New Yorkers need only look up — with eye protection — on the afternoon of April 8 for a view of the biggest celestial event of the year: a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse is seen as a time of transformation and renewal. The spiritual symbolism of an eclipse is a way to let go of old patterns, a release of negative energy and promotes personal growth and change. Like a New Year’s party during the day with a lot less alcohol consumption. When the sun disappears during an eclipse, we can use this time to set intentions and focus on things we want to accomplish once the sunlight comes back as the start of a new cycle in our world.
As an urban farmer I welcome the restart of one of my favorite hobbies - gardening. A little playing in the dirt and mud therapy is beneficial to offset the strains and daily responsibilities of being a funeral director.
The next total solar eclipse isn’t for another 20 years, the tulips and the crocuses won’t be back for another 12 months. While both the eclipse and the start of spring can be seen as a time for self renewal, funeral directors can be notorious for putting others ahead of ourselves. Let’s celebrate these two wonderful forces of nature and try to take the do-over nature is giving us this April.
April is also a reminder that all funeral directors are required to have completed 12 hours of CEUs for the upcoming license renewal at the end of June. NYSFDA offers free CEUs to members and I urge you to keep scrolling for further details on those upcoming classes and dates.
The Tribute Foundation offers three scholarships, and the application period is open. These three scholarships all have different criteria for the applicant and I highly recommend all interested parties to check the requirements of these three different and very unique offerings by visiting www.tributefoundation.org/scholarships.
In closing, remember this month starts with April Fool’s Day, the middle of the month we all have to make sure our taxes have been paid, and the month closes out by celebrating National Oatmeal Cookie Day on the 30th, a pretty good way to close out a month by enjoying one or two of my favorite cookies.
In partnership,
John O. D’Arienzo