Have you ever heard of Osmia Avosetta or Mason Bees? I know I hadn’t. But when I came across an image of their nesting capsules (the colorful shrouds they wrap their eggs in), I became fascinated. The Mason bee is a solitary bee, meaning that they do not live in colonies. Honestly, I had no idea that there were bees that didn’t live in hives together. These bees produce neither honey nor beeswax, but they do help to pollinate the local flora. What interested me was the solo nature of the bees as well as the colorful nesting capsules (see image below).
This combination got me thinking about how, at times, I find myself drawing on these less typical aspects of being (solitude and a unique way of doing something so common). As humans, we are designed to be social creatures, and for the most part, I am (most of us are), and at other times, of course, we prefer solitary, lone time to think, ponder, wonder, create, and brood– alone. But because of the structure of our society, this balance of communal time and solitary time can be challenging.
As I examined the photos of the colorful shrouds, it made me wonder about the ways that humans hide our pain, our lonesome solitude under a colorful exterior, protecting our pain, our loneliness, and wrapping it in rainbows. We hold the ability to cover the hurt and wear a shiny mask of perfection, love & light. This colorful exterior exclaims! I am ok! I am happy! I am productive! And yet, under this facade, there can be so much pain and hurt. The facade acts as a distraction from our authentic emotions. People only see the perfection, the joy, and thus are unable to truly connect, empathise, and sit with you in your pain.
Journaling Questions to go Deeper
- In what ways do I put on a colorful facade to hide my pain?
- When I am hurting, do I erect bigger walls to keep others out or do I lower my defenses and allow others to see my suffering?
- What does my nesting capsule look like?
- Is my shroud protecting me or creating a barrier between myself and others?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Please share in the comments.
Love,
Jen