the grounded sky

We have arrived at Imbolc on the Wheel of the Year, and I had grand plans! The kids and I were going to collect reeds from a nearby creek and make Brigid crosses. We were going to talk about what we desire at this moment in time and plan an Imbolc feast with ingredients that represented those desires. We were going to prepare the planters for our spring garden.

And then we got hit with a major snowstorm. And I couldn’t get to reeds. And I couldn’t prepare the garden space. And I just threw out the baby with the bath water. Because that’s how I have always been – all or nothing.

As a Leo rising, I find myself wanting to be the best, to do the best, setting these unrealistic expectations, chasing the admiration of others. I’m so Type B masking as a Type A – as a parent, a teacher, a wife, a friend. Always wanting to be THE MOST, the “Pinterest Mom”, and beaming whenever anyone would comment about how “extra” I am.

So when I dropped the ball (of my unrealistic expectations) on Imbolc, I thought “There’s no way I can blog now. I don’t have content. I don’t have photos. Blog readers need photos. If there’s no photos, they’re not going to read my words. And I can’t post PAST Imbolc because then I’m late and will it even matter? And if I’m late, I’m not perfect, so why even do it?”

In this moment, however, I am choosing to make a perspective shift. This blog is not for an audience (although I am so happy if you are here!). This blog is a place for me to do what I set out to do earlier this year – to document my journey through the Wheel of the Year. And that got me thinking about what I want this time around Imbolc to look like. That just because I didn’t get it all done on February 1st doesn’t mean I can’t do it, that I can’t celebrate, honor, and ritualize what Imbolc is all about.

So here’s what I have done and what I plan to do over the coming weeks as we honor Imbolc and this cross-quarter between winter and spring.

Prepare for Productivity

Prepping My Garden

Last year I planted a garden for the first time ever! I’ve never had a green thumb, always hated getting dirty, and fear bugs, but I’m pretty sure turning 40 kick started my midlife crisis, and a desire to nurture a garden and grow my own produce was a part of that.

My garden was small, just a few 5 gallon buckets where I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapeno, and herbs. It was like my trial. If I could keep things alive and I enjoyed it, I would create a more permanent garden the next year. Well, I loved it, I DID keep my plants alive, and I utilized the gifts provided by each plant.

So during this time, I want to prepare a space to bring in a couple of raised planters. That means digging out and leveling the area of our backyard where the planters will go as well as building the planters themselves.

I don’t know that I’m ready to sprout my own seeds this year. I think I may just buy ready to go plants at our local farmer’s market in the next couple of months. But what I can do in the meantime is research what I want to grow in my garden:

• What plants do well in western PA?
• When is the best time to plant each chosen plant?
• How (depth, spacing) should each plant be planted?
• What are good companion plants to include to prevent pests?

Clearing Our Inside Space

Over the past couple of weeks my husband and I have been clearing out our basement to make a new space for Lego – both to build and display. We just happened to choose this time without even thinking about it, but being in rhythm with nature and the Earth, it makes a lot of sense. There were things in the basement that have been in boxes since we moved away from Las Vegas nearly ten years ago, and it felt so good to let go of a lot of the things that no longer served us.

I also felt a desire yesterday (on Imbolc) to crochet baskets for each of my children that they could use to collect their things around the house and take to their rooms to put away. They love that they have their own unique (and cozy) basket, and I love that it will help them take some ownership and responsibility in keeping our house tidy and organized.

If you are interested, THIS is the crochet basket pattern I used.

Imbolc Feast

This morning I started making a honey cake (for abundance, prosperity, potential, and protection), and I’ve got all the ingredients for an intention infused dinner (creamy potato leek soup for abundance, protection, and grounding, cinnamon honey carrots for transformation, raising vibrations, and endurance, and crusty bread for connection and community).

Pictures and recipes to come!

Searching for Early Signs of Spring

Finally, the most Wheel of the Year thing we can do is just becoming aware of and appreciating where we are at this moment in time, and right now that time is the cross-quarter between winter and spring. As I go on my chilly walks, I am starting to see little bits of green sprouting out of the ground. I see the birds return, chirping, searching for food. I look forward to hearing the stories of the baby lambs born on a friend’s farm.

These signs of spring are calling to us, giving hope in what’s to come from the seeds planted in the depth and darkness of winter.

So it wasn’t a waste. I have already begun my honoring and ritualizing of this moment in time that we have chosen to call Imbolc, a moment I am realizing how grateful I am to experience. And I am looking forward to what’s to come as the Wheel continues its rotation.