I was raised in the Christian tradition, but Easter isn’t only for Christians. Easter is a celebration of rebirth, and after I was raised in the Christian tradition. I was taught that Easter is a celebration of the rise of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion – his transcendence of the material world.
However, I also learned early on that Easter isn’t only for Christians. For many people, Easter is also a celebration of spring – the season of rebirth and hope. In fact, the word Easter originates from Eostre or Ostara, the Celtic goddess of spring. Regardless of what religious tradition you follow, this holiday holds tremendous beauty and power.
It encourages us to cultivate a deep desire to show up more authentically for ourselves and others. It’s a time of renewal, reinvention, and transformation – a time to sweep away old patterns and emerge invigorated and full of possibility. Are you ready to be reborn – and in triumph and truth, rise from the ashes this Easter?
The Journey of Rebirth
Rebirth is a theme across many spiritual philosophies. The belief that we can rise above our ego, mind, and death is powerful because it means we’re not just our thoughts, feelings, and physical bodies. We’re part of something greater that isn’t bound by time, space, or form. Easter is intimately linked with the body’s resurrection, which is a metaphor for “waking up” to higher consciousness. Each time you let go of old thoughts, beliefs, or behaviors that have kept you trapped in fear, pain, or anger, you’re reborn.
How are you feeling right now? Are you at peace with the moment or are you resisting and reacting to life? Your outer life is a reflection of your inner life. All the external elements of your life have a deep anchor in your spirit. If you want to change the external elements of yourself and your experiences, you must begin within. There is no other way. What people refer to as “enlightenment” or “nirvana” is a state of consciousness that’s free of the suffering created by the mind.
There are many practices that suggest paths leading to this freedom. Yoga, meditation, and spiritual teachings can be very helpful in guiding yourself to your inner wisdom, but ultimately, it’s a personal journey and there’s no one way to do it.
Sometimes, it seems like there’s so much to learn and so much work to do to get to that “better” place where your troubles will finally disappear. But that point of view is just another mental obstacle that prevents you from accepting life as it’s happening, with peace and presence. The essence of spirituality is remembering your true nature.
It requires letting go of attachments, control, and even who you think you’ve known yourself to be. All rebirths come through some sort of death. To rise from all that has died, be honest about your current way of living. Change at a deep level requires getting real with what you’re doing right now.
So, what’s been going on with you today?
Reflect on these questions to identify old patterns you can shift to rise anew
1) What thoughts were repeating in your head, even while doing something else?
2) Think about the people you interacted with. How did your personal feelings affect your words and the way you said them? And did you listen?
3) How many times did you resist what was happening (inside you or out), even if only in your head?
4) How did you feel overall? Were you anxious, irritated, frustrated, or impatient? Or at ease and pretty happy with things?
5) Did you spend more effort …
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