Just like how on our birthday we celebrate another year of life, Spring is a rebirth, the season of new beginnings. This is a time of year when many animals are born and the land is transformed! Colorful and vibrant, flowers welcome emerging bugs to feast on the nectar, and pollinate the fruits to come. The vernal equinox takes place each year between the 20th and 23rd of March in the northern hemisphere. Between the 20th to 23rd to September and the southern hemisphere marks the first day of the astronomical spring and is the moment when the day is the same length as a night. From now on the days will continue to grow longer until the summer solstice. Each of the four seasons can be broken down into three months, 13 weeks, and 90 days. I use these numbers to make the most of each season, hold myself accountable to change, and track the data so I can optimize year after year. 

Spring is commonly known for its rainy days, blossoms, and Easter celebrations - which in the northern hemisphere falls on the first Sunday following the full moon and the vernal equinox. For Christians, Easter eggs are a symbol of the Resurrection. Eggs however are a symbol of creation and that New Life has been associated with the spring and rebirth and creation celebrations for millennia. The ancient Egyptians believe that the sun god raw hatched from a primal egg, the idea of a cosmic egg that gave birth the universe is found in many culture civilizations and religions, whichever your belief, the sharing of the eggs, especially decorated in chocolate ones, as a joyful experience to tie in with the spring celebrations. 

Frogs are a wonderful representation of spring's power to move into new beginnings. Frogs specifically are our companions on earth, as they have been for countless centuries. They live in the stories and myths of almost every human culture. The ancient Egyptians used the sign of the frog to write after the names of the deceased. The well-wishing term used read “live again.” Since a frog was a symbol of rebirth, it showed its role in the resurrection. Frogs were associated with resurrection because, during their hibernation period in the winters, they would put a stop to all their activities and hide among the stones. They remained stationary in pools or river banks till the dawn of spring. These hibernating frogs would not require any food to stay alive. It almost seemed like they were dead. When spring arrived, these frogs would jump out of the mud and slime and go back to being active. Hence, they became seen as symbols of resurrection and birth in ancient Egyptian culture. 

The life cycle of a frog starts with mating. A pair of adult frogs would engage in plexus while the female lays her eggs. Tadpoles start to grow inside the eggs and then metamorphose into juvenile frogs. The frogs develop hind legs and forelimbs but not yet transform into fully grown frogs. Tadpoles have their tails, but as they mature into a young frog, they lose their tails. Frogs are amphibians which stems from the Greek word amphibious, meaning “living a double life.” This is because their life is divided into two stages separated by metamorphosis. In the first stage, they grow and develop in the water while breathing through gills. Later, they will develop lungs, allowing them to live on land as adults. Frogs have smooth, moist skin and long legs, whereas toads are stout with rough, bumpy skin and shorter legs, making them less agile than frogs. However, toads can live away from water longer because their thick skin maintains moisture and protects them. Frogs are cold-blooded and need a specific living environment due to their unique skin. Excessive exposure to the sun can harm their cells. Too much wind might cause a frog’s skin to dry out, which will dehydrate them. If an ecosystem is disrupted or polluted with chemicals like herbicides and pesticides, amphibians are the first to die. This is why over half of frog populations are in danger of extinction. 

A frog’s ability to transition from one element to another and change its skin color depending on its environment represents change and transformation. You’ll also see this represented in fairy tales when a toad or frog is kissed; they’re changed into a prince, symbolizing rebirth and evolution. A frog’s spiritual meaning is associated with fertility, good luck, prosperity, money, transformation, new beginnings, love, and the Moon (due to its close connection with water).

Frogs are amphibians, spending their early life nurtured in water and once they emerge onto dry land as frogs. They are never far from a water source. The frog is recognized as a healer in North and South American Native customs, as well as Celtic traditions. Frog is believed to bring rain when needed. Water cleanses and gives the earth renewed freshness. Similarly frog’s medicine can wash away any negative physical and mental energies which deny us a balanced and peaceful life. The frog spirit also helps us to nourish our own innate ability to heal ourselves on all levels. The notion of renewal is frequently linked with water, representing the unblocking and smooth flow of energy for healing. Due to the fact that frogs are found in water and on land, they hold the magic of both. Those with frog medicine are extremely sensitive, and the use of mud baths is advised.

The deepest healing will always take place, and be fulfilled on the emotional level. Emotions are linked with water, especially tears. Some of us, especially men, are brought up to believe that crying is something to be ashamed of, that you are weak, wimpish or childish if you cry. When we deprive ourselves of this powerful form of emotional release, we bottle it all up and this can cause us to eventually reach unbelievable lows in our lives. Energies become blocked. With the frog’s assistance, we can begin to realize, and experience, tears as being natural and as necessary as rain. There are few species of frog who actually care for their offspring. After mating they abandon the eggs. Because of this, lessons to do with survival are common in people with frogs. Scientists believe that the frog population's health reflects the health of the entire ecosystem (as a whole). Frog is strongly linked with transformation and magic. 

This message is strongly represented in the story of the ‘Frog Prince’. In one version of the story, a queen was ill and could only be healed by drinking from the well of true water. Her 3 daughters tried to get the water, but each time a hideous frog refused them access unless they agreed to marry him. Alas, the youngest daughter agreed her mother was healed. To her delight she discovered that her hideous groom transformed into a gorgeous prince. This teaches us that in order to heal ourselves and others, it is often required to face that part of us that we have hidden from ourselves, because we find it unacceptable or ugly. When we can honestly look all aspects of ourselves in the face and accept them, we will find that the ugliness is washed away. Our true beauty shines, like the sun after healing rain.

We will continue to take birth and rebirth till we clear all our debts and dealings which we had developed with others. The best way to end the cycle of birth & rebirth is not to be greedy in accumulating wealth and better develop the habit of sharing it with our neighbors. Spring represents new beginnings. Perennials are coming back to life, trees are budding and

greens are sprouting out of the ground. Everywhere you look around you the colors and energies are changing from death to rebirth. Spring is a time when we can move forward into the next chapter of our life with more wisdom to become the change we wish to see.

Maybe it's not such a coincidence that you're here. At Elemental Growth, we are dedicated to inspiring all people to be their healthy best in a whole and holistic way. I am Ashley Michaud, Medicine Woman, Integrative Coach and Founder of Elemental Growth. I created this article to encourage and promote self-healing by aligning to nature's cyclical cycles. Your body has everything it needs to heal itself, we just have to activate it. The Elemental Growth tool box will guide you to tune in and nurture your body’s intuition, take a closer look at your health concerns and choose the foods you need to be your healthy best.

When implementing these lessons, take action with the intention of permanently changing your relationship with mama nature, because most health issues are symptoms of Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD). By integrating a personalized spiritual practice, regular physical activity and developing a healthy relationship food I am confident that you will find what feeds your soul. So, if you are ready to let go of the issues holding you back from being who you truly want to be then take a deep breath, take a big step and let's connect. You can call me at 1(705)956-0647 or email me, Ashley@ElementalGrowth.org

💜 Ashley