Snowdrops & Imbolc

Early February when I was still living on Long Island was cold with some snow still on the ground. My family planted many flowers and the ones above-called Snowdrops were always the first ones to sprout and show their blooms.

These little flowers heralded the reminder that Spring was on its way. The days are lengthening, and we are noticing the days getting longer and the nights shorter.

We also have a New Moon in Aquarius today which is another reminder of new beginnings and maybe time to set some intentions.

This day is also the equal distance between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. This fact may be why we came up with Groundhog Day and whether it sees its shadow or not and “predicts” a longer winter or not.

But there is also a much older belief to this time of year that was celebrated. The name for today would be called Imbolc. This is the seasonal time when the earth is awakening from its winter sleep. The sap is rising in the trees as they rouse themselves from a long sleep. Seeds start sending their green shoots up to meet the sun as it starts warming the earth. This is a time for new beginnings and not only for the earth and nature but for us also.

Do you feel within yourself the first stirrings of the year? Pause and be still and just breathe in and out and see if you can feel something stirring within you. Perhaps it is someplace you suddenly have a desire to visit or someone you want to call and see how they are.

This is the time now to decide what are some things you want to do this early part of the year. What intentions (no, not goals) do you want to have in your heart? What calls you and your passions to make you feel more alive and in yourself. What things do you want to manifest for your deep self?

For myself, I want to be more real with myself. What does that look like or even mean?

I guess being easy with myself about my emotions. Not telling myself that I should feel this way or that way. I should feel the right way, and something must be wrong if I don’t. I need to let myself just be me and stop trying to fit myself into someone else’s box. I need to stop being so hard with myself. This being too hard on ourselves is something we all do.

We all do this way too much by thinking we should be more like this person or that person rather than just accepting who we are and that we are okay.

I am going to take a hot bath and strike a match and light a candle and see what comes up in the water. It’s a new moon tonight and new beginnings are waiting to be called.  It’s time to stick my toes in the waters and let myself be.

How about you? How do you celebrate new beginnings and new intentions? I would love to hear.