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100 Days Of Awe: Day Ninety Eight – Welcoming Basil

Day 98: Welcoming BasilIMAG5436Much and all as I was awed and astounded by the torrential waves of rain that swathed through Saturday, the grandiosity of it all was not easily captured by my camera.  Be assured that it was amazing, spilling from a dove grey sky in bouncing beaded curtains of silver raindrops.  Observing Summer in London over the past month it appears to be a different beast than normal, well, should I say expected.  Magnificent cloudy skies, buxom and voluptously blooming, warm underlays of days with assertive sandpaper breezes, and the rain; rushing on to stage in wailing tears of drama. The dropping skirts of heaven, shutting out the warmth of the sun, driving me to put my socks on again and at least once last week jumping into a hot shower to warm up.  Sounding decidedly aged I  admit I am still toasting my toes with a hot water bottle at night although I am sleeping with my windows open.

Anyway the highlight of my day was welcoming basil, a new addition to my window sill.  Now I love basil, the small and the taste and the soft cupped curve of those emerald green leaves.  One of my favourite juice recipes; beetroot, 2 x carrots, 1 x apple and ginger is something special with 3 or 4 sprigs of basil.  The thing is that a packet of basil in the fridge does not take kindly to being squashed or sat upon and more than once recently I have found a forgotten or mislaid bag of soggy mess only identifiable by it’s packaging.  A waste of food, a waste of money.  So why not try a living pot? Been there, tried that.  It didn’t work in fact I thought it was a supermarket con to get you to pay more for the illusion of having one-plant herb garden.  My experience was that the minute Basil saw me s/he wilted and drooped, withering faster than I could eat it and, I felt, was mortally wounded by each leaf that I consumed.  Last week, house sitting, changed everything; when I was introduced to a flourishing basil planet my first reaction was that my old pattern would play out, but catching myself predicting the future I consulted with my friend for a few tips.  He assured me maintaining water levels were key, not into the soil but rather in the holding container. I also decided that this was not about the tedium of doing what had to be done but rather would be a task of care and consideration.  Conversation became a natural addition into the mix.  I even used a few of the leaves, removing them with care and gratitude.  Obviously it is seriously worrying to see a grown woman kowtoo to a plant but I have to say it worked!  Over a week later that planet was alive and thriving. Reinspired; Saturday saw me, in between those wide, loose weave swathes of rain, dashing to Sainsbury’s  to buy my very own living pot sitting on a handpicked spot on the window sill in a special saucer which I keep topped up with water.  There is an orchid and mint for company, they all seem to be settling in together.  I am excited about the new addition to the family and softened by the kindness that s/he brings out in me.

100 Days of Awe is a playful project I set up to bring my attention to awe in my daily life. I see awe as wonder, a mixture of amazement and respect.  I expect the experience of awe to be about perception shifting awareness and that demands a reframing of some sort.  I am excited to see what will awe me on this journey.

Anne K. Scott is an imagination technologist, her work to teach, facilitate and deliver innovation for individuals and business.  She is the creator of FindYourMojo a FREE iPHone productivity app. If you are interested in what intuitive coaching can do for you or your business please do contact me.  I support clients all over the world.

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