September Theme: Healing the Ancestral Heart

This month's Inner Constellation theme is Healing the Ancestral Heart. How appropriate that it was my dear pop's birthday weekend--He would have been 77 years old. I spent the weekend reflecting on our happy times together and found myself caring for my ancient Geraniums. A poem was born. This piece also honors my momma, as she watered my love of plants and flowers with the many hours spent in the greenhouses where she worked...more precious memories.

  Ode to Wintering Geraniums

©Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Every year they are brought indoors because

I can never bear to lose them to Tahoe's winter.

Four-inch annuals ten years ago

now fill the breadth of a sliding glass door.

Sitting upon my zafu*

I meet them most weekends,

clean the dead leaves

and collect red, heart-shaped petal offerings for the altar.

I've sat beside them for difficult phone conversations,

to journal great joys,

inhaling their pungent, earthy scent.

This year a tomato seed found home in their rich soil,

sprouted and bore fruit.

I'll care for it, too, through the winter

and gather more bright happiness. 

*round, Zen meditation cushion