In the U.S.A. this Sunday, we "Spring Forward" and in that process, most of us lose an hour of sleep. The more we learn about the body's response to losing that hour, the more self-gentleness seems the way to adapt. If you already have been losing sleep in the changing times, (and I don't mean the time change), then it is doubly important to find a space of disengagement, if not this Sunday, then some time this week. This weekend has also spawned severe weather in the midwest, including intense thunder storms and lethal tornados. Here in Southern California, we have surging winds with a new set of alerts and warnings--all the more reason to pursue inner calm, rather than inner storm.
To do that, consider reframing the week ahead, by opening a window of positivity. One can certainly argue there is a downside to daylight savings time, but for now, it is our collective practice. Frame it as more Light to shine on your circumstances. When you can't find any Good in the storms' destruction, give yourself awareness of the sun's return, and the stirrings of Life's renewal as support. Here, the winds have not been so destructive, and the heavy rains we have faced earlier means the fire threat is low. So, in honor of wind, I am re-reading Margaret of Navarre 's poem, "Wind will Blow it All Away" (link below, trans. by Robert Bly, from his book, The Soul is Here for Its Own Joy).
Margret of Navarre (1492-1549) was a sister of the French king Francis, and she herself became a queen as the wife of the king of Navarre in the Pyrenees. Her prolific writings were the expression of both her intellect and her deep spirituality. Consider in our 21st century, the first 2 stanza's of her Wind poem.
If someone insults you, Go on, with light heart; If they all do it, pay No heed to what they say. There's no new art In talk of that kind. Wind will blow it all away.
If someone praises Devotion Implying of course it's OK, But says of course the works Of the Law are much greater, It's weird dogma, Pass by, don't bother. Wind will blow it all away.
So I am letting the wind blow in the renewing transition of March. With the promise of spring, why not add, in calm expectancy and clarity, an affirmation of Peace. Let the wind blow away all barriers to Peace. (Susan Nettleton)
For poetry: http://warpandwolf.blogspot.com/2007/07/wind-will-blow-it-all-away.html https://americanliterature.com/author/robert-frost/poem/wind-and-window-flower https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/1527547/it-steals-into-my-heart