There is a growing movement to bring our lives back into conscious relationship with nature’s cycles (in recognition that humans are a part of nature, not apart from nature). Reconnecting the movements of all life brings us closer to the earth and to our bodies natural rhythms. There are a few transition points of the year that are of particular importance and whose symbolism can be easily applied to the cycles of our lives. These are often called the four “cardinal points” of the year. One of these is the Spring Equinox, which brings with it the lengthening of daylight hours.

Over the winter nature is in a space of stillness. There is time for hibernation, for reflection, for dreaming- we are called inside to digest the experiences of the past year of activity and interaction with the world outside ourselves.
For those of us in four season North America we are now moving into springtime.  It is in four season climates that the symbolism of the full life cycle of nature can most easily be seen reflected in plants and animals.
With this movement into springtime we are called towards the outside. It is time to manifest anew. It is now that we are given the chance to choose how we are in the world again. What changes have we made over this winter- time of reflection?
The transition to spring is one of dark to light, cold to warmth, preparation to action and growth.
During the winter seeds prepare themselves for sprouting and the collection of light for yet another winter. What have you nourished yourself with over the cold months? What are the experiences and activities that serve as food for your being, that you can allow to flourish and grow and collect over the spring and summer seasons?
Springtime is a time of shedding layers. We poke our heads out of our apartment buildings to test today’s weather, we timidly or enthusiastically tear off the sweaters and winter coats that have hidden us and protected us. It’s an exciting time full of potential and change.
For myself, over this winter I have spent much time reflecting and finding ways of maintaining balance between action and simple being. I feel like I’ve shed a few layers of tendency to overachieve and allow myself to become stressed by a feeling of always having to do, then do more, then burnout in a completely unsustainable cycle which seems to , ironically, be the norm among activists and social change artists. I am becoming way better at respecting my needs as a whole being, whose head is not separated from the rest of the body and therefore cannot work on a sleepless schedule.

I would be most curious to hear of any other types of wintertime shifts resulting in new manifestations of self…
Happy Return of the Light!