On Saturday I will take my Beginner Beekeeping Course offered by the Cornell Co-operative Extension. Beekeeping is something that I have wanted to do ever since I read, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

I adore how the character that is the Queen Beekeeper explains that in order to charm bees you must walk with a presence of love. The idea of overcoming any fear, to just present myself as I am, with all of the love and respect that I can muster is equally inspiring and terrifying. This is a mandate for all of life, not just bees. While I would like to think that I walk this way about the world, I know myself better than this. And while I won’t always get stung approaching the day cranky and oblivious, I will always do more harm than I realize.

I am also excited to earn the trust and walk amongst a community of another species. To be given the grace of acceptance by creatures that have nothing to gain from me and more to fear than I can imagine… and yet they do… humbles me almost to tears.

A few years ago I was snorkeling in Puerto Rico when I came upon a school of bright blue fish. They were just moving with the current, and so as not to disturb them, I just floated along beside them. Initially they moved away since I was a large predator type of a thing, but then they encompassed me in their world. We just dipped and swayed along with the water together. I had been accepted into this world of which I had no real business being in, and yet it felt as if I had lived there my whole life. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to continue in this fluid connection. And in a blink, the current shifted, the fish darted off and the moment was gone.

Will they teach me how to commune with bees on Saturday? Probably not, although learning what behaviors to expect, how to care for them and what equipment is necessary are equally as important. As for the communing part, much like living with the rest of the planet, I’m going to have to get out there and figure it out for myself.

And something tells me that that I already know how it is done.

Tags: Bees, Family, Winter