🌹 🎶 Awakening to Spring!

Dino’s in Primroses, Crystal Palace Park

A playful breeze ruffles a cluster of daffodils as the pale lemon light casts a zebra of leafy shadows on the small slope where children play. Family tableaus stand like cardboard cut-outs against forget-me-not blue skies, whilst luminescent cloud continents slowly drift above a technicolour swirl of hats and coats. Delicate primroses dance around the clawed feet of grinning dinosaurs. Yes, Spring is awakening this Sunday afternoon in Crystal Palace Park.

I’m contemplating this beauty at the end of a week celebrating Spring. A few days ago the Vernal Equinox Sunset cracked open the skies with the promise of light returning, new pathways emerging, hope reigniting and new growth glowing as time cycles through the seasons. In choirs, concerts and sessions this week we’ve been creating, performing and sharing songs to welcome Spring. As the last of winter’s biting breath rides the breeze, singing warms hearts, soothes grief, inspires joy and blossoms friendships. The over-the-edge experience of performing awakens us to life, calling us to become courageously self-expressed.

“I think it’s terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people’s expectations. I think they generally produce their worst work when they do that. And the other thing I would say is that if you feel safe in the area that you’re working in, you’re not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don’t feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you’re just about in the right place to do something exciting.” - David Bowie

We put ourselves to sleep in The Comfort Zone, smothering our dreams with fear and pressing snooze on the alarm bleeping ‘hey! - this is not working.’ As Spring offers a natural seasonal wake-up call, many cultures celebrate New Year at Equinox. At Chaharshanbe Suri/ Festival of Fire, the eve of Nowruz, Persian New Year, people jump fires and young lovers take the risk of offering their hearts to one another.

So in celebration of Spring Equinox, here’s a simple 5-Step Awakening Process….

One, two, three shake your body down - an invigorating shake clears the cobwebs in the shake of a lamb’s tail. Put on the classic Odyssey track or your top energy-boosting tune and shake. Whatever you can shake, shake it. Vigorously. Intensely. With passion and commitment. Go wild, just for a few minutes. Let yourself be inspired by a wet dog or a bear having a good shakedown against a tree.

Breathe Deep…. coming to stillness, notice the life fizzing around you - including the rhythm of your breath and the beat of your heart. Allow yourself a deep belly breath- not a sharp, forced, shallow breath but a big nourishing, juicy one. Get still and settle yourself, ensuring your shoulders are relaxed. Place your hands lovingly on your belly and awaken to the big wave of breath moving through your body.

Sound it out … starting with an audible breath, moving to a sigh and a hum, allow yourself to sound out how you’re feeling. If you feel bored and disconnected allow yourself a big ol’ yawn, or a big growl or roar if you’re feeling like a caged lion. Or a soothing AHHH for a softer touch. Allow what comes naturally, without thinking or analysing.

Scribble…. let words or doodles tumble freely onto the page - the following questions can act as prompts, or just let whatever comes.

What has been dormant that wants to awaken within me?
What simple pleasures will awaken more joy this Spring?
Where do I need to allow myself space to change and grow?
What small but significant change could I make to freshen things up?
What corner of my inner or outer world could do with a Spring clean?
What nurturing self-care practice would support my growth this Spring?
What big blue sky thinking can I open my mind to?

What new adventure am I longing to embark on?

What courageous risk can I dare myself to take?

Create … from your scribbles or doodles take one thing and create something with it within 24 hours - it could be a poem, a song or an action.

I’m egging you on and wishing you an adventurous Spring Awakening

Love Katie xx 🌹 🎶

Join me at forthcoming Spring Events
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Equinox Sunset in Westow Park, 20th March 2024