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Posts tagged ‘Winter’

Nov 2

Seek Out Light

“Our age needs to rediscover the fruitfulness of silence in order to overcome the dissipation of sounds, images, and chatter that too often prevent the voice of God from being heard.”― Fr. Boniface Hicks

“WELCOME NOVEMBER…
There is something about November that says ‘keep going’.
We are not quite through the year, yet the finish-line looms.
We are plunged into darkness by Mother Nature.
We are faced with the ‘season of joy’, and yet many of us wonder where we will find it.
And I think November is a great time to take a little peek behind you, and see just how much you’ve done. To take stock of your achievements, your endurance, your survival.
To rest, reinforce, before the festivities envelope us all.
Before beautiful new beginnings.
And most importantly, November is a time to seek out light.
As the natural order darkens, we must find it ourselves.
We must do whatever we can to brighten our day, our home, the world.
Seek out light wherever you can my friends, and pay no heed to those who condemn your sparkle.
You are much-needed.
Keep showing up, in that special way only you can do.
And show up for yourself too (which can sometimes mean not showing up at all).
This year has been hard.
Again.
But beautiful.
Again.
As is the way of life.
As is the way of life.” – Donna Ashworth

Gaining an hour of sleep.
Losing an hour of light.
Fall at its golden hour.
The cusp of wintering.
Each season bears its own gifts.
Take solace in restoration, in slowing.
Restored by reflection and pause.
In the darkening.
Seek out light.
In all seasons, found within.

“We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.”― Katherine May, Wintering

Feb 16

Repeat Refrains

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass

“Snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness.”― Mary Oliver

First real snow of the winter – February 15th.
Returning late, way late.
Remaining briefly.
The certainty of seasons.
The mystery of when and how.
Beauty in the unknowing, unfolding.
Repeated refrains of nature.
Infinitely healing.

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

Feb 2

1 Comment

February Spring

“Can words describe the fragrance of the very breath of spring?”― Neltje Blanchan

“April’s air stirs in
Willow-leaves…a butterfly
Floats and balances”― Bashō, Japanese Haiku

What a non-winter winter.
Less than a few inches of snow in Minnesota.
10 days of cold.
Brown ground.
Buds are about to bloom in February.
Confused by January and February temperatures.
Two days of 50+ degrees.
40-degree days ahead.
On track to be the shortest winter.
Snow mid to late February, perhaps.
All seasons serve their purpose.
Spring is doing double duty this year.
The weather, like so many things in our life we pine about and try to predict.
Out of our control.
Remain in what’s present, early spring.
Winter’s short return.
Nature will take care of itself.
Enjoy all seasons when and how they come.
Find and open each day’s gifts.
February spring.

“I glanced out the window at the signs of spring. The sky was almost blue, the trees were almost budding, the sun was almost bright.”― Millard Kaufman, Bowl of Cherries

Dec 21

Sacred Immanence

“A flower will always grow in the direction of the sun because beauty recognizes beauty.”― Matshona Dhliwayo

“Today we celebrate light and honor the wisdom of the shadows. In connecting with the natural world in a way that honors the sacred immanence in all things, we establish a resonance with the seasons.”― Dacha Avelin

Winter solstice
Pivot
Turning point
Threshold into light
That lingers longer each day
A drop at a time
Adding up slowly
Then suddenly we notice
Winter, the precursor to spring
Seasons, cycles, circles of life
Keep crossing thresholds
Where finish lines become new start lines
And we unfold and become, reborn again and again
Solstice well.

“After the longest night, tomorrow we sing up the dawn. There is a rejoicing that, even in the darkest time, the sun is not vanquished. As of tomorrow, the days begin to get longer as the light of day grows. While the gentle winter sun slowly opens its eyes, let us all bring more light and compassion into the world. ”― Dacha Avelin

Nov 30

Foothold

“Take time to see the quiet miracles that
seek no attention.”― John O’Donohue

“This is the time to be slow,
Lie low to the wall
Until the bitter weather passes.

Try, as best you can, not to let
The wire brush of doubt
Scrape from your heart
All sense of yourself
And your hesitant light.

