The Poinciana

Driving to work the other morning, a chance glance to my left revealed the most beauteous sight – the gracefully curving bough of a poinciana tree covered in a riot of every possible hue of orange there could possibly be! I gasped. The poinciana tree is my favourite tree, and I was just delighted to see that poinciana season had arrived. But more, the sight opened my inner eye and reminded me of how the Universe expresses its magnificence in every single moment, in every single thing. 

It is said that poinciana trees bloom most bounteously during times of drought. We are facing a drought now, and indeed have already started the rationing of water. Yet, the blooming Poinciana reminds me that even in moments of apparent lack and scarcity, there is abundance and beauty.

This first came to me years ago, when I visited Arizona and made a wondrous discovery. I had always thought of the desert as a dry, barren place, bereft of any fertility, beauty or lushness. I was amazed at the beauty of the rock formations, striations in an array of hues; the cacti were profuse and bloomed the most colourful, splendid colours. It was such a surprise for me who had grown up with a context of lushness as tropical green – to see abundance expressing in shades of brown!

The Universe is abundant. When we focus on what is present for us, we cannot forget that. A chance glance at the branch of a poinciana tree brought me home – to the realisation that I am present in an abundant, giving Universe. And more importantly, the remembrance of who I am and what my life is all about – the very nature of the Universe itself – abundant, giving and loving.

(The photograph was taken by my daughter Victoria, who is equally as enthralled with the glory of the poinciana as I am)