Watering and weeding in my little garden I came across a pinecone. Just randomly there. We have no pine trees close enough to have it had fallen there. In fact, there are no trees at all in the back area of the house. I just stared at it, but I didn’t pick it up. My very first initial thought was “well that must have been a gift.”  Then I moved on.

I am writing this on a Wednesday, and this happened on Monday. Suddenly that pinecone came to mind. I thought to myself, what a peculiar thing for me to think, that it was a “gift.” I thought this without hesitation, or any further thought, and like this type of thing was such a common occurrence, that it did not warrant any further action from me. When I looked at the pinecone, I even remember thinking “well thanks for this.”  Now as I sit here, thanks to whom exactly? A gift from whom? Why am I even thinking of this at all? It is interesting when you begin to notice, really notice, things like this become regular. it gets more soft, and things like a dandelion opening become easy to see, and understand. Nature just becomes your trusted friend. It becomes easy.

Nature is going to do things for us, whether we notice those things or not. Nature is not out here imposing a will upon us. Nature just completes its tasks, moving along the wheel, and we can work with her or move through our lives without noticing. Nothing she does isn’t happening though, just because we are not allowing ourselves to be aware.

I began to investigate the significance of a pinecone.

I used to believe that pinecones were seeds. However, pinecones are not seeds themselves; they are the protective structures that house pine seeds. Once the seeds mature and the conditions become favorable—typically following a dry spell or heat—the cone will open up and release the seeds.

When conditions are favorable.

As the pinecone releases its seeds at the appropriate time, and when everything is agreeable for such an event, depending on the species, it takes 20-30 years for that tree to reach maturity. To reach a point where it can send out pinecones to start this whole circle again – 20-30 years. Although there are species out there that fast grow and can even grow 12 feet in less than a year, they may not be completely mature. These trees look it, but at the roots they are not ready. Time, patience, and the balance of nature will dictate when the seeds fall.

In some traditions, pinecones are seen as a symbol of intuition, spiritual insight, and higher consciousness. Because of the protective structure of the pinecone for its seeds, the seeds can survive even the harshest of conditions.

I saw a random pinecone in my garden, I stared at it, I did not move it, and thought “well, it must be a gift.” 

Turns out, it was. Staying in one place mentally and sometimes even physically we find protection and a sense of safety in.

When conditions are favorable, we can come out of what we find as protection, to what can really be growth. Wisdom. Immeasurable hope. It takes a while, but nature has plenty of time. She is still at the wheel, whether we see her or not.

I am not going to move that pinecone. It came a long way to teach me things. I think I will allow it to do that.

Peace to you,

Cath