Vernal Equinox

Spring is here, in the Northern Hemisphere. A yearly renewal and regeneration of the land, and ourselves on this earth. As the world becomes fertile again, we also seem to be brimming with creativity and new direction. 

This is where I am. I feel excited by my fertile thoughts, my fertile heart and mind. I am past the longing for new babes, but the spring reminds me that all my work follows the universal rhythm of conception, pregnancy, birth, and motherhood. Whether we are creating humans or ideas, if we are anxious for the pregnancy to be over we miss the joy of creation.  I've stopped and pondered over this. It has brought back joy and grace to the creative process. Just like being with child, sometimes we are filled with joy and sometimes we are overwhelmed.

This pregnancy analogy led me to a birth comparison that resonates with how I was feeling this weekend. When we labor, we need support, intuition, and education. Even with the best preparation, there still comes a part of labor where it is just HARD, and we wish to give up.  With experience, we learn that if we ride through transition it will soon be time to push. It is like that when we are climbing toward some new accomplishment in our life, there reaches a point like transition.  We wish to give up. We need true and loving support, people who authentically understand what we are trying to do.  We need patience and faith.

Yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices help us ride this wave of insecurity. These practices allow us to observe our minds and hearts with awareness. Without this observer presence (curious, patient and probing), we may bow to fear and change course. With a practice of non-judgement, we can explore our path and wait out the transition phase. As hard as this part is, it's fun. It is the part of yoga, and labor, that I find most engaging. The gentle pushing by not pushing; the hard work of not working hard, and the relaxing into the fear. Suddenly, as soon as we relax into the fear, everything seems less scary and surreally beautiful. There is the magic.

Refreshment, Fertility, Renewal, Creativity. May we revel in the Sacred Magic of Spring. 

April . . . is not winter.

In Maryland you just never know what spring will bring. Often it is winter until one day it is summer. Yesterday, before the new cold front, we found we aren't the only ones waiting for warmer days.

Almost Spring

Snowdrops!! Every February we anxiously await these little slips of green and white. February is an in-between time. The days are still short and cold, but the smell of earth and the angle of the sun remind me of what is to come. My mind starts dreaming of spring projects and plans for the coming season. My body is still slow and chilly, wanting to stay tucked inside by the fire. Plans this month are always tentative, with late winter storms bringing snow and ice, or melting rains and swift floods. 

So, Ive come to expect the unexpected in February, and go easy on myself. Slowly finishing the plans of winter. Excitedly looking forward. These little flowers tell me " its time, its time" to let the spring planning begin.

I found a tiny snowdrop, 

A-blooming in the cold, 

I'll share with you a secret

the little flower told.

Though winter still is here

He hasn't long to stay, 

I came across to tell you, 

That spring is on its way. 

          - Christina T. Owen 

Beautiful Butterflies

We ended up with 23 beautiful monarch caterpillars munching away on our milkweed. They devoured several plants and were still hungry. After calling a few local nurseries we located a few more young plants. We now have every variety of milkweed monarchs like in our yard. Luckily, some of the seed pods were munched only a little, and they have seeded the yard. This plant, which was completely chewed down, is also already sprouting fresh, new leaves.  

One morning we noticed that we were missing a few caterpillars. We started watching more closely and found that when the caterpillars are done eating, they get very hyper and march quickly up and down the stalks and leaves. Suddenly they will head down and off the plant to find  a safe new place for their chrysalis. Hazel sat for many hours watching the caterpillars. She was able to observe the caterpillars find their safe branches, and watch them form the chrysalis. Because of her observations, we knew the location of 8 of the chrysalis. The above photo is of a pupa  moments after the chrysalis was formed, having shed the last layer of caterpillar skin.   

One morning Hazel noted this little fellow had fallen off his branch. We know it is a fella because female pupa have an extra line in one area. You need a magnifying glass to really see the line so we took this chance to have a look. 

When the butterfly is about ready to emerge the chrysalis is clear and you can see the wing pattern within. 

Here a male Monarch has just emerged. Males have thiner wing veins and two little black dots on the lower wings. 

If you are a grown up, observing butterflies is only half the fun. It has been just as special watching little people spend hours patiently watching this real-life magic happening. 

Here we are waiting for this Monarch's wings to dry so we can say farewell and wish him safe travels on his trip to Mexico.