"I forget what I hear, I remember what I see, I understand what I touch."
- Chinese Proverb or Confucius
I'm very hands on in life; literally and figuratively. I don't like just watching. I like doing, feeling, touching and fully experiencing.
Teach me something and you'll quickly discover I have to dig in and do it -- hands on. I can't learn without getting fully engaged. With my bees, it's no different.
I like getting close enough to the bees to feel the breeze from their wings. It's a unique sensation to feel the air from such a tiny, yet powerful fan. It's especially easy to do when approaching the fanning bees near the hive entrance.
Another thing I like is getting a tired bee to rest on me. It's when they'll adjust the pollen on their legs after a long flight. Or when they just stretch and catch their breath. Not all bees will let me pick them up, but there are some that always will, and I feel honored by their trust.
If you're wondering if I'm afraid of getting stung, the answer is no. Not one bit. I believe bees are very sensitive to human energy. Animals in general are sensitive like that. Bees and humans have had a relationship for thousands of years, so it really shouldn't be surprising that bees have learned how to read people. I'm a daily visitor and I'm not messing with their hive, so they welcome me. The longer we're together, the stronger this connection will become.
Teach me something and you'll quickly discover I have to dig in and do it -- hands on. I can't learn without getting fully engaged. With my bees, it's no different.
I like getting close enough to the bees to feel the breeze from their wings. It's a unique sensation to feel the air from such a tiny, yet powerful fan. It's especially easy to do when approaching the fanning bees near the hive entrance.
Another thing I like is getting a tired bee to rest on me. It's when they'll adjust the pollen on their legs after a long flight. Or when they just stretch and catch their breath. Not all bees will let me pick them up, but there are some that always will, and I feel honored by their trust.
If you're wondering if I'm afraid of getting stung, the answer is no. Not one bit. I believe bees are very sensitive to human energy. Animals in general are sensitive like that. Bees and humans have had a relationship for thousands of years, so it really shouldn't be surprising that bees have learned how to read people. I'm a daily visitor and I'm not messing with their hive, so they welcome me. The longer we're together, the stronger this connection will become.
You haven't lived until you have a bee doing a handstand on you like this!
You know that feeling you get when you hold a door open for a stranger, or you let someone go in front of you in a grocery store line? Helping a bee after a tiring flight makes me feel a little bit like that. The bee seems grateful and even gets so comfortable on me that when I put my hand back near the entrance to offer her a short cut to the hive (instead of taking flight), she'll sometimes let me know she's not ready to go. I love the extra time she gives me.
How do I know a bee is tired? It's when they land near the hive but not on the hive and they show obvious signs of fatigue as they try holding onto a weed or branch, but often stumble to the ground. I reach down and gently offer my 'helping hand.' Sometimes I put my finger up toward the entrance of the hive toward the bees that look exhausted and see if one would like to come for a visit on my finger.
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