As a March baby, I am all about spring. You have likely heard the saying of March coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb. We have the spring equinox which honors the day of equal light and dark and I am a Pisces which is two fish swimming in opposite directions. I guess you could say March is a month all about keeping things in balance or at the very least acknowledging the dichotomy of life.

The story of Persephone is one that has always stuck with me. As the story goes, Hades King of the underworld, brother of Zeus, wanted a wife and fell for Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of agriculture and harvest. Hades made a plan and kidnapped Persephone, took her to the underworld and forced her to be his wife. Admittedly that part of the story is not so great but it's a Greek myth so what are we to do. As the story goes on, Demeter was heartbroken and distraught at the loss of her daughter and vowed to search night and day for her. In doing so, she neglected her own duties and slowly the plants began to die, leaves fell from trees and it looked as if the world would fall into darkness and cold forever. The gods intervened and found Persephone only Hades refused to let go of his Queen. A compromise was struck and Persephone would spend 6 months of the year in the underworld and the other 6 on earth. Demeter, happy with the return of her daughter, could now do her work and spring returned to earth.

We need this balance on earth and in our lives. In times of darkness, it can be difficult to see or believe that light will once again come, but what if the story we tell ourselves is that the darkness is necessary in order to have the light.

Each time I look back on my life, I see that the harder times always, always led to lighter times accompanied by growth and transformation too. The gift is to trust that just like winter always makes way for spring, so shall our lives turn if we maintain our own sense of being, believing, and trust.

 How we do this involves being connected to our inner world and the natural world itself. The practices this month are here to help guide you to finding that balance in life. One thing I am coming to understand is that for those living this life to its fullest, there will be challenges, turbulence, and plenty of times knees down on the ground and tears falling in copious amount. And there are also days filled with lightness, deep belly laughter, smiles, and dancing in the sunshine.

May you find your way through the dark and step into the light knowing all of it was meant for you to get to this point in time.

Peace, love, and so many blessings,

Candace