30 Jan 04

Happy Imbolc/Oimelc... or Candlemas... or Groundhog Day (even though he saw his shadow)!

Imbolc (or Oimelc) is vaguely halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Well, sort of. I say it "Imm-MELK" but some say "Imm-BOLLK" or even "Imm-BOLL-luck" which always makes me blush because it sounds like the word bollux.

Imbolc is like the start of the new year, but not quite. It's the signal to start preparing for the new year. It's when people, literally or figuratively, start looking at seed catalogues and planning the upcoming year's harvest.

Weather traditions...

In England, some people say, If Candlemas be fair and bright, winter has another flight. Or, If Candlemas brings cloud and rain, winter will not come again.

In Scotland, one variation is: If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be twa (two) winters in the year.

And they say that the German equivalent is, A shepherd would rather see a wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than see the sun shine. There, as in many European countries, it's not the groundhog but the badger who sees his shadow to forecast a longer winter.

No matter what, in agricultural traditions, people checked their larders for food. At this point, they still needed to have half their food left from the harvest, before fresh food would be available again.

And yesterday, the 1st, was often celebrated by adding extra wood to the fire, celebrating St. Bridget's Day (or Bride's Day). On the 2nd (today), the fires at the watchtowers and atop hills were lit, since the worst weather of winter would be passed.

In my own life, things are changing. Putting the pain of the past six months on paper seemed to release a lot of tension and anxiety. I'm not finished venting, but this is good. It's clearing the soil for the new seeds that I'm planting. And, my gut tells me that I need to be planting new seeds. Seeds of permanence and stability, I suppose. I'm not sure, but it's definitely taking me in a new direction. I can't help thinking of England again, and I don't know why.

Things are changing in my world. I'm looking forward again. Choosing a new, better future. With love and happiness, and all good things.

Wishing you rich and creative days filled with dazzling inspiration,

What I'm reading right now: Inner Temple Witchcraft, by Chris Penczak
What I'm listening to right now: Fleetwood Mac's 'The Dance'
What I'm watching right now: The Very Thought of You

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