Physical Setting & Preparation
Seek a place where you can feel the movement of air on your skin—perhaps near an open window, in a garden, or on a porch. If possible, position yourself where you can observe clouds moving across the sky or branches swaying in the breeze. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, or sit comfortably with your spine straight but relaxed. Extend your arms outward briefly, then bring your hands to rest on your heart. Take several deep breaths, inviting the mid-April air to fill you completely—air that carries the scent of blossoms, of fresh growth, of earth awakening.
Opening Invocation | Fosgladh
"Tha mi ag iarraidh stiùireadh na gaoithe, stiùireadh an earraich, agus an stiùireadh a tha a' tighinn bho na speuran farsaing." (I seek the guidance of the wind, the guidance of spring, and the guidance that comes from the vast skies.)
Feel yourself present at this specific moment in spring's unfolding journey. April 18th stands in the deepening embrace of the season—a time when the momentum of life's renewal has become unmistakable. The days stretch noticeably longer, birds call with increasing confidence, and each morning brings fresh evidence of growth and change.
Body of the Working | Corp
"Ann an làithean meadhanach a' Ghiblein, tha a' ghaoth ag innse sgeulachdan atharrachaidh." (In these middle days of April, the wind tells stories of change.)
As mid-April surrounds you, observe the constant movement in the living world. Nothing remains static—clouds reshape themselves across the sky, new leaves tremble in the breeze, birds ride currents of air to new locations. This is a season of transition, of becoming, of perpetual motion. Yet within this dynamic time, you may find yourself experiencing anxiety.
"Eadar an t-seann dòigh agus an dòigh ùr, tha iomagain a' gluasad mar a' ghaoth nach urrainn dhomh fhaicinn ach as urrainn dhomh fhaireachdainn." (Between the old way and the new way, anxiety moves like the wind I cannot see but can feel.)
Anxiety often arises during times of change and uncertainty. Like April itself—suspended between winter's departure and summer's arrival—anxiety marks the threshold between what was and what will be. It quickens the breath, heightens awareness, and prepares the body for what might come.
The Deep Working | An Obair Dhomhain
"Tha iomagain mar a' ghaoth a' bagairt stoirm—ag innse dhomh gum bu chòir dhomh fasgadh a lorg no gum bu chòir dhomh deiseil a bhith." (Anxiety is like the wind that threatens storm—telling me I should find shelter or I should be prepared.)
Close your eyes and visualize yourself as a tree in April wind. Your branches sway, your leaves flutter, perhaps even your trunk bends slightly with strong gusts. Yet your roots remain anchored in earth, drawing stability from the depths even as your upper portions respond to the air's movement. The wind does not break you but invites suppleness, flexibility, resilience.
"Mar a bhios a' Mhàthair Talamh a' cumail gach craobh tro ghaoth is stoirm, tha i a' cumail mise tro m' iomagain." (As Mother Earth holds each tree through wind and storm, she holds me through my anxiety.)
Feel Mother Earth's steadying presence rising through you from below. She remains stable through every season, every storm, every transformation. She does not resist the wind but incorporates its movement into her dance of life. She knows that what feels threatening often carries seeds, pollen, and the promise of renewal.
"Chan eil iomagain na nàmhaid; 's e teachdaire a th' ann, ag innse dhomh gu bheil cùram agam mu na tha ri teachd, gu bheil luach agam air na dh'fhaodadh a bhith ann." (Anxiety is not an enemy; it is a messenger, telling me that I care about what is coming, that I value what might be.)
Allow your awareness to expand to include your anxiety fully. Rather than fighting against its energy, listen to what it might be telling you about what matters deeply. Like April wind that feels chaotic yet serves the greater purpose of pollination and seed dispersal, anxiety carries information about your values and attachments. Mother Earth teaches that we can be both moved by the winds of anxiety and grounded in deeper wisdom.
Afterthought | Smuain Dheiridh
Take a moment to contemplate:
What might your anxiety be trying to protect or preserve? What wisdom might it carry about what matters most to you in times of change?
Closing Blessing | Beannachd Dheiridh
"Gun robh freumhan domhainn agad anns an talamh, gun robh sùbailteachd agad anns a' ghaoith, agus gun robh thu a' faireachdainn sìth eadhon nuair a bhios an stoirm mun cuairt ort." (May you have deep roots in the earth, may you have flexibility in the wind, and may you feel peace even when the storm surrounds you.)
Carry with you the understanding that anxiety, like April's changeable winds, serves life's continuation. As you return to your day, remember that you walk with the wisdom of Mother Earth, who remains steadfast through every season while embracing the necessary movements that bring renewal.