THE CONCEPT: FROM DEATH COMES FORTH NEW LIFE
Ever since I was 16, I’ve been using the ancient Agrarian Calendar (The Wheel of the Year) as a framework to help me set my goals for the future. During the October harvest of Samhain, we gave thanks for what the year brought forth, and planted the new seeds (plans) that will sprout in the Spring.

The promise of Yule, when the days start growing longer, ensures we’re going to survive the inhospitable Winter. Then comes Imbolc (Feb. 2), when we celebrate the first stirrings of life in the seeds and bulbs we planted in the Fall. They’ve not even broken through their shells yet, but we have faith that they are alive and will eventually greet the sun in the Spring.

Finally, the Spring Equinox arrives (Ostara), and the seedlings push their heads above the soil as we finally breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate our new ‘crop’: the ideas, plans, goals and aspirations that we will tend to during the coming growing season.

THE PROCESS: WHAT WILL YOUR GARDEN GROW?
Now that we have a new “garden” to tend, take careful note of what we have to cultivate. Each and every hope, dream and wish that we planted in the Autumn is now a fledgling reality. But for each new promise that is born, there comes with it the corresponding adversary that will ensure its inevitable death and eventual rebirth in a new form.

For example, the goals of last year’s growing season have granted us a bountiful harvest. Some of those goals have fulfilled their purpose and we look forward to tending that same crop this year. Others must be eliminated because they’ll require exhausting attention to prevent them from choking this year’s new seedlings. Now comes the question: WTF do we do about it?!

THE QUESTION: TO WEED? OR NOT TO WEED?

If all the seeds of our dreams for this year have sprouted, then there are indeed seeds that would be counterproductive to accomplishing our goals that have sprung up beside them. That would include all of the seeds of doubt, fear, trepidation, resistance etc that we encountered during the time we decided to commit to accomplishing our aspirations.

These seeds of doubt, fear and trepidation are STILL ALIVE; and we must either choose to pull them from the soil now, or leave them there, keeping a watchful eye on them during the growing season.

THE COMMITMENT: KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE
Why would you leave those seeds to grow? Because in order to succeed, we must stay in touch with reality while our new crop is growing. Occasional doubt is helpful; it causes us to reflect realistically on the progress of our commitment. Otherwise, we’d become overconfident and most likely be blindsided by the death blow of what our ego refuses to let us consider.

Be confident, be strong, but most of all be realistic. Don’t be afraid to abort your mission if it shows itself to be more and more impossible as it unfolds. Don’t let your ego get in the way of your success. It is more honorable to know when to let go than to hold on mindlessly while everything else we are tending withers away because of neglect.

THE CONCLUSION: FOLD ‘EM? OR HOLD ‘EM?
We must keep a watchful eye on all of our new seedlings - both the crop and the weeds that threaten to overcome them. Each is necessary for a successful harvest. Some of our goals might have been chosen without enough forethought and once they sprout will demand so much attention that our other goals, relationships and regenerative energy will suffer, so don’t be afraid to pull them from the ground and say “Not this year!”

And have faith. The true definition of faith is believing when logic tells you not to. No dream is too big; no goal is unattainable when you truly believe.

Tags: Vernal Equinox, Ostara