November is Bee Month, apparently, as the Universe initiates me more fully into a life that includes more bees. Anyone who has seen the image above, first introduced to us upon the release of the film “Queen of the Sun” and now, on the cover of the book Queen of the Sun from Clairview Books in the UK, is deeply moved, one way or another. Regardless of one’s insect persuasion, the mind asks, “How can this be?” And that, dearest readers, is precisely what I intend to find out. For intuitively I think I know. Else why do I cry when I see the trailer for the film?
Queen of the Sun is a wonderfully rich anthology compiled by Taggart Siegel and Jon Betz, creators of the award winning film. It serves as an excellent introduction to beekeeping, or as a guide to self-correcting if one has been educated on beekeeping by more traditional guides. Such a volume is critical if we are to save our beloved honeybees. I wept at some of the practices being currently employed. Anyone with an understanding of the wisdom inherent in the natural processes of evolution that took place over millions of years will not find it at all difficult to understand that one should NOT be moving queens into foreign hives, away from her own kin, nor should drones be regarded as superfluous to a hive, as apparently some commercial growers imagine. Can you imagine? I cannot.
Queen of the Sun abounds with lovely photos that only enhance the beauty and wisdom contained therein.
Photo courtesy of Taggart Siegel
The fourteen contributors are a collection of conscious beekeepers, poets, a molecular biologist, a philosopher, academics, artists, authors and farmers. Each brings his own loving perspective on the current state of bees and how we might begin to think more consciously about their contributions, their society, and what we might learn from them. It is a message well worth both heeding and spreading.
I personally am very drawn to the concept that to sustain bees in the most loving way possible that we, as conscious beekeepers, adhere to how bees are found in their natural state, i.e., in Nature. This causes me to feel strongly that rather than imposing the boxes we keep them in that we consider going the Extra Mile and allowing them environments that replicate their preferences. (Why is this so hard to understand?) Here’s what I’m talking about.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lane
My whole being says YES.
Is it such a stretch to imagine that happy bees, well tended bees, bees that are loved might trust the heart that tends them?
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lane
Last night I was sleeping,
I dreamt–marvelous error!–
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart,
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failure.
~Antonia Machado
Bee Facts:
*To produce just one pound of honey, bees visit approximately two million flowers.
*The honey bee is the only insect that makes a food consumed by humans.
*Without pollinators most vegetative life forms would be condemned to perish.
*The hive wants drones. Unlike worker bees, drones can visit any hive. (WHY??)
*The hive cannot survive without the queen. If the queen dies, the hive dies.
*Honeybees from one colony know their mother intimately and spend most of their time in the company of their sisters.
*The story of worker bees making honey is inseparable from the story of flowering plants…Their bond is inseparable as they are entirely dependent on each other for survival.
Queen of the Sun is for thoughtful people who care about our planet Earth. It is also a doorway for exploring how we are all literally interdependent. The bees work together for the survival and well being of ALL. This is a story worth pondering.
I highly recommend this book. Please secure, read and let me know what you think and how it impacts you. Also, you might consider sponsoring the film in your local community. Go to queenofthesun.com for more information.
Love and garden blessings,
Kathryn xoxo
Book Notes: In keeping with the spirit of the times I am offering free shipping in US for all copies of Plant Whatever Brings You Joy purchased on www.estrellacatarina.com through December 25th! Please consider this gift for the gardeners in your life! Thank you!
Also, Western North Carolina Woman has kindly published an excerpt from Plant Whatever Brings You Joy in their December issue.
Posted on November 28th, 2011 by Kathryn
Filed under: Animals | 6 Comments »
