My Zen Moment – Winter & Spring

Posted byRebecca BuddPosted inLadyBudd, Nature, Reflections, Seasons, Sunday Evening ReflectionTags:, , , ,

Winter and spring come together on the vernal equinox to connect our world.

I feel the gentle touch of spring even as winter continues to be in season. The snowdrop has arrived, the winter wind has softened, and the sun is moving toward the vernal equinox that will come one month from today at precisely 11:33am EDT according to the Almanac. On March 20, 2022 the length of day and night will be nearly equal in all parts of the world.

Winter’s rest has readied the world for spring’s awakening. 


The spring is fresh and fearless
And every leaf is new,
The world is brimmed with moonlight,
The lilac brimmed with dew.

Here in the moving shadows
I catch my breath and sing,
My heart is fresh and fearless
And over-brimmed with spring.

May Night by Sara Teasdale

Published by Rebecca Budd

Blogger, Visual Storyteller, Podcaster, Traveler and Life-long Learner

59 thoughts on “My Zen Moment – Winter & Spring”

    1. I am delighted that we have connected Babsje. I have started following your blog and have visited Five Crows. I am looking forward to our many conversations waiting for our arrival. I think that you will appreciate this short video of Heron’s nesting. Victoria, British Columbia has a heron community.

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      1. Hi Rebecca. Thank you for your warm greeting of welcome. Delighted to connect with you, too. Thanks for the visit to Five Crows – it’s a charming little gallery and crafts shop operated by 3 wonderful women. And thank you also for the link to the B.C. Heron colony video. I know that there is a special Heron subspecies on Vancouver Island called Faninni. I’m getting a page not found from the Vimeo link, though. If it’s not an imposition, would you please send it again when you have an opportunity? I have tried on both my mobile and laptop but I may have launched it incorrectly. Thank you again, Best, Babsje

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      3. Oh this is magical. The sound of those nesting and flying Herons is music to my ears. I’ve spent many an hour here listening to the adults, and also the nestlings calling for their next meal. The sign saying “Shh…The Herons are Nesting”

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      4. I hit submit too soon on replying a minute ago, my apologies. Thank you VERY much for making and posting this video. It moved me, here in deep winter, to see the life affirming Herons at nest.

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  2. Thank you for the video and the delightful music, Rebecca. Spring is coming this way also. I got three daffodil flowers. The plum tree has green leaves and one flower. I must go to the lake to watch the ducks.

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    1. I am delighted that we met by the calm water and watched our winged friends joy of fellowship. It is a huge reminder to me that, in our busyness of life, we must pause and celebrate a time of quiet reflection. Thank you for your comments – I enjoy our conversations, Miriam!!!

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      1. I shared your reflection, Rebecca. We could lost ourselves in the busyness. My mind is calm and quiet even when I’m in the garden, not hearing the sounds of the TV, or going for a walk in the quiet neighborhood. Have a wonderful week! 😊

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    1. I was speaking with my brothers who live in Alberta, this past weekend. The winter is still in “full bloom” on their side of the mountains. The snowdrops have arrived in Vancouver so it won’t be long until the tulips show up. I knew you would appreciate Sara Teasdale’s poetry. She uses universal themes to identify problems. The poem, A Winter Night, is as relevant today as it was when she wrote it almost a century ago.

      A Winter Night

      By Sara Teasdale

      My window-pane is starred with frost,
      The world is bitter cold to-night,
      The moon is cruel, and the wind
      Is like a two-edged sword to smite.

      God pity all the homeless ones,
      The beggars pacing to and fro,
      God pity all the poor to-night
      Who walk the lamp-lit streets of snow.

      My room is like a bit of June,
      Warm and close-curtained fold on fold,
      But somewhere, like a homeless child,
      My heart is crying in the cold.

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      1. Beautiful timeless poem it is, of which we at this end of Canada can surely attest, especially these last few days. It also reminded me of the Winter poems I’ve written over the last 22 years plus, 5 or 6 of them, from 6 lines to 25 lines or so that seemed worth keeping. Two I believe were published in one or two of my books, my blog and Facebook. Despite its white beauty and its writing interest, I am as I’ve always been, a diehard warm climate and flower lover!

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      2. I have often imagined you and Marianne enjoying the warmth of the Italian sun. These next few days will be rain, rain, rain, which is Spring knocking on our door. But we did have a little snowfall last week that lasted for 1 day.

        Poetry and seasons have a strong emotional connection. Thank you so much for your comments, Jean-Jacques – very much appreciated!

