Spring into Transformation
Ah….March. When I think of March I think of windy days, rain, sometimes big snow, plants sprouting from the earth and the sunlight making its appearance for longer bouts of time. I also truly love watching my children playing outside (a little less bundled), jumping into puddles, coming inside muddy and happy with the mess they created outside (and inside-LOL!).
March typically brings forth the idea of transformation. I know I feel it personally in my body. March marks the beginning of the end —the end of the period of inward looking, hibernation, and deep soul-filling rest that winter so beautifully provides. These transformative signs begin to pop up all around us in nature, but there’s also transformation happening within each of us. I start to feel a brightening and enlivening of my spirit, a drive to be moving more outwardly than inwardly. And then…..life happens….and all of this sweet brightness that March brings comes to screeching halt over the last few days as I feel myself drawn in to the awful events happening all over the world.
In the wake of crises happening (both overseas and in our own country!), I find myself called back to the words of Pema Chodron in her book, When Things Fall Apart. Pema writes “It’s a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately filling up the space.” I used this quote to guide the practices I am shared this week as I was sensing heavy hearts and minds in many classes. We used these words to guide us in moving our bodies, twisting through different transformations of postures, and then settling into the stillness of the space we share together with a tender and soft heart.
We cannot solve the world’s problems overnight. We cannot wish away the things happening, but we also must turn away. We CAN soften our hearts, invite in more peace, tenderness, compassion and courage, so that others can sense this and then they too can invite in peace, transform their hearts. Together, we can transform ourselves by moving forward with soft, compassionate hearts. Together, we can move toward one another in a kind way, carrying peace in our hearts outwardly for ALL to see, to emulate and to hopefully live by.
Sending peace to all beings the world over, as we start to spring into this period of transformation.