If you remain generous,
Time will come good;
And you will find your feet
Again on fresh pastures of promise,
Where the air will be kind
And blushed with beginning.”
― John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings

In the slowing
The pause
Of thoughts
Of motion
Of season
Of time
To rest
Empty out
Fill up
Create space
Heal and bind up
Wintering
Hibernation
Cocoon
Clearing the clutter
A respite from the noise
A freshness
A restoration
Not to stay but to prepare
Seed time
Before the threshold of bloom
Readiness to cross thresholds
To feel the earth anew
To find your feet again
To get up and move
In a different yet familiar place of becoming
Blushed with beginning
Fresh with possibility
Ready to dance with rigor
Sing a new song
Woven, bound and anchored in wonderment
Moving with ease and flow

“May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.”― John O’Donohue, Eternal Echoes: Celtic Reflections on Our Yearning to Belong

Apr 17

Eastertide

“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created spring.”— Bernard Williams

“The very first Easter taught us this: that life never ends and love never dies.” – Kate McGahan

Easter is the culmination and completion of the Lenten season and the beginning of Eastertide, the seven Sundays following referred to the “Season of the Spirit.” Beginnings and endings and all that resides in between, where we live daily, often looking backward and forward, missing the extraordinary in ordinary days.

The transition from winter to spring, with winter windchills returning yesterday to remind us that she’s not done yet. Transition and transformation are not done in one day but in a series of days held together, in seasons. The cusp of ending falling into beginning. Again and again.

Thresholds, waiting, hoping, dawn, resurrection. May you remain present and senses ablaze through each day of each season, passing through the doors to newness of life.

“Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul.”— Victor Hugo

Apr 15

It’s Coming

“Every winter has its spring.” – H. Tuttle

“Wherever you are, be there totally.” – Eckhart Tolle

You have time.
Stop rushing.
Winter slows.
Slow down.
Be fully in this day.
Walk softly.
Enter rest, sabbath.
Spring is coming, soon, not quite yet.
Spring rains to soften.
Snow to swing through tomorrow.
Nature has her way.
Transition, transformation, spring.
It’s coming.

“You only have control over three things in your life-the thoughts you think, the images you visualise, and the actions you take.”― Jack Canfield

Apr 14

Winter to Summer, Back to Spring

“The bird dares to break the shell, then the shell breaks open and the bird can fly openly. This is the simplest principle of success. You dream, you dare and and you fly.”― Israelmore Ayivor

“She decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language. And birds fluttered around her, writing “yes” in the sky.”― Monique Duval

We’ve gone from 7+ feet of snow two weeks ago to 5 days of 80+ degrees.
Robins and red-winged blackbirds proclaim spring’s return, this week a slice of July.
Deep snow lingers still.
Temps dropping to 50s and rain tomorrow.
Snow on Sunday.
Back to spring 50s next week.
Seasons colliding, merging, dancing.
Polka. Waltz. Salsa.
Winter to summer and back again to spring.
Patterns of nature.
Up, down, all around.
Life on display.
Become part of the silence, the flow.
Your answer to what is right now, a resounding “Yes!”
Dream. Dare. Fly.

“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.”― Robert Lynd

Apr 5

Spring Delivered

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” – Amelia Earhart

“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – Oscar Wilde

When winter lingers into April, clinging tightly.
Deliver spring.
Beautiful bright flowers on a rainy cold day from friends who stick and stay.
“Just a little something to say we are thinking of you! Happy Spring, love Chris and Lynn.”
So much more than “a little something.”
Acts of kindness.
Grace in action, no words can compete.
Love shows up in so many ways.
We all have the capacity and calling to be carriers of love.
Joy multiplies with a simple hello, a text, a call.
The loudest often in quiet authentic acts.
In unexpected flowers delivered on an April winter day.
Spring delivered when nature is holding out on us, seasons in an arm wrestle and head lock.
Pass it on.
Deliver spring today.

“Life is a full circle, widening until it joins the circle motions of the infinite.”― Anais Nin

Apr 1

April Showers, Minnesota-Style

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. (Sonnet XCVIII)”― William Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s Sonnets

“Don’t wait for someone to bring you flowers. Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul.” – Luther Burbank

April showers, ala Minnesota.
There may be a bit of delay in the bloom.
But there are flowers underneath the fresh blanket of fluffy water.
Preparing, softening, readying for spring.
Never doubt spring will come.
Nor doubt winter will linger until ready to bid adieu.

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.” – Marty Rubin

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