30+ years shamanic practitioner and teacher • Weaver of spiritual practice into Life and Relationships • Best-selling author, award-winning books, videos, podcast • In-person and virtual classes and workshops • Subscribe for monthly inspirations
March: Emergence and Tending
|
March introduces the season when the first true shoots break through the soil. What was hidden is no longer content to remain underground. The land reveals small, bright declarations of life – tender greens, fragile stems, the earliest blossoms. This emergence is rarely dramatic. It is steady, almost conversational. The earth simply begins to show what it has been preparing all along. Yet the appearance of first growth is not the end of the work – it is the beginning of a different kind of attention. New shoots require protection. They must be watered, shielded from sudden cold snaps, guarded from being trampled or overexposed. What emerges is not yet strong. It asks for partnership. The gardener becomes vigilant, but gentle. March invites us to notice what in us is now visible. An idea. A boundary. A longing. A new discipline. Something that, even a month ago, was still forming beneath the surface. Now that it has emerged, it requires care – not criticism. Protection – not premature testing. We are asked to tend what is new without demanding that it already be mature. Some thoughts for reflection in this shift:• What is just beginning to show itself in my life – something small, tender, but undeniably alive? Where did it first begin beneath the surface? • Where might I be overexposing something that is still young? What would “steady and kind attention” look like instead? Suggested practice: Choose one new or newly clarified aspect of your life – a habit, insight, commitment, or creative spark. For the next two weeks, give it daily but modest attention. Shield it from unnecessary exposure or skepticism, including your own. Treat it as you would a fragile seedling – consistent, watchful, and kind. Please be kind to yourself, as well. These are challenging times. Upcoming EventsMarch 26 April 18 ~ Mark Your Calendars The Journey of Personal EvolutionThe Journey of Personal Evolution
Subscribe free to receive future articles by email. Please leave comments and suggestions. I love to hear from you. With appreciation and respect, Reader. I hope to connect with you soon. Gerry Gerry C Starnes, M.Ed. PS: If you live in the Austin, Texas area, you might consider connecting with the Shamanic Community of Austin. They offer regular shamanic journey circles and other events. And by the way, if you do not want to receive these messages while still receiving other notices, please follow the link below to be removed from News and Updates only! |
Shamanic Passages | Gerry Starnes, M.Ed.
30+ years shamanic practitioner and teacher • Weaver of spiritual practice into Life and Relationships • Best-selling author, award-winning books, videos, podcast • In-person and virtual classes and workshops • Subscribe for monthly inspirations
Hello Reader, The theme of last month's newsletter was about recognizing when something has become complete. The suggested practice urged us to: Spend time observing what has quietly matured in your life. Ask, "What is ready to be released?" Then notice what naturally opens as you participate in the rhythm already unfolding. Like many of you, I found that invitation wasn't just for the newsletter. It became true in my own life. It became clear that what had worked before wasn't working...
Hello Reader, The Summer Solstice marks a subtle turning point. The sun appears to pause at its highest point before beginning its gradual journey toward shorter days. It is a quiet reminder that every season has its own rhythm. The Solstice is like the pause between the inhale and the exhale of the passing of the seasons – a brief opportunity to reflect before the rhythm continues and the energy moves again. The question appears: "What comes next?" Over the past few months, we have focused...
Hello Reader, By June, the season has changed. What was only possibility a few months ago may now show signs of life – first fruits, stronger roots, clearer direction. Yet growth rarely arrives in a straight line. There are periods of progress, followed by pauses, unexpected weather, or conditions that require adjustment. The land does not interpret these moments as failure. It responds through continued tending. This may be part of June’s teaching. Patience alone is not enough if it becomes...