healingwords: poetry for the soul

We came across this Madonna in a small cave off the side of a country road near Uña in the province of Cuenca. The cave was easy to miss, small steps led up the hillside, marked by a discreet, wooden side. Inside the grotto was adorned with rosaries and statuettes and the Madonna herself draped in rosaries. There was a feeling of serene peace in a place where the faithful of years had deposited their prayers and thanks. 

Our pocket patio is looking at its best in mid June. The geraniums are blooming all shades from crimson to pink, the green is yet to fade in the heat of Summer and the flowering herbs are attracting the bees. This photo was taken after a sudden downpour of rain washed the plants clean. 

This is the discarded root from the tree chopped into logs on the hillside. It was one that was leaning dangerously from the crumbling bank and I guess it was no longer safe for people using the track but it still hurt to see the roots discarded. 

In the few minutes I watched this hole in an earthen bank a long trail of ants scrambled in, all moving around the larger insect in the entrance. I was left imagining the whole community of perhaps thousands of ants organising their colony, fetching food, rearing young, living a complete ant life that we are mostly totally unaware of. 

This butterfly flitted around me on the hillside path but refused to sit still with its beautiful wings open. I am interested in the contrast between its closed wings, when it was almost perfectly camouflaged and its open winged display. At rest on the path it was hard to spot, thus hard to catch for a predator, whilst its bright red and gold flecked wings are designed to attract a mate.  

I was struck the other day by the wonderful palette of greens in the small patch of land by the spring at La Rompuda. In one small area there were pines, holm oak shrubs, abandoned olives, bright cherry, a fig tree and a camp corner where green reeds towered over my head like a cane jungle. 

This beautiful holm oak is in the centre of a hidden grove of trees, protected by smaller oaks and brambles. Entering the grove feels like walking into the rarefied atmosphere of a great Cathedral, a sacred space of stillness.  I feel calmed and renewed leaning on the strong trunk, looking upwards through the canopy to the sky. 

This is where I would like to be today. There is no more to say. 

These brilliant yellow flowers on the verges around the countryside terraces and fields were buzzing with insects. The stamens reminded me of a birds nest with the open, squawking mouths of tiny fledgings waiting to be fed. 

I stood mesmerised by the movement of the wind through this patch of long grasses. The changing patterns and colours reminded me of the hypnotic effect of the wind on water, waves building and crashing on the shore or whipped up waves rippling over the surface of a lake. 

This image was taken at the sandstone rock pools in Xabia with the sun striping patterns on the rocks, light breaking into rainbows. I love this quiet space, in between the busy Arenal beach and the bustling port. Despite being a man made environment with the cutting of sandstone blocks for building, the sea has reclaimed the space, the stony shore line has not been developed and in winter I rarely see anyone here apart from the occasional fisherman. In summer the pebble beach has a couple of 'chiringito'  bars and families picnic in the evenings but it retains a quiet, peaceful charm.  © 2020 Jacqueline Knight Cotterill.  All rights reserved.