Ostara

From out of the cold death of winter

The time is at hand - light and dark now balanced

Life begins to stir in the fields, no longer barren and still

A new day comes and the Green Goddess dances across the land

Warmed by the gentle smile of the Sun God once more

Out of the long night now open the gates of dawn

New light, new life, new color for the world

As buds swell on the trees, and shoots spring from the earth

All creatures stir and begin to wake.

Lord of the forest, Maiden of the field, return to our land once again

Look to what dawning lies ahead, put away the dark days behind

Warm us with the rising sun, wash us with the gentle rain

Make us pure and whole once again

Renew the light , Renew the life,  Rejoice in the new day

The world gives birth once more to the promise of what is yet to come

Just reread "The Prophet". The whole book is beautifully written but the chapter "On Religion" really speaks to living your beliefs, not just proclaiming them. Thought I'd share...

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"On Religion" - from The Prohpet by Kahlil Gibran

Have I spoken this day of aught else?

Is not religion all deeds and all reflection,

And that which is neither deed nor reflection, but a wonder and a surprise ever springing in the soul, even while the hands hew the stone or tend the loom?

Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupations?

Who can spread his hours before him, saying, "This for God and this for myself; This for my soul, and this other for my body?"

All your hours are wings that beat through space from self to self.

He who wears his morality but as his best garment were better naked.

The wind and the sun will tear no holes in his skin.

And he who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage.

The freest song comes not through bars and wires.

And he to whom worshipping is a window, to open but also to shut, has not yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn.

Your daily life is your temple and your religion.

Whenever you enter into it take with you your all.

Take the plough and the forge and the mallet and the lute,

The things you have fashioned in necessity or for delight.

For in revery you cannot rise above your achievements nor fall lower than your failures.

And take with you all men:

For in adoration you cannot fly higher than their hopes nor humble yourself lower than their despair.

And if you would know God be not therefore a solver of riddles.

Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children.

And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain.

You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees.