Being on Steemit for a while I can’t stop being surprised by a variety of wonderful initiatives launch by Steemians. This week thanks to my fellow #ecoTrain passenger @trucklife-family I came across 🔥Steemit Vision Quest. @cabelindsay, who curates it encourages us to “bring our Inner Visions into focus, prompted by the question: What Does My Higher Self See?” words (c)@cabelindsay. Each week a new theme is suggested giving us a chance to use our creativity in various forms and connect to other Steemians exploring their visions. This week SVQ theme is absolutely stunning - “Queen Of The Forest”. It is a personal calling for me as I am a huge forest lover and tree-planter. Moreover, being an Art-lover as well, I immediately knew whose artworks I wanted to use for this very special post!
Today I want to present a tale I wrote, accompanied by beautiful art by Brian Kirhagis. I had the honor to visit one of Brian’s exhibition and fell in love with his art ever since. Moreover, I admire him not only for his art but his life’s philosophy as well, which perfectly resonates with my own attitude that a single person can make a change in this world!
Artists are a rare breed; blessed with a unique talent to formulate our thoughts into images. It with this gift that I attempt to create a collective reality through my paintings; if by providing the image I can help ignite a thought, then maybe our reality can change.
Brian Kirhagis
My hope is that this story accompanied with Brian’s art will make a change in our reality. At least a small one.
Kate was a very inquisitive girl. Born in a small village in Spain, she was often left to herself. She could run through the meadows, watch the peacefully grazing cows or watch how small leaf-boats flew in the stream nearby to her house. yet most of all, Kate liked to spend time with her grandmother Nonna. Nonna always smiled, moved smoothly and with grace which you can hardly imagine for a woman of her age, sometimes dancing and singing songs to herself. To Kate, Nonna seems to be alive Goddess - wise, loving and caring. Kate couldn’t say that she was an expert on Goddess, all she ever learn about them was from Nonna’s stories. Each evening just before she would prepare to get to sleep Nonna will come and tell some stories for her and they were such amazing that Kate always waiting impatiently when this time comes. And now that was the time. Kate was standing close to her bed watching Nonna slowly moving towards her dancing and whistling a melodic song.
“Nonna, what are you singing? "Kate asked as she climbed on the bed.
"My sweet child,” - said Nonna, smiling "I sing the song of gratitude to the Queen of Forest!"
Kate sat on the bed and stared at her grandmother. Queen of Forest?? She has not heard about her yet. Her mum who came to kiss her glanced at Nonna and smiled. "I guess it's time for you to learn about the Queen of the Forest, dear” - she said in her gentle voice, bending to kiss Kate on the forehead and shaving the girl with an amazing fragrance. Kate kissed her mother in return and went to bed with her whole attention to patiently waiting Nonna, trying to show grandmother that she was ready to learn.
Nona smiled, patted Kate's head. ‘The Queen of Forest has been living in our forest for centuries” - Nonna started her story. “Those who saw her say that she is incredibly beautiful: her body is a suite of tree trunks, her clothes are made from leaves and branches of various plants. Her hair is long and beautiful covered with different flowers of possible colors. It is said that when she passes through the forest, you can feel the amazing aroma and freshness. Moreover, you will get an incredible feeling if you see her, as someone suddenly gave you a very welcoming kiss and embraced with loving hugs.
Kate closed her eyes for a second. She desperately wanted to meet the Queen of the Forest !! "I wish I could see her!" - thought the girl and continued to listen to her grandmother's story.
“Those who saw her face say that it is impossible to forget. It is like a carpet of flowers! And her eyes are simply mesmerizing, two beautiful oceans of love” - continued Nonna.
“There are many people who say that saw her at least once while walking in our forest. They say that is you want to see her with good intentions and true passion she will come to you”
"I want!! I really want, Nonna! "- Kate jumped up from the bed. "Grandma, how can I see the Queen of the Forest?". Grandma smiled and embraced her granddaughter, gently putting her to the bed. “There is a way to see her - you just need to open your eyes and ask her to come to you. Allow yourself be free of any expectations - The Queen always choose the right time and place for you to get to know her”.
Kate was intrigued! She began to ask her grandmother to go with her to the forest tomorrow so she can try to see the Queen of a Forest. A child hoped that The Queen knows her desire to meet her and will show her grace to Kate. Nonna agreed and said that is is time to sleep. She covered Kate with a blanket and went to another part of the house singing on her way.
Kate was left alone and kept wondering if she would be able to see the Queen of the Forest. Slowly she dreamt. In her dreams, she would go to the meadows and see the Queen waiting for her to play. She would go deep into the forest and see the silhouette of the Queen among tree trunks. She would also see the change in seasons and The Queen giving birth to a new generation of forest Living. As Kate lived all of this amazing scenes in her dream she suddenly had a thought: “How can I find you?” she asked The Queen sitting next to her. The Queen smiled as her grandmother did before and answered: “Just look for me” and disappeared.
When Kate got up in the morning, she had a very strange feeling that she would meet The Queen of the Forest today! She told her mum and grandmother of the dream she had. They told her to send gratitude to The Queen of the Forest for spending this time with her and answering the question and get ready to go to their forest!
After a short time, they all went into the forest. Kate was walking a bit behind her mum and grandmother who used this opportunity to collect some herbs. To her surprise she started to see the Queen of the Forest - she was sitting in a clearing with flowers, her voice was in the streams Kate always played with leaves-boats. She heard her laugh in the cries of birds and the stirring of leaves. After a while, it seemed that the Queen of the Forest was shown to her everywhere. Kate seemed to be surrounded by the Queen of the Forest whenever direction she would look. As if wherever she went, Queen Forest accompanied her.
Confused the girl decided to express a thought to her mother and grandmother. "Mom, Nonna, why do I see the Queen of the Forest everywhere? Mom and Nona looked at each other exactly the same way as last night. "Because now you've learned to see her," answered the grandmother with a smile.
Sometimes we, like Kate, live in the World not noticing what surrounds us. And I would like to believe that more and more people, just like Kate "will learn to see" that amazing beauty. Moreover, if we would teach our children from a young age to respect and live in Harmony with Forests, Lakes, oceans and all the living creatures around them, we would have a chance that there will be fewer people “who do not see”. And I hope that the more people understand these simple things, the more Love and Harmony will be in our World.
I support @ecotrain project, which also use #ecotrain. I want to believe that more and more people will start to think about things that help to make the world a better place. (с)@ecotrain. I also hope that more and more writers on Steemit will support the movement started by @eco-alex and @icmultitudes . As I truly believe that we are one and helping others means you are helping yourself.
The @ecoTrain Magazine: A collection of special posts from the @ecoTrain Magazine! 8th March
