Imbolc Awakenings

Imbolc Awakenings

by | Feb 1, 2025 | Seasons

 

Imbolc, the return of the light

Winter is still with us, although now, in a moody phase. One day, it is frosty, stormy, and inhospitable, and a couple of days later, the sun pops out to tease us. But there is one sure signal that things are shifting ever so slightly: the days are noticeably longer now.

Imbolc is the season of Brighid, a Maiden Goddess, who signifies the growing light. Every passing day, the sun adds a few minutes of light as it climbs ever higher in the sky.

To be sure, at the beginning of February, it is still winter. But, if you look closely, you will notice the swelling buds. Some precocious little flowers bravely defy all the odds, pushing their way through the snow, or leaf litter: snowdrops, winter aconite or dwarf crested irises are among the earliest and toughest. Without a doubt, the life force stirs deep within the earth. Last season’s seeds are swollen with water, ready to germinate. The wheel of the seasons is turning, and the sap rises again.

Purification and Fasting

Imbolc, or ‘Candlemas’ in Christian terminology, is the festival of the growing light, a time of cleansing and purification. It prepares us for the season of Lent. 

In the past, Lent was a period of abstinence and fasting to cleanse the body from the residues of heavy winter foods to prepare for spring and the new cycle of growth.

 

Envisioning the future

At Imbolc, we visualise the possibilities that lie ahead. During this liminal time of transition, we consult the Gods make plans, take vows and pledge affirmations. Take time out to prepare yourself for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, virtues and vices. Commit to your soul’s journey. 

What nourishment does your soul need? What are your intentions? And how do you want to give back to life? Are you walking your talk?

Imbolc is a good time to select your seeds and charge them with intention. It is a time to kindle your inner flame. Take care of the growing but delicate light. Soon the Sun will rise, and its power will grow strong again.

 

Autumn Equinox

Autumn Equinox

by | Sep 25, 2024 | Seasons

Happy Autumn Equinox!

On the Autumn Equinox, night and day are equal. Light and dark are in perfect balance. The Equinox marks the beginning of the end of the harvest season. We celebrate the gifts of the Earth and give thanks. In the Northern Hemisphere, the life-force begins its slow decline as it retreats into the subterranean realm of Hades. The days are getting shorter and cooler; summer is over. We celebrate the joys of the summer and are grateful for the harvest blessings. 

The end of the summer is often intensely busy with hunting for nuts and mushrooms, preserving the gifts of the Earth and preparing for the coming dark season.
Stock up the larder and gather the supplies you need to see you through the winter. 

Returning to work, we concentrate and focus on our projects and goals. But don’t forget to enjoy the pleasures of this in-between season, as nature explodes its dazzling display of autumn colours.

Image by Sabrina Ripke from Pixabay

Lughnasad – Harvest Time

Lughnasad – Harvest Time

by | Aug 1, 2024 | Seasons

The time of the grain harvest

Lughnasad marks the harvest season. Fruits and vegetables ripen, the grain has turned golden, and the grapes grow plump and sweet. It is an intensely busy and happy time, especially for gardeners. We toiled in the spring, and now it is time to harvest the fruit of our labour and enjoy them. 

The period from spring to late summer is fraught with danger. Late frosts can kill sensitive starts, and summer storms may ruin a crop in just a few minutes. A good harvest is always hoped for, but never guaranteed. This year, we are witnessing the devastating effects of climate change. After many years of exceedingly hot and dry springs and summers, this year we had unseasonably wet weather. Without water, there is no life. But too much water is no good either. It washes away the topsoil and drowns plants and animals.

 

In the Christian tradition, Lammas marks the harvest season. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘hlaf-mas’, meaning ‘loaf mass’. Bread and wine are the traditional sacraments of the Eucharist. And this is the period, when corn and grapes are getting ready to harvest.

 

But harvesting the seeds is only one stage of the perpetual cycle of life. Ideally, what we harvest now should sustain and nourish us through the winter, when the Earth is barren and still.  To sustain life, a part of the harvest is sacrificed and returned to the earth. We reap as we sow, but we also sow what we reap.

Facing the unravelling climate catastrophe, we are grateful for anything we can harvest today. We must change our practices and learn to adapt and live more sustainably. We depend on Mother Earth and if we want this cycle to continue and provide for our children and children’s children, we must act now.

There are many solutions, but continuing in the old ways is not among them. 

The future starts now.

Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice

by | Jun 20, 2024 | Seasons

Happy Summer Solstice!

