Sunday Evening Reflection: The Moss Lady

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inBritish Columbia, Dale Doebert, LadyBudd, Sculpture, VictoriaTags:, , , , ,

“Even a soul submerged in sleep is hard at work and helps make something of the world.”

 Heraclitus, Fragments

Sleep is our best friend, bringing us the gifts of good health and well-being and allowing us to live our best life. In our joy of being awake, we cannot forget that sleep allows us many benefits.  Even the ancients knew that “Even a soul submerged in sleep is hard at work and helps make something of the world.”

After a restful night’s sleep, our decisions are more in-tune, our learning improves as does our memory and physical reflexes.  We pay attention to our environment and our emotional state is more relaxed.  Our world view is enhanced and with it our creativity.  Sleep is our best friend.

Last fall, I met the Moss Lady in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, British Columbia.  She came to life in 2015 and was inspired by the Mud Maid in Cornwall’s Lost Garden of Heligan.  Artist Dale Doebert worked with the Victoria City park team to create the elegant 35-feet-long Moss Lady, using boulders, pipes, cement and wire.  She rests serenely under a specially designed clay-based acidic soil so moss can cloak her while she sleeps.

You are welcome to join me on the path to visit the Moss Lady. May we embrace the gift of sleep in the same spirit as this gracious lady.

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

27 thoughts on “Sunday Evening Reflection: The Moss Lady”

    1. I did – how did you know! You would love this park – the peacocks, peahens and their babies were out in force, as were the squirrel brigade and the duck flotilla. Every time I connect with fellow travelers in their habitat, I feel at peace with the world.

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    1. Yikes! I’m with you, Gallivanta! She looks serene without a hair out of place. I imagine her dreams are filled with the beauty of her surroundings and the chatter of the squirrels, peacocks, ducks and the walkers that drift by. Love my sleep.

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    1. I am thrilled that you joined me, Carolyn. There is a mystical quality about her isn’t there. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” William Shakespeare, The Tempest

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    1. I am so glad that you did join me, even virtually. You would love this garden with its bridges, trees, benches, flowers, birds, ducks. When I go back to nature, even when surrounded by a bustling city, there is, as you said so eloquently, peace. I was on the Victoria City Planning site recently and read that “how land is managed in the City of Victoria has an impact on community vibrancy and how our neighbourhoods develop in the years ahead.” In recent years, city planners have embraced a fresh perspective on how to create walkable and livable cities. Without question, our cities are growing in population that requires housing and amenities. But even more important, cities needs green spaces that support wellbeing. Exciting to see the innovations in city planning.

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  6. Ahhh … a lady enjoying the serenity of deep sleep! 😀 She looks so at peace, restful and I’m smitten with the Moss Lady! Thank you so much for the photos and video – it always feels as if I’ve been there, even if only for a minute or two!

    As young, I felt sleep was a waste of time when there were so many more exciting things to do, a world to explore, books to be read, games to be played. Then I did not realise its recuperative power, the hard work of sleep an essential part of a healthy and enriching life! xx ❤️

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    1. Thank you for joining me on my walk through Beacon Hill Park – I always enjoy your presence and conversation. Ah, children have a difficult time surrendering to sleep until they can no longer keep their eyes open. It seems that humanity has always struggled with the idea of sleep for it is an unknown and conjures up narratives that we never thought were in our minds. Ernest Hemingway once said “I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know? And then there was Plutarch who said, “All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.” Here’s to the joy of a deep night’s sleep. Hugs!

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  7. A good, deep sleep is such a gift, and so underrated in our culture that places so much value on busyness and overwork. That sculpture is so lovely.

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    1. Thank you, Julie. I agree sleep is underrated and undervalued. Insomnia is a part of our lives according to the National Sleep Foundation. Their statistics indicate that 68 percent of adults ages 18 – 29, 59 percent of adults ages 30 -64 and 44 percent of people over the age of 65 experience insomnia. We live in a complex world as you noted, and sometimes it is very difficult to “shut down” the messages floating around in our mind. My brother, Brian sent me a meme: “Brain at 3am: I can see you’re trying sleep, so I would like to offer you a selection of ever memory, unresolved issue, or things you have said or done today as well as in the past 40 years.” I love your thought that deep sleep is such a gift.

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  10. She is so very beautiful at rest on the earth, released from all types of gravity. I would live and sleep outdoors if it were practical. Sleep is healing, so when we have insomnia it’s not just our minds which are deprived of rest. I too love sleep; there’s no struggle to focus the mind and find comfort from aches and pains. It’s just blessed temporary oblivion…

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    1. It is indeed – blessed temporary oblivion and a remarkable healing mechanism. I have noticed the increase in apps that promote restful sleep. What is fascinating to me is that it begins with guided storytelling that encourages the listening to breathe deeply and listen.

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  11. I am sorry I missed this, what a interesting video. I love it. Sleep is not only a healthful and restful experience but so needful for our human bodies. Even an afternoon nap is a joy, especially when one feels all young and ready for the beauty of the twilight hours.

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    1. We forget that rest is vital for our well being. Sometimes we become so involved in exciting projects that we neglect our 8 hours sleep. Those afternoon naps revitalize. So glad you enjoyed the video. Beacon Hill Park is a beautiful place to walk.

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