Spring is here! Its arrival on March 20 here in the northern hemisphere was a heralded and welcomed event. We needed the promises of spring for renewal, for rebirth, and awakening after a very long and challenging past year.
With the spring comes increased daylight hours and warmer temperatures, conditions necessary to support the miraculous unfolding of life in the natural world. As spring emerges it also brings new opportunities to discover more about ourselves and our connection with the natural world.
Spring Lessons in Living
Trust
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted…”
Perhaps you are familiar with these biblical verses excerpted from the book of Ecclesiastes. They remind us that there is a right time or a season for everything. When we also remember that the unfolding of the universe, that includes the natural world around us, was set in motion billions of years ago, we can see that our experience of the wonders of the spring season here on our earth home is intimately connected to the workings of this vast and mysterious universe.
There is much we do not know nor understand about our world. While much of it remains a mystery, we have learned from our lived experience on earth that there is much we can depend upon and that we have come to expect, such as the return of spring every year. We know spring is the season when plants and animals peek out tentatively at first at the end of a long and cold winter season; and then suddenly the earth bursts forth in wild displays of color and form that can startle the senses. It is a time of wondrous rebirth and regeneration. Everything seems to be in a state of renewal. It is the season when we may be inspired with fresh ideas to start new projects or otherwise express ourselves creatively.
In our relatively short time on earth, we humans have come to trust the wisdom inherent in the natural world and its mysteries. In many ways we have come to accept our not-knowing. We embrace our not-knowing through our trust that spring will follow winter and that summer and fall will follow the spring time. And so this lesson is one of accepting our not-knowing, of embracing it, and trusting that all is well as the universe unfolds according to a mystery that in many ways is beyond our current understanding. When we embrace our not-knowing, with a sense of trust, then we are free to enjoy life rather than live in the self-limiting clutches of fear.
How would your life be different if you could let go of your fear and come to trust the unfolding of your life as part of the greater unfolding of the universe?
Presence
Nature offers us a grand and vast classroom, as it were, to practice presence. Springtime provides rich opportunities to immerse ourselves in awareness of what is arising in each moment around us and in us. Nature gently reminds us that just as spring represents renewal and freshness, each moment is like a new beginning. It reminds us to live in the present.
When we are mindfully aware and present with each moment, it is impossible to focus on the past or worry about the future. Each moment of presence provides us with the opportunity for the freshness of a new beginning. The present moment is the only moment we have. The past is gone; the future is a mental construct, a thought, an idea. Only the present exists. Being consciously present in each moment allows us to begin afresh in each moment; and we can truly be alive only in the present moment. It is the only time we can act. We cannot take action in the past, nor in the future. Each moment is a choice point. You can change the trajectory of your life by the choices you make and the actions you choose to take when you are fully present.
Here is a simple way to practice presence as you take in and savor the sensory wonders of spring. Being mindfully present with what is arising around you allows you to simply be with it. You may do this activity in any outdoor natural setting. Take a few deep breaths as you settle in to a comfortable seated position; then allow your breathing to return to its natural rhythm. First notice the sounds you hear around you. You may hear birdsongs, trees rustling in the breeze. Simply listen. Next, pay attention to what you see. You may notice movement, textures and colors. Simply notice as you allow your eyes to see what is around you. Note any smells you sense. You may notice the freshness of the air, the scents of flowers, or perhaps some unpleasant odor that wafts your way. Simply note the smells you experience. Finally, what sensations do you feel? Perhaps you feel the cool breeze on your skin, the support of the earth beneath your body, an insect that crawls on you arm. Whatever arises, simply notice it. Sit quietly for a few minutes and then consider the following questions:
What was this experience like for you? How did this practice in being present with nature allow you to let go of any worries, mental chatter, or concerns about the past or future? What insights did you gain around this practice of presence?
Unfolding
The living world of nature is in a continuous state of change. The same holds true for you and me. We are of nature and it is of us. We are of the living system of earth. As one with all living beings, we unfold in response to the innate creative impulse of life. Just as an acorn holds the genetic imprint to become a stately oak tree, even so do we humans hold the genetic imprint for realizing our full potential as humans. The genetic imprinting is within; and can be expressed fully in optimal conditions. And so we thrive in conditions that nurture and support our growth and development.
Springtime with its longer daylight hours and warmth especially nurtures unfolding and new growth. Our eyes are naturally drawn to the most colorful and ostentatious blossoms on shrubs and trees; yet besides the more obvious visuals of spring, seeming miracles are unfolding in nature at all levels. When we are so used to looking for the obvious around us, we often miss out on what else is unfolding around us.
Perhaps you might take a few moments to explore what is happening on the forest floor or underneath your feet in your own backyard. Notice the myriad tiny blooms almost hidden in their diminution from our vision that is trained to see only the most obvious. On a nature walk, pay special attention to the less obvious. If you look closely you may see surprising displays of the natural world that you never noticed. Notice the teeming of life in a creek. Turn over an old log to see what lives beneath it. Notice the small carpets of violets that bloom in the forest edges in early spring. Miracles are unfolding all around us if we just take the time to look. The world is alive and resplendent with life. Look with new eyes for the miraculous and unexpected all around you.
Just as springtime surprises us with seeming miracles in the most unexpected places, there is likely much about yourself that you have not yet realized. Life is a journey of unfolding self-growth and awareness. The more we discover about ourselves, the more there is to discover. As we peel away the layers, we realize there is more and more beneath that…and it is all beautiful and magnificent…and ever changing.
Consider these questions about your own unfolding life: What is unfolding for you? What wants to be expressed through you? How can you nurture your own unfolding so that you that you can become the fullest expression of your innate potential? What is being awakened in your life?
Awe and Wonder
We are vitally connected to the natural world. We are of it and it is of us. Seeing ourselves as one with nature, we live in the mystery that is life. When we live in the mystery, we may experience awe and wonder at the unknowable vastness and magnificence that is our universe. In these moments we realize we are connected to something much bigger than
ourselves and we open ourselves to marvel at it in wonder and curiosity. We feel it is by grace that we are present to witness and participate in such wonders. It is in such moments of awe and wonder that can sense that we are wholly connected to all that is.
Likewise, the wonders of the spring season itself may elicit awe and wonder for you. When you think of experiencing awe and wonder during the spring season, you may bring to mind spectacular and breathtaking aspects of nature; however, we may experience awe and wonder in the smallest, seemingly simple and mundane aspects of nature. It is really a matter of our putting these in the context of the whole and unimaginably vast universe we live in. There is not any surefire way to predict what will elicit that sense of awe and wonder for you.
How might your life be enriched by experiences that elicit awe and wonder? How can you open yourself to opportunities to experience awe and wonder?
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Warmest wishes for a happy spring 2021!
May your senses be awakened and your life be enriched as you bear witness to the resplendent rebirth and renewal of the earth this spring.
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