Saturday, March 26, 2011

Vernal Beatdowns



My spirit guides tell me that the essence of springtime is struggle. Think of the chick pecking her way out of the eggshell, or the germinating green shoot breaking through the seed cover. What they tell me is that spring is about both the eggshell and the chick, the seed cover and the germinating green shoot. Spring is about the struggle to re-emerge, which includes whatever we're busting out of, metaphorically as well as literally.

It's true that once I see cherry blossoms, I expect warm weather to settle in, I expect sunshine and gentle breezes, (aka the green shoot) even though I should know better because every year spring is a wrestling match between nice weather and blustery, cold, rainy weather (aka the seed cover). Same as it ever was. These expectations come out of the fact (so say the spirit guides) that I prefer to identify with the chick, with the green shoot. I want OUT of winter, as fast as possible.

The eggshell, the seed cover - they provide protection through the season of darkness and cold, and should be honored, I'm told, even as I'm pecking away furiously. The eggshell is a worthy adversary, after all. I guess. I know people who identify with the eggshell and seed cover, who batten down the hatches when spring arrives, who actually kind of dread re-emerging. I've resisted change in this way, metaphorically only - never literally when winter gives way to spring. Interesting, eh?

Instead of getting all pissy when cold weather returns (as it has in the last couple of days) it's possible I could remember the protection of the eggshell for the developing chick, the way the seed cover holds the plant carefully and lovingly in the cold ground over the winter.

Maybe.

I mean, maybe I could remember to honor the eggshell, the seed cover. I'm trying anyway. It's supposed to sNOw tomorrow. My friends arrive on Tuesday. I'm trying not to pout (such an unnattractive behavior for a middle aged lady).

As always my spirit guides have offered ways in which I could find my way towards wisdom and good behavior. They have offered an insight that could broaden my perspective. When, oh when, will I learn to listen to them? Happy Saturday from FREEZING Washington DC. Dang, man.

14 comments:

steven said...

reya the snow is almost gone but the air is cold and windy up where i live. it's hard against the skin. at the same time, the sky is a sheet of robin's egg blue and brother sun is full-faced and grinning. honouring the shell. reya that opens my eyes a whole lot wider. thankyou. steven

Reya Mellicker said...

If I can open your eyes, I'm impressed. Actually it was my spirit guides, not me, but ... cool.

The Bug said...

I guess the good thing about where we live is that we're just now seeing green - no flowers yet. So the 20 degree morning wasn't QUITE as bad.

Who am I kidding? I want my 70 degrees! Guess I'll just hunker down in my shell for a little while longer...

Reya Mellicker said...

Yeah, Dana, what choice do we have?

hele said...

here we are getting ready for winter and my spirit guides are urging me to let go, to let my leaves flutter away and face the sky and the earth naked and vulnerable.

Dan Gurney said...

You've got some wise spirit guides, Reya. I say find an afghan and a knit hat, swaddle up and make yourself a pot of tea.

Rebecca Clayton said...

Guess I'm honoring my seed coat--I've been hoping for a burst of spring energy to get me up and going, but I'm overwhelmed by unfinished, backward-looking winter projects. Like the cherry trees on Droop Mountain, I think it's still winter.

Cool insight, as usual!

Pramit said...

i suppose, struggle, is not only the essence of springtime but of life.....
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Reya Mellicker said...

Hele - how cool to "see" you. My guides also told me that autumn is about surrender. So much more graceful!

ellen abbott said...

I find the late season cold fronts to be way more tolerable. I can allow them to happen because I know it is just their last gasp so to speak.

I hope the snow and cold temps don't burn the blossoms.

California Girl said...

Regardless of the temps, your photos make me think of Springy things and that is good.

Reya Mellicker said...

Thanks Debra. It wasn't as cold today as I thought it would be. They say snow for tomorrow but the sky doesn't look right for it.

What do I know??

Nancy said...

Oh, I hope it doesn't do in the blossoms! They really are special. We have no blossoms, no buds, in fact it snowed night before last - all night. We have had more snow in this year than we have had in 50 years. Ghaaa

Jo said...

the photos are ravishingly beautiful, Reya...who cares about a little snow? Not I. Unless it keeps me from arriving on Tues.

That would be a different story.