To Bee Or Not To Bee

I enter the labyrinth between two antennae and spiral through each eye. I then meander through one set of wings, the abdomen, and yet another set of wings before arriving in the center—the thorax. Here, I pause briefly in the heart of this creation and survey the winding, grassy path bordered with white rope. The rope around me on the ground gives rise to the shape of a bee. I stand inside this being, buzzing with energy from the inward journey. I delight in the congruence of intention and experience, the synchronicity of me and the bee resonating together as one. I then meander my way back again and exit through the antennae where I began. I turn around and thank the labyrinth and the bee for this prayerful opportunity.

Why have I created a bee labyrinth? Because I like bees. They are complex and interesting beings worthy of our curiosity and admiration. They are also important pollinators and are vital to the growth and abundance of many fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, they play a crucial role in sustaining diverse ecosystems, pollinating native plants that are in turn a source of food and shelter for wildlife. And bees, themselves, are a source of food for many birds, insects, and spiders.

Bees have suffered some serious setbacks in recent years. Pesticides, pathogens, and parasites may have caused colony collapse disorder in domesticated honey bees. Not to mention, native bees, many of them solitary, ground-nesting species, are declining, some to the brink of extinction. Habitat loss and climate change also contribute to this decline in native bees. Urban sprawl paves over wildlands and a shift in the timing of seasonal phenomena, such as flowering, leaves bees with less to eat. Yet, without bees, humans would also have less to eat, quite possibly to the point of collapse of our kind.

What can you do to make a difference? How can you be a friend to bees? Grow native plants and bee-friendly flowers and quit using harmful pesticides.* Take time to connect with and appreciate bees wherever you are, in your yard or in the wild. Contemplate their complexity, life history, and beauty. And remember to thank them, expressing your heartfelt gratitude for all that they provide.

For all that is,