A bee stung Eros on the nose
While he was smelling on a rose
“Mother Venus, ay,ay,ay
Please help me or I’ll die
What a terrible disgrace
A dragon bit me on my face”!
Venus comforts first her son
then speaks to him with mocking fun:
The little bee’s tiny sting
Is for you an earnest thing
But more painful and real hard
are your stings in human’s heart.
A. Dürer, 1514: Eros, Venus and the bees
While he was smelling on a rose
“Mother Venus, ay,ay,ay
Please help me or I’ll die
What a terrible disgrace
A dragon bit me on my face”!
Venus comforts first her son
then speaks to him with mocking fun:
The little bee’s tiny sting
Is for you an earnest thing
But more painful and real hard
are your stings in human’s heart.
A. Dürer, 1514: Eros, Venus and the bees
Humans
have long had a symbiotic relationship with honeybees. We provide them
with shelter and care, and in return, they not only provide us with
honey and bee pollen for our health and pleasure, they pollinate 35% of
our food crops! Our lives are inextricably intertwined with the lives of
bees. Honeybees are behind every cheerful bloom of spring flowers, and
every abundant harvest on the Thanksgiving table.
Many honeybees in recent years are disappearing due to Colony Collapse Disorder.
We at Raksha Bella choose to see this as an opportunity for
transformation. By calling our attention to the need for healthy change,
the plight of bees all over the world is a gentle call, reminding us of
the interconnectedness of life on the planet, and of how our choices
today will resonate into the future lives of all beings on Earth.
Although
no conclusive evidence has been drawn as to the exact causes of CCD,
many of the studies point to conventional farming practices as at least
partly responsible: the use of multiple toxic pesticides and
fertilizers, genetically modified crops, and monoculture have all led to a loss of biodiversity.
Biodiversity is essential for all life on earth to grow healthy and
abundant. The interconnectedness between organic farming and saving the
bees is indisputable. Conventional and Monoculture farming is
responsible for poisons in our soil and bodies, the destruction of
ancient human agricultural traditions all over the globe, and global
food shortages. Conventional cotton crops use 25% of the entire world’s
pesticides! Ouch! In contrast, organic farming promotes biodiversity,
blesses us with higher crop yields and more nutrient-rich foods,
promotes fair labor practices, and reduces the toxic load on our
depleted soils. This is why we choose to use all certified organic
cotton for Raksha Bella products.
Spread
the beauty and harmony of nature into homes and hearts all over the
globe. Believe that healthy, abundant food for all people is beautiful;
believe that the cycles of the seasons are beautiful; that harmony
between people, plants, and creatures is beautiful, and that organic
products we touch and sleep in, with limited impact on our ecosystem are
beautiful!
Ally yourself with beauty! Gratitude to the honeybees!
Wishing you blessings of health, bounty and beauty this autumn
