Haiku – cycles and seasons

Photo by Taryn Elliott on Pexels.com

~

Cycles and seasons

no endings or beginnings

Embrace nature’s way

~

At the turn of each calendar year, I feel more and more distanced from the expectations around the New Year and New Beginnings. I feel I’m being sold on something I should be doing or bringing into my life. It runs contrary to how I feel in these cold, dark and damp days. I just want to hunker down and snuggle in until the natural surge of Spring. Its nature’s way after all.

We are entering the depths of winter and a time for hibernation and inner nourishing. It’s a time to take care of ourselves and limit our impact on others as the pandemic rages on. Let’s face it, nature seems to be in charge right now. We are harnessing our intelligence and scientific skills to take back control and protect human life, yet the world around us has turned to violence. There is much to learn in these times.

It’s easy to be caught in resistance, anger and negative emotions, but in order to make it through these turbulent times, we must take time to step away and pause. Now more than ever, we must cultivate time to Find our Middle Ground.

As you take time to pause today, perhaps consider these words from Eckhart Tolle.

“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

Namaste

48 responses to “Haiku – cycles and seasons”

  1. Lovely post, Val. Always challenged by what you write. Also loved those words by Eckhart Tolle.

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    1. Thank you Don. It’s good to get the can opener out and have a taste of what’s going on inside. 💛

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  2. Thanks, Val 🧡 So much going on…time out is good!

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    1. Yes – even in warm weather ❣️ Thank you Lorrie 🙏

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  3. thank you for sharing such a comforting post, Val. i wish you the best.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words Ateafa 💛🙏💛

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  4. Powerful and inspiring words Val!

    And… interesting synchronicity… yesterday I worked on a painting to go with a poem I wrote that is aligned with the same sentiments as your lovely Haiku — I’ll be sharing it on my blog tomorrow. ❤

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    1. Thank you Louise. Love that synchronicity 💝

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  5. I agree Val… We want to hibernate within our shells… I have been taking myself off for lone walks, communing with nature, and going within….
    I have been spending more time creating… Painting, knitting, and baking!…. The baking I have curbed a little Lol as the exercise isn’t keeping up with my waist line 🙂 haha..

    Wise words dear Val.. and a very Happy New Earth year to you ❤ 🙏

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    1. Aah yes. Get some movement in and everything changes … mood, body, mind state. Let the energy move in the body and it will find its own way to rebalance. 💝

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  6. Thank you for your message. I hear in it a trust in following my own path to slow down when needed and listen inward to my heart’s wisdom.
    Wishing you wellness and peace,
    Ali

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    1. Thank you Ali. Keep listening inwards 💛🙏💛

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      1. 2020 was all about listening for me and I am still inspired. I plan to focus on listening in 2021 as well. Thank for your ongoing support.

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  7. So true. I love hibernation mode. 😉 Love Eckhard’s wisdom, too. Thanks, Val! ❤

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    1. So glad it resonated with you Eliza 🙏

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  8. You always bring me peace Val.

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    1. Thank you Colleen 💛🙏💛

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  9. hmmm…. I usually can’t wait for winter to end… 🙂

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    1. Florida is calling at this time of year!

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  10. Too true.
    Accepting the “what is” is key to our “buoyancy.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Nancy ❣️

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  11. Can always count on you to shake up my thinking and give me a fresh perspective, Val. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you Lori❣️

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  12. Ahhh, to accept the moment as if we had chosen it! Carrying those words forth into this brand new day. Thanks, Val, for your piece about honoring nature and the season’s wisdom.

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    1. Thank you Kathy ❤️

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  13. It’s a good time to step back and take a breath, Val. A helpful reminder as always. ❤ ❤

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    1. Thank you Diana 💕🙏💕

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  14. I love the cozy picture you chose. It is indeed time to seek comfort in the present moment and respond with compassion from there. The ending quote is a terrific guiding principle. I too have moved away from the expectations of new year. I have found more value in staying tuned in and follow intuition and intention continually. The energy of new beginnings around does have me take a bigger pause and take stock and pay more attention to recalibration as needed.

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    1. Thank you P.D. 🙏 Paying attention, and recalibrating are wonderful guidelines… as long as we embrace the practice and experience the benefits. I have been reading about what can be a giant leap from intellectually embracing something, and then bringing into our lives. So many of us are caught up in the ideas, but our everyday lives and relationships remain the same. We stay discontented and use our down time to envision the ideal world our mind creates. It’s spiritual escapism.
      It takes a lot of courage to make it happen. I have a feeling that 2021 is a year for us to embrace so much more.💛🙏💛

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      1. You said it rightly about escapism – living it all is a whole different game. I am grateful for our connections here that nourish and support our hearts on the journey. If our relationships stay the same we haven’t really done anything other than entertain. I do feel the Trust available moving forward.

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    1. Thank you Fiona 💛

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  15. Nature is always in control. We only affect it as much as it affects us. A lot of Global South theory and indigenous/Afrolatino cosmovisons respect and understand this. The idea that we desire so much to control nature may not be in our best interest. Some of the theorists I’ve read respect Buddhism and other ideas that lead us to consider that we are connected to and in flow with the world more so than in control of it. That’s not to say that we are not to protect ourselves, however. In any case, thanks for being a voice in the wild. I on!y just started following you.

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    1. Thank you Sebastian for your thoughtful and insightful comment. 💛

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    1. Thank you Dave 💛

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  16. Funny, have been reading Eckhart lately 😉 thank you for this lovely reminder that none of us is alone during these fraught times. Love to you, Val. 💕

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    1. Thank you dear Bela 💕🙏💕

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  17. Brandon Wolfe Avatar

    Beautiful Haiku

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    1. Thank you Brandon 🙏

      Liked by 2 people

  18. […] is a poem I wrote yesterday after wanting to write a Haiku. I had just visited Find Your Middle Ground‘s site – specifically the post “Haiku – cycles and seasons“. The […]

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About Me

My name is Val Boyko, a dual citizen living near Philadelphia, originally from Scotland.

This blog came to life one morning in 2013.  I woke up with these words in my mind:  “Life is a series of highs and lows. Be grateful for the highs. Be graceful in the lows. And find contentment in your Middle Ground.”

Find Your Middle Ground blog started to explore, reflect, ask deep questions, share insights about awakening, and connect with wonderful people like yourself. Thank you for being here and being such an inspiration.