Crow Lady Healing

05/19/2026

Last week the Baltimore Orioles did not arrive at the time they usually return. I started to get nervous. I didn’t see their flashing orange and black feathers through the leaves of the trees or hear their wordy cheerful song.

I tried to be patient.

The trees were full of songbirds.
But no Baltimore Orioles.

I started to worry about the challenges these birds face: climate change, predators, human encroachment on their habitat, pesticides and more.
I felt sad and I started really thinking about the 30% reduction in songbirds since I was a child in the 70’s and how when we used to drive at night there were so many flying insects it was like driving through a cloud of bugs and now the insects are so sparse.
There has been a 45% decrease in insects over the last 40 years!

That led to feeling despair about living on a beautiful planet that could provide for everyone and support diverse animal and plant life if it weren’t run with absolutely suicidal systems created by terrifyingly cruel and stupid sociopaths.

After a day of feeling down and defeated I stepped inside from the lush blooming yard. When I got to the kitchen, I was shocked and delighted to hear the bright song of a Baltimore Oriole coming through the window. Then I (finally!) saw the flash of orange and black among the cloud of light pink flowers of the tree out the window.

I thought of all the grieving I had done when I could have just been a bit more patient.

And of course my grieving wasn’t wrong.
Things are desperate in this world, yes.

But I thought of this Instagram post
that I had seen that really resonated with that said,

“Today in therapy I learned, ‘But you can’t pre-grieve yourself into safety, you can only shorten your joy.’”

There is no safety from the volatility and ultimate end of human life, which is of course part of what makes it all so precious.
All life.
Like the Baltimore Oriole that is now singing up and down my yard morning until night. The joy and relief I feel is profound. This season is so fleeting and magnificent like so many parts of this life.❤️

05/18/2026

Rainy spring walks!!
I’ve been working a lot, but we have been taking some walks and getting out in this glorious time of year.

My mayapple is growing by the compost again, the bleeding heart and giant Solomon’s seal by the door are showing off like they do this time of year.

An allium opening and the Asian pear starting to fruit. ❤️

Lily of the Valley in a neighbor’s yard, a crabapple tree that smelled wonderful and our neighbor’s sweet Bluebird camera set up to watch the baby birds. ❤️
They are growing so quickly.

Then the last of the Magnolia blooming and the first of some lilacs!
And so many birds!
And so many unfurling pristine leaves.

I think May might be my favorite. 😘
You?

05/18/2026

Pre-grieving is a trap

05/07/2026

Rainy spring walk with blooming flowers and song birds! ❤️

The bluets on the neighbor’s hill, a shagbark hickory that looks like a firework shooting out of its bud, violets, apple blossoms, papaw buds! on the our little tree and bleeding hearts and some of the song birds we heard while walking.❤️

05/06/2026

05/01/2026

Come to beautiful .noho Friday night May 1st for a celebration of the Full Flower Moon and Beltane - the Celtic holiday honoring the midway point between spring and summer, the releasing of what no longer serves us and collaborating with the vibrant energy in nature of this growing season of transformation to shift the energy of our lives.

Come join us!
It’s a lovely space.
And it is very nourishing to connect in ritual with other people, the moon and the energies of the earth especially in challenging times like these!

💐❤️🌕💐❤️🌕

05/01/2026

Happy Beltane!! 💐
And the Full Flower Moon.

This is the season for beginning again!

I did many 10 day Buddhist silent meditation retreats before becoming a parent and feel like having meditation instructions repeated over and over instilled them in my brain.
The gentle, almost playful reminder of that the most basic tenant to begin again.
The assumption is that you will be blown off course.
You will forget all of your high ideals and intentions, you will do things that you didn’t need to do, get distracted even completely forget.
That is expected.
Because you are human.
And then when you realize you have gone off course - you notice.
And noticing it is a beneficial and auspicious thing.
Because once you notice you can stop, assess and begin again and then soon you will have another opportunity to create and complete that cycle.
The marvelous thing about knowing you will have to begin again is you don’t have to beat yourself up and get twisted about why you fell off course.
Because you noticed!
What a miracle!
What a blessing!
Now begin again.
The instructions that most resonate with me is to treat your mind like a toddler - like a sweet distracted toddler and take their metaphorical hand and gently bring yourself back into focus.
This method is much more effective and also much more pleasant than shame or scolding.
You are human, so you are just doing what a human does.
Expect it.
And begin again.

In this season things are starting over and we can sync up with the energy and take a moment to see what we might want to dust off and start up again or what we might want to rip out while the roots are still small to make space for what we actually want.

Take a moment to look at what you are creating.
Notice.
And begin again!

Another way to engage with this enlivening time of year is to come to the full flower full moon circle on Friday and join in a ritual to release and renew.

💐🌕💐🌕💐🌕

05/01/2026

Beginning Again

04/28/2026

Full Moon Circle this Friday May 1st 7pm noho
Top floor of Thornes Market in Northampton.

Come join us in celebrating the Full Flower Moon!

We’ll listen to great poems. meditate, journal and dance in ritual together.

It’s a really fun and loving environment to release and let go of the heaviness and the challenges of the previous month and step into the illumination of the Full moon with insight and curiosity.

Sign up in the link and come join us! ❤️🌕