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The quiet promise of early spring has become visible, undeniable growth. What began as tender shoots is now stretching toward fullness – leaves widening, stems strengthening, roots reaching deeper into the soil. The land is no longer asking if it will grow; it is actively becoming. This is a time when energy moves outward, when life expresses itself with a kind of natural confidence. With this expansion comes a different kind of responsibility. In the garden, this is the season of thinning, guiding, and supporting – to give new growth the space and structure it needs to thrive. Too many seedlings crowded together will compete and weaken. Growth, when honored, sometimes requires letting go of what cannot be sustained so that what remains can flourish fully. The month of May invites us into relationship with our own unfolding. What is growing in your life right now? Where are you being asked to support that growth – through attention, boundaries, or choice? The emphasis is now on the strengthening of something already underway. The invitation is to participate consciously, to trust the vitality present, and to shape it with care. Suggested PracticeSpend time identifying one area of your life that is actively growing. Gently “thin” your attention by releasing one distraction, obligation, or pattern that competes with it. Then offer simple, steady support – time, energy, or presence – as you would water and tend a thriving plant. Thoughts for Reflection
Please be kind to yourself and others. These are difficult times. Featured Workshops & EventsIt was great to take a month to renew, refresh and re-vision my workshop and class offerings for the next few months. I have re-visioned and redesigned the May 23 workshop to be forward focused to re-imagining how we might meet the challenges of weaving a safe and supporting sacred community together. Please take a look and let me know if you can attend. Here are the in-person workshops and events scheduled in May. If you are in the Austin area, please make sure you are on that list for special announcements! The Journey of Personal EvolutionThe intention for my Journey of Personal Evolution blog articles is to offer readers ideas and support for navigating the challenges and demands of living from heart and spirit in these challenging times. Rather than to spin up into fear and helplessness, people better serve healing and evolution by taking care of themselves, their families, and their communities. Current Focus: Recent articles are focusing on how to create and nurture Alive and Thriving Relationships, including a new section devoted to those articles. I am also curious about how to view artificial intelligence from a shamanic point of view. This is leading to some very interesting observations and suggestions how to remain grounded while exploring the benefits and drawbacks of this powerful research tool. If you have not subscribed, I encourage you to take a look at the latest articles there. With appreciation and respect, Reader. I hope to connect with you soon. Gerry Gerry C Starnes, M.Ed. Consider connecting with the Shamanic Community of Austin. We offer regular live and virtual shamanic journey circles and other events. Don't want to receive monthly updates and still receive other notices? Follow the link below to be removed from News and Updates only! No longer interested in News and Updates |
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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...
Hello Reader, By April, what was once hidden is now emergent and coming to life. Tender shoots have become small plants, reaching upward with silent determination. Attention shifts from guarding emergence to supporting steady growth, ensuring that what has begun to grow has what it needs to continue and to thrive. Sun, rain, soil, and space all matter now. Too much or too little of any one element can influence the direction of growth. In our own lives, this asks for awareness: What are we...
Hello Reader, 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...