Today we celebrate the equinox, and in my part of the world I’m happy to welcome Spring.
This celebration is one of my favorites. The equinox always offers an invitation to pause in a place of balance – to review what we are stepping away from, as we align ourselves to stepping into what is ahead. Threshold moments unfailingly feel sacred to me and I like to honor them.
This turning of the seasonal wheel also signifies the start of the astrological new year. While January 1st may mark our calendar start, I feel more attuned to the pull of the stars and planets and so I love celebrating this zodiacal aspect as well. And truthfully, I love that there are many markers scattered throughout the year that offer invitation for new beginnings.
Today feels especially potent and magical as it is also marked with a full moon. Each lunation’s full moon carries many names, dependent on various cultures or even personal choice. One of the indigenous nations here label this full moon as the Crow Moon, and as Crow is one of my beloved allies I love celebrating under this guise.
I love the dose of fresh emergent energy that Spring heralds – so filled with possibility and expansiveness and optimism. Despite the fact that it will be some time before old man winter gets the official message to fully depart from this part of the of nation, it’s impossible not to delight in the anticipation of flowers eventually poking their first leaves courageously from the cold dark ground. It’s truly miraculous when you think about it, and isn’t that what Spring is really about? Renewing our sense of magic, of what is possible, of what can be grown and nurtured and loved?
This year I feel especially in need of renewal and awakening, and I truly welcome the fresh promising energy of Spring.
A few days ago, at the Ides of March, we lost a beloved poet W. S. Merwin. It’s no secret I love poetry; that I consider it to be a sacred lens through which to experience the world; and that I hold poets as true wisdom keepers in our world who are not valued as they should be. Merlin’s words often spoke deeply to me, and today especially I’ve been thinking about a couple of things he said – in this day of balance, of new beginnings, of deciding and honoring the path we now wish to embark upon.
He wrote:
“I say to my breath once again, little breath come from in front of me, go away behind me, row me quietly now, as far as you can, for I am an abyss that I am trying to cross.”
– W. S. Merwin
Don’t you feel the pull of that? Isn’t that what we’re all trying to do?
And he also wrote:
“We are asleep with compasses in our hands.”
– W. S. Merwin
Oh indeed we are! And how I wish for myself, and for all of us, to awaken. To be brave flowers, impassioned creatures ready to contribute their flavor of beauty to life – ready to move forward to where are hearts lead us.
And so I wish you an extraordinarily wonderful day filled with peace and love and light, and a most blessed season in which your heart blossoms in unabashedly abundant joy.
I too am attached to the changeover of the seasons, really each one for its own reasons. Spring is full of flowers and sometimes sun, and unexpected warmth. (here anyway!) I love when fall brings a crisp bite to the evening air and the beauty of the colorful leaves. Winter snows can be lovely too, as long as they don’t stick around too long. I enjoy poetry too and what you’ve posted here from W.S. Merwin.
I’m with you Margaret – each season has it’s own delights and it’s especially fun to pay attention as they cross over. Wishing you a wonderful Spring.
Hari OM
Somehow I have not come upon the work of Merwin… I thank you deeply for the introduction! I can only dream of spring at the moment. Nothing remotely resembling it outside my window! Blessings of the season dear blogpal! YAM xx
Oh I’m delighted to introduce you to Merwin – I think you’ll find some real loveliness and depth in his work. It’ll be a while before Spring shows up in her finery here as well, but it’s like waiting for the planted seed to blossom – all delicious anticipation. 🙂
Hi Deborah – the changing of the seasons … I’m so pleased Spring is here! I hadn’t heard of Merwin – but I did feel my breath keeping me going along the path and that compass needs to be brought to the fore – thank you … Spring Salutations in return – cheers Hilary
I trust your Spring will be especially wonderful this year Hilary now that you’re back on your home ground. I know that poetry really isn’t your thing, but I love that you experienced the power of his Merwin’s imagery. Be warned – I’m going to do my best to make you a convert yet.
Ah the scent of spring in all her glory! Lovely post Deborah thank you. We of course are embracing Autumn, or Fall as those in the US call it. The nip in the air has arrived rather suddenly.
Condolences on the death of W.S. Merwin. Your excerpts are especially gentle .. and those gorgeous tulips (if that’s what they are, or a kind of tulip?) belong to him methinks …
I always especially smile at the differences in our seasons at the time of the equinoxes Susan – it feels like such a perfect example of balance and equity doesn’t it. One of those delightful cosmic winks i think.
What a lovely observation about Merwin and the tulips – I think he would be well pleased by that.