Imbalc is coming in a few days and I have a few practical and contemplative preparations to make. Mostly I need to watch as the wheel of the year shifts. We still have a month of winter left, but these warm days (in the 60's) are pretty great! My thoughts are turning outward, to the garden, our neighborhood, and my community.
Agenda:
1. Read Writing and Being
2. Practice a Reverent Way of Being
3. Gratitude practice
3. Write about my seeds of inspiration
5. House clearing
1. Read Writing and Being:
I'm reading from a book that has been sitting my shelf for a few years, "Writing and Being: Embracing Your Life Through Creative Journaling," by G. Lynn Nelson (2004).
I'm reading chapter three: Seeking Silence, about the importance of finding time to be alone, to meditate, to sit and contemplate, and to write in your journal. This is how we "tap the true power of the writing-and-being process".
I'm reading chapter three: Seeking Silence, about the importance of finding time to be alone, to meditate, to sit and contemplate, and to write in your journal. This is how we "tap the true power of the writing-and-being process".
They mean to show the love instead of telling about it, by grounding my writing in the real stuff of my life.
2. Practice a Reverent Way of Being:
I've tried to remember to adopt a Reverent Way of Being for the days before each turning point of the year, which is to say I ty to be respectful and humble, and use a discipline of speech and thought that I find difficult to maintain for long periods of time.
Specifically, I try to be impeccably honest, and tell no little fibs. Also, I try to not gossip or say (or even think) anything negative about anyone. These are my worst habits, and it has be useful to practice being virtuous for a couple days at regular intervals throughout the year!
3. Gratitude practice:
I'm starting a new gratitude practice for the time of the waning moon. I'm not good at remembering to acknowledge and receive my blessings, and I hope a monthly habit might help.
I'm going to use the prompts from "Living Linearly" by Kiki Ely. This month the query is "How have I benefited from the intentions I set at the New Moon?"
My intentions were for witness; These intentions have helped to clarify my leadings, and my priorities. I'm grateful for the Witness Journal I'm keeping, because I really see all the opportunities I have for witness in my life.
4. Make a Creativity Altar:
Imbalc is sacred to Brigid, the European and Celtic goddess of healing, crops, poetry, and creativity. As a sun goddess her powers are light, fire, inspiration, and vital energy: Wow! She’s one of my favorite images of the Spirit.
Brigid is the maiden aspect of the Great Goddess and so her color is white; her symbols are a sun-wheel, Brigid's cross, snake, and cock (herald of the new day).
This week I'll make a special creativity altar for Brigid with:
Brigid is the maiden aspect of the Great Goddess and so her color is white; her symbols are a sun-wheel, Brigid's cross, snake, and cock (herald of the new day).
This week I'll make a special creativity altar for Brigid with:
- a white candle - for light and purity
- a Brigid's cross - for the sun and the seasons
- a beaded snake - for healing and regeneration
- a small bowl - for openness and inspiration
- and some of my garden seeds
5. Write about my seeds of inspiration:
At Imbalc, I write about my seeds of inspiration - thoughts, dreams and ideas that are inside me waiting to grow into wise actions, sweet words, or beautiful things made by my hands.
Today I sit in silence and let my mind wander, asking only, "What is waiting to bloom in my heart?" I write each germ of inspiration on a tiny slip of paper, and roll it into a seed, then put these in a bowl on my altar.
6. House clearing:
February is upon us soon, and this is the month when I begin to clear away the excess to make room for growth. Clutter might give me the illusion that I have important things to do, but it adds one more layer of chaos and confusion to my life.Now that I've gotten the mold in my house under control I can concentrate on clearing surfaces, sorting the stuff on my shelves, and donating things I no longer need.
I made a list of the biggest sorting projects I need to do, including the studio art supply shelves, kitchen food cupboards, and old notebooks and papers, and this week I'll get started in the bedrooms:
- M: Desk and dresser surfaces
- T: Top-most shelves, recycle papers
- W: Files, In- basket
- Th: Sweaters and coats
- F: Sewing basket, mending
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