Thursday, March 20, 2008

A Time for Rebirth

It's the last day of the Astrological calendar...the Spring Equinox...and my 43rd birthday!

As a child, I never liked that my birthday was on the first day of Spring. It always fell during Spring Break so I was never in school on my birthday. No chocolate cupcakes to share with the class. No teacher to point out that today was my special day. No homemade card from the boy I liked. I felt ripped off, cheated out of this schooldays ritual.

But, as we all do, I grew up and came to appreciate and even love that my birthday is on this day. It's such an interesting one.

The last day of the Astrological calendar...that was always the most intriguing thing to me about my birthday. It is believed that those born on this day carry traits from all twelve zodiac signs.


I liked that...being able to read all the horoscopes and just pick the one that fits me best. :)


But, it is really the Spring Equinox that I love most about my birthday. Celebrated for thousands of years by so many different cultures, it is a time for renewal and rebirth.


Last year, on my 42nd birthday I celebrated it by climbing up to the Glastonbury Tor, an ancient site in Somerset...a place that has the most magnetic lay lines...a location that is so full of cosmic energy. No one knows for sure who built the Tor, or what it's purpose was but there is definitely something quite magical about it.




I had always wanted to visit and on this day, my mother and I began the climb up, fighting the most amazing wind. My mom made it half way and decided that it was just too taxing on her to continue. So, I made my way up to the top alone. I was exhausted when I got to the top...I could barely catch my breath. But, then something amazing happened.

I stopped. My mind became quiet. I sat down and took in the wonder and beauty of where I was. I was in Somerset, England. I could see the countryside, the village of Glastonbury, rolling green hills and the most amazing sky. I was sheltered from the wind by the Tor and I took about 30 minutes to just sit and take it all in. Little did I realize that I was also drawing in energy from this mystical tower.

When I finally began to make my way down, I had this sudden burst of joy and I began running down the hill towards my mom with great enthusiasm. She was waving at me, smiling, laughing, snapping pictures. I was so pumped up. I felt amazing. I felt new. It was at that moment that I realized what I had just experienced...a rebirth of the spirit.

Come, gentle Spring! ethereal mildness, come. -James Thomson, The Seasons.


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy B-Day Laura!! Good luck with your blog!! I'll visit often =)

Anonymous said...

My dearest friend Laura...you never cease to amaze me!! You have the most beautiful spirit and your creativity just blows me away. I want to be just like you when I grow up.... ;) You are a true life-long friend and I feel so blessed to have you in my life. To another 43 wonderful years!

Hugs,
Jackie -- your "traveling soul sister"!! :)

p.s. That trip to Africa could be closer than we think!!

Unknown said...

On this day 43 years ago at a precious time on the clock my beautiful daughter Laura left my swollen body to make her entrance into this world and for every moment I carried her inside and out I have thanked God for such a beautiful child and now a beautiful talented lady. Happy Birthday Laura Kay! Love Mom

Anonymous said...

Many blessings to you this special day!

Carol

Unknown said...

Birthday Sister--We have shared amazing birthday communions...eating wild boar in Florence, pub hopping in London, being serenaded in the plaza of the Pantheon in Rome, and watching the rays of the sun break through the ruins of Stonehenge at dawn...thank you for continuing to wake the sleeping adventurer hiding in me. Only a sister of my soul would have known she was there! Happy birthday, Happy Rebirth, and dream on. Love you!--Loran

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful story!!!