Soul Awakening
Photo by Susan Izard
Dear Soul Friends,
This is the time of year when I stare at the dirt. As the earth warms and the snow melts, green sprouts begin to dot the damp soil. If I look hard enough, I can almost see the tiny sprouts grow. This morning robins were hopping around patches of snow in between the green tips of daffodils pushing up in the woods below my house. Yesterday snowbells were just opening on a snowy hillside and a few tiny buds on the hellebore appeared ready to bloom by the end of the week.
Birds serenade us with chatter and delight. Ice is breaking up in the reservoir liberating the water from frozen to flow. Even a black bear has come out of hibernation announcing her arrival by knocking over a bird feeder and breaking down a fence. Mother Earth is waking up from her long winter slumber. It is delightful to witness.
Early spring is a great time of year to tap into soul energy and listen for the joy and anticipation radiating from within. It is important to pay attention to what brings us joy and honor it. We can be tempted to focus on being productive, filling our days with doing and more doing. But it’s also important to listen for our soul’s wisdom and truth.
Our souls are filled with inner guidance when we heed the still small voice within. Soul is not greedy. We do not need to spend hours listening for it. The key is to pay attention when it shows up and follow through on the wisdom it offers. You can trust you are in soul space when you feel connected with joy, kindness, gratitude, generosity, love and peace.
At this time of year, it is fun to pay attention to internal messages of delight. Is it time for a walk in the warming sun? Is now a good time to reach out to old friends and listen to what is happening in their lives? Is it time to start planting a few seeds or a garden?
The other day I was talking with a friend up north who is a master gardener. It’s still winter there. The sun had not been out in days. The heaviness of the gloom along with difficult health problems were dispiriting but then we began to talk about gardening and the possibility of removing a lawn and planting a pollinator meadow. Suddenly her voice lit up as she offered suggestions and ideas. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she was envisioning where plants could be planted and options to consider. Just thinking about it gave her joy. Just thinking about it reconnected her with her soul. Joy is one of soul’s favorite characteristics.
There is a beautiful passage from the Song of Solomon in the Hebrew Scriptures that speaks to this season of renewal and rebirth.
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;
For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come.
As you travel through these final days of winter and watch the season of resurrection unfold, may you be blessed by joy. May your soul sing within you and guide you to an inner knowing of gratitude and peace. May you be a source of loving compassion in our world.
Deep peace to you,
Susan
