Samaras

The seeds of maple have wings to carry them on the wind, far from their mother tree. One welcomed me on my windshield as I left the home of Stephen Huyler, a cultural anthropologist who has documented India over the past forty+ years.

His name was mentioned by various sources in previous weeks. There was no underlying reason to meet with him, other than pursuing the advice that kept floating my way…and I’m thankful I followed it. He showed me a portion of his impressive collection and we chatted for nearly two hours in a room adorned with Indian art, books, and artifacts. His own photography rotated through a slideshow on his computer and my eyes were drawn to its vibrant color and light.

He had no idea that moments before we met, I spoke with my fiancé, expressing fears surrounding the upcoming move to India. I had narrowed my focus to the challenges ahead and needed a reminder of the magic that also awaits. It was as if our meeting was medicine for the soul, timed perfectly before tomorrow’s departure from Maine.

Here are some words he shared that I’m posting so I can return here and read them again and again:

The best aspects of life
are unhindered, yet respectful,
free expression and
sharing of thoughts, responses and ideas –
and listening…

Also shared was this quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

There is guidance for each of us and by lowly listening, you will know the right word. Place yourself in the middle of the stream of power and wisdom that flows into your life. Then without effort, you are compelled to truth and to perfect contentment.

This brings me back to the maple seed. It struck me that these were a pair. One wing needs the aid of another to travel further away from its home branch.

I also noticed its silhouette is strikingly similar to the tadpole, a creature of transformation, growing into an amphibious form which can move between worlds of air and water. Perhaps my mind would not have made that connection if it weren’t for the jar of tadpoles I collected that very evening back at the pond.

So I’ll fly, I’ll swim, I’ll move between worlds, and I’ll stay open to connections that help make that transformation a little more smooth.

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To learn more about Stephen Huyler and his rich collection of work, visit www.stephenhuyler.com.