Every spring without fail, it surprises me when tulips start to sprout out of my garden. Partly, it’s because I’m a half-hearted gardener, at best. But it’s also because I planted those tulip bulbs many years ago during a time of pain and sorrow. By planting them, I was hoping their bright goblets of colour would lift my mood come spring-time. And they did. Every year since then, their faithful sprouting has been a potent reminder of my survival, and also evidence that bad times do end, and better ones can always begin.
The concepts of death and re-birth are common in many religions and myths. The most famous of which is Jesus Christ, who dies on the cross on Good Friday, and is then resurrected on Easter Sunday. But there is also Osiris, the Egyptian god of harvest who is cut down and scattered in the fall, only to rise once again in the spring. And Dionysus, the Greek god who was torn apart and eaten by Titans, and then lovingly restored to life by his grandmother, who finds and stitches back together the broken pieces of his heart.
For those who struggle, stories of death and re-birth can be particularly reassuring. When a dream dies, a friendship fails, or a sickness endures, we may wonder if we’ll ever survive it. Stories of resurrection can then serve as a source of solace and as a guide during those dark times. They encourage us to keep going. They remind us that death is not failure. They tell us that, as long as we keep trying, a happier ending may yet appear.
This Easter, I invite you to gently bring to mind a story of sorrow or hurt from your past. Nothing too traumatic. Just a episode where you felt some emotional pain. As you bring back this memory, start to notice the feelings that arise within you. Observe where in your body you feel them the most. It may be a particular tightness in your chest, a tension in your jaw, or perhaps a clenching of your stomach.
With gentleness and compassion, allow yourself to feel these emotions in all their depth. Don’t be afraid. With each new breath, try to create more space for them. Resist the urge to push them away. Welcome them as honoured guests, as important messages from the deep. Be curious. And then watch as, with enough time and space, they gradually crest, loosen and float away.
By feeling and releasing these old and painful emotions, you are making way for new life to come forth. Opportunities for growth can now emerge. Maybe not right away, but soon. Be patient. Always remember, your story is not yet over. A new one is still waiting to be told. It’s all part of the magic, and the promise, of spring.
About the Author: Rebecca Wong has a BA in English Literature from the University of Waterloo and has been working in the herbal business since 2000. She studied at the Ontario College of Traditional Chinese Medicine under respected authorities Paul Des Rosiers and Vu Le, and graduated from the East West School of Planetary Herbology under Michael Tierra. She received training as a yoga teacher at The Branches in Kitchener/Waterloo, and therapeutic yoga teacher training from the School for Somatic Soulwork under Deniz Aydoslu. She now teaches yoga for anxiety, depression and burnout at Rebecca's Restful Yoga Studio in Toronto.