On Holiday Stories and Dithering

Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, stories that show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved. And where, with this support, you make choices to overcome the darkest nights and choose love and light.

Do you ever dither?

I will admit I’ve become more of a ditherer than ever these past few years. I will also admit that I don’t like to dither. I understand procrastination better than I understand dithering although they do have some similarities.

What does dithering have to do with the Blog Queens’ November writing prompt?

I can only answer for myself for several reasons the main one being I’ve no idea if Sarah McDermed, co-Blog Queen, is dithering…I am.

How do you know that? I’ve blathered on for 85 words without really saying anything. My normal process is to sit down at the computer, remind myself of the monthly prompt and start typing. For this month, I’ve been dithering since August!

What’s so hard about the topic “Holiday Stories”?

First: I’ve not read any. I’ve been rereading my keeper shelves’ books and while there are a couple that have a holiday somewhere, it hasn’t been The Focus and I’ve probably already talked about them in previous years.

Second: The holiday story I was working on last year Winter Solstice: Charlie and Amethyst is still waiting for a bit more editing, tweaking before it’s published. 2022 has not been a good year for my writing life. Please hold positive thoughts it will be featured in 2023!

Third: The phrase holiday story or holiday stories when talked about in October and November brings to mind the fall and winter holidays (Halloween through New Year’s focusing on Thanksgiving and Christmas). That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just not where my mind and writing goes.

So where do my mind and writing go? The eight High Holy Days of the pagan calendar:

Samhain
Yule aka Winter Solstice
Imbolc aka Candlemas
Ostara aka Spring Equinox
Beltane
Lithia aka Summer Solstice
Lammas
Mabon aka Fall Equinox

It’s been 30 years since I began adding these days of celebrating the cycle of the earth into my more traditional upbringing. I don’t remember exactly when I began dropping some of those traditional holidays. However, within the last decade they are pretty much gone. For example, no more turkeys for Thanksgiving because I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4^th Thursday of November. I make an effort to give thanks be in gratitude each and every day. And I do not enjoy large family gatherings. Actually any large gathering is stressful because of my hearing and some vestibular issues.

What changed?

In some ways, nothing. When I look back on my life, I see a strong spiritual path from my childhood wending its way through to now. What is different is how I manifest it. These days I use Gaia, Mother Nature and Earth-based practices to express my spiritual self.

On this path, one of the greatest gifts came when the women in my Sacred Women’s Circle series began showing up in dreams and visions, their voices clear and insistent about what they wanted me to say not only about their life journeys but how they manifested their dreams into reality?

I’d already been involved in women’s circles for almost decade when I started writing so I had a foundation. I’d attended close to a dozen Women of the 14^th Moon gatherings. I was celebrating the pagan holidays so the foundation to tell their stories was there.

The stories

When you read my books, you’ll see that these women have created their own earth-based or pagan spiritual practices. And as they find their happy-ever-after, they choose to marry on one of the High Holy Days…although not Samhain. This High Holy Day marks the beginning of the pagan calendar for many.

For myself, I choose to start my new year on Winter Solstice. I love the dark of night, the colder temperatures, the firelight by which to read or contemplate who I am and how I fit into the world around me. And there is always much to contemplate as both the world and I are evolving, changing, adjusting.

This year I’ve much to review as 2022 has been a bigger challenge for me than most of my eighty plus years. I hope that as I sit in front of the fire, drumming on my horsehide or maybe my elk drum, I’ll hear new voices and see new visions and 2023 will be a year for sharing those stories with you.

I also write non-fiction. Learn more about Staying Sane in a Crazy World.  If you take the time, you end up with a Personal Staying Sane Plan tailored to help you through the challenging times.

You can find all of my books at your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource. If you want a print copy? Ask your local independent bookstore to order it for you. If you are in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area, my books are carried at Jan’s in Beaverton and Arte Soleil in SE Portland.

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshley.net

Follow Judith on Twitter: JudithAshley19

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

You can also find Judith on FB! 

© 2022 Judith Ashley