Happy Spring Equinox: Protect and support your new beginnings

Mar 21st, 2011No Comments

The Spring Equinox occurred yesterday. It is officially Spring! One tradition of the Native American Medicine Wheel teaches that springtime (or the East) is the time of new beginnings- in nature and our lives. But the new aspects of ourselves have likely not taken form yet. They may exist solely at the conceptual level- in the form of pictures or ideas. It may not be clear as to how they are going to manifest in our lives yet.

The fact that it has not yet taken form makes this stage of personal growth highly vulnerable. The new beginning takes considerable faith and focus to be born. We must not allow ourselves to get distracted from it or talked out of it. I liken the new beginning to a tender seedling. It needs to be protected and nurtured until it gathers enough strength to stand on its own.

And likely not everyone is able to support our new beginning. It may reside outside of their comfort zone (let alone ours). They are used to us being a certain way that they can rely on. We may not fit into the box that they have us in anymore. When we start talking about developing new aspects of ourselves, they may wonder if they will still have a place in our world.

For these reasons, new beginnings require great compassion. We must have compassion for our new self- so it can come into being. We must have compassion for our friends and loved ones- because they may feel frightened and insecure.

You wouldn’t think twice about protecting a vulnerable child. Native Americans call them “undefendables.” Your new aspects of self require the same protection. Nothing is more precious or important.

Because… without your protection and support, the new you will never come to be.

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About author:

Michael Hoffman’s passion is guiding people to connect with their natural gifts. He believes that we all have innate gifts that hugely benefit others and the world when we offer them. The purest example of these gifts is the Native American concept of medicine or the gift you offer your people. Michael defines your medicine or gift as the natural effect you have on other people when your heart is open. Unfortunately, the demands of our current culture to comply and fit in often distract people away from their inherent gifts and the natural expression of their being. Michael believes many of us have forgotten our dreams and what we are about. This sadly results in a loss of purpose, passion, and vitality. As an innate gift specialist, Michael offers retreats, classes, and individual sessions to allow people to reclaim their natural gifts. These venues allow people to identify, awaken, and offer their gifts. This experiential work incorporates Zen thought, Native American ceremony, rites-of-passage, and releasing limiting belief systems. Michael also maintains his meta blog to provide knowledge, skills, and awareness for unfolding your natural gifts. He is currently compiling this knowledge and research into a college class and book. Michael earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1987 and Master of Social Work in 1996. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In addition to his formal education, Michael studied and apprenticed with a Zen Master and spiritual teacher for 22 years to learn how to guide people to understand themselves. He has worked with people professionally since 1986 as a psychotherapist and teacher. Michael currently resides in Oceanside, California.

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