Cherry blossoms (sakura), often simply called blossoms (hana) are a common spring kigo.
Kigo is a word or phrase associated with a particular season, used in Japanese poetry.
The association of kigo with a particular season may be obvious, though sometimes it is more subtle. Pumkins (kabocha), for example, are a winter squash that is associated with the autumn harvest.
It may be less obvious why the moon (tsuki) is an autumn kigo, since it is visible year round. In autumn the days become shorter and the nights longer, yet they are still warm enough to stay outside, so one is more likely to notice the moon. Often the night sky will be free of clouds so that also helps with noticing the moon. Autumn is also the time when the full moon can help farmers work under the moonlight to harvest their crops.
adapted from wikipedia.org
Digital Zen Alarm Clock, a meditation timer and progressive alarm clock
Now & Zen
1638 Pearl Street
Boulder, CO 80302
Posted in Cherry Blossoms, mindfulness practice, Natural Awakening, Now & Zen Alarm Clocks, Zen Timers