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    2. I’m a little behind in my correspondence, as you can see, but for at least to me, being that I am in post-production preparation of my 19th book of poems. In the meantime I just now noticed that my thank you comment on Zen Moment was missing the word ‘subject’ as in subject guest Sara Teasdale, despite all of us getting older, even you with your chosen Clan mother name, you were hardly around in 1917, if l recall to be Sara Teasdale’s time. A thousand pardons, my dear friend Rebecca and have a lovely young Sunday!
      Jean-Jacques

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      2. What is amazing about Sara Teasdale is her contemporary voice. Every time I recite poetry, I feel that the poet is with me in reality. Poetry breaks down all barriers of time, space, location. So it really did seem that Sara Teasdale was my guest. So grateful for your comments during your busy time. Congratulations – 19 books of poetry. I am so excited for you.

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    1. We have been watching Storm Eunice from our side of the world, Margaret. YIKES!!! Hurricane strength winds are very dangerous. Keep safe. I am delighted that you travelled to my side of the world. Sunshine has come to Vancouver for a few days and we are enjoying the warmth and the hint that spring is just around the corner.

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    1. I am delighted that you joined me at Charleson Park, on the Vancouver Seawall, Shey.

      Sara Teasdale is remarkable. Her poem anti-war message published July 1918, “There Will come Soft Rains” inspired Ray Bradbury to write his famous short story of the same name.

      “There Will Come Soft Rains” (War Time)

      There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
      And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;

      And frogs in the pools singing at night,
      And wild plum trees in tremulous white;

      Robins will wear their feathery fire
      Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;

      And not one will know of the war, not one
      Will care at last when it is done.

      Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree
      If mankind perished utterly;

      And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn,
      Would scarcely know that we were gone.

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  6. Although that’s a bit unusual for me in February to think about spring, it can still be encouraging to do so! Also, ca. on March 20th, begins the old Persian new year. Of course, the exact time of this event is the beginning of spring, and it will be continuously measured, and it sometimes falls on the 21st. Anyway, It can just come!

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    1. I am delighted that you joined me in nature and enjoyed the poem by Sara Teasdale. Sara Teasdale won the Pulitzer Prize for her 1917 poetry collection Love Songs, which according to The Poetry Society, lists her as the earliest Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

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    1. Thank you, Colleen for your lovely comment. Over the past months, reflection and meditation has become more nuanced in my experience. The idea of “less is more” is embedded within poetry. I am looking forward to speaking with you about this thought going forward.

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  11. I enjoyed the short poem and “There will come soft rain” in the comments. I loved the little video of the swans, first only one then the two of them enjoying the swim in the calm blue water. This poem is such a good choice for Family Day! I understand the weather in St Albert may be a little warmer in the coming days, We have a beautiful day here today, I am enjoying it. I look forward to seeing you in person on Wednesday! ! !

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    1. I am enjoying the sunshine on our side of the bridge, too. The mountains seem so close when the sky is blue. The snow is still on the mountains which makes the outline of the sky even more dramatic.

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  16. So delightful, Rebecca. So serene and, at the same time, joyful. A wonderful combination.
    And, of course, here in Australia we are about to enter the opposite… Autumn!
    However, Rebecca, you wouldn’t know it. The weather is so hot still. It seems Autumn is not at all near.
    And yet, life is calm and full of lovely moments. What matters is within our hearts. And yours is evident in all you do.
    xoxoxo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We have rain warnings for the next couple of days, a certain sign that spring will soon be here. The rest of Canada appears to be firmly entrenched in winter.

      I love your thought: “And yet, life is calm and full of lovely moments. What matters is within our hearts.” How beautifully said! Sending hugs!

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  18. Pingback: My Zen Moment – Winter & Spring – MobsterTiger

  19. What a lovely reminder of what’s just around the corner! Our geese are waddling over somewhat fresh snow and digging down to pluck up old, brown grass. Our lagoon and marina are still frozen. Not at all “fresh and fearless” as Teasdale’s spring and your inspiring video. So thank you!! 🙂

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    1. We had snow about a week ago that lasted for one day, enough time for me to capture snowdrops and snow together. For me, snowdrops bravely sprouting up through the snow is the symbol of resilience and determination. To me, seasonal transitions provide an energized boost to our world. An ending and beginning coming together. Sending many thanks and hugs back your way!!!

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      5. Oh wow, Rebecca, you are indeed prolific. 🙂 The quality of your podcasts is similar to how I envision the 5th series of my podcast. I’ve been inspired by work I’ve been doing as a radio presenter to use the same tools for my podcast (as opposed to recording on my phone in the shoe closet as per series 4). It’s a lovely journey we’re on. 🤓

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