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April 13, 2001

Happy Easter All -
And Happy Equinox
And Blessings on Passover

Every one loves spring - which brings me to the subject of "spring cleaning." Personally, I adore house cleaning. First of all, it gets me out of this chair behind the computer, second - I can actually see the results of my labors instantly, third - I love the aftermath. I adore that sensation of ripping useless items of everything out of everywhere and pitching it anywhere I can get rid of it.

And of course, spring house cleaning at the mundane level shifts to archetypal cleaning of the spiritual interior house.... which means emerging from the underworld, like Persephone, into the Spring, awaiting the planting of the new self.

So here's my thoughts - I have become aware that now "time" has become my most precious commodity and I don't want to waste time with anything that does not matter in life anymore. I do not want to hold on to unnecessary history and I do not want to invest my life force into anything that truly does not help me celebrate being alive - I hope this is inspiring you, because I've begun to tell people in my workshops - as I am now sharing with you - that there comes a time in each of our lives, hopefully, when we should focus in on the business of living a life not regretting what we do not have and what has happened or not happened to us, but on finding something wonderful or hopeful about our lives each day - and even when that is as tough an order as it comes - then at least spend a few minutes in prayer asking for a life support system.

But let us remind ourselves always that time and life are our two most special commodities - irreplaceable, like family members and friends who have gone before us. I've read many poems written by people who are dying or musing in their "old age", telling us how if they had it to "do again" - "it" meaning life, they would, "take time to smell flowers, to dance in the fields, to speak to the birds" - bla, bla stuff like that. (You can tell how I feel about that kind approach ain't my style). What is important, though, is to transfer into your spirits a sense of inspiration that says, "Help me not to lose sight of the gift of my life - Help me not to waste time living outside the moment." When I think of Easter and the archetype of "death and rebirth" that speaks to us through that Sacred story, I think there is great wisdom in spending time with oneself to find the dead within and bury these memories or negative patterns in "earth" that is other than the earth of your body and life. Think about the cosmic energies that surround us right now - the energy of Aires - new beginnings - and the whole of Mother Nature that is calling for the resurrection of all of life. Rituals are very powerful and let me suggest one for "death and rebirth" that comes from the rituals practiced in ancient, biblical times. As is well known, oils were used to anoint the bodies of the dead. This was done to purify the spirit, releasing all negativity from the spirit in order that it could make the journey to the spiritual realm without obstruction. Let me suggest that as an ritual symbolic of the desire to release the "dead", retrieve your spirit, and "ascend" to a higher plateau of consciousness - write down on a piece of paper all of these recalls. Then anoint that paper with oil, as if it represented a part of the body of your life that you wish to bless for it's purpose and release because its time is over. Then burn it. The use of sacred oil grounds this ritual - makes it real, makes it feel so tangible, so alive, that you can almost feel the memories being drawn out of your cell tissue.

I also recommend that people conduct this "death and resurrection" - or this Easter - spring - Equinox ritual whenever they need to bury the past and resurrect with fresh life. Even the symbolism of Passover profoundly serves this type of ritual in that the Hebrews were warned to paint blood on the doors of their homes from the Angel of Death was descending in order to take the first born from every Egyptian family. Some biblical anthropologists have suggested that the substance that the Hebrews painted on the doors was a mixture of blood and sacred oil - allowing that which was potentially destructive to "Passover" their homes. There is profound imagery in that - a ritual of protection so that negativity might "Passover" your energy field. However you wish to view these prayer rituals, recognize that the common bond is one of the archetype of "death and rebirth" - and that this is the cosmic or spiritual time of year that the Heavens have declared serve that purpose. Think about taking advantage of the natural spiritual alignment of life.

Have a blessed April

Love,
Caroline