Imbolc Time-Slow Awakening-Long Quickening

 Endless large amounts of snow forever
but Spring will come.

 

This Winter has been unrelenting,
severe at times, 
silent and beautiful most times,
scary sometimes.
This February has been brutally cold 
and though there have been some sunny days,
the endless grey
seeps into my soul. 

The trees know
and show us 
their first blush of color
even as we are consumed
in a monochromatic 
somnambulist
existence. 

Cruelty and abuse of Power
continues to destroy,
it is hard to only be active
and not also be angry,
especially when the winds blow,
we have to love.

Life will return to the Earth
(as Death will come to us all)
cycles upon cycles upon cycles,
no fear.  

Rain and melt begin.
More snow in the forecast.
Blizzards may hit us,
but nothing stops seasonal
change.

Being in stasis, we slowly move forward.
Fissures gently open,
imperceptibly.

Strength in numbers.

Notes and Pics
from then and now:

at this time of Imbolc
 we let go of what we no longer need
(and the cold and snow and silence demand that)
but the increased angle of the sun
and the stirrings of the Earth
draw us forward
fiercely and with love
like our dear 
Goddess Bridget

Birds Singing 

dropping and not breaking
dropping and breaking

ritual prep of cleaning and clearing
included a week of moving snow
carving space
again and again

the Portal Log
made of Sassafras
filled with sticks
that were part of stick breaking sticks
and herbs like mistletoe
yarrow and rowan berries

preparing the hearth
preparing the body
layers of prayers
layers of warmth

inner fire build-up
candle flame
on and off and on

magic

 

 concentration and effort
giving it the room to smoke
very good smelling fire
logs & pine clippings
chicken fat
meta-sequoia pine cones
flower heads

the Grand Marnier

old pomegranate
outsiders offering
not sliding on the snow
but immediately sinking in
completely instantly accepted

 

a time of grief
and mourning 
and releasing

photo by Katrina

offering all of the flowers
that had been on the hearth
one of each kind from the garden
last year
for Bridget
as healer
as protector
singer of song

snow-blind magical space

breaking ice
breaking ICE
snow covered but not completely frozen
EARTH

Let the hatred leave men's hearts.
Let the guns no longer work.
Let those who have been harmed,
heal and find justice.

the wooden portal of smoke
filled with embers
and going infinitely down
through the worlds
consumed all sacrifice 
but wouldn't burn
until they gave it the breath of life
and we had warming fire
in the extreme cold

photo by Katrina

 

 

the difference between 
natural light
and screen light

still warm waters
the liquid well
sliding on the iced well
just to the edge
without falling off
and freezing over
by the end of ritual

sizzling chicken fat
working the fire

this Earth
this time of year
drawing down
inwards

the potato

Worm Wood final sacrifice

casting the Omens- photo by Katrina

Our Omens

from our Beloved Ancestors: Elwaz- the Spindle or Spine, 
the Yew, the Death's Crook,
that center of revolution
from the Spirits of Nature & Place:Othala- Sacred Enclosure, the Home
from the Gods & Goddesses: Fehu- the fee, what things cost, mobile wealth
from Bridget and the Season: Sowelu- the Sun

Ogham: Ruis- the Elder, the Regenerative Grandmother tree

Virtue: COURAGE

Thrice through Bridget's Girdle

transformation is real
good prayers

giving space for the magic
being inside that space
like a cloud

 

All Sacrifice and Offerings

consumed.
What you put out there is.

sometimes potluck is all the same color tone

Welcoming Bridget 
into our home and hearth
is a joyous blessing