Spring Renewal

The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness,
the human soul is apt to revive also.
 ~ Harriet Ann Jacobs

While part of the country is still dealing with cold temperatures and occasional snow flurries, you can rest assured that Mother Nature is just waiting around the corner to burst forth with all her enthusiasm.  I have always been struck by the tenacity of the natural world to recover so quickly from long, cold and severe winter weather.   The years of living in the Midwest and the Northeast have been such an eye opener, and it is nothing short of miraculous to watch the land change so entirely in a matter of a few weeks.    One minute the ground is frozen or lifeless and then suddenly, the landscape filled with a profusion of new growth.   One after the other, the buds leaf out, flowers appear, and the air is filled with the scent of new life.  All you have to do is to step outside, take a deep breath and inhale the freshness that only comes during the springtime.  Mother nature is renewing herself once more.

The word RENEWAL is a multidimensional word with profound implications, and we are multifaceted beings.We are part of the natural world and the energy of the season affects us all.Spring is an ideal time to reflect, assess and reconsider where you are in your life.What part of you needs to be renewed in your life? If you are happy and relaxed, your breath will be free.If you are overworked and tired, your breath will most likely be slow and held back.If you are anxious and overwhelmed, your breath might be rapid and shallow.If you are lonely or sad, your breathing might be filled with sighs.Whatever is happening in your life, your breath will always reflect your state of being.

We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we harden.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

There is the renewal of the body after a long winter and a lack of fresh air and exercise. The body is the visible person that lives in the physical world.  As energetic beings, the body gives us the ability to act and interact with the world.  The physical body has its own language and is speaking all the time and reflecting what is happening on the inside through its movement, posturing, and state of health.

There is the renewal of our heart and our emotions.  Love is more than just a feeling that is centered in the area of the heart, it is a characteristic of BEing.  The heart intends to express this love to those around us actively.  It can and needs to be felt emotionally.  If we cannot feel love or feel the positive energy associated with this emotion, then this is a place where renewal is required because Love is essentially who we are.

This brings us to the mind and all our cognitive abilities.Our mind holds our thoughts, ideas, and beliefs.Our mind has the ability to reason, envision and believe.Our mind is bigger than the brain because it encompasses experience.Our mind is continually interacting with all the levels of our personal experiences.It is the nature of the mind to think and we are influenced daily by our relationship to our thoughts.

You can’t change who you are, but you can change what you have in your head;
you can refresh what you’re thinking about, you can put some fresh air in your brain.
~ Ernesto Bertarelli

It is said that the heart is the home of the soul and most of us think of our soul as this elusive part that leaves us at the point of death.  When the soul is embodied, it reflects its energy as light and is larger than the physical body itself.  In a group setting, our soul naturally and easily connecting with the souls of others.  Therefore, we feel an immediate resonance with another person.  We are sensing those around us all the time. Just like our body, our minds, our emotions, the Soul also needs for us to stay connected to its energy.  It is easy enough to let the other layers hide this Divine part of us.  It is this Soul part that is wanting us to grow and become more of who we really are.

Try this exercise…

Take a minute and pay attention to your breath.  Sit quietly and without changing anything, simply watch your breath.  The word Breath and the word for Spirit or Soul are the same or similar in many languages.  Breathe and notice how you feel as the energy of your breath moves in your body.   As you breathe, listen to what your breath is telling you?  What does your breathing reflect about the aspects of your BEING that needs renewal?  Is your body needing rest, exercise, or improved nutrition?  What about your state of mind? Are your thoughts uplifting and positive?   Are your emotions out of balance?  Are they chaotically running your life? And lastly, what about your Spiritual growth?  Is it neglected?  Do you pray or meditate?  Are your relationships neglected? If you keep paying attention, your breath will tell you what you need in your life? 

If you apply yourself to this simple exercise, you may be quite surprised at the messages and understandings that might come from paying attention to your breath.Or, maybe you already know what it is that you want or need to change, but you have not managed to accomplish it yet.Maybe fear, lethargy or resistance has been holding you back.It takes a lot of energy and effort to resist this natural and organic part of being human.There is a part of us that is always ready and willing to embrace what is next.So, I ask you one last question, “How would your life be different if you simply embraced your potential for growth?”

We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is
waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.~ Joseph Campbell

I invite you to participate with the energy of spring as support for achieving your dreams and desires.  It is said that we fear change more than death and yet, we know that change is inevitable.  Nothing stays the same, and as in nature, there are cycles of growth bringing with it endings and new beginnings. The changing of the season from the quiet of winter to the promise of spring brings with it the potential for personal growth and renewal. 

What if all you need or want is there just waiting for you to see it… or reach for it… or ask for it?  There is only one way to find out, and that is to allow your soul to show you the infinite possibilities that are yours alone.  Take a deep breath, look all around you and see, feel, and listen to the glories of spring.  The answers are all there.