March 10, 2024
New Moon in Pisces 🌑 ♓
Sun in Pisces 🌅 ♓
New Moon Greetings, sweet Human Beings❣️
In front of my house, on the curb, tree lawn, sidewalk, and front yard, lies a scattering of brown, dried-up, and spiky sweet gum balls. When I gaze up at the magnificent mature Sweet Gum tree from which these seed pods fall, I see hundreds, maybe thousands more waiting to be released to the earth. These seed pods are particularly abundant this year, drawing my attention more than in previous years.
I used to be somewhat annoyed by the presence of these messy seed pods every spring. These droppings are the remnants of last spring's blossoming. Each year, the seed pods begin to release just before the spring equinox and continue until all have dropped. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of pods descend to the earth. The shedding continues for months, throughout the spring and even into early summer. They are challenging to clean up and cannot be handled without gloves since the spikes are quite stiff and sharp. However, this particular Sweet Gum tree is magnificent in our yard, and I am deeply drawn to it. It captures my attention almost daily throughout the year.
I have the perfect view of this tree from my bedroom window and the backdrop of the neighbor's tall and leaning Sycamore trees across the street. I look at the treetops each morning and watch the light grow with the sunrise. Each sip of coffee brings a little more light as if I’m conjuring the dawn with my morning coffee ritual. This tree always beckons me to bear witness, to truly see her.
But what am I supposed to notice here? There is more to just being seen. What is this beloved tree asking of me? What is left for me to shed to make room for new growth? Is it reminding me that I have more to clear before I can emerge to bloom and blossom this spring? To emerge from my Winter slumber slowly and patiently?
When we first moved to this home in the summer of 2020, I was sitting on our front porch, chatting with a neighbor I had recently met. I remarked on the beautiful tree canopy in this part of the street. Our home is situated at the top of a crest, and from our house to about 10 houses to the north, there are massive hundred-year-old oak trees, maples, spruces, pines, sycamores, sweet gums, and buckeyes. This tree canopy extends between our street and the streets to the west and east. Most of the trees that shade our property grow on the neighbors' properties to the north and east.
A quarter mile to the south, where our street intersects and ends with another road, lies a natural barrier to the city of Cleveland. The city sits to the west and south of our street. This barrier is the slow and meandering Doan Brook, surrounded by a large ravine and a forest filled with massive oak trees and other native trees and plants. Without leafy canopies, I can see and hear through to the neighborhood on the opposite side of the brook. During the summer, this view is obscured. The tree cover along Doan Brook also helps muffle the sounds from the nearby Cleveland Clinic hospital system, located less than a mile away to the southwest.
Each year, as the weather breaks and the days become consistently warm, I set up my hammock in the backyard and begin my annual evening ritual of hammock time. From my hammock each evening, I watch the tree canopy slowly bloom and blossom throughout spring, observe the bird activity, and gaze at the sky with the tree branches and birds soaring, swooping, and gliding in the backdrop. The clouds also catch my attention as they gently or swiftly shapeshift across my view of the sky. If I'm fortunate enough to witness, the sun sets through the trees to the northwest of my hammock. At just the right moment, I catch glimpses of the deep orange setting sun flashing through the swaying tree branches as they move with the breeze.
The Sweet Gum tree stands tall and slender on our tree lawn, dropping its thorny seed pods each spring. It is my favorite tree among the abundant canopy on my street. Standing in front of my home, it shares space with us and our neighbors each day and night. I feel fortunate to witness its cycles of shedding pods, filling out its barren winter branches with new green spiky seed pods each spring, and blooming into star-shaped leaves that provide shade for us and passersby on the sidewalk.
In the fall, her leaves turn bright red, then fade to orange and yellow before she begins her autumn release, letting go of each leaf one at a time. Now, she releases last year's pods to prepare for the new cycle.
Is the release of the seed pods the final act of last year's growth cycle or the first act of the new cycle?
Observing and being mindful of the annual cycle of the Sweet Gum tree in our front yard has expanded my awareness of the numerous smaller and larger cycles occurring within and around me daily. Since moving from our small apartment to our current home nearly four years ago, I have embarked on establishing deeper connections with the natural rhythms surrounding me. Now, I can immerse my hands in the soil and engage with plants to my heart's content. I can relax in my hammock and observe nature's unfolding moments with each passing minute.
In my humble abode on this vast and abundant planet, I find much to be learned from the cues provided by nature's rhythms and cycles.
🌊 To have the patience to allow, I don’t need to rush to achieve success or even reach a simple goal. Instead, I can connect with the subtle pace of nature and allow life to unfold in its own time.
🌊 To take my time and emerge slowly from winter and grieving, just as the plants and animals in my neighborhood are doing.
🌊 To connect with the energy of the natural world and gradually work toward personal and collective well-being.
🌊 To be open to witnessing and watching life unfold moment by moment as a beautiful dream of my creation.
🌊 To envision and dream up an authentic life based on my dreams and aspirations.
🌊 To connect with my daughter and ancestors for wisdom and guidance in the spirit realm, as revealed in nature.
Can you relate to this? You may be already connected, and I am just joining the party! If not, maybe you are now inspired to connect with what is unfolding in your neighborhood and open up to its wisdom. This is the season to witness the renewal of life and begin to bring to life the dreams you hold dear. To dream up and manifest all that is inspiring and good for you and good for the planet. To wake up and feel complete once more. Let the sun's warming light nourish your mind, body, and spirit as it does every spring. It is never too late, and you are never too old to start anew. Nature does it every morning with the rising sun. So can you!
I am sending you and your loved ones dream boats of Pisces new moon blessings!
Jennifer 💫💖💫
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Art Feature 🎨
Star Water, 2019, Tamara Phillips
Planetary Bodies 🪐
Mercury in Pisces moved into Aries yesterday, March 9, 2024 ♓ ➡️ ♈
New Moon in Pisces today, March 10, 2024 🌑 ♓
Venus in Aquarius moves into Pisces on March 11, 2024 ♒ ➡️ ♓
Waxing half-moon in Gemini on March 16, 2024 🌓 ♊
Spring Equinox on March 19, 2024 ♈ 🔆
Sun in Pisces moves into Aries on March 19, 2024 ♓ ➡️ ♈
Mars in Aquarius moves into Pisces on March 22, 2024 ♒ ➡️ ♓
Full Moon/Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in Libra on March 25, 2024 🌕 ♎
Observing and working with the monthly lunar cycles has led me to a similar awakening. That's why I align my publications with them. Each day, the moon carries its own energy and wisdom to guide us.
Pisces New Moon Intentions offered to me by astrologer Chani Nicholas: I owe it to myself to build my life on a foundation of self-care. I say no to what demoralizes me and yes to what encourages my growth. I welcome all joy, friendship, and sweetness that show up on my doorstep. What the world does with my offerings is not up to me. It’s none of my business how liked, accepted, or applauded my contributions will be. My only concern is that I be true to my talents and answer what calls me.
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