Pastoral

Pastoral is an adjective which means having a simple, rural, serene characteristic.  Pastoral refers to a lifestyle, setting or state of mind. Pastoral is most often related to the lifestyle of shepherds tending to their livestock in beautiful peaceful country setting. It illustrates a life free from complication. It is a simple existence in an idyllic setting.   

“Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought/As doth eternity: Cold Pastoral”  John Keats, English Poet 

On a strawberry sundae of a day, all daisies and June sun and pastoral posing by world leaders on the Lancaster House lawn.”  John Vinocur

Here s a work by John Reinhard Weguelin - Pastoral

Supine

Supine is an adjective which describes the position of lying on your back face up with hands by your side or behind the head. Holding your palms of your hand up is also considered to be a supine position. The opposite of supine is the prone position which is lying face down on your stomach. We are often in the supine position when we exercise and sometimes when we relax or sleep.

Being supine can send a message of indifference, relaxation, submission or passivity.

Here are some examples and quotes:

“There is no calamity which a great nation can invite which equals that which follows a supine submission to wrong and injustice.”  Grover Cleveland

“The patient lay quietly in the supine position on the examination table.” 

“We remained supine on the spongy grass blanketed by a warm breeze and watched the clouds drift slowly across the August sky.”  by me :)

My cat Chloe often lays in the middle of the floor in the supine position. I interpret this as a sign of trust, because it seems as though showing her belly puts her in the most vulnerable position for attack.  

One more cute picture.  Go find a place to relax and take the position!