the sounds of rain in spring

there is an ash tree in my neighborhood absolutely covered with these seed bundles. it’s looks as if none of the seeds let go last autumn and they all decided to stick around until the new leaf growth will finally pushes them off next month. i picked them today because their rich color and texture caught my attention, but i soon learned, while carrying them home, that softly shaking the branch creates a wonderfully soothing sound, like a gentle steady rain. it made my body tingle from head to toe. i’m going to try it on my husband tonight and see if it does the same thing to him. i may keep this branch around for a bit and experiment with it as a musical instrument. perhaps use it as a symbolic ritual when i transition into and out of creative work.  i like rituals. i don’t have many, expect the lighting of candles every evening to mark the end of the work day. i’ve been doing that for 20 years. i think there is power in ritual. and this little seeded branch just may be my next.

ash tree seeds