Slow Dance and a Welcome to Spring

Things get out of sync for me in the winter months.   This is especially true when we have a harsh winter such as we have had this year.   Suddenly, without warning, we find ourselves thrown in to the middle of weeks of furious winter storms.   Buried in snow we are house bound and things begin to break down; we run out of food, the water pipes freeze and we have little time for normal activities that bring us pleasure because we are too busy surviving.   We lose patience and curse the weather and all that it brings with it.

What if we were to surrender?     What if we were to have a ‘slow dance’ with winter?   What if we take time to truly engage in the experience?    I suggest we approach winter like one would approach a waltz.   First become aware of the rhythm.   Then move in to it with grace. 

The Waltz beat gets its name from a dance, based on three steps and a three-count measure.  According to Webster, the term originated from Old High German ‘walzan’, meaning to turn or roll.   Paying attention to this three-count measure we adjust to winter by following the beat. 

Beat One:  Have an awareness of the grandeur of winter: the beautiful way the wind sculpts the snow; the gentle manner in which the snow falls to the ground; the way your skin tingles when you walk outside in the blustery wind.

Beat Two:  Become mindful of your frustrations and impatience and how they place you ‘out of step’ with your true nature.

Beat Three:   Step in to the dance and be patient knowing that Spring is on the way

A Welcome to Spring

Greening finger caress earth’s blackened thighs

And slowly trace the contours of a thousand seasons.

Warming to a touch, tender with experience

Earth submits again, and once again.

Spring’s seed spills in to summer

And a honey wind blows the joy of silver Birch leaves

To a waking Thrush on a Sunday morning.