The Sweetness of Spring

Posted byLisa at Micro of the MacroPosted inBeauty of Nature, Health & Well-Being, Holidays/Seasons, Psychological HealthTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke

This beauty recently came to me via text from a beloved cousin. Thanks, Deb!

For the past few days, I’ve noticed the birds are back and making their happy presence known. I took time out this morning to admire the black, white, and vibrant red of two acorn woodpeckers out a back window. In preparation for the return of the hummingbirds, I’ve planned to hang their brightly colored feeder in a couple weeks. And after two days of snow last week, we stood for a long while in the warm sunshine enjoying the sights and sounds of a large paddling of ducks in a drainage pond. In the hopeful spirit of this miraculous season, I’ve talked to neighbors about planting, given a lot of thought to getting rid of things I haven’t used in a while, and am actively changing up my diet. I cannot recall ever being this enamored with Spring.

Acorn Woodpecker

Come with me into the woods. Where spring is advancing, as it does, no matter what, not being singular or particular, but one of the forever gifts, and certainly visible. ~Mary Oliver

I remember as a small child dressing in a pastel yellow dress, lacy bonnet, white ruffled ankle socks, and black patent leather Mary Janes for church, closely followed by an egg hunt with cousins. Oh how I loved hunting for Easter eggs! It was by far my favorite part of the holiday; I enjoyed it more than the chocolate bunnies!

Elements of our Easter holiday originated in Ancient Mesopotamia’s spring equinox celebrations, as far back as 2400 BCE, according to an article on the website Learn Religions. Celebrated on the first Sunday after the first post-equinox full moon, the name Easter was probably derived from Eoster, the lunar goddess who was celebrated on the first post-equinox full moon. It was believed that on that day, the lunar goddess mated with the solar god, and their child would be born on the winter solstice of December 21st. The hare and the egg were symbolic of this celebration for their representations of fertility and new life.

The gardens at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. ~Rachel Carson

The birthing of animals in Springtime is certainly a reason to make merry. Years ago, when I first met my life partner, he was living on a horse farm in central Florida, and I spent a lot of time with him there. I can’t tell you how many hours we spent in the different paddocks, loving up all the horses, getting the young ones to trust us, and witnessing foal watch! It’s so exciting when the broodmares are expected to give birth at anytime. And the foals’ first few days of life, as they learn to feed and walk and play: what an absolute joy to watch!

Baby is bravely curious with Mom close by

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. ~Audrey Hepburn

Humble beginnings

The sprouting of new plant life is a process that showcases the unparalleled design of Nature. Just think of the potential and perseverance a tiny seed must contain to reach maturity and bear fruit! I have neighbors who have already purchased seeds for planting in their gardens. And in many parts of the country, flowers will soon be flourishing, sometimes taking over fields as far as the eye can see. Savoring the exquisite view of a field of wildflowers is a fine way to spend part of a warm sunny afternoon.

Near Taos, NM

A flower blossoms for its own joy. ~Oscar Wilde

It’s also spring cleaning season! I’ll admit, I’m not a huge fan of cleaning, but I feel so much better when it’s done. And donating things that I no longer use is like a healthy purge. According to an article in Psychology Today, physical clutter can easily result in psychological clutter. Too much disorganized “stuff” can cause you to feel less than comfortable at home or in the office. It can also lead to feelings of being out of control and contribute to poor eating habits. Once internalized, clutter slows neural pathways, leading to memory loss as we age. Ok, I’ve got a bit of spring cleaning to do . . .

Every moment the patches of green grew bigger and the patches of snow grew smaller. Every moment more and more of the trees shook off their robes of snow. Soon, wherever you looked, instead of white shapes you saw the dark green of firs or the black prickly branches of bare oaks and beeches and elms. ~C.S. Lewis

Another transition into the Spring season should be eating lighter foods, according to the principles of Ayurveda, one of the oldest wellness systems in recorded history. Leaving behind the cold months of Winter, we should be eating fewer heavy, oily, sweet, and salty foods, opting instead for lighter foods including salads, leafy (especially bitter) greens, other vegetables, sprouts, beans, and berries. Seasonal eating works with the biology of our bodies, and can increase fat burning and decrease seasonal allergies.

A tiny bit of loveliness

The functions of your body are vested in Nature’s rebirth. I hope you will make a point of benefitting from the sublime gifts of our new season. Take your family on an outdoor outing, try some new recipes, or get rid of some stuff you don’t need anymore. May the abundant hope and beauty of the season cause you to reflect on the miracle in which we are all immersed. Happy Easter!

