Welcome to the blog hop, to equinox (see Earth to the left there), to spring in the northern hemisphere, to the feast of Ostara (goddess of the dawn), the origin for the name Easter. Yes, many Christian labels and symbols connect to their European pagan ancestors. Old traditions never die, they just change form, kind of like matter and energy in the universe at large (very large!).

My theme for this blog hop, is the resurrection aspect of Ostara/Easter, about the renewal of spring, the ever-ongoing cycle of death and rebirth of…everything. I emphasized the “re-” in resurrection in my title to get you thinking about past cycles, past passions, for they feed into the present, even after we let them go. There are always memories, records, of changes, things we used to know, used to play with, almost forgotten in the corner of a closet or even tossed in the dust bin of time. So let’s ask, not whether or not it’s time for rebirth (it always is), but what we might want to remember, resurrect, re-create from those “wonder what would have happened if I” times.

Resurrection Spread

Wait, this is an oracular blog hop, so we can ask some cards and the Universe to help us remember and choose something to resurrect. Just a little three-card spread, then, like this:

1) Where in my past can I find a wondrous enlightening, creative, beautiful thing to resurrect?

2) Hobby or life’s new work/play, where should I express my resurrected self?

3) What will be the result of breathing life into this old, raggedy thing?

My draw  for this question, from the Wildwood Deck:

1) The Ten of Arrows is more like the Eight of Pentacles in this deck, with an old man teaching the young boy to shoot. I remember that well, learning to do that at my grandparents’ cottage on Merrymeeting Lake in New Hampshire. Could renew my skills in archery or something else I learned from my childhood.

2) The Three of Cups is next with friendly storks celebrating. Hmmm. Seems like this might be a hobby and something social to do with friends. I do work more than I should, so that’s an interesting thought, to let go of making everything into a business and just enjoy!

3) The Seven of Bows in the Wildwood is called “Clearance” rather than being about vanquishing one’s foes from a position of strength. I see that we have bows here, from which we can shoot those arrows from the first card. So, some skill from my childhood, perhaps taught by my grandparents, will clear a space for me to relax and breathe, and pause to see the sky.

I shall have to look for another inspiration from the Lake and my grandparents’ past, but I have already begun to knit again. My nana taught me that. I do find it very relaxing and a lovely change from staring at a computer. I think maybe I shouldn’t put pressure on myself to be able to sell my little creations and just enjoy the process for now. Often the process of stretching body and mind to do something is much more helpful for the soul than the ending accomplishment.

Clear your mind of present concerns then, and find a space in the past to retrieve and resurrect some experience that feeds your soul so it can also bloom this spring. And in the meantime, I’ll share a poem I wrote about the past and that place on the Lake half a century or so ago.

Ghosts on the Water

Ghosts of grandfathers
curling like smoke over the grill,
long gone it is to rust and ruin.

I remember the charcoal smell
of that perfect patty, still.

Vapors of tasseled hammocks
creaking on old hooks;
now they’re buried in tree growth.

I remember the swing
of being toes in the air, still.

Shafts of arrows long ago
thumping into target bales;
straw and fletches have gone to earth.

I remember the glory
of aiming true and releasing, still.

Shades of old garden ladies
cocking straw hats toward the sun,
their proud pansies are gone to seed.

I remember the life
of soil on my fingers, still.

Moonbeams of swimmers
gliding through water;
now they’re just ripples of wind.

I remember the cold
of that first brave dive, still.

Wraiths of child laughter
echoing in a piney breeze,
now lost to work and parenthood.

I remember jumping free
on those pine beds, still.

Only the shreds of memories remain,
of merry meetings and farewell sighs,
and the light of the ghosts on the water.

Let me know if you try the spread what you learn and enjoy stretching your soul in resurrection. 🙂