The Frozen Flowers Incident

I'm still trying to figure this one out...

I kind of can’t believe I’m going to share this story. It’s not very flattering. And yet, it feels important.

My birthday was last week. Ages ago, I let go of any celebratory hoopla. For years, I’ve said, “I don’t want or need any attention,” yet here I am, blabbing about it in a newsletter post. :)

It’s weird having a birthday a week before Christmas. It makes me laugh now if someone wraps a gift in Christmas paper, but it used to bother me as a child.

It turns out that, as an adult, I’m a much better giver than receiver. Family members used to tell me that I was hard to buy for, and I used to think, “Well, don’t you know me?”

How arrogant. It’s the artist in me, I think, who loves finding “the perfect gift.”

Eventually, I slowed down my gift-giving and receiving and now exchange very little on birthdays or Christmases. I don’t need anything, but I realize this is unfair to those who still want to gift exchange.

So, last Tuesday, when I turned 71, a deliveryman showed up at my door with a vase filled with florist flowers and a box containing a pumpkin pie, and I thought, “What??? Who is sending me flowers and a pie?”

It turned out they were from two dear-hearted friends who wanted to have something show up on my birthday so I didn’t feel forgotten. They’d also asked the florist to include lots of pink flowers and strawberry-rhubarb pie because my sweet young friends are compadres trying to make my “Pink Is Everything!” book a reality.

What did I do? I burst into tears. Sobbing, heaving tears. First, because of my love for these two soul sisters, and then…drum roll…because I’ve always hated florist arrangements, and the scent of lilies gives me a headache.

My mind raced back to my parents’ funerals, grief mingling with the sickeningly cloying scent of the lilies sent from well-meaning family and friends.

And to all the times in the past when I’d just said, “Thank you, they’re lovely.” to a gift of florist flowers when I much prefer a raggedy bunch of wildflowers.

In all fairness to myself, the day had started with a couple of emotional phone calls, so I guess I was ripe for this weird meltdown reaction.

I sat on my back stairs, reeling from the scent of the flowers. I could not stop crying!

What was wrong with me having this adverse reaction to a beautiful, thoughtful gift?

I reread the note attached to the flowers:

If you think I just thanked my sweet friends and moved on, oh no, it gets worse! Sagittarians are notorious for not being able to tell a lie. It’s truth or bust for us, and it was Sag Season.

So, instead, I left them a voice message, crying, of course. I first thanked them and then shared my honest Sagittarian reaction.

I can’t help but laugh now.

Being a Truth Teller is, after all, one of the highest expressions of Sagittarius.

The beautiful part of this story is that they were not, in the least, put out. Instead, they loved my (brutal) honesty. I met them both in an astrology class, so they are well-schooled in the ways of Sagittarius.

I had already placed the flowers on my kitchen stoop because the lilies' smell was overpowering. I decided to take them into my Nemeton and offer them to the trees and woodland animals. Later on, Amanda suggested the same solution.

I took them to the Nemeton that evening and planned to come back the next day when it was lighter out.

Overnight, the temperature plummeted, and we got a dusting of new snow. I bundled up and walked down the path to the Nemeton. When I saw the flowers, I gasped and started to cry again!

The lilies no longer smelled, and the frozen flowers were EXQUISITE! They were so beautiful that I took out my phone and snapped dozens of photos.

After the frozen flower photo shoot, I sat with them for the longest time. I closed my eyes and went into a sort of reverie. That familiar Magic tingling all over was happening, and I remember thinking that I wouldn’t be surprised if, when I opened my eyes, I’d be surrounded by woodland animals, Snow White style.

It didn’t happen, but it was Magical nonetheless.

I returned on the Winter Solstice at dusk and journeyed to the Lower World with my drum. My animal spirit friends laughed at my story as we sat around a campfire.

Speaking of the Winter Solstice, which I’d fully planned on writing about — in the wee hours of its morning, I found myself wide awake and reaching for one of my favorite books, “Nature-Speak: Signs, Omens & Messages in Nature” by Ted Andrews.

