Snow Day!

Facing east before sunrise

I awoke this morning before sunrise, and as I looked out the window a blanket of fresh snow greeted me.  The snow began falling yesterday, but the earth was still too warm from the previous days for it to accumulate on the ground.  Evidently, overnight, the ground finally surrendered to the cold, and allowed the snow to cover it. 

Just a couple of nights ago we had a warm front full of moisture blow in, bringing with it major storms and tornadoes.  I haven't seen a sky like that since I was stationed in Oklahoma when I was in the Army.  After my roommate and I battened down the hatches, and put our vehicles, and critters, in the garage, I went outside to watch the show the sky was putting on.  It was awesome to behold. 

It's been strange weather we've had goin' on here.  This winter has not really been a winter.  Trees started budding about a month or so ago, bulbs began shooting up out of the ground, pets are shedding their winter fur, bees and ants have awakened early, and frogs are singing out of season.  I've jokingly said to some, "It's like Mother Earth is in menopause or something...all moody, with hot flashes." 

Putting the strangeness of the weather aside, today is a snow day, and I don't know about you, but there is something about new snow that lifts my spirits, and just like I felt when I was a child, delight and wonder filled me, and I had to be in it. 

Ta Da! 

I hurriedly put some clothes on, not caring if they were clean or dirty, choosing what was nearest to me.  Did a quick brush of the hair, (definitely in the "awkward locks" stage :), grabbed my camera, and out I went with my roommate right behind me.  An angel had to be made. 

My roommate opted out of making a snow angel, but I couldn't help myself.  It's been years since I made one, the last time...well, that's another story.  Today, I plopped myself down on the ground, and fanned my arms and legs in and out, and viola!  Snow Angel!  The cold against my backside, the crunchy sound, the scent of the clean, clean air, the morning sky smiling down on me, snowflakes kissing my face...my God, I felt my heart lift, and a much needed laugh bubbled up and out from the depth of me, shaking loose the stress of the past few weeks.

Snow Angel!

After the fun, my roommate, who is of Cherokee descent, said we needed to get pictures of each of us facing our own direction.  She's a strong believer in the Sacred Medicine Wheel, and has been teaching me about the way of the Wheel.  Without going into a lot of detail here, I'm going to greatly simplify it, (there is so much more to it), and say that each of us holds a position on the wheel, dependent on the day and month we were born, and that position directly correlates with the 8 directions, N, NE, E, SE, S, etc.  Animals, (or totems), flowers, stones, etc., also play an important role in our unique placement on the Wheel.  My personal direction, profound in so many ways, is Northwest...and my totem is the Owl. 

My Roommate

So we each took a picture of each other, with her standing, and looking a whole lot more dignified, and beautiful, than I ever could.  I couldn't help it...I had a big ole goofy grin on my face.  I can't say that I've honestly believed my roommate, when she has said that sitting, sleeping, and facing our direction helps us in so many ways, but I can say this...in facing my direction this morning, I felt love rise up in my heart.  Because the Northwest, in this country, is where my heart lives.  Not only has it been a dream that took hold of me when I was 12 years old, and hasn't let go, but now, the "direction of my birth," ( on the wheel ), seems to be calling me with a loud, clear voice.  A song rises out of the NW, a baby, family, friends, all my relations, singing...come.  And here I stand, miles and miles away, facing NW, with a goofy grin on my face, silently answering.

Facing my direction

---