Busy is the European Honey Bee, Apis Mellifura following the roadways/airways defined by the life of the hive…moving through space, often visiting 35 flowers gathering nectar, and inadvertently spreading their pollen before heading back with its load to be converted to honey for the nourishment of the young in the hive. Then possibly, ‘waggle dancing’ to show the way to others to support the many in doing the work of nourishing community, by pollinating and fertilizing, and so manifesting their larger purpose within the webs of our ecological systems. Probably not understanding that the world is bigger than what might be seen, and that much of their hard-worked for honey will be gleaned by other species, at times the occasional bear, but most often sucked into the agricultural machine. Thankfully now, because of education by advocates about their importance in our agricultural systems we understand more of many challenges to the wellbeing of Honey Bees, from invasive species such as the Varroa Mite, to the excessive use of Neonicotinoid Pesticides on our crops leading to higher and higher yearly percentages of collapsing hives. With knowledge, sometimes comes action, as different groups work to reform the ‘cogs’ within our many human systems embedded within the web of life.
Yet, while the reform of such systems is definitely important, shifting views beyond the ‘waggle dance of Apis M.’, even as one tends to do as we come to understand that there is so much more beyond the ‘physical’ in yoga is yet one more key to our evolution. Moving beyond our conditioned patterns to see, and act more fully, more clearly, more compassionately. As I walk along the riverways through forest and field, and even along neighbourhood streets with their designs of gardens creating habitat for many, I have learned to see the hundreds of others doing this work of pollination – from the oft present bumble bee, to the many species of solo, non-hive oriented bees and the glory of butterflies everywhere. All so essential to systems of pollination and fertilization that expanded during the Cretaceous as Angiosperms, or flowering plants, came to dominate much of our plant world. And while there are other forms of pollination by wind and water, birds or other animals, to even self-pollination, these many wee beings are so important to human survival, as much as they deserve to be respected for their own purpose of life in the world. I am reminded of words attributed to the Buddha, “As the bee collects nectar and departs without injuring the flower, or its colour or fragrance, so let the sage dwell on earth”. And while the role of sage might be beyond most of us, what ways may we learn to do our yoga off the mat in manifesting that classic yogic precept of ‘ahimsa’ or non-harm in acting for the bees, pollinators everywhere? Learning to move beyond the ‘waggle dances’ of living in a world of ‘business as usual’, learning to see and partake of the deeper nectars of life lived wholeheartedly.