MinxterBLOOM

How can we know ourselves by ourselves? We can be known to ourselves through another, but we cannot go it alone. That is the hero’s way, perhaps appropriate during a heroic phase. But if we have learned anything from the rituals of the new life-form of the past seventy years, it is just this: we cannot go it alone. The opus of the soul needs intimate connection, not only to individuate but simply to live. For this we need relationships of the profoundest kind through which we can realize ourselves, where self-revelation is possible, where interest in and love for soul is paramount, and where eros may move freely — whether it be in analysis, in marriage and family, or between lovers or friends.”

—James Hillman, The Myth of Analysis

A neighbor made this attic vent cover for me. This is the storybook style of the 30s, 40s, and 50s.  Read more at Retrorenovation.  Here is a flickr set about Hugh Comstock's storybook cottages of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

This Popular Mechanics home DIY series photo is what got me started on this.

Kale, fall-planted, under glass

Both Rita and Ambrose, as infants, were surrounded by a halo of white bees.  These bees flew in and out their mouths, with no harm.  Honey-ed speach, no doubt.  Filippo Lippi made a painting of this. These two

are worthy patrons to invoke concerning the global pollinator crisis.  Ambrose, the stern mentor of Augustine, knew the writings of Plato as well as Augustine.  This is fitting as the bee tale -- out of the mouth of babes -- is told of Plato, too.

I am looking for an image of Rita as a bee-crowned babe.  Nothing yet, so scroll back and see the arresting one of yesterday by Zoequixote.

St. Rita and the Fig Tree by Zoequixote

Rita is often invoked as the patron of abused women and those in bad marriages.  Of course, in her narrative, love transformed her difficult husband.  I believe in the transformative power of love; however, this story can be disasterous for a lady-in-waiting. Instead, I would rather focus on her ability to bring forth figs, roses, and even grapes in a winter garden. This makes her a companion of St. Jude, who patrons the hopeless.  Improbable is more hopeful than impossible. 

Rita, short for Margarita, was surrounded by a cloud of white bees when she was an infant.  More on that, and Ambrose, next.