Falling in love with what can be

New life stirs in what is hidden, rooted in the depths of the earth. Invisible, yet felt, I find myself filled with a pleasant tension. I am falling in love with life again. It is the butterflies in my stomach that announce early spring; nothing is certain, but this could be that love which gives me everything. At the same time, it is a love that demands my full devotion.

A new cycle again gives me the chance to live more deliberately and to discern what truly matters. Even before I am ready, everything will grow at once, flooding me with possibility. Spring is stronger than I am, but when I manage to embrace its fiery nature, it fills me with the strength to act on my inspiration.

But how do I discern? If I do nothing, life takes over of its own accord. I have to choose, but my choice must be grounded in the depths that winter has brought me. The precious treasure inside me does not cry out for attention. The world can easily overpower it and take away its light. It reveals itself only through listening deeply with an open heart.

I listen for that treasure within me that radiates the most light. That which is drenched in desire and feels deeply my own. Making space for its growth is thrilling, for its shape is still hazy and uncertain. So I follow a subtle sense of joy and quiet wonder: what if this were allowed to become real?

Moving towards the beautiful

These crucial weeks, in which we stand on the threshold of a new life, are about preparation, about making space for the growth we long for. If we neglect this, the strongest forces in our lives will claim that space for us.

The strength to choose what is essential, we build by cleansing ourselves. We make space in body and mind, with the aim of bringing back light and beauty after a dark winter. We do not merely leave things behind, but move consciously towards the beautiful. This is the heart of the fasting that marks early spring.

Fasting is personal. For me it means eating less and consciously refraining from things that strongly influence me. Think of caffeine, sugar and alcohol, but also series and films. I am also aware of mental addictions, such as consuming all the misery in the world without truly feeling the impact it has on those it touches.

The space this fasting creates, I try to fill with spending time in nature and working towards more beauty in my immediate surroundings. I also try, through writing, to discover what wants to unfold within me.

You can use the season of fasting deliberately by setting yourself healthy boundaries. Fasting should hurt a little. It sharpens your awareness and helps you stand more firmly in the world, without becoming of it. This way you are not carried along by the chaos around you, but you decide for yourself what is to grow.