Tender green leaves on Aspen trees

I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration
Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze
Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration . . . ~D.H. Lawrence

Springtime Blessings,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

87 thoughts on “The Sweetness of Spring”

  5. I’ve never seen a Acorn Woodpecker in person. Sweet foal! I did my Ayurveda spring cleanse. It made me feel so good, that I and continuing to eat that way. Being a Pitta, I am having to watch myself and not rush to those foods (my favorite) as it is still chilly and they are not in season just yet.

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    1. Hi, Sarah, I feel you about mostly avoiding Pitta foods for a bit longer, as I have a lot of fire within, too! I checked out your blog & it sounds like we’re cut from the same cloth. Thanks for adding to this conversation! 🌞

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    1. Hi, Ashley, thanks as always for your very kind comment. I first learned about Ayurveda from a raw food proponent, Dr. Gabriel Cousens in his book Conscious Eating. Deepak Chopra’s books are also a really good source, as well as John Douillard’s books & website. Glad you enjoyed the post! And good luck on your vegetarian journey! 🌞

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  8. Ah, the joys of spring so finely captured. Gorgeous marking on that newborn horse. Had to pass by that Acorn Woodpecker quickly so I didn’t get too jealous (that is still on my “to shoot” list). Appreciate the uplifting post.

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  15. Lisa, I of course loved the photo of the foal but that one of the flowers in Taos stands out as well. We’ve had huge purges twice since we got married, both associated with moving. In Ohio, we had a large, four bedroom house with an attic and a basement so you can imagine that after 27 years and four people, we had a plethora of “stuff.” When leaving Illinois, we had things still packed from our Ohio move 8 years or so prior so that meant we hadn’t used those things. Purging books was and is the most difficult for me and it took me many agonizing hours to cull down to the still very many we have now. But moving is a drastic way to purge or downsize. I recommend taking a box at a time and doing it that way. 🙂

    Happy Easter.

    janet

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    1. Janet! Thanks for stopping by! I totally understand what you mean about purging while moving. When I left my South Florida life behind, I got rid of everything except a few boxes & the items I would take with me in my car. I dropped off 4 large boxes & a couple large frames at my mother’s house, and traveled with the rest. Several months into the trip, I had to replace all 4 of my worn tires & was told to get rid of some weight in the trunk of my car, or risk bending the car’s frame! It was painful for me, because most of that weight was books! Glad you enjoyed my photos! Happy Spring! 🌞

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  16. Happy Easter Lisa, and such beautiful pictures of spring!
    The notes on the seasonal change of food habits is interesting. What should be a natural transition, when healthy fresh food is easily available bring them in to lighten you plate.
    From childhood mom used to say that we have to eat more bitters during spring, which also used to bring allergies, fevers and few other seasonal diseases.

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  22. What a beautiful entry to spring and renewal you captured so perfectly in your words and your pictures Lisa. Love the new life or plants, the sweet foal, your memories and love of your heart. Happy Easter, cleaning (ugh gotta do 🤣) and Easter. Love always to you! 💖

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      1. Thanks and to you!!! It was a wonderful Post.,
        Yes, heading for a walk with the boys.. Hunter and Harry and Gregg and bruch on the deck later. Enjoy your day as well, however you spend it!
        💖🌷

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  26. I hope you had a happy Easter, thank you for sharing your lovely childhood memories. Enjoy you spring time and all that it brings 🙂 We in autumn in our side of the world and I am looking forward to the beautiful colours of the leaves that only autumn time brings.

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  32. Fantastic post! Love how you brought together histories/ideas/cultures from around the world. The “seasonal diet” is an interesting one. And so is this: “physical clutter can easily result in psychological clutter. Too much disorganized “stuff” can cause you to feel less than comfortable at home or in the office. It can also lead to feelings of being out of control and contribute to poor eating habits.” Really makes me wonder if it’s time to clear out some stuff and to the spring cleaning. Thanks again for writing this one!

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  33. Such beautiful pictures – puts a spring in my step 😊.
    We are now in autumn – a great season here in South Africa, because the gusty summer wind calms down while days are still bright and sunny.
    Enjoy your colourful season 🌸.

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  36. I remember wearing the same color dress, with long white frilly socks and black Mary Janes, only I didn’t have the bonnet…
    I have always thought that clutter around me was a symptom of how I was feeling, but it is an interesting way of looking at it… That the clutter could be causing the feeling 😁

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  37. Beautiful pics! Throughout the past 5-10 years or so, I have found much pleasure by detaching myself from many, many material possessions that no longer serve a purpose in my life. Some of these things may only be a few months old while many other items are decades old! The common denominator in all of them is that they are no longer needed, never used and only take up space! It is a GREAT feeling to be able to rid myself of these so called “prized possessions” that no longer have a purpose!

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