye, 

and touch, 

especially

after winter's

harshness. 

 

But pussy hides 

her mystical side. 

Green Leaves, 

and the tender business 

of keeping on,

are as yet 

but promised 

resurrection; 

Like the very day's 

feast, 

soon eclipsed 

in anguish

(killing frost)

and then 

Exceeding Joy.

Part of the evening's service,

is a ritual blessing

of the pussy willows. 

The Gospel is read,

and then,

in that rarified space,

the clergy who are present 

cense the pussy willows 

with blessed Orthodox incense,

 
read a specific prayer,

then bless the branches,

the catkins, 

with holy water. 

I cannot 

but think 

that these are 

happy words

to the faithful:

 "These pussy willows

 are being blessed,

through the grace of the All-Holy Spirit, 

by the sprinkling of this holy water, 

in the name of the Father and the Son 

and the Holy Spirit. Amen!"

Usually the blessing is repeated

on the next day 

of the feast itself. 

Then the blessed 

pussy willows 

are lovingly 

brought home,

and reverently 

appreciated,

 
as a sign of God's 

'Penetrating Grace' 

even until 

the following year 

when the old branches

are burned.

In some communities, 

they are used instead

as the stuffing 

of special pillows, 

upon which the heads 

of pious Orthodox Christians

rest in their coffins.  

 

How Good, and Right, 

and Joyful it is, 

to celebrate nature

as the pageant of wisdom

and sustenance that she is.

Celebrate Creation

Honor the Creator

too awestruck 

to argue

questions too big

for right now.

LINK

Thanks for spending time here with us!
                                  Your friend, cloudia

S P R I N G !

A  L  O  H  A -

Spring!

Earth plays another round

of eternal musical chairs;

Cold, Warm;

Bright, Dark,

Snow, Sun

All Do-Si-Do

Changing Places.

And the chairs removed?

For those who left us

This round.

But look at all

The fresh new faces.

Some are 95

And just awakening

Like puberty

To Spring!

Thank You
for blooming here, Friend!
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Who? You! (and Me :-)

 A  L  O  H  A ! 

" Do your little bit of good                       
                                                             
where you are;                                        
                                                               
it's those little bits of good                        
                                                             
put together                                          
                                                            
that overwhelm the world. "                     
                                                              
Desmond Tutu             

" When we do the best that we can,

we never know

what miracle is wrought

in our life,

or in the life of another."

Helen Keller

" What matters isn't being applauded

 when you arrive 

- for that is common - 

but being missed 

when you leave. "

Baltasar Gracian 

Thank YOU!

Your comments

are appreciated!

                     Warmly, cloudia

Best Worst Burst

A  L  O  H  A !

"Never cut a tree down 

in the wintertime. 

Never make a negative decision 

in the low time. 

Never make your most important

 decisions 

when you are in your worst moods. 

Wait. 

Be patient.

The storm will pass. 

The spring will come."

Robert H. Schuller

" Hawaii

is the worst state

in the USA

for making a 

living."

MoneyRates.com

" Hawaii women lead the USA

in longevity (Avg. nearly 85 years)

and in mental health, with a rate of

depression lower 

than any other state. "

iVillage.com

" You may be surprised to discover you're rich, especially if you're broke.
P. J. O'Rourke 

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Relaxation Is

A  L  O  H  A !

“What is the good of your stars
 and trees, 
your sunrise and
 the wind,
 if they do not enter into 
our daily lives?”

 E. M. Forster

“There's beauty in the silver 

singing river,

There's beauty in the sunrise

in the sky,

But none of these

and nothing else

can match the beauty, 

That I remember 

in my true love's 

eyes”

 Bob Dylan 

" Tension 

is who you think you 

should be. 

Relaxation is

who you are. "

Chinese Proverb






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Only Those

A  L  O  H  A !

" Only those

within whose own consciousness 

the sun rises and sets,

the leaves burgeon and wither,

can be said to be aware 

of what living is. "

Joseph Wood Krutch 

“It's possible to forget 

how alive we really are. 

We can become dry and tired,

 just existing, 

instead of really living. 

We need to remind ourselves 

of the juice of life, 

and make that a habit.

 Find those places inside 

that jump for joy. . . ”

Anonymous

" Life

is like playing a violin solo 

in public 

and learning the instrument 

as one goes on. "

Samuel Butler 

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for visiting.
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