Bravely Beginning
Today I am bravely beginning something new. I feel called to start creating nature mandalas as a way to honor and connect with the seasons and cycles happening around us and within us. I intend to share these mandalas with you as a way to attune to the earth cycles, the land we live upon and the wild that lives in all of us. Each mandala will be a prayer. A prayer for the earth, a prayer for all living beings (wild & tamed), a prayer for our ancestors and a prayer of love. May they offer us a way to reconnect, remember and find belonging in the wild natural web we all too often forget we live within and are not separate from.
In creating nature mandalas, I have found that I can tap into something soulful and wise within. I believe we all have ancient wisdom that lives in us and when we quiet ourselves, we can hear it. Often it has no words, but just a feeling of deep peace and belonging.
This mandala was built on Spring Equinox and it holds the intention of Brave Beginnings. This mandala was created upon snow that quickly, just a few days later, melted and laid the mandala gently down upon the earth as grass shoots started to lift it up towards the Spring sun.
We are all waking up from Winter as the wheel moves into Spring. This time of year is full of new beginnings. Spring Equinox kicks off the Aries, fiery solar cycle, that is the first sign in the zodiac calendar and Spring initiates nature’s New Year.
Winter supports us in resting and allowing the compost of the last growth cycle to transform and feed the next cycle. Winter offers us time to slow down and dream.
However, due to Covid, our Wintertime was extended. The pandemic of this past year, forced us into an unnaturally long Winter that offered the gifts and struggles that only come from this season. We were guided to hermit, be receptive and slowdown from our busy lives. In doing this we were required go within, offered time to see old patterns that needed to shift and learn to be in our skin with less distractions.
Spring lived dormant in our bones through this long winter, just waiting for the sun to wake our hearts up and rise to the flurry of inspiration and action. Just as a seed, deep in the cold earth wakes and begins to rise upward. We too rise with the return of light and warmth to move into action with a renewed hope.
It takes bravery to meet Spring. It takes courage to leave Winter, especially this weird, stretched out pandemic winter. I got very used to the slower pace, the quiet days with less engagements and the long walks alone. As the pandemic loosens a bit, we are returning to life. Returning to our circles and cycles, but with the wisdom from a long winter. But now it is time to show up, put ourselves out there and grow. Just as nature always steps up and rises to Spring, so shall we. May we find ways to cheer each other on as we open our hearts back up and support each other in awakening with gentle compassion.
It is time to bravely begin again and anew. It is time to leave the comforts of Winter and play to your edge. Allowing the wild of spring to shine out and in. May you gently awaken and allow your wild inspiration and dreams to burst forth into blossom.
Where do you need to be brave?
What are you ready to begin?
Please join me in connecting with the earth cycles in creating nature mandalas and share them with the hashtag #ourwildrootsmandalaprayers
