Welcome Spring! Birds singing, rivers running from snow melts, greens surfacing, animals and humans shedding their heavy coats. Yes, it’s Spring – home to the Easter and Passover holidays!
I know that for many Christian families, Easter is a very important holiday, if for no other reason than enjoying the sight of children smiling. Children always have fun at Easter time, with all the Easter eggs, and Easter hunts, fancy dinners, and competition over who gets to sit next to grandma. And of course, there’s all that candy ostensibly brought by the Easter Bunny.
According to Time, the origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre – a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a bunny. Rabbits, known for their energetic breeding, have traditionally symbolized fertility.
However, according to another version broadcast by the History Channel, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” The children made nests in which this creature could lay its colored eggs. Eventually, the custom spread across the U.S. and the fabled rabbit’s Easter morning deliveries expanded to include chocolate and other types of candy and gifts, while decorated baskets replaced nests. Additionally, children often left out carrots for the bunny in case he got hungry from all his hopping.
Most importantly, Easter and Passover are times to connect or reconnect, enjoy, be still, and bask in the experience of being with loved ones. On these (and other) holidays, folks that don’t have any family or places to go are often invited to a friend’s or neighbor’s Seder (the Jewish ritual service and ceremonial dinner for the first night or first two nights of Passover) or Easter Dinner.
Like so many of us do during the emerging Spring, I stare in awe of Nature’s changes and all the emerging beauty that occurs during this time. It’s not always perfect, given some of those noisy birds, especially the woodpeckers. But it’s still fun to see squirrels and chipmunks scurrying around, the trees waiting to bud, and the grass starting to grow.
Recently, while doing a bit of Spring cleaning, I came across Rachel Carson’s Book, Silent Spring. Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist, author, and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement. Clearly she was a woman who was way ahead of her time.
One matter of concern is that we need to do whatever is necessary to make sure our children and grandchildren and great grandchildren, etc. get to share in the beauties of Nature. It’s an understatement, but one that needs to be observed: it’s crucial to protect the environment. There is a Native American philosophy that we need to save the Earth for seven generations. (Now an environmental company has adopted this philosophy, see https://www.7genergy.com/stakeholders/environment.) This is not something any of us can leave for others, including the government, to do. It is something we need to do in any way we can-become an activist, donate to true and effective environmental causes, recycle, etc. – because we want the next generations to inherit clean air and water, and all of the beauty that Mother Earth provides which sustains us. Just as we protect those we love, we need to protect Mother Earth.
In my travels, I often have conversations with people who are not only concerned about the environment, but who just love to talk about the Spring which of course includes discussing Nature, gardening, taking hikes and enjoying the sun. Honestly, those conversations warm my heart.
On another note, let me offer a great BIG thanks to all of those great people who attended my recent events in Louisiana and Canada. Met some wonderful mediums as well.
Of course, I look forward to seeing so many of you during my upcoming Spring events. Some new and of course repeats: Connecticut, St. Louis, Michigan, Minneapolis, and Chicago to name a few.
So, yes, it is now Spring. Open your hearts and savor the moments.
And as always wishing you the best of holidays!
