The observation of Nature and giving it a deeper meaning is a form of spirituality. What type exactly is defined by one’s personal beliefs. My personal belief is that we are all part of Nature and connected by it. To be able to best honor and protect nature, it is our duty to learn about it. It’s challenging to live with nature and understand its natural influence on us with the pace and setup of modern Life. The more I study and understand my connection with nature, the more I feel fulfilled, happy, and healthy. We often get removed from our roots. Estranged to natural cycles, many don't know what nature can provide in comfort, healing, and education. In my personal practice, my way always leads outside along the gardens of my little town, over the fields, and into the woods to experience the changes in the season with all my senses. I gather what is provided for crafting, medicine, and food with gratitude. I meditate on keywords related to the season, and how they apply to my own life. For example, how can I renew myself in Spring, or what is reborn in my own life right now? Celebrating the Vernal Equinox and welcoming Spring with gratefulness a is magical way to nourish one’s spirit. Ostara celebrates the arrival of spring, and the rebirth or resurrection of the earth after its death in Winter. When I walk through the woods, I look toward the symbolism and meaning of Ostara and how I can apply it in my own life as a modern-day healer. l reference Ostara, and the other holidays on the wheel of the year, as they are celebrated by much of the Pagan Community. They all have secular and religious counterparts in different cultures and countries. Some have a deeper spiritual or ritualistic meaning tied to set culture or religion. The symbolism of the celebration often revolves around themes that we visually see in nature, and seasonal life cycles. Growth Cycles, the Sun and Moon, the Stars, Winter and Summer, Darkness and Light.
My sister and I joke that Mother Earth raised us more than our human Mothers. That is to say that we were always outside, in the woods or playing in a creek. I have been healed many times through the understanding of nature and for this I am deeply grateful. The benefits that come with healing requires self-care and maintenance. I am diligent in my daily practice of connecting with nature and meditating. When I am with a person who is in need of healing, I incorporate parts of Mother Nature whether it be her beauty, resilience, or her pain. IN company of a client, I set an altar for physical connection to Mother Earth, and I use Tarot to guide our conversations. There is joy in beauty, and stability in ritual. My hope is to assist the community in achieving mental peace by way of spiritual counseling.
