Archive for March, 2018
Rebirth
Spring is in full swing in my neighborhood. The sun’s warmth seeps into the earth (and into my old arthritic bones), awakening us all from winter slumber.
The tulips are blooming in celebration of the spring Holy Season. Fruit trees are budding with the promise of wonderful plums and pears. Vegetable beds patiently await to be spaded and planted.
Spiritually, emotionally and physically, it is a perfect season for our rebirth. Shedding the dark coldness of winter, we embrace movement toward the blooming of our authentic selves.
“There is a rebirth that goes on with us continuously as human beings. I don’t understand, personally, how you can be bored. I can understand how you can be depressed, but I just don’t understand boredom.” ~Dustin Hoffman
“Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.” ~Dalai Lama
Embrace the rebirth of spring!
March
The 1st Amendment right of people to peacefully assemble, to speak freely, to address or petition the government for redress of grievances.
America has a rich, and sometimes volatile, history of marching to redress inequality. Notable: the marches of the civil rights movement, protesting the Vietnam war, LBGT rights, and, the biggest march in US history, the one day Women’s March on Washington in January 2017 in which an estimated 4.2 million people gathered.
Saturday March 24, marks the first time that the youth of our Nation marched together in the Many Lives Matter protest.
I am mightily heartened about the future of my country when I hear these articulate, passionate young people demanding a change in the status quo of political lethargy.
I invite you all to read a letter in LET THE PUBLIC SPEAK section of Saturday’s Press Democrat, written by Peyton Krzyzek a student at Santa Rosa High School. It powerfully and poignantly captures the fear our young people endure everyday in an environment that should be providing them with the best education possible in a safe and secure manner.
Ironically, to me anyway, in the same issue on page A10, is an article about protecting classes with rocks. David Helsel, superintendent of the Blue Mountain School District in northeast Pennsylvania, has equipped each classroom with a five-gallon bucket of river rocks. This arsenal is described as ‘last ditch‘ option for students trapped and hiding under desks. Rather than being helpless targets of an automatic weapon in the hands of a crazed killer, these kids can fight back by standing up and throwing rocks at their assailant. Helsel said, “Obviously a rock against a gun isn’t a fair fight, but it is better than nothing.”
Perhaps we as a Nation should rethink our position on armaments. Give the Secret Service buckets of rocks to protect the President and Congress. Likewise our Police and Sheriffs departments throughout the country. And arm our military with tons of rocks instead of guns. Armored tanks could shoot rocks at the enemy, our Air Force could drop rock bombs, missiles could be armed with rock heads, not to mention a whole new era of rock(et) launchers.
It is ridiculous to imagine. Yet, this is considered a feasible, realistic way to protect our children in the classroom?
The young people behind the Many Lives Matter movement are becoming eligible to vote. Indeed, in some states where the voting age is 18, they will be going to the polls this year.
If these young adults sustain their passion, and I believe they will, change will come; lethargy and self-serving duplicity may no longer be the norm on Capitol Hill.
Vernal Equinox 2018
Spring begins with the Vernal Equinox on March 20. It is a time of rebirth and renewal in the Northern Hemisphere. Spirit and Matter, Heaven and Earth meet equally in this precious moment.
This year has an interesting twist, as Mercury goes retrograde on the 22nd, and remains there until April 15.
As you reflect on the past year, reviewing the harvest from the Fall Equinox of 2017, and noting the gifts of the Winter Solstice, my question is, “What are you planting in your spiritual garden this spring?”
As you sort and sift through the seeds you have accumulated, added some new varieties you hope will take root and grow into glorious bloom, take note of the retrograde. Don’t plant your crop prematurely. Patience is the greatest ally of the spiritual gardener.
“Behold, my friends, the spring is come, the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.”
~Chief Sitting Bull
Wishing you all many rich blessings of Spring.
Justice
The world feels more unjust than I could have ever imagined. The iconic image of Justice appears to be turning a blind eye to rampant injustice, rather than to judgment without partiality. It’s becoming increasingly harder to believe that justice will prevail.
The Wheel of Fortune in the Tarot succinctly expresses cycles of change; everything is dying, and everything is becoming simultaneously. What is signified by the Justice card is the balancing of this energy…perception without distortion. The capacity to view reality with objectivity.
In Jung and the Tarot Sallie Nichols writes, “The sword (in the Justice card) represents the golden power of discrimination which enables us to pierce through layers of confusion and false images to reveal a central truth.”
Justice assumes responsibility for weighing all sides of an issue before making a decision. I am finding this task increasingly challenging; working harder than ever to keep my sword sharp. Cutting through copious, dense layers of hyperbole and obfuscation quickly dulls the blade.
“There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.” ~Charles de Montesquieu
Fair, responsible decision-making demands logical, rational, objective thinking. And the demand for spiritual discernment is of equal importance to the process.
“Until the great mass of the people be filled with the sense of responsibility for each others welfare, social justice can never be attained.” ~Helen Keller
As the dark forces continue to rise, it is of a greater necessity than ever before to engage spiritual discernment, compassionate sentiment and rational thinking into forceful allies of survival.
I invite you this week to sharpen your swords and hang tough.
Blessings to all!
Pause
The latest issue of Spirituality & Health (March/April 2018) presents a compelling article by Maria Shriver, “The Power of the Pause.”
At first, I thought it to be about the power of menopause; a woman’s amazing cycle of transformation.
To my surprise and delight, this cogently crafted article is about pausing to think before we act, specifically focusing on communication; motive, content and authenticity.
Some excerpts: “Pause–and change it (communication) from criticism and faultfinding to understanding and compassion.”
“Pause–and take the time to find out what’s important to you and make it your own. Find out what you love, what’s real and true to you–so those become the things that most often infuse and inform your work, your home, your life.”
“Take a walk with a turtle. And behold the world in pause.” ~Bruce Feller
“So pause–before you put a rumor out there as fact, Just because you read it or saw it on TV or on the web no matter how many times doesn’t mean it’s true. Don’t just pass on garbage because you want to be first, there’s no glory in being first with garbage.”
“Sometimes you need to press pause to let everything sink in.” ~Sebastian Vettel
“Have the courage to go beyond judgment, to go beyond others’ rules and expectations. Have the courage to go beyond shoulda, coulda-woulda.”
“And, finally, remember this. Whenever you’re in doubt: Pause. Take a moment. Look at your options. Check your intentions. And then? And then take the high road.”
These excerpts are but a small sample of the power of the article. I invite you to read the entire piece.
“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” ~Albert Einstein
