Find a place where you can observe the interplay of sunlight and shadow. Perhaps beneath a tree where dappled light filters through new leaves, or near a hedge where birds dart in and out of concealment. Bring a small bowl of earth and a vessel of water to represent the elements. Position yourself so that part of your body is in light and part in shadow, embodying the threshold between different states of being

Anns a' Chèitean làn beatha, air an dàrna latha deugIn May full of life, on the twelfth day

Tha mi a' seasamh eadar solas is dubharI stand between light and shadow

Mar a' ghealach a' fàs làn, a' tilgeil solas air an oidhcheLike the waxing moon, casting light upon the night

Mar sin tha mise, eadar dà shaoghalSo am I, between two worlds

Feel the energy of mid-May surrounding you. The sun's power increases daily as we move toward summer solstice. The Earth responds with explosive growth—leaves unfurl hourly, blossoms open to receive pollinating insects, and birdsong fills the air from dawn until dusk. Today we work with this vibrant energy while embracing the twin emotions of enthusiasm and anxiety—both natural responses to the accelerating rhythms of the season.

A' coimhead air a' chraobh, tha mi a' faicinn duilleagan is dubharLooking at the tree, I see leaves and shadow

Chan eil an dara fear ann gun am fear eileOne cannot exist without the other

Mar sin mo thogradh is m' iomagainSo too my enthusiasm and my anxiety

On this twelfth day of May, we acknowledge the powerful surge of life energy that flows through the natural world. This surge brings with it both enthusiasm—the desire to grow, expand, and express—and anxiety, the natural concern about having sufficient resources for this expansion.

Enthusiasm and anxiety—these seemingly opposite emotions actually arise from the same source.

Togradh—miann airson fàs is beathaEnthusiasm—desire for growth and life

Iomagain—cùram mu dheidhinn an fhàis sinAnxiety—concern about that growth

Feel the enthusiasm in your body—the quickening of your pulse, the energy in your limbs, the desire to move, create, and engage with life. This is the same enthusiasm that causes seeds to burst their shells and reach toward the sun. Let this feeling expand in your chest, a warm glow that radiates outward.

Now, acknowledge the anxiety that accompanies this enthusiasm—the flutter in your stomach, the heightened awareness, the concern about having enough time, energy, or resources. In nature, this manifests as the careful allocation of energy—the plant that must decide whether to produce more leaves or begin flowering, the bird that must balance nest-building with foraging.

Ann an togradh, tha mi coltach ris a' bhlàth a' fosgladhIn enthusiasm, I am like the flower opening

Ann an iomagain, tha mi coltach ris an fhreumh a' rannsachadh na talmhainnIn anxiety, I am like the root searching the earth

Allow both emotions to exist within you simultaneously. Notice how enthusiasm provides the energy to move forward, while anxiety offers the discernment to move wisely. Neither is complete without the other; together they create a balanced approach to growth.

Leig le d' anail a dhol domhain mar an sruthLet your breath go deep like the stream

A' gluasad eadar clach is clachMoving between stone and stone

Le togradh agus cùram còmhlaWith enthusiasm and care together

Visualize yourself as a young tree in mid-May. Your branches stretch upward with enthusiasm, seeking sunlight and expression. Simultaneously, your roots grow downward with careful anxiety, seeking water and stability. Neither movement contradicts the other—they are complementary aspects of the same life force.

Feel enthusiasm in your upper body—the chest expanding, shoulders relaxing, head lifting toward the sky. Feel anxiety in your lower body—the rooting of your feet, the awareness of your center of gravity, the careful assessment of your foundation.

Tha togradh is iomagain mar dhà thaobh an aon duilleigEnthusiasm and anxiety are like two sides of the same leaf

Aon taobh a' glacadh solas na grèineOne side catching the sun's light

An taobh eile a' dìon an duilleag bho theasThe other protecting the leaf from heat

Now imagine that you can feel the heartbeat of the Earth Mother through your feet. With each beat, feel how she balances enthusiasm and anxiety in perfect rhythm—the enthusiastic expansion of growth always paired with the anxious conservation of resources. Nothing is wasted; everything serves the greater cycle.

Bring your awareness to places in your life where enthusiasm and anxiety meet. Perhaps a creative project, a relationship in transition, or a new beginning. See how the Earth Mother teaches us to honor both emotions as necessary aspects of healthy growth.

A' Mhàthair Thalmhainn, teagaisg dhomh an dannsa seoEarth Mother, teach me this dance

Eadar miann is cùramBetween desire and caution

Eadar gluasad is foisBetween movement and rest

Ann am bàigh leat, gheibh mi leigheasIn communion with you, I find healing

Rest in this balanced awareness for several breaths. Feel how enthusiasm without anxiety can become reckless expansion, while anxiety without enthusiasm can become fearful contraction. Together, they create mindful growth—the wisdom of the living Earth expressed through you.

Take a moment to contemplate:

How might recognizing both enthusiasm and anxiety as natural, complementary forces help you navigate periods of growth and change in your life? What wisdom does the Earth Mother offer about the relationship between expansion and conservation?

Buidheachas don Mhàthair ThalmhainnGratitude to the Earth Mother

Airson togradh a bheir orm gluasadFor enthusiasm that moves me forward

Airson iomagain a chumas mi sàbhailteFor anxiety that keeps me safe

Gun robh an cothromachadh seo annamMay this balance be within me

Mar a tha e anns gach duilleag is freumhAs it is in every leaf and root

Beannachd leibh, a spioradan an dùthcha seoBlessings with you, spirits of this land

Gum bi sìth eadarainn gus an till miMay there be peace between us until I return