Snow: A Fresh Start

Snow

Have you ever looked out the window of your car and gazed into the surrounding trees that create little views of the wooded environment around us living in our suburban lives full of convenience?  

During the winter time it is so easy to gaze out the windows of our lives and watch the trees blend into the ground, seemingly stretching on and on, no green in sight, no distinguishing features to distinctly point out what may be important for us to gaze at, and reflect upon. In the winter season of our lives during our annual rotation around the sun every 12 months, it is a good time to choose what to reflect upon, let go of, and start the alchemy of transmutation within our minds. During the winter months the ground beneath us is stirring its magic to begin the season of life all over again, when the trees begin to bloom and life around us begins to awaken again, filled with promise and hope of a new season.

Being a local native to Charlotte, I have never had the experience of lots of snow during my winter months, a good snow every 5 years was more that I could hope for, because the flurries I got were enough to shut down everything around me, and I disliked what snow brought with it, the discomfort and dis-ease of being trapped. Thankfully, we all encounter perception shifts during our lives and now snow creates feeling of joy, excitement, and peace inside me. Watching the snow fall yesterday had my inner child on display, and I couldn’t stop smiling. I had the opportunity to ride in the car as a passenger last night and this morning, and I began reflecting on the new reasons of why I like to see snow. First, your surroundings are covered with this soft white blanket, removing all the hard edges, giving a little extra hope the appearance of the world being not as hard of a place to live in because, my friends, it is a hard world out there. Secondly, it makes winter feel like winter, giving a sense of completion to the year. To me, I think, now we can have spring because the snow has giving the ground a fresh start to begin the magic of spring. Lastly, as I was gazing out the window while passing a forested area, I began to realize I could see so far into the forest because the white blanket covering the ground provided a sharp contrast between the ground and the trees, offering a brand new perception to view the forest through the trees. The snow has been a personal guide to offer a new perception of how I view the forest of my own thoughts. I can see as far and as close as I need, I can pick out what is worth focusing my attention upon, and as the snow melts today reminding us that the sun that transmuting springs warmth is so close, it reminds me of the promise of new beginnings. As I have selected and begin anticipate being able to plant the first seeds in the ground of my garden, I have begun the selection process of what seeds I want to cultivate in my life this year.

Continue reading for Akima’s Animal Corner and Color Musings.

As I prepare to start my day, I enjoy gazing out my front window and watch the birds that visit the food I’ve placed out for their nourishment. I take special attention of what birds visit and when, because I believe animals are some of our greatest teachers here on this earth. I have an amazing book called “Animal Speak” by Ted Andrews, giving a field guide style reference to the spiritual significance of many animals native to the North Americas, rooted in Native American tradition this book is such a special insight to the animal world around us. There are sections devoted to birds, reptiles, mammals, and insects. I have developed a love for birds over the past few years and have gleaned little insights into my own life by reading this book. The two birds that I’ve seen during the short time of snow yesterday and today have been the Red-Billed Woodpecker, and the Cardinal. Both are beautiful birds, with striking red in their coloring. I would like to share some insights from the book, and they may mean something to you, but they mean so much to me in my own spiritual journey on this earth right now. Enjoy, and I highly encourage you to purchase a copy of the book for yourself!

The Color Red:

"Grounding and Survival - Base of the Spine

Element - Earth Physical identity: oriented to self-preservation

Aligned with the planets Pluto and Mars"

"The color Red is the color of physical energy, passion, courage, power, will, and desire. The Root Chakra is stable and grounding. Red is powerfully linked to our most primitive physical and emotional needs of survival and self-preservation."

"Red symbolizes energy, action, confidence, courage, and change. The color red brings passion and strength to your relationships, your life and your work."

The Woodpecker

“In the European fold tradition, the woodpecker was often considered a weather prophet, its drumming indicating forthcoming changes.”

“In the Native American Tradition it is a bird connected to the heartbeat of the Earth itself. This drumming has many mystical connections, from new life rhythms to applications of shape shifting.

“Most are black and white, and some have red upon the head. The black and white reflects the need to see issues and aspects of life clearly. It reflects that things are fairly clear if we look closely.”

“The red found in the head area of any woodpecker reflects a stimulation of the mental activities and the head chakra centers. It reflects stimulation and wakening of new mental faculties. This is even further symbolized by the pecking that is the trademark of this bird.”

“Rhythm is a powerful means of affecting the physical energies. Sometimes it is easy to get so wrapped up in our daily mental and spiritual activates that we neglect the physical. It may reflect a need to drum some new changes and rhythms into your life.”

“When woodpecker comes into your life, it indicated that the foundation is there. It is now safe to follow your own rhythms.”

 

The Cardinal  

“The cardinal’s presence reflects a time to renew our vitality. It reflects lessons in developing and accepting a new sense of our own true self-importance.”

“Unlike many other birds, they are usually year-round residents, and their influence and the archetypal energies associated with them can be accessed all year long. They remind us that regardless of the time or day of year, we always have opportunity to renew our own vitality and recognize the importance of our own life roles.”

 “Cardinals brighten the environment. They catch the eye and add color to our lives. When they appear as a totem, they do so to remind us to become life them. Add color to your life, and remember that everything you do is of importance.”