This is my favorite day of the year.
So much promise and hope, so much to look forward to, so much to enjoy right now. Planting season—in the earth and in my life. I always like to begin big projects in the spring, as it syncs them up with the cycles of the earth.
We had sunshine all day long here in the far northwest, and it was wonderful to be out in the mildness for much of the day, contemplating and meditating on goals and dreams.
Now it is nearly dark, a graying evening, growing chilly—but as I step outside my spirit rises to meet the massive choir of frogs singing up Spring. Their extreme exuberance at reaching their ultimate frogginess is contagious, and I, too, feel like adding my voice to the throng. I can sense their joy at finding their voices, at knowing their mission is to coax buds to swell along willow branches, to urge grape hyacinths to pop purple out of the ground. They are the life coaches of this season, cheering (if selfishly) gnats to hatch. They alert newly returned swallows to start inspecting beams and joists, to hunt for empty lots on which to construct their homes.
This mesmerizing frogsong lures all green life from winter mud, keeping it ever moving even in darkness, aiming toward the light of morning. Their chorus renews me, as well, and reassures me that Spring is a state a of mind, a celebration of the growing light, even as night is falling.
The call of a frog is one of the most energy consuming mating activities of any animal, and the males sing all night, making up to 40 calls a minute! They can be very loud—over 85 decibels (think blender or freight train). Only males sing by the way; females do the judging and evaluate their potential mate’s prowess using criteria known only to them. Stamina might have something to do with it.
CONTEMPLATIONS
• What seeds are you planting in your life this season?
• What new ideas are sprouting in your soul?
• Do you feel the lure of frogsong urging you toward something?
• Or are you a frog, singing at the top of your lungs, wanting to attract something vibrant into your life?
• Tap into gratitude—what do you have to sing about today?
See other signs of spring here.
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