A snow storm arrives today with news. The storm covered the trees with sticky white balls of snow~ice. This kind of snow weighs the trees earthward. Some even bend over nearly double. Some, less flexible ones, shed their outer twigs or limbs to manage the extra weight.

As beautiful as this snow is, I feel concerned that it is too much excess weight for the trees. I notice my concern and realize that my perceptual awareness asks for my response-ability. In other words, the reality I perceive is connected to me and colored by me. So in Response, I ask what is my excess, what is unneeded baggage. Here is the conversation that occurred between me, the Spirits of the trees, the wind and the snow that morning~

"Oh, Trees trees, beautiful trees, what may we, rather, what must we release together? What can I shed too? Or what needs shedding from me? That it may free you from burdensome weight as well? What is burdening us? What is this baggage that weighs us, keeping us from freedom, from peace, from the Love that resides in us All? What indeed must be released so that the heartwood within me and heartwood within you remains clear, connected, strong, supple, responsive? Not broken or crushed under some excess weight?

In response, the precipitation falling turned suddenly and magically to rain; and quickly, the rain began to melt the ice. And even more miraculous of all, the rain brought with her a playful, gentle wind, moving the heavy sodden branches, carefully at first, then more dramatically. What had been heavy became uplifted.

Maybe the trees called this ally in, who knows? The arrival sure felt instantaneous and spontaneous, arriving from unknown parts and traveling along unseen trails. One moment the trees were still, the air heavy, the next moment, limbs were dancing and swaying with graceful waves of wind.

The curling and swirling of the trees reminded me of the dance between the palm trees and the ocean breeze, like the dance between the infinite and the divine. It was a Wonder to see. To see how the limbs great and small could swirl and dip, twirl and bend to the rhythms of this wind. They knew each other well, and danced as happily as longtime partners. And, as you may have guessed, once dancing, the beautiful, wet snow dropped easily and harmlessly to the Earth.

The ones who could shake and shimmy (size not withstanding,) lost the excess baggage quickly. The birches who had bent nearly double, who are able to be more flexible, took a little longer to unweight themselves, and then reach for the heavens once more.

I cried at the beauty. Like the shedding of stars of light, leaving the cradling arms of the trees beings, the snow remained so full of light and beauty, Light moving into life together. One blessing the other. The "burden" remained a gift.

Here is the song I heard in that glorious dance~

Dear ones, Trust, trust, trust these winds of change.
Welcome them, embrace them, dance with them ~ to renew your life. Let it ignite your flames as the breath ignites the embers, as the Sun calls to the seed to grow, as the waters reach to the thirsty.

Don't be afraid, release your memories, and stories of who you thought you were. Be you now, change, and then change again. Nothing is wrong; find the magnificent potential in your new you. The universe is holding her hand out to you. Will you let go of fear, and all that restricts to reach your hand out in return? Will you Receive her, and welcome her? Reach for this gift, it is true.

Blow, blow, blow winds,
We will Shake and shed, Bend and Turn
Release and Dance to the new.

Let Freedom reign,
Let Freedom sing
Let freedom Shine.