 

At Summer Solstice, the Sun reaches the zenith of its annual journey. We celebrate the longest day and shortest night. It is a magical time: nature is blossoming. The veil between the worlds is thin: sprites and spirits easily cross between them, and we may even glimpse the little folk.
The young Sun-God Bel and the earth goddess are reaching their peak in ecstatic embrace, and all nature takes part in their rapturous exuberance.
At Summer Solstice, we honour the Gods and celebrate the life force in all its abundance. Corresponding to the Winter Solstice and the 12 days of Christmas, the Summer Solstice is also celebrated for 12 days. This is a twilight zone where magic happens. At this time of the year, the gods walk among us and hear our prayers. We ask for protection, health, and sustenance and pray that they may protect our crops from summer storms and fires. We bless the corn and the crops, the barn and the animals.

The herbs are now at their most potent, and we gather our annual supplies of St. John’s Wort, Mugwort, Verbena, Chamomile, Mullein, Grund-Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) and more.
Spiritually, it is a time to seek guidance by divination or retreat on a vision quest to hold counsel with the gods. At this halfway point of the year, we reflect on how things have been going for the first 6 months. Did we follow our visions and achieve the goals we set at the beginning of the year? Are we on track, or did we get lost in the tall grass along the way?
Are those goals still relevant? If you have veered off the path, now is a time to realign with your highest goals and adjust course so you can sail successfully through the second half of the year .
If you are unsure of your direction, this is a perfect time to seek divine guidance by vision quest, pilgrimage or retreat – whichever way allows you to commune with the gods and silence the noise enough so you can hear the whispers of intuition.
Above all, Midsummer is a time of gatherings and celebrations – revelling around bonfires, dancing, feasting, and merry-making. These 12 days offer a break from usual activities and encourage us to soak up that pure life force in all its glory.

Happy Summer Solstice, everyone!

Happy Beltane!

Happy Beltane!

by | May 1, 2024 | Seasons

Happy Beltane!

On May 1, we celebrate Beltane, the festival of spring.

Mother Earth is donning her lushest gown of flowers and blossoms, and birds are singing from the trees. The heart rejoices, and the spirit soars!

Beltane is the season of blossoming fertility, joy, abundance and creativity. We celebrate the sheer miracle of life in all its beauty.

The God and the Goddess embody the undying force of life, and they are in love. Nature mirrors their bliss. Their dance turns the land green and lush with every step. Every fragrant flower is a kiss and a blessing, a sign of their adoration.

We are invited to join them and share in their passion. Let’s celebrate life! Beauty, love, and merry-making are our rituals, and the energy is tangible.

Gardeners witness and partake in this magic as they nurture young seedlings. But even if you don’t have a garden, you can still participate – just tend to your inner garden! Pour energy into your budding projects, and you will experience a similar phenomenon – the magic of creativity.

The secret ingredient of manifestation is the love and nurture with which we tend to our seed ideas.

Take the time to reflect on Mother Nature’s generosity, and practice gratitude and mindfulness to attune to every nuance of this blessed season.

Photo credit: Image by Ronny Overhate from Pixabay

Spring Equinox

Spring Equinox

by | Mar 20, 2024 | Seasons

Spring Equinox is here, and it is time to ponder the miraculous power of regeneration. Persephone has returned to the upper world and life has re-awakened. Buds are swelling, birds are singing, and flowers are bursting forth. There is joy and exuberance – despite the suffering and sorrow we must witness daily.

At the Spring Equinox, light and dark are hanging in the balance. But from now on, with every passing day, the sun gathers strength. Mother Earth, violated and scarred by war, yet again, still dons her spring garment and slowly turns the land lush and green.

 

Spring Equinox – Focus on what matters most

The garden is calling, and the soil is eager to receive the seeds. Are you tending a garden? What will you be growing this season?

The garden can be a physical space or a metaphorical one. The inner world is also a garden that needs attentive care, weeding, pruning and nurturing.

In the home, it is time to clear out the winter dust. Spring cleaning, painting, and decorating are on the agenda.

It is also time for inner cleansing. Nurture the spirit and the body by boosting your energy and vital spirit with fresh vitamins and nutrients of early spring herbs. When the body is strong, so is the mind!

 

Spring Equinox – Celebrate life

Get ready for the season, invite the sunshine in and make the most of these fleeting joys! Life becomes infinitely rich when we walk mindfully and celebrate each flower or butterfly.

Focus on what matters to you and make your intentions clear. Life is precious and short. The power to make your garden flourish lies in your hands. Use it.

The Spring Equinox is a time of new beginnings. Let’s celebrate the mysteries of rejuvenation and eternal return.