Early last year, I got a story idea that wouldn’t leave me alone. Don’t you love / hate when that happens? The idea required me to stretch my writing wings and dabble in a new-to-me genre, but I was up to the challenge. I was also sick unto death of the global situation (you know what I’m talking about) and needed a huge distraction. And so I ventured into paranormal women’s fiction.
I’ve been intrigued by witches (the real kind, not the fairy tale kind) since childhood and set my story in that world. My basic plot and characters blossomed as I wrote, but my knowledge of witchcraft was sketchy at best. I began my research. (I like to imagine the librarians in my small, local library getting more and more curious as all my requested books arrived, tee hee.) Anyway, I’ve learned a lot about the beliefs and practices of modern witches, be they Hedge Witches, Kitchen Witches, or Elemental Witches. One concept central to many is the Wheel of the Year. We’ve all heard of Samhain (Hallowe’en) and Yule (shortly before Christmas) but there are other, less familiar special days.
Which brings me to today. February 1 is the start of Imbolc (in the Northern Hemisphere) or Feast of Brigid, halfway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. In Irish mythology, Brigid is the fire goddess, and on Imbolc, the arrival of longer, warmer days and the early signs of spring are celebrated.
Brigid is also goddess of back-smithing, death & rebirth, poetry, spinning & weaving, and domestic animals – a multi-purpose deity!
Early signs of spring are difficult to find in my neck of the woods, buried under a foot of crusty snow, but I can plant seeds in a pot and celebrate the tender shoots as they appear.
And Bruno will appreciate the fresh cat grass.
Rather than build a bonfire to mimic the heat of the sun - too cold and windy for that - I can light a candle to symbolize the longer, warmer days.
Imbolc is the perfect time to start spring cleaning. Cleanse your space, clear out clutter, and sweep away dust and negative energy.
When Christianity arrived in the pagan Celtic world, Brigid became St. Brigid, the patron saint of babies, mariners, Ireland, poets, and poultry farmers. And Imbolc became Candlemas, the day for blessing church candles.
broom - Photo by Gabriel Lenca on Unsplash
candle - Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash
seedlings - Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash
crocus - Photo by Luka Savcic on Unsplash
Luanna Stewart has been creating adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. She spends her days writing spicy contemporary romance, paranormal romance, and historical romance. When not torturing her heroes and heroines, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious. She lives in Nova Scotia with her patient husband, one spoiled cat, and five hens.
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