Distaff Day

Woman with distaff in left hand, and spindle in right hand.

Distaff Day (January7) is named for the distaff, the stick-like tool that held fibers while a woman used a drop spindle to spin thread.

Spinning and weaving were never-ending chores for pre-industrial women; most women and girls would spin thread while also cooking, caring for children, or minding the sheep. Because women were seen always with a distaff in hand, it became the symbol of “women’s work”. 

But during the Christmas season women took a break from spinning. January 7th was the traditional day for women to start back to work, and so was called Distaff Day.

Agenda:
1. Journal queries and spindle meditation

2. Start a fiber project

3. Household order

4. Kitchen blessing

5. Kitchen Blessing Prayer

1. Journal queries and spindle meditation:

A student using a drop spindle to make yarn.

The Spirit as Goddess is often portrayed as a spinner: Athena, Isis, and Grandmother Spider Woman are all spinners and weavers. Amaterasu spins and weaves sunbeams. The Three Fates control destiny by spinning the thread of life. Frigga works the heavenly spindle to weave the clouds; she has the ability to feel and see clearly.

So, I celebrate two things today:

• My love of the fiber arts;
• And how I create my own destiny with thought and deed.

What are the threads of my life now and how well do they weave together?
Where can I simplify the pattern? 
Where can I add richness?

I’m not much of a spinner, but I always pull out my spindle on Distaff Day, and spin a little wonky yarn. As I work with it I ask the Spirit to give me the ability to slow down, be present, and see clearly.

2. Start a fiber project:

Every year on Distaff Day I start a new fiber arts project, either hand-sewing or crochet, to connect again with the roots of "women's work" and to keep my hands busy in the evenings (and during zoom meetings).

This year I'm already working on making seed charms for a few people. This is my Sunflower Charm, so far.

I'm also going to start a large appliqué quilt project for my grandson, to use up some of my abundance of fabric scraps (because I'm starting to feel like a hoarder), and today I will gather the bits.

3. Household Order:

One of New Year's resolutions is to care for my land with discipline and ritual, and create a home that is a peaceful and well-ordered sanctuary for those I love. 

Today I am reading from Martha Stewart's book called "Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routine" (2020). This is an indulgent treat for me: I LOVE to think about organizing! After all the serious reading I've done this past month, I'm diving into this book like a warming soak in a hot tub.

Part One is Organizing Your Year, and it starts with monthly charts and tips. January says, "New Year, new you, new outlook - this month is about recharging your health and well-being. Set goals that matter, such as staying active and connected. Planning and preparing are also on January's agenda, using checklists to make sure you cover all the essentials".

Tips for January include-

1. Plan healthy meals, clean your pantry, and focus on whole foods.
2. Care for houseplants - be careful not to overwater in the winter.
3. Review your financial plan (savings goals, insurance, etc.)
4. Schedule wellness appointments now for the whole year.
5. Plan planting for spring garden, and order seeds and plants. 

4. Kitchen Blessing: 

The Orthodox Church has a tradition of blessing homes within a few weeks after Epiphany. The family prepares by cleaning the house, and then a priest comes to sprinkle holy water and pray for each family member, living and dead.

So what is a blessing? The Church recognizes a blessing as a statement or prayer that invokes God’s favor and power, and prepares one to receive grace, or in the case of a house blessing, prepares the space and those within it.

My own understanding is that the act of cleaning itself is a blessing on the house, and that sitting still in a newly cleaned room is a good way to remember that we are each blessed, always and forever.

But I love a good ritual! My custom is to bless each room this month, first by cleaning it, then with a ritual, and then by remembering the blessings of life.

This week I've done the physical cleaning of my kitchen: sink, mold, windows, and refrigerator, and I've tidied the shelves. But my house also holds emotional "dirt" that needs clearing, lingering psychic odors of angry words and melancholy thoughts, and the bad vibes of political debate heard on the tv.

For a simple house cleansing ritual, I use a twofold approach: Salt water and sage smoke.

Sea salt is an ingredient used in Christian holy water, and also in water used by Pagans for cleansing and blessing. I keep a small bottle of water with dissolved sea salt for this purpose. Sprinkling salt water is known as asperging. Salt water covers the elements of earth and water.  

 

Sage smoke is tied to the element of fire and air, and will scatter away negative vibes to the winds. I use the Old World culinary sage that my ancestor shamans may have used, and which I grow in my garden. I dry it in the fall and wrap it together with sewing thread.

1. Set the intention to clear out bad energy and invite in blessings.

2. Light a candle, and from that ignite the sage. Once it catches, blow it out so that it smolders. (Leave the candle lit, though.)

3. Walk around the room and waft the smoke into every corner. (In the kitchen, I even open the cabinets and drawers, and waft smoke inside.) As you walk, think about the intentions you set.

4. Pour a little salt water into a small bowl, dip your fingers in and lightly sprinkle it as you walk around the room a second time.

5. Kitchen Blessing Prayer: 

After the ritual, I'll sit quietly at the table with the lit candle, and savor the blessing of a clean kitchen. I may also say a short prayer to the Spirit of the hearth and home:

Blessed be this kitchen, the food, the herbs and spices, and the pots and pans used to prepare our meals.

Peace be to this house and to all who live here, and to all who visit.