The Tending of The Seeds

Have you noticed all the small signs?

 The small stirrings beneath the surface?

 The glimmer of hope that the warmth is on it's way back? 

I have noticed. 

I have little snowdrop flowers growing and blossoming outside my doorway. 

Snowdrops are a big symbol of Imbolc, and the coming of spring. 

Today I woke up, I took the pups on a walk and on my way out, I noticed the snowdrops. 

The air outside felt a tiny bit different.

A subtle small difference in the air.. the coming signs of spring. 

I got home and immediately felt the need to purge, organize and clean. 

I cleaned my closet, got items ready to be donated, and organized my art studio. 

I then set out an Imbolc/St Brigid altar 

I lit candles surrounding a nest full of eggshells, and bones. 

Welcoming in spring, warmth, and growth. 

As I set the altar up, I thought of all the things I look forward to this spring.

All the seeds that I have planted and tended to will start to grow and blossom. 

The Tree Talker Tarot deck, Spirit De La Lune Oracle Deck, Illustrations for the coming book "Autumn Alchemy" (More on that later!!) As well as plenty of new paintings, illustrations, classes and other projects are under way. It feels like it's been forever that these projects have been buried under the snow, slowly being tended to, nursed and nurtured. 

This spring will be a beautiful one! 

One big thing I'm excited to be a part of is the Wild Women Symposium! 
I will be offering a class called Crystal Connection.
For those of you who aren't local, you should still try to make it to this retreat!
(I'm still looking for hotel roommates!) 

Watch this video to learn about the Wild Women Symposium, and some of the classes and courses available! 

Signs Of Life

I woke up this morning with the sting of yesterday still in my heart.
A sting that I've been very familiar with for the last while.
Nearly a year.

The sting is here so much, that I'm afraid it will stay.
I'm becoming numb to it even. Used to this pain, almost dead inside.

Yesterday was so hard. 

Because everyone there knew how much I needed this job.

They knew about my bills, my debt, my car. 

And yet, still had the fortitude to say "We just can't afford to keep you."

All while planning a two week trip to Venice while I was still in the office.

I worked 4 days a week.. only a few hours a day. 

Yet it seems I was swapped out.

I held myself together, though I was livid. 

I kept my chin up all day, because if I tilted my head down,

 gravity would win, and the tears would fall.

Wondering how someone could do something like that to someone.

No warning. Not even a sorry.

I woke up this morning in search for signs of life within myself.

Yet, I found it elsewhere. 

It's spring, a season of change.. 

And signs of life are everywhere.

Though, I'm still searching for signs inside myself, 

here are some signs of life I was able to find.

Blossoms growing downtown

Audrey 3 my Venus flytrap

Al, my Aloe Vera plant, growing next to Audrey 3 (on his right) and Ping Tan (Basil, on his left.)

We splurged a few days ago, and spent 13 cents on two fish.

Refrigeratorcopter, and Demographic. 

I've never seen a more content boy. These are his first fish.

Wicket loves to play in the grass and sunshine.

Our lawn is popping with purple flowers.

Wicket chooses eating a stick or chewing his toy.

The flower Brad bought me when he heard about my awful day.

My littler seeds are sprouting.

Right now, it's pretty difficult to find life in myself.
But there is beautiful life all over the place..
And maybe it's okay to experience these dead times.
Because they always pass. Even if only for a little while.

Until then, I will focus on the signs of life sprouting all over the world.

The Things Of Spring

My Newest Painting "The Things Of Spring"

11x14x.5 mixed media 

8x10 prints available in the shop. 

This painting was based from some of my favorite things of spring. 

Birds, daffodils, pastel colors, dresses and of course silly hats. 

Spring Time Beauty

Easter was beautiful. It was my first time being back home for Easter in 3 years. Spring time in Utah is short, but very very pretty. I love the pastel blossoms and colors that spring brings.

I spent Saturday with Brad's family. His mother gave us girls some nail polish in our Easter Baskets. We had such a good time decorating our fingernails and toenails for spring time.

Later we dyed and decorated Easter eggs. Once again it had been a while since I did that. Probably more like 6 years since I dyed any Easter eggs!

Sunday I spent with my family. We had a great big meal and a delicious cake. It was a bit lopsided and not the prettiest thing in the world, but it sure was delicious.

All of our fruit trees have been blooming. I love to walk outside and take pictures of the tiny buds and blossoms.

I truly love spring. 

New beginnings are everywhere, blossoming on trees and growing up from the ground.

 The sun comes out and shines his warm rays on Mother Earth.

It's a good reminder that storms always pass, and nothing is permanent.

Hello Spring

I went out in search of a few spring buds. Spring is one of my favorite seasons. 

The fact that color and beauty always follows dark dreary weather makes me happy. 

Today was still pretty dreary, but I was determined to find a bit of spring's beauty hidden somewhere.

Then the strangest thing happened.

As I started to look for beauty, I started to find even more.

Even though the weather was still dreary and cold.

There is always beauty to be found.

I think that's just how life goes...

Life can seem dreary, cold and gray.

But the more you look  the more beauty you can find.

(Even if it starts to snow while you are out looking for spring.)

Dear March,

I'm so happy to see you! You are my favorite month. Not just because it's my birthday month or my sister's birthday month, or because we love St. Patrick's Day and celebrate with silly gifts and games. You also mean spring! Even though you aren't always bright and sunny, you are still the first sign of spring. We can take off one layer of our jackets, sometimes get away with wearing sandals and maybe, just maybe go barefoot. (My favorite thing)

March, you inspired this purple hat. It reminds me of spring and of lilacs. I love the smell of lilacs. You wouldn't really know what they smell like because lilacs like to bloom in May, and by May you are sleeping. But this hat reminds me of spring, and so do you, so cheer up Champ.

I hope you stay a while and keep me company. I'm sad that I will miss the St. Patrick's day party.

Love Rachael