Why “Cherry Blossom” Insight?

Well, one blatant reason for the name Cherry Blossom Insight is that I have a large cherry blossom branch tattooed on my upper arm. I got this tattoo back before proper young ladies (sarcasm) got big tats on their arms, so I was constantly stopped and asked what the meaning was…Funny to look back on that because tattoos have become so common that they are hardly noticed nowadays. People used to get really annoyed when my response for what the meaning of my tattoo was: “It means that I don’t take myself too seriously.” They thought I was being a smart ass, but I was being 100% real. For me, getting that tattoo was about starting new, breaking free of the societal norms, and living unapologetically. What a liberating time that was — I had recently completely reinvented my life by walking away from a corporate career towards a creative and independent career. So that is one obvious reason for me to choose the name Cherry Blossom Insight. But there’s more…

Cherry blossoms, particularly in Japanese culture, carry deep spiritual significance and symbolism. These delicate flowers, which bloom briefly in spring, are often associated with themes of life, death, and renewal…which are heavily representing in tarot. Here are some key spiritual meanings of cherry blossoms:

1. Transience and Impermanence: The cherry blossom’s fleeting nature symbolizes the transient quality of life. The flowers bloom for a short time, often only for a week or two, before falling to the ground. This encourages mindfulness about the preciousness of the present moment.
2. Renewal and Rebirth: The cherry blossom’s appearance in spring, after the harsh winter, represents new beginnings, renewal, and the cycle of life. It symbolizes hope and the possibility of starting fresh, just as nature itself renews each year.
3. Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment: In some spiritual traditions, particularly within Zen Buddhism, cherry blossoms can symbolize the awakening of the soul and the path to enlightenment. The flowers’ brief and luminous existence reminds practitioners to live in the moment and embrace the fullness of life.
4. Love and Romance: Cherry blossoms are also associated with love, romance, and the beauty of relationships. In Japan, the sakura (cherry blossom) season is a time for people to gather under the blooming trees for “hanami” (flower viewing) picnics, symbolizing the joy of togetherness and the fleeting nature of human connection.
5. Connection to Nature and the Divine: In Shinto, the indigenous spirituality of Japan, nature is sacred and considered a reflection of the divine. Cherry blossoms, as a natural wonder, are revered as a manifestation of spiritual beauty and divine presence in the world.

In essence, cherry blossoms teach us to appreciate the beauty and delicate nature of life, to embrace change and renewal, and to find meaning in the fleeting moments that make life special.