The Sparks of Spring
By Lezli Censullo
As I drove up the East coast from Florida to Massachusetts earlier this week, I was treated to spring unfurling itself over and over again. In Florida the flowers were in full bloom; in Georgia and Virginia you could feel the heat rising. In the Carolinas, you could feel the rising and stretching of the newest blooms and buds. And when we pulled into our driveway, I could see daffodil stalks with tightly wound buds still gestating within their safe little cocoons promising all sorts of golden delights. At the same time, the weather forecasters were warning of an April surprise Nor’easter which indeed came our way the next day. And it was perfect. A day to just cocoon and settle in to the place that is Home.
Yesterday I watched a gorgeous fluffy red fox come down our lower driveway and hang out on our patio for a while as he surveyed our shared land. I know he has a den nearby. And then I watched in awe as a great blue heron flew from one cove to the other, low and graceful over the water. Later in the afternoon I stuffed 54 eggs for a “make-up” Easter egg hunt which I’d promised my great niece and nephew since we had missed our usual Easter festivities due to travel. I’ll go out and hide them in just a bit, and as I do so, will greet and be greeted by Mama Earth. It’s a spring rite of passage – this preparing and hiding and finding of Easter eggs just to spark joy and excitement in those I love. I’m eagerly awaiting their fresh, excited, sweet faces as I write this.
So, these are the sparks of spring that bless me. I’ll add to that the joy of my art studio, playing with new paints, sketching to my heart’s delight, loving my husband, being blessed with friends and family who celebrate with me, grieve with me, dance with me, smile with me when I’m radiating joy and hold me when I’m not.
What is sparking for you as Spring unfurls her blessings on the land where you live? What rite of passage will you perform to speak to the new season? I really want to know.