Lessons from spring

Blossoming, unfolding, and other things the flowers do

I’ve always loved springtime in New York City. We emerge from our burrows, like animals poking their heads out at the first sign of spring, and the streets buzz with a newfound energy. Tulips suddenly line the cement sidewalks, and cherry blossoms bloom instantaneously. We’ve endured the long winter, and suddenly everything feels alive.

Moving back to the East Coast this year, I’ve become more attuned than ever to my body’s synchronicity with the seasons.

This winter, I craved rest. I felt drawn not only to do less externally, but to use the colder months to process internally. Like a winter stew slowly simmering on the stove, I marinated, culminated, and reflected. And then, suddenly, spring arrived. And with it, an internal shift.

My internal landscape bloomed as quickly and unexpectedly as the tulips on Park Avenue. I suddenly felt ready to let go of everything I had been stewing on during winter. I felt lighter and more energetic. I instantly felt compelled to get outside, start projects, connect with my community, and take action.

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Tolstoy wrote that “spring is the time of plans and projects.” In chapter one of Anna Karenina, Levin emerges from a turbulent winter with a newfound sense of hope and renewal.

Spring is a time of creation. Like Persephone’s return from the underworld, it signals a rebuilding after stagnation and loss. It’s renewal. Fertility. As the world begins to bloom, so do we—with a burst of energy, clarity, and optimism.

But spring calls for a different kind of action, one that I’m trying to work on myself—one rooted in spontaneity.

Similarly to my post a few months back about embracing slowness, a lot of my work these days has been around releasing my white-knuckle grip on productivity. I, like many people in today’s society, have a tendency to overbook my schedule and overburden my to do list, leaving no room for spontaneity, serendipity, or the sweet juices of being human

In a recent birthday reading with my astrologer, she pulled a series of tarot cards at the end of our session. We asked the cards two questions. First, “How can I change my current situation?” And second, “What new perspective will bring me deep fulfillment?”

In response to the first question, we pulled the card of exhaustion. The visual is one of a man surrounded by machinery.

The back of the card read:

This is the portrait of one whose whole life energy has been depleted in his efforts to keep fueling the enormous and ridiculous machine of self-importance and productivity. He has been so busy "keeping it all together" and "making sure everything runs smoothly", that he has forgotten to really rest. No doubt he can't allow himself to be playful[…]

The message of this card is not just about being a workaholic, though. It is about all the ways in which we set up safe but unnatural routines for ourselves and, by doing so, keep the chaotic and spontaneous away from our doors. Life isn't a business to be managed, it's a mystery to be lived.

For the next question (What new perspective will bring me deep fulfillment?), she pulled the card ripeness. I saved the below image as the background to my phone. It’s a message I need to consistently remind myself of.

The back of the card read:

When the fruit is ripe, it drops from the tree by itself […] not because it has been forced to fall, or has made the effort to jump, but because the tree has recognized its ripeness and simply let it go.

You are ready to share your inner riches, your 'juice'. All you need to do is relax right where you are, and be willing for it to happen […] No special preparation or effort on your part is required. It is simply the right time.

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If we mirror nature, spring blooms naturally and without force. It’s a spontaneous happening. A blossoming when ready. When we let go of the tightly bound structures we have imposed on ourselves, we leave room for spontaneity and growth.

This unstructured growth happens when we combine action with release. When we trust the process of letting go and letting things unfold. When we trust our ripening.

So in honor of spring and its spontaneous blooming, here are some ways to embrace the season’s energy:

1. Give your calendar some breathing room.

   An overly regimented schedule leaves no room for spontaneity. Leave pockets of space between commitments for a detour, an invitation or a moment of inspiration

2. Change your environment

   Start your morning at a coffee shop. Find a new spot to co-work. Visit a museum or space you’ve never been to. Discovery can exist within your local neighborhood if you just get out of your routine.

3. Take steps toward that dream

   Utilize spring’s creative energy to move the needle on that dream you’ve been procrastinating. Write the first page, sing up for that class, brainstorm the idea. Even if it’s a micro step, start.

4. Go for walks without a destination

   This is one of my favorite Sunday activities. Leave your headphones at home and let your senses guide you.

5. Say yes to invitations you didn’t expect

   Sometimes spontaneity shows up as a text from a friend, an event you wouldn’t normally attend, or a road trip you hadn’t planned. If it stirs something in you—say yes.

6. Put your phone down

   You can also find spontaneity at home. You just need to get off TikTok. See what happens when you shut off distractions (screens). Maybe you’ll pluck a book off your shelf, deep clean your house, start a creative project, or call an old friend.

7. Don’t pack your social calendar

   It’s hard to be present in a social interaction when I need to run off to the next thing in 45 minutes. By giving my social calendar room to breathe, I can connect and flow with whoever I’m with without restrictions.

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In Persian culture (my nationality!!) spring marks the first day of the calendar year. Nowruz, the holiday that takes place on the vernal equinox (the day when day and night are the same length), is a massive celebration of renewal and new beginnings. Marked with symbols of rebirth, strength, love, health, and wisdom, Persians view spring as sacred and joyous.

So, bloom. Fucking blossom.

xoxo

Lily