Learning To Smile In the Sunshine

Who white is she?
She is white as the inside of a lotus.

How do we adorn her?
We adorn her with chains of gold.

How do we dress her?
We dress her with white garlands
and necklets and armbands of finest gold.

How does she regard us?
She regards us with eyes that are as large as
a fully-opened lotus on a pool.

And how does she respond?
Oh, she smiles, she smiles, she smiles.

--Prayer to Lakshmi, India

But there is a wealth as well in the lovely smile of a friend,in the joyous voice greeting us when we return home, in the bounce of a pet's walk, in the deep eyes of an aged relative.

The gold that decks the goddess' image is precious, but to bring us happiness she is not limited to dead metal. Look around you through this day and find the ways in which the goddess blesses you. Acknowledge, and delight in the generosity she has shown you.

Today is Ostara - blessed be.

The actual timing of the Equinox was at 5:15 Universal Time - at which point I was lucky enough to be standing outside in the sunshine. Sure it was chilly, but to be out at that time was a special moment for me. Just standing in the sun, contemplating the day.

Saw a Lapwing today... such a beautiful bird, so rare in England. This one must have had a nest somewhere nearby, because she was certainly making a fuss to try and hide it from the crows. But her flight, it was so wonderful... wheeling and diving... sometimes straight up before she would reverse direction and then loop and twist in the air. I could have watched her for a good long time... as it was the time I saw her was a gift.

And a more secular gift... today I managed to catch up with Noura - the head of Arabic studies at school. I asked her if she knew anyone in Rehab that could and would be willing to teach me to speak Arabic. She said she would help me to find a tutor, and that meantime, she would teach me. Meanwhile, my children continue to 'test' me every now and then. Today they asked me two questions. One to which I knew the answer and could say it. One to which I knew the answer but could not say it because I don't know the number 44 - I only know the number to ten. They tried to teach me, but I have forgotten it - it was very long. I do however know how to say 'my name is Eirian.' They were pleased with that. My children are such a gift to me also. They are loving, and very giving; brightness and light - just adorable.

And lastly I want to speak of a gift that I was given in the middle of a difficult time. Mir gave me a very timely reminder of the need to look for and see the positive - not just the negative as I had been doing. It really has made such a change to so many things. I think I'm even learning to smile again.