The Kindness of The Mallard Ducks

 

 Picture taken by Judy Hirst in our yard in May 2023

I wrote about our Mallard Ducks in a previous blog.  You can check it out by clicking on the link below.

https://www.lightstationwisdom.com/2023/04/mallard-duck-visitors-spirit-animals.html

Today, I want to tell you a story about these ducks.  We call them Mama and Papa Duck.  They have been coming to our yard and our neighbourhood since 2021.  They show up about mid May and their last visit is usually early September.  Both ducks are very chill in our yard and they have an understanding with our dog so that he leaves them alone as they eat at the birdseed area.  They come about ten in the morning and about eight at night.  We can be out on the deck eating or reading, and they don’t care.  When they are not in our yard, they are at our neighbours’ places, doing the same thing.

One day, we observed the ducks fly into the yard in the morning, and, quite strangely, a third duck, a male mallard flew in with them.  Rather than going to eat right away as they normally do, the ducks walked the male mallard around the part of the yard that they hang out in and showed him different places they like to eat grass as well as the birdseed area.  The three of them munched together and then flew off.

Later that afternoon, the lone male mallard dropped into the yard.  He has been popping in about once a day, sometimes twice, and does not come when Mama and Papa Duck are here.  We realized that the Mallard couple were being kind to the lone male who seemed to be without a mate.  They brought him to their safe haven area where there was food and safety from coyotes or other predators.  The lone male eats with the doves and the blackbirds and seems quite content.  

I was impressed with the thoughtfulness and kindness of Mama and Papa Duck.  I am not aware of ducks showing this level of sympathy and empathy for another.  The compassion the couple showed was amazing.  Nature is often amazing.  I hope that very soon all humans show that much compassion for others.

Many blessings,

Judy

Values from the Elders

 Several weeks ago, a friend mailed me a list of actions recommended by elders in several indigenous clans.  I do not know where this originated, however, each reminder strikes a chord in me.  

When I was growing up, my parents were wonderful examples of Reminder 4.  All guests were treated with respect and honor.  Everyone was fed with the best of what was on hand.  This value my parents learned from their parents, my Ancestors.  

As you read through the reminders, check in with yourself to see how or whether you follow these life values.

15 REMINDERS FROM THE ELDERS:

1. Get up with the sun to pray. Pray alone.

2. Be tolerant of those who have lost their way. Ignorance, presumption, anger, jealousy and greed come from a lost soul. Pray for them to find guidance.

3. Find yourself, by your own means. Do not let others make your path for you. It is your path, and only yours. Others may walk with you, but no one can make your way (or walk your path) for you.

4. Treat guests in your home with great consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.

5. Do not take what is not yours, whether from a person, a community, from the jungle or from a culture. It was not given or won. It is not yours.

6. Respect all the things that are on this earth, be they people, plants and animals.

7. Honor the thoughts, desires and words of all people. Never break them in, or make fun of them, or imitate them rudely. It gives each person the right to their personal expression.

8. Never talk about others in a bad way. The negative energy you put into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.

9. All people make mistakes. And all the mistakes can be forgiven.

10. Bad thoughts cause illness to the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.

11. Nature is not FOR us. It is PART of us. She's part of your family in the world.

12. Children are the seeds of our future. Sow love in your hearts and water them with wisdom and life lessons. When they grow up, just give them space to grow up.

13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of their suffering will return to you.

14. Be true (transparent ) all the time. Honesty is the test of one's will in this universe.

15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental person, your Spiritual person, your Emotional person, and your Physical person: they all have the need to be strong, pure and healthy.

May each of you have a peaceful, wonderful day,

Many blessings,

Judy

Juniper Berry - An Interesting Herb

Juniper Berry picture from Wikipedia

A good read is Whispers From the Woods by Sandra Kynes (Lewellyn Worldwide, Woodbury, MN www.llewellyn.com). The description of one of the trees really struck a me with a moment of AHA! All over Canada, it seems that juniper bushes get planted in front of the house or behind the house or in the yard.

 

Kynes talks about the fact that juniper bushes were planted in front of a house as a protection against witches. She also talks about the German belief that having a juniper bush in front of your house will prevent thieves from breaking into the house and stealing all the valuables. Did you know that juniper berries could be used to make gin?

What is really striking is that in the West, we have acres of juniper, if it were all together in one lot. It is striking that because of its medicinal purposes for colds, aches, and pains among other things, that almost every home then has a little medicine cabinet outside the door. Yet we are not conscious of the properties of the plant. We do seem to be conscious that somehow juniper is beneficial for we name many things from network systems, to music to designs after the juniper bush. 

The juniper tree's greatest gift is the berries.  These berries may be used to make a diuretic tea that does not seem to diminish one's electrolytes as over the counter diuretics may do.  

Recipe

Pick the berries when they are ripe and then place them on a cookie sheet covered with brown paper. Place the cookie sheet in a dark place - a pantry - for three days. The berries will dry. They may be stored in a cloth pouch and used, a teaspoonful at a time, in tea.  Pour boiling water over the berries, and mash a bit, and let the tea steep for three minutes.  Sweeten with honey if you find the taste too bitter.

This is just one recipe for the use of juniper berries.  Let me know how your medicine from juniper turns out. Let me know too, if you have any juniper recipes to share.

 Bright blessings!

  Judy