Subtle White on White

My Wolf Eyes kousa dogwood is blooming. Since it has variegated leaves, the creamy flowers are almost lost in the light green foliage. But if you look closely, eventually you see a whole branch full of flowers. And then another, and another.

One of my meditation teachers, Shinzen Young, says, "Subtle is significant."

That little drop of calm, that tiny tickle of joy--these are the bread crumbs that show us the way on our spiritual path.

Sometimes it may feel like looking at white on white. Keep looking for the subtle variations. Like the Wolf Eyes dogwood.

Surprise Fruit

I went over to my gardening mentor, Ruth's, garden to pick up a white fall anemone, but, of course, she had lots of other interesting things to look at. Her kousa dogwood tree is loaded with red fruit.

"They're edible," Ruth said.

I picked one of the strawberry-sized fruit and split it open with just a slight pressure. I squeezed the creamy innards into my mouth. Seedy, but tasty. Sort of like paw-paws.
"Wow. Put these through a food mill and you have dessert," I said.

The fruits of our spiritual practice are also very "tasty." A bit of calm, less irritation, less judgmental, kinder, less stressed.

And you know what "stressed" spells backwards? Desserts!

Kousa Dogwood

Photos from rootstofruits.biz and bluesinbminor.wordpress.com