In February, the Pacific Northwest saw a huge accumulation of snowfall that covered the ground for nearly a month in some areas. The winter weather before this snowfall had been mild and pleasant, so much so that my red poppy bloomed in early February, the earliest I had seen it bloom.

The white flakes begin to gently stick to the now closed up poppy, contrasting against the vibrant red petals, slowly as the snow piled up, the poppy bent under the weight and within hours, it was completely encased by an igloo of snow.

Over the days and weeks, the earth sat quietly under the blanket of snow, and so did my poppy, leaving no trace of the vibrant reds that once stood proud. But slowly, as the snow melted, the poppy was exposed, soaking up the warmth and life of the sun.

Even after weeks of being completely enveloped by snow, the poppy flower survived and once again stands upright and tall toward the sky in all its vibrancy. It had been flexible to the changing conditions around it and sought refuge near the earth until the time returned for it to resume its natural behavior.

I have had this poppy for many years, it did not plan to be covered in snow  but because of the unusual spring-like weather of mid-winter, it bloomed before the normal time for this flower to bloom, but by being flexible and adaptable, it was able to survive the unexpected hardship and now it is blooming stronger than ever by building a new resiliency.

Women inherently have this same level of resiliency in regard to birth, but what was different for this poppy, is that no one ever told this poppy that the snow would be hard, and it would hurt and it should probably just give up and hope that someone will guard it from the snow. Instead, it closed up tight and nestled into the earth where the snow formed a cocoon and actually protected it from the freezing temperatures in the air. It followed its inner Natural Compass and was able to withstand the unexpected events.

When women have the right preparation and know how to follow their Natural Birth Compass, they experience the same level of inherent knowledge, regardless of unexpected events that may arise in birth. This is the gift each of us is born with if we choose to discover what is truly possible in birth and life.

Learn more about Cycle's of Nature by downloading the free guide here!