Cactus Scars © 2013 Bo Mackison
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ~ Rumi
As I walked back to my car after walking the labyrinth, I followed a path through the desert scape, winding around rocky protuberances, around saguaros. Walking the labyrinth was more of an experience than I’d anticipated. I left somewhat shaken, off-balance. Literally finding my footing on the rough, rock-strewn path required my focus. I stumbled once, but jabbed my hiking stick off path to keep myself from falling.
As I righted myself, I glanced to the side of the path. The sunlight streaked through the landscape, highlighting a fist sized wound in a saguaro. It was enough to make me pause.
The saguaro was three times my height, and had four or five arms; it was possibly two hundred years old. Numerous scars, cracked surfaces and more than a few wounds covered its surface. Yet the sun rays cast a luminescence around the cactus, casting shadows from its thorns, and leading my eye to the largest opening at my eyes’ height.
I thought of the quote by Rumi, the wound allowing the light to enter.
And I thought of the lyrics from Leonard Cohen’s, song, Anthem:
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
~ from Anthem, Leonard Cohen
It made so much sense. The wounds, the cracks, the imperfections – they allow the light to enter, that’s how the light gets in.
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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is exploring photography, poetry, and emotion in a new series featuring desert lines.
About Bo Mackison
I love all of these quotes, they have helped to keep me sane, through some tough ‘ off balance’ periods. Something else I pondered – scar skin tissue is stronger than the surrounding skin, our wounds really do make for tougher vessels!
Appreciating this series. :~)
It does seem there are *gifts* which tough times offer – for one, as you said, they make for tougher vessels. Thanks, Sue.
What a beautiful quote to accompany this ethereal..magical image! So true – that it’s thru those cracks that we grow and heal. And – I learned that they are woodpeckers who peck holes in the cactii like this??
Gila woodpeckers peck holes. Owls sometimes live in the cavities. All kinds of creatures think saguaros are a great micro habitat.
I love the image and the quote.
Saguaros are one of my favorites, and the sunlight makes it a bit special.
Inspirational. I’m so impressed by the way you package experience, image and the perfect quotes. It’s a gift. SO happy I have found your blog, found you. XO
Thank you, Debi. Sometimes everything comes together, and I’m surprised myself. 🙂
Beautiful post, in words and image. It’s wonderful to see some sunlight on this gray and gloomy morning. 🙂
Glad I can share the sunshine. 🙂