April brings Awakening

Start with your outer landscape, move your way in

Dear Friends,

Thank you for starting a new monthly practice with me. I’m grateful that you’re here.

What does April look like around you? What does it feel and smell like?

What is awakening in your inner landscape just now? Is it beautiful and hard, hopeful and challenging?

In April, we’ll explore the idea that many things can awaken in us at once.

Walking through my neighborhood, the landscape that I know most intimately, signs of new life are everywhere now, more and more greet me each day. As I walk, my aim is to try and feel what’s happening in nature around me. The late poet John O’Donohue reminds us that the landscape around us is alive:

“Landscape has a soul and a presence, and landscape- living in the mode of silence is always wrapped in seamless prayer.”

― John O'Donohue, Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom for a Modern World

Especially on the days when what’s stirring up in my inner landscape feels tumultuous, when worry and fear is weighing on me, leaning in to the cycles of nature is grounding. Spring around me is beautiful—but even more than its beauty is its depth, the rhythm of death and rebirth that is happening in an endless, ongoing way.

This week, I invite you into this practice. Get outside into April, even for a few minutes here and there. Notice, observe, sense the landscape around you. See if you can feel what John O’Donohue describes: the soul of the landscape. Take photos of what you see—send them to me or post here if you’d like.

I’ve recorded that short quote from O’Donohue—press the arrow above; you can listen to it a few times, take it in. Landscape has a soul and presence, he teaches.

Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Season’ document where you can return each Sunday.

You may want to go take a walk in your landscape first—and then come to these writing prompts.

What I see awakening in the landscape around me is…

What I feel when I’m connected to that landscape is…

What I sense that is coming to life inside of me is…

What I am learning about the process of growth and rebirth is…

Deepening Practice:

Take a listen to this great conversation with John O’Donahue from ‘On Being’ that was recorded before his death. After you finish, jot down. the ideas he shares that resonate with you.

If you’re interested in joining my next online expressive writings series Soulful Spring starting 4/16, registration is now open. An amazing community is forming.

For folks in the Greater Philly area...

Come play in person at The Joy of Creativity Retreat on April 23rd! All of the details and registration is here!

Thank you for being here and for your support.