Mother Earth and spring are reminders of rebirth and new beginnings, which accompany every season. Like seasonal changes in nature, our human nature also experiences seasonal changes from birth, through midlife, and through elderhood. Each seasonal change brings challenges and growth along with discoveries and insights about how to best support ourselves during life’s seasonal changes.

Throughout life, we often meet individuals who provide support and guidance for us during life and seasonal changes. I was blessed to meet and study with such an individual, cultural anthropologist Angeles Arrien PhD, for over twenty years. Her presence, authenticity, generosity of spirit, acknowledgement, sense of humor, and compassion helped me increase self-awareness and recognize insights, clarity, peace, and courage to grow through difficult seasons in my life.

Angeles was devoted to exploring and bringing forth insights and guidance from the world’s cross-cultural wisdom traditions. She brought her discoveries to others through her non-profit organization, research, and her many programs and books.* During her programs, participants learned and experienced cross-cultural wisdom skills and practices to support and strengthen healing, well-being, love, relationships, creative problem solving, communication, and leadership.

Through Angeles Arrien’s programs, I discovered three habits that remain helpful in managing life’s seasonal changes: (1) increase self-awareness; (2) use self-care practices; and (3) reconnect with what has heart and meaning, what brings joy. To practice these habits on a regular basis, I start most mornings with gratitude and a journal entry, prayer and meditation, and other self-care practices (yoga, tai chi chih, acupressure). Each brings my awareness from my head to my heart, centering and grounding me before I start the day. Each reminds me of four principles and practices Angeles taught in her Four-Fold Way Programs, which support living in harmony with life’s seasonal changes and how to walk the mystical path with practical feet:

• Show up and choose to be present.

• Reconnect with what has heart and meaning.

• Tell the truth without blame or judgment.

• Be open not attached to outcome.

May Angeles’ wisdom help you welcome spring and put a spring in your step!

Books by Angeles Arrien::

 The Four-Fold Way: Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer, and

     Visionary -- Native American Shamanism and Medicine Wheel Principles

     for a Better World

Living in Gratitude: A Journey That Will Change Your Life

The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom

Signs of Life: The Five Universal Shapes and How to Use Them

The Nine Muses: A Mythological Path to Creativity

The Tarot Handbook: Practical Applications of Ancient Visual Symbols

Namaste,

Regina