Well, spring is finally here. Or is it? The groundhogs were a bit confused in February and we can never be sure of what the definition of ‘right around the corner’ really is. One thing is for certain, a wise elderly chap is going to proclaim that we still have one more snow ahead of us. And of course, the muddy spring must always come before the pretty one. Yet, the itch of spring is in us and you can practically taste it in the air.
I vividly remember the smell of the first sheets mom would bring in from the line after a long winter of using the dryer. Somehow that smell made spring official. Or was it the cleaning?
With nine of us kids holding up in the house all winter, there certainly was a bit of clutter accumulated in the corners of our rooms. Rubber bands were normally intermixed. After all, my brothers and I could never resist the big bags we would get for the paper route and you know how boys are. A rousing rubber band fight often ensued during long winter evenings. Good thing mom never looked under our beds; she would have been shocked at what was under there.
Needless to say, spring cleaning was a family affair. Each of us joined in the sorting of accumulated piles, the moving of furniture, the washing of windows and the scrubbing of walls. Now that I think about it, mom wasn’t so dumb after all. She made certain the furniture in our bedrooms was rearranged; which meant we had to clean under those beds, while she removed herself from witnessing the appalling mess that had accumulated.
This was, and still is, the ritual of spring. The preparation for the blossoms that are to come, the cleaning out before the Rites of Easter or Passover, the rebalancing of our lives at the time of the Equinox. Yet, it isn’t ironic that the physical cleaning of our homes corresponds to this time of rebirth.
Many spiritual writings speak about the link between the physical and the spiritual; the reflection of our internal lives being manifest in our daily reality. The ritualistic cleaning of the house causes a cleaning house of a different sort. We naturally begin to clean away the emotional debris, the stagnation and examine the other forms of clutter that occupy us.
This process will take us into our past, allowing us to remember people, places and who we were. At times we can see how far we’ve come and other times, parts of us we’ve lost touch with. This may give you the chance to recapture your playfulness, a forgotten talent, and most certainly your gratitude.
I’ll often come upon things I thought were important to have, but have rarely used. This definitely sparks my thinking about why I had an imperative need for the item at the time. Normally it sheds light on a belief I held about who I am, what I valued or a insecurity I was holding. Having a tangible reminder can often make the letting go easier.
It really doesn’t matter if the wise man down the street is correct and another snow falls, or if the buds are pushing forth on the trees. Spring is here. So, get cleaning, both inside and out. Sort through the physical and mental clutter; wash the walls and the emotions. Move your soul into a more balanced state of being and don’t forget to clean under the beds.
Oh, and if you happen upon a rubber band, go ahead and shoot it. Be a child once again.
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