Thursday, February 7, 2013
Help our Trees as nor'easter Nemo visits NJ!
There is another winter storm heading our way: Watch out for Nemo! They are calling for 6"-8"+ in northwest NJ with dangerous sustained wind gusts. Dr. Jim and Basia have tweaked the Storm Whispers that we used for previous storms, especially Superstorm Sandy last fall. No matter where you are, you can send these Storm Whispers to our Tree friends in the storm's path. Please help us to help them!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Celebrating Imbolc/Candlemas!
On February 1, Imbolc, also known as St. Brigid's day,
is the first chilly harbinger of the season. The Irish climate is
more mild than ours, so for the ancient Celts, February 1 was their
first day of spring. Calling it "Imbolc" (from the words for 'ewe's milk' or 'in the belly', depending on your source) because pregnant sheep and cows
began
to lactate at this time. In the US, our Groundhog Day (Feb 2)
celebrations with the anticipation of spring is a leftover from the
Celtic belief that magical animals come out of hibernation at this time.
Even in the cold northeast, Imbolc begins to show the early signs of approaching spring: the daylight is noticeably longer and there is a new, vibrant energy in the air. Have you noticed that more birds are singing in the early morning? And even a few hardy plants sometimes begin to show their first shoots. However, most of the activity is still underground. Imbolc celebrates the strengthening sun and also the waking of seeds that are beginning to stir in their cold winter beds.
Green Blessings! -Donna
Celebrating Imbolc!
In addition to the celebrations and definitions I mentioned above, Imbolc
is also devoted to Brigid, a fiery, independent ancient Celtic goddess
of poetry, smithcraft and healing. Brigid is all about the
transformative power of fire, which we need right now as an antidote or
balm for the drudgery of endless gray days, seemingly endless cold, ice
and dirty snow. Fire's transformative power is also about fire in the
forge/hearth, fire in the poet's mind, and of course, fire in the
healer's hands. The Celebration of Imbolc is the
perfect time to reflect and write a poem, or to take the time to make a
special craft (weaving of Brigid's Crosses out of wheat or rushes is
traditional, as is candle-making) or to perform hands-on healing for
someone you love!
began
to lactate at this time. In the US, our Groundhog Day (Feb 2)
celebrations with the anticipation of spring is a leftover from the
Celtic belief that magical animals come out of hibernation at this time.Even in the cold northeast, Imbolc begins to show the early signs of approaching spring: the daylight is noticeably longer and there is a new, vibrant energy in the air. Have you noticed that more birds are singing in the early morning? And even a few hardy plants sometimes begin to show their first shoots. However, most of the activity is still underground. Imbolc celebrates the strengthening sun and also the waking of seeds that are beginning to stir in their cold winter beds.
Green Blessings! -Donna
Celebrating Imbolc!
In addition to the celebrations and definitions I mentioned above, Imbolc
is also devoted to Brigid, a fiery, independent ancient Celtic goddess
of poetry, smithcraft and healing. Brigid is all about the
transformative power of fire, which we need right now as an antidote or
balm for the drudgery of endless gray days, seemingly endless cold, ice
and dirty snow. Fire's transformative power is also about fire in the
forge/hearth, fire in the poet's mind, and of course, fire in the
healer's hands. The Celebration of Imbolc is the
perfect time to reflect and write a poem, or to take the time to make a
special craft (weaving of Brigid's Crosses out of wheat or rushes is
traditional, as is candle-making) or to perform hands-on healing for
someone you love!
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