There is something about the early spring snowstorms that I love. Yes, there is snow. It is cold. Ferocious winds blow. The trees bend and branches whip around. The accumulation gathers, layering upon the tiny snowdrops and crocus flowers while the tulips and daffodils question if it is time to breach the surface. Yet, as the last flakes of the storm fall silently, there is something else that moves through the storm. It empowers the birds to continue to sing. It moves the cold, grey sky to give way to a warm pink and hopeful blue. The energy is different with a spring snow. Although the winter wails and shakes with its last breaths and clutching claws, grasping tightly to its waning power, there is a cracking that takes place. Through it, something emerges. It roars and demands our attention. It is the energy that helps to crack winter’s ice. It is the gurgling of the waters breaking free from beneath it. Tiny bubbles of air dance behind the glossy glass-like surface. Moving, they seek each other out. One by one they gather, growing in size. Gently, they are reminding us to take that deep breath to allow ourselves the energy to break free and feel the possibilities of what can be when we allow the cycles and rhythms to move as they must.
Read MoreAll articles filed in Meditation
The Shifting Tides and Growing Light
Standing with one foot in the threshold, we are preparing to fully step into balance. For tomorrow, at 5:24 PM, we will once again welcome the Spring with Ostara, the Vernal Equinox. Standing in balance with equal day and night, we allow the waning Tide of Death to give way to the rising Tide of Life. Through the exchange of these powerful energies, we are reminded that we can also open ourselves up to Life as it ushers in the energies of hope, promise, and rebirth
Read MoreThe Living Lands
There are places we explore in this world that can stand out in our mind. A beach, forest or mountain can easily take our breath away as we soak in its beauty. We understand the power Nature holds and its ability to wipe away stress and tension, bringing ourselves back into balance. If we feel upset or lost, we can gently close our eyes and allow ourselves to slowly drift back into this peaceful place to refocus and find our footing once again. These spaces paint a picture in our minds and hearts where we can pause and open the doorway to the sacred. It is an act of looking outward to reconstruct our balance and beauty within.
Read MoreLessons Along the Path
When you see a beautiful, sweet smelling flower, do you pick it and bring it home or do you take in its beauty with all of your senses, imprinting it upon your heart? If you were a beautiful, sweet smelling flower, would you want to be picked or allowed to continue to grow and thrive where you are and upon the heart of another that was moved by you?
Read MoreMoments In Time
It was an early mid-September morning, and we were already out. The light was shining, but the sun still hid behind the Catskill mountains. While the car climbed up the winding roads, the temperature kept falling. I should not have been surprised by that, but I was. Sometimes the anticipation gets the best of me, and this was one of those times. Maybe I should have expected that too. I wanted to come to this area for quite a while and now it was happening. The land held such a presence in its wild beauty. It was an old presence that would watch and wait. At times I felt like a mouse running from rock to leaf pile trying not to ruffle the feathers of the hungry hawk in the trees. Other times, I felt I was being embraced by a long-lost friend inviting me to sit for tea. At night, I would dream dreams of sorrow and joy, ghosts familiar and unknown, and of conversations that held deep meaning yet faded quickly upon waking. It was such an interesting place. We were wandering through the lands of Rip Van Winkle after all. It was a land that was certainly held in a time without time.
Read MoreThe Art of Knowing Yourself
Sometimes it is a struggle to find the ‘right’ words to say or message to give. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be creative. We encourage ourselves to make a space for our passion and do what we love. While we forge our own way, we are bombarded by ads, photos, and ‘inspirational testimonies’ every single day. Before we know it, we are pushing ourselves harder to create the next big thing, maybe leaving ourselves feeling inadequate. It is easy to fall into this trap when we look at the numbers of likes or shares on a post and judge our work as a success or failure accordingly. When we do this, it is easy to internalize it, labeling ourselves by the same criteria.
Read MoreThe Light Within the Cave
Deep in the heart of the earth, there is a cave. It is still. It is quiet. Filled with hope and potential, we gently tread upon the winding, spiraling path. Slowly, we walk. Step by step, we descend. Step by step, we move towards the center of the Earth, searching for the sacred cave. Finding our way through the darkness, the candlelight that guides us flickers. Shadows of all shapes, sizes, and even memories dance along the walls, nudging us to ask ourselves questions that are not so easy to answer. Moving slowly, we feel a heartbeat that pulses beneath our feet. It matches the beat and rhythm of our own inner workings. When we connect to it, peace that washes over us. As we trust this inner rhythm, the candle flame becomes steady, strong, and bright. So do we.
Read MoreAlong the Edges
Walking along a trail in any New England town, you can almost bet on seeing a stone wall. I love to spot these boundary lines as they snake through the forest, winding their way through history. Sentient beings, these moss-covered stones stand along the edges continuing to hold space long after their creators walked their lands. Centuries later they still stand. Protective. Vigilant. Silent witnesses. The stone walls saw so many changes. Perhaps they experienced them as well as new boundaries drawn. These stone guardians have stories to tell and lessons to share if one is willing to listen. Some may see just an old stone wall while other know they are much more than that.
Read MoreWould You Light A Candle?
Silence covers me like a blanket in the dark stillness of my sacred space. Is it just after midnight or just an hour before dawn? It is hard to tell. Time seems to stand still within the light of the candles. The flames that dance and flicker coax me to breathe a little deeper with each breath. I oblige and find myself gently slipping into a reflective peace. It is a peace that I gratefully welcome. With another deep breath, I allow myself to open my heart, letting go of the noise in my head. Gently I slip into a place where I am safe to explore my inner realms. As my breath releases, I walk the inner pathway that spirals in deeper and deeper and deeper into my soul. Guided by candlelight, I embrace my own inner light.
Read MoreOasis
We all have experiences every day of our lives. Sometimes, we keep them superficial. Other times, they weave their way into us, deeper than we expect. This spiritual alchemy can change how we think and perceive other experiences in our future, if we allow it. The exchanges can become little oases in our lives. They give us the sacred space to drink in the wisdom, healing, and nourishment that we never knew we needed, much like the lush, watery pools in the desert. Maybe the swan’s message was to remind me that magick is everywhere. Maybe she was there to show me that the magick was happening and I couldn’t feel it because the path that I was walking on reminded me of my own scars that I transferred onto the land and the spirits of that place. Maybe part of the message from the Swan was the simple reminder that magick and divinity are seen and unseen. I am here today, telling you this story to share the experience I was given. Magick is everywhere. It is in the hidden places and sometimes in plain sight. Divinity is woven right along side of it too. It is there for those with eyes to see and ears to hear – whether we think we have it or not. And sometimes, it is as simple as a single swan appearing on an overcast day in a place where many may have forgotten such magick. The same can be said for the magick and divinity within ourselves. I think this was nature’s way of saying what can be an oasis to us, may be a mirage to another. However, it is up to us to decipher what we deem to be an oasis for ourselves.
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The Whispering Crow 