May brings us to Beltane, the last holiday of spring, and it has long been known as a celebration of love and fertility. When I think of May, my body begins to warm up and get excited. I find myself wandering through the garden, noticing what is finally pushing its way up through the ground, paying attention to what has been quietly preparing itself beneath the surface.

Just this morning, I stopped to speak to the violets and told them how beautiful they are. It was a sweet moment, knowing that these tiny flowers had been hiding away since last year, waiting until they had enough nutrients, light, and warmth to make themselves known. It reminded me that sometimes in life, we need enough nurturing, enough kindness, and enough inspiration before we are ready to bloom.

Something growing again feels important in my body because it shows me that we always have the opportunity to grow and change. We have seasons as humans just as nature does, and there is nothing wrong with needing time, space, or support before stepping into the next version of ourselves. The season of love is not just about romance; it is about how we live and how we choose to show up.

I believe love is something we practice every single day.

Love of Self

Self-love is often simplified into something that feels surface-level, but the reality of it is much deeper. It is not just about feeling good; it is about learning to accept and appreciate all parts of yourself, including the ones you once struggled with. This kind of love asks you to look honestly at who you are and to meet yourself with compassion instead of judgment.

For a long time, I struggled with how sensitive I was and how easily I would cry when I became emotionally overwhelmed. I saw it as a weakness and something I needed to control or hide. Over time, I began to understand that this sensitivity was actually a reflection of my ability to feel deeply and to connect.

Now, I love that part of myself.

It reminds me that I am human and that my emotions are not something to be feared or pushed away. Self-love also means recognizing that your past experiences, including addiction, trauma, co-dependency, or self-abandonment, all played a role in shaping who you are. These experiences had purpose, even if that purpose was not clear at the time.

On the days when you are struggling, self-love does not look like confidence or certainty. It looks like giving yourself grace, being kind to yourself, and not tearing yourself down for where you are. It looks like reaching out and asking for help, even when that feels difficult.

Love of the Journey

Loving yourself naturally expands into loving the journey you are on, especially when that journey includes healing and recovery. This is where love becomes something active, something you choose even when things feel messy, uncertain, or slow.

At the beginning of my recovery, I cried almost every time I shared my story or spoke about what I had gone through. At the time, it felt overwhelming, like I was fragile or too emotional, and I questioned whether I would ever feel steady. Looking back now, I can see that I was releasing the shame I had been carrying, and that release was necessary for me to move forward.

There was a moment about two years into my healing that showed me just how much had shifted. Someone snapped at me from a place of their own trauma, and I could feel the discomfort rise in my body almost immediately. Instead of reacting the way I once would have, I paused and told them that I did not think we were in a good place to talk right now.

That moment changed how I saw myself.

It was a reflection that growth had been happening, even when I did not always recognize it. Loving the journey means honoring those moments and continuing forward, even when there is resistance or when progress feels slower than you would like. It is choosing to stay on the path because you trust that something meaningful is unfolding.

Love of Devotion

As you begin to love yourself and the journey you are on, something else starts to open. There is a deeper layer of love that forms, one rooted in devotion. This is the love that connects you to something greater than yourself, whether that is your spiritual path, your intuition, or your sense of purpose.

I remember dancing in my living room one day and feeling as though my holy guardian angel was there with me, simply sharing in that moment. There was no performance, no expectation, just presence and connection. In that space, I felt an overwhelming sense of love flowing through me, not from someone else, but from within.

That experience shifted my understanding of love.

It showed me that love is not something we have to wait for or earn, but something we can access and embody. Devotion is choosing to return to that connection again and again, even when it is quiet or when life feels uncertain. It is trusting that there is something guiding you and supporting you as you continue forward.

Choosing Love, One Step at a Time

If you are struggling to love yourself right now, start by expressing love outward. Tell someone that you love them, do something kind, or offer support where you can. Sometimes, allowing ourselves to feel love for others can open the door to experiencing that same love within ourselves.

Love is not something reserved for a future version of you who has everything figured out. It is something you practice while you are still growing, still learning, and still becoming. The more you engage with it, the more natural it begins to feel.

You are not behind.

Just like the violets, you are growing in your own season, and that growth is happening whether you can see it yet or not. With enough care, warmth, and patience, you will bloom in the way you are meant to.

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Jen Romanowski, a.k.a. Sunshine Witchski, The Pink-haired Sober Witch, has been practicing witchcraft and spiritual healing for over 25 years. She is a spiritual advisor, recovery mentor, and founder of The Sober Witch Life movement. Visit soberwitch.life or text 313-595-4148 for guidance in your recovery. Or check out Amazon for her newly published book: Sober Witch Life: A Magickal Guide to Recovery.

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