May 1, 2020 – Today is May Day, or Beltane in the Celtic tradition. This is the mid-point of Spring, half way from the equinox to the Summer Solstice. Ancient Celtic people celebrated the re-birth of flowers and trees, the long days, and the warmer weather.

And with that rebirth, come the gifts of small green leaves and fragrant blossoms pushing their way out of dormant branches toward the sun… the birds happily chirping their unique songs… a gentle breeze rustling the leaves on the trees making the windchimes softly ting… the bees are back in business and buzzing merrily… sunlight streaming through the trees. Up in the mountains where I live, the owls have reappeared in the evening, exchanging hoo-hoos back and forth and I wonder what they’re communicating to each other… the latest gossip in the owl world about who is nesting with who perhaps or maybe they’re wondering why all the humans are around so much!

And also, with the season comes everyone’s favorite – Spring Cleaning, come on down!! One benefit to sheltering in place is you don’t have to cram everything needed to be done into one day because of your busy schedule… I’ve been making a list of the things I’d like to get organized or cleaned out and just doing one thing a day or every other day… not necessarily huge projects but completing them still makes me feel a bit accomplished which helps my spirit.

I’m learning to sit with what is and quiet my buzzing mind… close my eyes and just listen to what’s around me that I miss because I get so caught up with trying to stay busy and not think about the world and all that’s going on… I really don’t have any control over that so I will focus on what I can… and right now, I can control this moment in time and make it something special… spring-ing my mind into action for my own well-being. I encourage you all to find a little time to just “Be”… look around your world and see all the gifts that are right there in front of you.

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