A Gentle Unfurling: Reflection for Late March in Guelph

The air in Guelph carries a new lightness these days, a subtle shift from the crisp bite of winter to a softer, more promising coolness. The mornings still hold a hint of frost, a gentle snow fall, and reminder of the season we're leaving behind, but the afternoons stretch longer, painting the sky with hues that whisper of warmer days to come.

As the landscape around us begins its slow, deliberate awakening, it feels like a fitting time to turn inward and reflect on our own transitions. What remnants of the past season are we still holding onto? Perhaps a weariness from the shorter days, a lingering desire for the cozy stillness of winter, or even unfinished tasks that feel like the last patches of snow refusing to melt.

Look around at the subtle signs of spring emerging. The tentative buds swelling on branches, the bolder songs of returning birds, the almost imperceptible greening of the grass. These small miracles remind us that even after a period of dormancy, life has an inherent drive to renew and grow. What dormant seeds are stirring within you? What new ideas or aspirations are beginning to sprout in the fertile ground of your mind and heart?

This liminal space, caught between the starkness of winter and the full bloom of spring, invites us to embrace the in-between. It's a time for gentle unfurling, not a sudden burst. We don't need to have all the answers or a fully formed plan for the months ahead. Instead, we can simply observe the subtle shifts within ourselves, much like we observe the changing landscape.

Consider what you are ready to release. What burdens or patterns no longer serve you as you move into this new season? Just as the snow melts away, creating space for new growth, what can you let go of to make room for what's to come?

And what are you anticipating with a sense of quiet hope? Perhaps the simple pleasure of a walk in the warmer sunshine, the opportunity to reconnect with nature in a more vibrant way, or the chance to pursue new projects and passions.

This late March in Guelph is a gentle invitation to align ourselves with the rhythm of nature. To acknowledge the quiet strength of transition, to appreciate the subtle beauty of emergence, and to trust in the inherent promise of renewal that surrounds us and resides within us. May we move forward with a sense of gentle anticipation, allowing ourselves to unfurl at our own pace, embracing the quiet magic of this in-between time.