Shannon Jackson Arnold: Flowering

In the brief time of the Summer Wisdom Series, I've encountered someone whose work is so aligned with our Blooming theme that I couldn't resist adding an extra day, just for her.Though we've just met, and by 'met' I mean, just encountered one another through Facebook and Twitter, Shannon Jackson Arnold has been one of the most supportive and active Wisdom Series supporters we've ever had. She's shared links, left comments, engaged with other community members.I thought that her bright spirit and her beautiful work would add a lovely grace note to the end of the series. For me, Shannon's is the wisdom of engagement - and, as you will see, of blooming itself.I am pleased and proud to introduce her to you today: - - - - -FloweringI am more Queen Anne's Lace, than windowsill violet.I want to grow wild into the meadow, sowing my seeds with abandon where I please.Let me burst open in an abundance of blooms. Become a saucer of receptivity and spaciousness, soaking in the sun, holding up the ladybug, providing refuge for the spider.I do best in open spaces, thriving in the heat of summer and swaying with a languid flow to the kiss of the wind.Some call me a weed, but part of my journey is claiming my beauty and place in the kingdom of treasured flowers.Of course, I am not only Queen Anne's Lace. I can be a pretty peony or a dangerous black iris, too.But the wisdom of the Queen's Anne Lace is a place of rootedness I can come to again and again to reconnect with my core self and a deeper wisdom.I can ask for her guidance. Listen to her messages. Glimpse into mysteries of God and life.I ask often, and I'm never left wanting.Queen Anne's Lace knows about life, trust, love, interdependence and the underlying rhythms of life.She reminds me about the unique matrix of humanity and Divinity that I am and that everyone is.Queen Anne's Lace is a totem flower for me. It's a flower I connect with as a guidepost and a pathway into not only her wisdom but also my own.Your flower might be different.After all, there are more than 250,000 species of flowers and more than six billion humans to love them.I love what I love. And what you love will be uniquely your own.(Even if you love Queen Anne's Lace, too, we will resonate differently to her.)I want to know the precious flower you are through what you love and the wisdom you hold.So tell me, please, what kind of flower are you? What blooms do you love?What does your favorite flower say about you? About your gifts and soul essence?What does your favorite flower know about life, love and the pursuit of happiness? About what you desire to bring forth in your life?What seeds of wisdom does it offer you?Tell me, what flowering wisdom do you have to share?**************************Shannon Jackson Arnold is the author and photographer of Flowering Wisdom: Inspiring Thoughts on Life, Love & Blooming Big. A devoted student of the flower, she has taken more than 3,500 flower photographs and writes about seeing life through the lens of flowers. In addition to writing and other creative endeavors, she teaches, speaks and offers private consults to inspire others to bloom fully in their lives. You can learn more and sign up to download a free .pdf of her book at www.shannonjacksonarnold.com