The spiritual forces of Nature affecting us at this time of the year brings opportunity for healing and the expansion of consciousness for those who would open more fully to it. It is a time that opens perceptions of what must still come upon us in the growth process. It opens a vision of what we must still face within ourselves if we are to give birth to the higher. Spending time in Nature now re-awakens your inner dreams and visions.

This is actually a time for withdrawal from outer activities, so that we can give birth to the light within our own darkness. To bring new life from the darkness of the womb is the goal of this season, and the purpose of the quickening of Nature’s spiritual energies at this time upon humanity. These universal rhythms converging upon us are keyed to enable anyone who is seeking to awaken the interior gifts and light. — Ted Andrews

Now, here’s where the plot begins to thicken. As I read further in the Winter Solstice chapter, I stumbled upon this gem:

The lily is the symbol…

The lily is a symbol of purity and self-control, which invokes angelic influence - particularly that of Gabriel during this season. It stimulates the energy of the throat chakra and all of the centers of the head, so that the creative power of the “Word” can be - unfolded and expressed within each person’s life.

— Ted Andrews

In case you’re unfamiliar with the chakra system, the throat chakra is about expressing truth and creativity. Whoa.

The synchronicities were coming in fast and furiously. They always do when Spirit/The Universe is trying to hit us on the head with a message.

That same evening, I randomly chose an audiobook I’d listened to years ago.

I was chilling in front of my woodstove, listening, when the narrator started telling the part where the main character returns to her hotel room to find it filled with floral arrangements from a stranger. She remarks on the scent of the lilies!

Yesterday, while FaceTime-ing with a relative, I listened as she told me about a college with classes geared toward different careers, like, oh, I don’t know, being a florist! It was all I could do not to burst out laughing!

I’m still trying to figure out the message.

Should I have just told a white lie? “Thank you for the flowers! I love them! They smell divine.”

Was it just my Sagittarius shadow acting out?

What muddies the Sagittarius truth waters for me is that I’m also a life path 2 - the peacemaker. I don’t like to upset people. I want to keep the peace at all costs.

And so, if I’m being completely honest, there are times with certain people when I will probably always tell that little white lie to not make him or her feel bad. Or just not say anything at all.

I’m pretty sure no one is more judgmental of me than myself. Maybe in my telling the truth to Amanda and Constance, I was testing my ability to be completely honest. I knew deep down how safe it would be with them. They are both artists who understand me and also could appreciate the unexpected beauty of The Frozen Flowers.

Also, I’m not so egoic as to think I’ve never given cringe-worthy gifts to friends or relatives. I recently gifted something to two of my fellow Sagittarian friends and apologized profusely before they received my random choice of gifts. I’ll never know if they really liked the gift or were just being diplomatic. One of them is a fellow life path 2. :)

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention two gifts I received with much more grace.

From my dear city friend, Stacey, who knows how much I love and miss Pigeons - she is a gifted gift-giver indeed:

And my dear daughter, Amy, who sent me a woodland animals-themed backpack for my forest wanderings.

Also, I want to give a shout-out to Mary and Pamela, who gave me wonderful gifts that I already had. They both know me well, so they unfortunately received the honest thank you version. :)

I was invited to my friend Bonnie’s house for tea the day after my birthday. What a surprise to receive my very own Cranberry Buckle, which Bonnie so lovingly bakes and to which I’m addicted. I think I love its name as much as the taste.

I took it home, and the next day, after lunch, I reached into my junk drawer and looked for a candle. The first one I found was…Pink!

Turns out it was one of those Magical candles that starts to sparkle when you try to blow it out.

Another sign!! :)

It was delicious, and it was gone the next day.

Thank you for letting me ramble on about The Frozen Flowers Incident. I realize way more important things are happening in the world right now.

I hope that whatever you celebrate this week and beyond, Peace, Joy, and Light are with you and yours.

Much Love,
Barbara

P.S. If you missed my “Potions” post, check it out. My Elderberry Syrup can help keep your immune system humming through all the activities you might find yourself immersed in.

I only have three bottles left of White Pine Infused Jojoba Oil. This potion is for external use only. It’s an amazing healing oil for the skin. It’s also wonderful to rub onto your heart and lungs. The scent alone is healing - in my humble Pine-loving opinion! :)

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