I haven’t written in a while but felt inspired to do so given the time of year and the upcoming Easter weekend.
Today, I want to bring to your attention the cycles of our inner world (birth and death / rebirth) and how the material world reflects this pattern neatly through the seasons.
We have just come out of probably the most intense time of the year. The period between the Winter Solstice on December 21st and the beginning of Spring on March 21st is an important time of inner growth and awareness. This period begins with the longest night of the year deep in the month of December. Around this time that we may feel like hibernating and retreating into the warmth and comfort of our homes. For those in the northern hemisphere, our pituitary glands register less natural light around us. We may feel sluggish and our metabolism slows accordingly to help us build fat and keep warm during the winter months.
During this season, we are being supported and encouraged to explore our inner world a little more. Our psyche is telling us it is okay to slow down, to look within and to take stock of our lives. It is a time of letting go, of releasing old wounds and giving up that which no longer works for us. On a side note, have you noticed the amount of people that choose to transition off the planet in the winter? The natural cycle of death is quite literally enacted during the Winter.
The slowing down and devitalizing of the body encourage more rest, more dreaming and more time to just be. The New Year arrives on January 1st and with it all our resolutions to do life a little differently. Unfortunately our bodies do not really catch up with our mental resolve until March 21st or until the clocks change for Daylight Savings Time. Spring forward augurs much needed light and energy, which bring a lift to our hearts and spirits!
The astrological year ends with the sign of Pisces (February 18th to March 20th). Pisces is associated with the 12th House, which signifies karma, endings, dreams, delusions and illusions, the unconscious mind, and places where we are confined (like hospitals and prisons). Sometimes the Winter period itself can feel like a confinement! Pisces signifies the soul that has traveled many times and has gained experience through the cycle of life-death-rebirth.
The Sun goes into Aries (the 1st sign of the Zodiac) on March 21st, setting off a new cycle of growth. Aries represents the 1st house that rules beginnings, births, going out into the world, pioneering and adventure. There is a large amount of physical energy that comes with this enthusiasm and innocence.
On a personal level, the transition at this time of the year can be challenging as we are literally going through a phase of rebirth. If we have done our inner work – for example looked at our unhealed wounds and patterns, and released them during the Winter – then we have a real chance at harnessing the potential of the true start of the year and the promise for rebirth and revitalization it holds. If we have not, we may have a rude awakening as we try desperately to hold on to what is old and worn but feels familiar and safe.
Life and death / re-birth is a fundamental aspect of the human condition. It is an age old cycle that is associated with various myths in every culture. It is more than just a concept; it is a deep part of the human experience on this planet. We can harness and work with the spring energy to start afresh. To leave behind bad habits, old ways of being that don’t serve us anymore and even outworn notions of who we are supposed to be. We get a fresh start ….. and that is what the egg signifies.
Happy Easter and Happy Spring!