Mother's Day Sunday 5/9--Celebrate a Tender and Unbreakable Bond
"Each time my feet touched the earth I knew my mother was there with me. I knew this body was not mine but a living continuation of my mother and my father and my grandparents and great-grandparents. Of all my ancestors. Those feet that I saw as "my" feet were actually "our" feet. Together my mother and I were leaving footprints in the damp soil."~Thich Nhat Hanh
Her beauty sparkles like a nugget of pure gold.
She has perfumed curls like the large black bee.
Eyes like lotus petals, teeth like stars in the heavens.
~Description of Queen Maya, mother of Siddhartha Gautama, From the Lalitavistara Sūtra
Renowned Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh writes about the transcendent bond of mother and child. This tender and unbreakable connection is not just between blood relatives, but can form between souls and spirits who help each other deeply in this life.
“The day my mother died I wrote in my journal, "A serious misfortune of my life has arrived." I suffered for more than one year after the passing away of my mother. But one night, in the highlands of Vietnam, I was sleeping in the hut in my hermitage. I dreamed of my mother. I saw myself sitting with her, and we were having a wonderful talk. She looked young and beautiful, her hair flowing down. It was so pleasant to sit there and talk to her as if she had never died. When I woke up it was about two in the morning, and I felt very strongly that I had never lost my mother. The impression that my mother was still with me was very clear. I understood then that the idea of having lost my mother was just an idea. It was obvious in that moment that my mother is always alive in me.
I opened the door and went outside. The entire hillside was bathed in moonlight. It was a hill covered with tea plants, and my hut was set behind the temple halfway up. Walking slowly in the moonlight through the rows of tea plants, I noticed my mother was still with me. She was the moonlight caressing me as she had done so often, very tender, very sweet... wonderful! Each time my feet touched the earth I knew my mother was there with me. I knew this body was not mine but a living continuation of my mother and my father and my grandparents and great-grandparents. Of all my ancestors. Those feet that I saw as "my" feet were actually "our" feet. Together my mother and I were leaving footprints in the damp soil.
From that moment on, the idea that I had lost my mother no longer existed. All I had to do was look at the palm of my hand, feel the breeze on my face or the earth under my feet to remember that my mother is always with me, available at any time.”
~Thích Nhất Hạnh, No Death, No Fear: Comforting Wisdom for Life
A few ways to celebrate all the mothers in your life:
-Write a heartfelt note in one of our beautiful cards, or journal and reflect on the important mother, teacher, and mentor relationships in your life.
-Wear or carry a rose quartz crystal to symbolize love and healing, and give rose quartz as a gift, or place it on your altar.
-Savor a cup of Magic Hour Tea together, in one of three delicious herbal flavors.
-For a personal celebration or a gift to share, choose from essential oils, all-natural rose water, crystal bracelets, sweet little trinket dishes, wind-chimes and rainbow-makers…Or combine several!
Other gift ideas include...Crystal malas, journals, sage and incense, bath salts, bath bombs, crystal-infused scented candles, inspirational books and books about meditation, spiritual growth and transformation, and world wisdom traditions.
-Explore the store and use your imagination to put together the perfect present, or craft a special ritual that is meaningful to you.
Books for and about Mothers
The Tao of Mom by Taro Gold, contains 365 rare and insightful quotations from mother figures around the world, revealing on each page the wisdom, courage, and compassion that define motherhood.
The Promise of Kuan Yin:Wisdom, Miracles, & Compassion by Martin Palmer and Ray Ramsay. Explore the origins and evolution of the goddess in ancient China, early Buddhism, Taoism, and shamanism. Discover fresh translations of 100 Kuan Yin poems that function both as literature and divination tools.
Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much by Anne Wilson Schaef is full of sage advice, warmhearted humor, encouraging reminders, and inspiring thoughts from women around the world help you discover a much-deserved calm amidst the whirlwind of your life.The perfect gift for yourself or all the workaholics, rushaholics, and careaholics in your life. Relax, refuel, and, most important, honor yourself and all that you do everyday of the year.
We happily offer complimentary gift wrap, and we will transform your findings into a beautiful gift bag in two shakes of a lamb’s tail!
**For Mamas with exquisite taste who prefer to choose their own treats; and for Mamas who would appreciate a fun shopping excursion or just need to take a self-care day, we recommend a gift certificate! **
