“The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others.”
– St. John Chrysostom
“The lovely flowers embarass me, they make me regret I am not a bee.”
– Emily Dickinson
Bees are so wonderful! This happy little beehive arrived at the Carousel of Happiness in October 2023.
Spiritually, bees are linked with rejuvenation, divinity, and the mysteries of the natural world. They’re viewed as divine messengers in folklore, navigating between the physcial and spiritual realms, and are of course associated with life’s sweetness. Admired for the fruits of its labor, the bee is probably the most tenacious and methodical spirit animal in existence.
Scott Harrison: “There are three beekeepers in my neighborhood, and I love to see the bees on the wildflowers. So, when someone mentioned to a carousel staff members that she was surprised that we had no bees represented in our menagerie, I had to wonder the same thing. This hive and the bees themselves are carved with basswood, as are the other animals at the carousel house. I fashioned the wings from flakes of mica. The carousel originally used mica for the washers in the electrical system (it is known for it’s insulating properties). Mica is common in both igneous and metamorphic rock and is occasionally found as small flakes in sedimentary rock. This gemstone is believed to help individuals reflect on individual qualities.
