Ah,
Spring.
That time of year when,
As Joyce Akichi-Hiffler says,
She's known for her adolescent behavior,
All smiles and flowers in her hair,
Only to be seen in tears in a few minutes.
Isn't that kind of like what it is just before spring arrives?
Showers,
Snow,
And sunny warm days,
Hints of spring,
Green,
And then dead leaves covering it up once again,
And we think,
Really?
Is it spring?
So,
Ashtara is a wonderful time,
A reminder,
Especially when the March hare shows up.
The March hare is called that because it hibernates for the winter and comes out in March,
Only to be found vying for a mate and fighting,
Almost like in a kangaroo stance.
They're fighting each other to mate,
And the hare can get pregnant and even carry two litters in one time.
So,
It is a time of fertility,
It's a time of growth,
But it's also a time when we're still waiting for that moment when it really sets free.
You may have other things that still are buried deep inside because it's been an emotional time,
Having gone through the season of Pisces.
We feel so many things.
And these bring up histories,
Memories.
So,
Imagine yourself holding the seeds for this spring in your hand,
And breathing in that beautiful air that the plants so freely give you.
And let go of any tensions,
All the yesterdays,
And imagine that the sun is coming shining on your face,
Warming you to your very bones.
All the heaviness of winter is finally sloughing off,
As you give yourself a little stretch and welcome this day.
And then breathe in again,
And imagine what the seeds are that you hold,
What flowers,
What herbs.
What intentions do you want to spring and flower?
What would you like to see grow?
Taking in the breath and feel yourself relaxing in the sun,
Walking on the newly soft sprouted baby grass.
And go over and dig in the earth.
And dig in the earth and see the seeds in your hand.
And contemplate on what it is that you want to say goodbye to,
What emotions have come up for you the last year that you'd really like to let go of.
You've been hibernating with them,
They've been coming up in your dreams,
And it acts as fertilizer,
But you can let them go down into the earth.
And if you shed a tear,
That's okay.
It will water the seed just enough to start a germination process of awakening.
So imagine yourself planting the seed with your intention.
Maybe even dig a couple of holes of intention.
As you put the seed in,
Feel yourself letting go of expectations,
But being excited for the possibility ahead.
And if you give a cry just to the old,
That's okay.
It reduces the cortisol in your body and helps to relax you.
And with relaxing,
You can take in another breath and feel that beautiful,
Fresh new energy coming in.
And in your mind's eyes,
See all the flowers,
The herbs that'll be sprouting.
And know that you've put the seed there with your intention,
And softly cover it up and whisper to it,
I am here,
I am here,
I am here.
And feel the breeze on your face.
And feel the sun on your face.
And get up and stretch again and look down at your newly planted seed and see that the sunlight is just slowly warming the earth.
For when that seed decides to sprout and come back up into the sun.
So it's not a time of rushing,
It's a time of slow transition.
So walk back softly on the earth in your mind.
And come back to yourself there,
Sitting there,
Appreciating this new time.
And when the light is coming back to us,
More fully,
So we can grow.
And feel a little lighter with letting go of the past,
A little more grounded in your intentions,
And a little bit happier.
Because you're facing hope.
And hope doesn't need to have a fragrance.
We know what that feels like.
Namaste.
