Book of Shadows: As the Wheel Turns
April – Spring Has Sprung!
Dance by the Light of the Moon! Or, just dance; that is my motto. I made a blingy April Divider because where I live in New England April can be an extremely fickle month and is often than not true to the old saying “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” Since I can always use a reminder to dance this divider will be sure to elevate my mood and will serve to help me keep the colder wet air of April from settling in and causing late season shivers. I am just hoping that the April showers this year are beautiful falling rain drops instead of more snow.
As I said, the old saying that April showers bring May flowers is a prevalent theme this month, along with kindness. In my walk, it is important that I take the time from my life and my ego to be kind to everyone with whom I come into contact. All too often there are work related, environmental, of personal stressors and we can all become myopic and involved in our own little worlds. When this happens and we are overwhelmed by our own situations, we often forget the niceties in life, how to smile at a stranger, to say “please” and “thank you” to others, or even to take a moment and put our cellular devices down so that we can be present with our families, loved ones, and friends.
The first week in April spread reminds me to be kind, both to myself and to others, it reminds me that when things become stressful that it’s ok to take a moment and gather myself before inflicting my stress on another person. We all need reminders like this from time to time so that we can be the best people that we can be. Never giving up hope, always being present and deliberate in our thoughts, words, and actions. It is a real joy in my life to find that a kindness that I may have done elsewhere is returned by someone else or even carried on and given to another person. That one small ripple in a pond is everything. We live in a circular universe and, in my thought, I believe that I get what I give so I try to be deliberate and give my best. Sometimes I miss the mark so this is a reminder to me that even missing the mark is ok, because “Every flower must grow through dirt.”
One of my favorite childhood memories is of me and my mother clipping roses from magazines and decoupaging a small wooden purse with these beautiful vintage roses. I cut so many of them out that there was an overload of paper roses all over the table. My mother selected the ones she wanted for the project we were working on and let me use the rest in a collage that I made on a poster board. I treasured that poster board well into high school. I’m not sure whatever happened to that poster board, but these vintage roses reminded me of that day, of the love that my mother has for me, and of the beauty and promise that Spring brings into our world.
And, of course, Spring wouldn’t be complete without a few days of day dreaming while basking in the warmth of the returning sun, making a crown of dandelions for my hair, or opening the sun roof and taking a long ride down the twisting and turning New England roadways and taking in all that Spring and fresh air have to offer.
April isn’t all gloom and doom here in New England, we have some really great days here and I generally take the time in April to begin my fairy garden. This is generally the week that I begin planning and planting my fairy garden. Fox Glove and snow bells are among my favorite blossoms. I can see tiny little fairies wanting to live in those blooms. I begin to clean up the statuary that is in that portion of my garden, weed, spring clean, and put the offering bowl where I place shiny coins, crystals, and baubles for the fae. I think this is a particularly sweet time to have young children around. Their imaginations are so vivid and colorful. I love to ask them…”If you were a fairy in my garden, where would you live?” Oh, the stories we tell.
What would April be without a good murder? LOL! Of course, I am talking about the murder of crows that returns to the field across the street from my home every April. They are only around for a few days in that field and it is always around Beltane. I made this weekly layout as an homage to my Matron and to the Crow. I sit on my front porch every April and I listen to them calling to one another, and in each response, I can feel the community that they are sharing. One will land on the field and another in the top of the Sycamore tree that seems to be the stairway to heaven, its so tall, and they call to one another. Before I know it, the trees surrounding the field are filled with crows and they are all calling to one another. It is literally one of the most beautiful times of the year to live here and to be able to witness their community.
RESOURCES:
MAMBI® CHP Extension Packs.
Luna Dashboard and Custom Shaker Cards by Suzy Meza.
March Monthly and Weekly Stickers by Shirley Lenhard are free at the Pagan Plannertarium.
March Cover Page – Shoot for the Stars – Recollections® “Constellations” paper pad & Miscellaneous Washi tapes: Available at Michael’s and other craft retailers
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About the Author:
Shirley Lenhard has been a practicing Witch and a Pagan since 1983 and lives in New England with her husband. She is employed full time in the legal field and has her Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida. Shirley looks forward to living her best possible life by giving back to the Pagan Community and has created the Facebook group “Pagan Plannertarium” where she provides a safe home for fellow pagans to have discussions about their path and to get free planner stickers and layouts. Shirley is a past writer for Llewellyn Publishing and The Peace Paper.