Pregnant Pauses
Today is the Celtic festival of Imbolc.
Imbolc meaning ‘in the belly’ symbolises the pregnancy and production of milk in ewes; is associated with St. Brigid, lighting candles to celebrate the return of the light after a long winter and cleaning the house. Spring Cleaning – clearing the clutter to let in new things.
It’s the pregnant pause before Spring bursts out into its full glory.
The feeling of potential energy; the earth revving itself up for what is to come. All that beauty waiting to be realised. The birds certainly know about it, they are loudly shouting out their Spring songs.
Those bulbs so lovingly planted in the autumn, in the hope and anticipation of this moment are now creeping out of the wings ready to take centre stage. Seeds and plants looking dead but just sleeping in the deep, dark soil now beginning to feel the energy of the light and warmth and stretching towards it.
The exquisite snowdrops brave harbingers of spring are here, so small and perfect. A heart lift every time you see them.
Do you feel it?
After the long dark of winter do you feel a new energy starting to move through you? The gratitude for lighter mornings and evenings; poking your nose outside the door and being pleasantly surprised at the temperature, seeing the swelling buds on the honeysuckle and clematis.
It feels like a miracle that is re-enacted every year.
We can have our own private Springs at any time of year – which in itself is a miracle. Having plans or ambitions towards something has a cycle something like the earth cycle. Plans/ambitions start in our imaginations – we cannot do what we cannot imagine. We need time to pause, dream and scheme; like a metaphorical winter, we withdraw and imagine. The more we can get our senses involved the better, how would I feel? Also remember the generosity of nature think abundance, colour, scent, sound, notice how that feels.
What would I see/hear/touch? How would my days be, where I am? Is it warm /cool/sunny/rainy?
We start to feel a change in our energy, the green shoots grow, Spring is coming we may start taking some of our ideas outwards, telling people, doing some research but always checking in with ourselves and asking the question “Does this feel like freedom?” If not, do I need to change my direction a little but still maintain the momentum? There is no shame in this, it’s refining an idea but based on your own compass and integrity, which will feel like freedom.
As we keep moving towards our plans we come into the fullness of summer with all its abundance, beauty and realisation of our winter ideas.
During the autumn we may reconsider a little, prune or shape things ready to sink into the next cycle and see what emerges. These cycles may take years or hours but are happening all the time in all areas of life from building businesses to planning a holiday.
We don’t need to rush or tell ourselves we need to be busy constantly, yes there is a time for activity but based on the previous dreaming. The time we spent considering, noticing, feeling, relishing what the future may hold.
The Pregnant Pause in fact.
Happy Imbolc – enjoy the anticipation of what is to come.
“Nothing is as beautiful as Spring
when weeds in wheels shoot long lovely and lush”
Gerard Manley Hopkins
P.S. This month’s newsletter has followed this cycle; a couple of weeks of mulling, a fabulous relaxing retreat on Sam Charlwood’s SAMPIRA programme, Martha Beck’s wisdom and a blossoming of ideas. Which has culminated in sitting looking out at a beautiful spring morning pulling together the threads the day before publication! These pregnant pauses really work!