Here at the center...

The Celtic month of Nuin (the Ash tree)

“Here at the center, you find your inspiration, the courage to be yourself, and the ability to connect with your own true heart.”
–Sharlyn Hidalgo, The Healing Power of Trees

This time of year, I am often in a funk. Back when I was teaching, I noticed this was the most anxious quarter of the year. When I moved back north to Columbus, Ohio–the grayest place I’ve lived–I made myself a sign that said, “It’s just February”, a reminder that I would get past the funk, the sun would come back. 

Studying the current Celtic month, Nuin–the Ash tree, I’ve discovered it’s not just me. I learned how it’s part of a bigger cycle and how we might work with it. Hidalgo points out the connections between the Ash tree as a symbol and the story of Odin hanging from it for 9 days. Having grown up in the Catholic church it was also fascinating to learn about the pre-Christian rots of Ash Wednesday, and connect it to the continued observance of lent as a time for reflection. We might feel in the state of the suspended person right now, but take it as a time to return to center and find your inspiration. That way you’ll be ready to bloom in the spring. 

What’s making me happy this week?

I drove to Ontario last weekend. Here are a few magical moments that keep replaying in my mind from the drive: driving over the Thousand Islands bridge—it’s a tall green bridge and I could just look down and see all the pine-dotted islands in the St. Lawrence River; one morning driving to my workshop while it was 7 degrees F outside the trees were all covered in ice—it was beautiful; on the drive back through the North Country of New York State I passed through an area full of giant slowly rolling windmills, as I marveled at them I crossed paths with an Amish Buggy—an interesting juxtaposition between the past and the future, or perhaps just alternate futures.

The Question Box

When I was a teacher, I had a box out for students to submit questions/suggestions. This was especially helpful during the Reproductive System unit in Anatomy and Physiology. 

My recently published book, About the Pelvic Floor: What I wish I knew before I developed chronic pain, was such a great and empowering way for me to research a topic. I want to keep that momentum going by continuing to learn and write about topics people want to know about. 

Have a question or suggestion for a topic–submit it to the question box here!!