"In Praise of Honey Bees"

[Shepherd]

I recently attended a honeybee gathering at a wild place in rural Sebastopol. During my nearly 30 years of organic farming here, I have usually had honeybee hives on my farm. Berries need their pollination.

We two-footeds can learn much from winged honeybees, especially during this time of mounting international crises. Such bees can help us at this time, which some describe as possibly the final days for humanity, as we move toward a possible exchange of nuclear weapons and the mounting climate change. Fortunately, people in Peru, Scotland, India, and elsewhere honor and pay tribute to honey bees.

“Bees are our family members,” one person at our gathering said. “We honor and pay tribute to this ancient ally of humans. They know the way,” our bee whisper host Michael said. “Honeybees call us to awareness. If you are angry or aggressive, the bees feel it. How can we transform our anger?” Gary Pace, M.D., asked.

“Tiny they may be, but powerful,” another person added. “Be good, be kind.” Janus Matthes of Wine and Water Watch added that “bees work communally for the greater good.” We could benefit from honeybee wisdom at this difficult time in human history.

I have never been stung by a honeybee, though I have often been stung by yellow jackets—big difference. While I work on the berry vines, honey bees often land on nearby vines without touching me or getting in the way.

“This time of growing crises is a time to get over our separation. We belong with other beings,” one person said. “This inspiring being calls us to awareness. I cannot imagine a world without bees, birds, and butterflies. May they continue, even as we two-footed humans damage this one wild, precious, and beautiful planet.

[Shepherd]

Thanks, Barry, for adding the honey bee graphic, and for your gratitude.