From the Hearth
Ah, Spring!
Lately, life has felt as if the pace is ever increasing: more projects, family responsibilities and drama, snowballing tasks related to speaking out, stepping in, and standing up. And then here comes Spring, encouraging us to clean out cobwebs, fling open doors, glory in the gale-force breezes that whip old breath from our lungs and push new, clean air in. Even though it’s welcome, it can be daunting.
Spring is supposed to be about the celebration of new, inviting in rebirth, receiving refreshment after a long slumber. Yet sometimes, Winter is not as “quiet” and reflective and secluded as we would like! So, when Spring appears, it can feel overwhelming. I find myself thinking, “Wait! I had things that I was going to get done over the Winter.” Or “I just need a little more time for this!” Or “I just want a few hours to myself where I do not have to have constant vigilance.”
If you are finding yourself feeling squeezed and pummeled and jostled and stretched almost to the point of snapping, stop.
Just.
Stop.
Set down whatever you are holding at this instance.
Stop.
Take a moment to be exquisitely present.
Take a breath.
Let your attention be drawn to something small that you had previously passed over before you stopped. Examine it. Truly see it and appreciate its beauty. What makes it beautiful? What does it speak to you in its beauty? How is it affected by the impending Spring?
Then, expand this moment to include yourself. What makes YOU beautiful? What does your beauty speak to the world? How are you preparing yourself for Spring?
We all hold so many important pieces of existence. Each of us have stories of pain and triumph and despair and victory. We all strive to push forward our stories into the column of “successful”. We sweat blood and tears. We cry out in pain and frustration and ecstasy and triumph. We endeavor to save the world. While doing this, we can forget that we are not the only ones doing so. We can get so focused that we forget we Circle with many others—knowingly and unknowingly—who also want to make the world a better place. We are all trying to make a better future for those who come after us, trying to make things better now, trying to rebuild bridges, shore up things that need attention, make a lasting difference, on and on and on and on…and on.
Come back to this moment.
Come back to the small focus of beauty.
Come back to you.
We are all here together. We all play our parts, we all interweave to build a tapestry that is all of existence. Take another moment to see the interconnectedness in which you participate. See how your presence blesses the world. Let the winds of Spring fully blow through your being and whisk away the fluff that clutters your heart. Let the sun rise and warm the soil of your soul preparing you for new growth. Let the rains quench your thirst and wash away the sleep of Winter slumber.
Breathe.
And then, turn again to your tasks at hand.
Woman’s Way Red Lodge is so incredibly grateful for all of you walking your individual paths. We invite you to participate in WWRL as much or as little as you need. We recognize the effort that you all put into your passions. And we thank you for it. We hope to be a place of refreshment and respite during your times of chaos. We are here for and because of you. Help us to bring forward the pieces that will help you rejuvenate, reflect, and return to your passions revitalized, refreshed, renewed and ready for a new Season. Ready to tackle the task of co-creating a new paradigm.
With much love and humble gratitude,
GinaMarie Byars
