Beneath the whispering tree

Tonight is a traditional night for Wassailing, a time where people bless the fruit trees and make merry in the hope that sweet fruit will adorn its branches in the year to come. Tonight I extend an invitation to you to join me in this wonderful tradition.

Below is a simple watercolour sketch of a winter tree, bare and blue from cold yet strong and rooted. My invitation is for you to join me each day that you can, to sit below it and think of something you are thankful for in this day. It could be something very simple like finding a lost sock, eating good bread, standing in the light. It could be one word like breath, smiles, friendship or it could be bittersweet such as a good death. 

We can't all be positive all of the time, it is not healthy but this last year has taught me that I can always find one thing in a day that I am thankful for even if its just managing to do the dishes. What I want, what I envision, even though it may be a grand idea is that this little blog post page almost becomes a passing place where we stop by to tie our ribbon of thanks to its branches simply by commenting on the post with our days thanks. I'm aware that this may be hard for people to do daily, for those who can great! for those who can't that's ok, what about weekly or fortnightly? I do think its a good idea to try and do it regularly as it helps our hearts feel the thanks when it can begin to rely on your words.

We seem to take time each day to scroll and feel bad about it, to do the things we don't want to do but lets carve out a minute, just a minute each day to stop by here and leave our thanks. I have a plan for what I will do at the end of the year with all our words but for now I'll let that rest, Each seasons turn though I will change the painting of our tree and I will be physically painting a ribbon at the end of each day for everyone's addition and I will share this image too.

I can't think of a better night to do this than on a full moon, wassailing eve. So get your coat on, grab a flask of something and join me in giving thanks for this one wild and precious life.