Berry picking and the Art of Receiving
There is a different kind of enchantment in berry picking. Anyone who has plucked the firm-fleshed, glossy nuggets of goodness -- and loves the process -- simply needs no further explanation. You “get it”. The places where these delights are found (Huckleberries specifically) are typically uninhabited by humans. Entering into this space with this awareness (in my experience) often heightens senses that at any time a four-legged friend may cross one’s path, and the sense of anticipation in that something unexpected could happen is palpable. So where does the receiving come into this? Focusing on the berries, and the attention that is paid to the “everything else” around you is a form of meditation. While blissfully steeped in the surrounding environment, in a labour of love and conscientiously collecting the huckleberries I fill my hand with the berries and place them into my bucket. This action continues for a long period of time. Then I drop some berries. I place wha...