.

Passages- #365Altars

2012-02-09T17:16:00.000Z

Doors, previously obscured, appear before me. Curious, I step into the unknown...

This post was inspired by #365Altars Project from @whollyjeanne.

Click the links above or the corresponding image on my sidebar to find out more information.

Delicious Love- #365Altars

2012-02-04T17:12:00.000Z

l place upon my altar Delicious Love. Do I consume it or does it consume me?

* This image of confectionery perfection was captured (before it quickly disappeared!) with my iPhone, using Color Splash & Instagram filters. Oh how these apps delight my creative inner-child!

This post was inspired by #365Altars Project from @whollyjeanne.

Click the links above or the corresponding image on my sidebar to find out more information.

P.S. True to my Aphrodite nature, I am all abuzz about Valentine's Day this month! Browsing through Etsy, searching for the perfect surprise for Lover, I discovered a fantastic gift list by @SunshineSight. If your aesthetic eye is in need of inspiration, do check out both! "The Sunset Ballet" belongs on my wall... (*hint* Lover, are you listening? LOL)

Imbolc: The Feast of St. Brigid

2012-02-01T22:01:00.001Z

Spring was stirring; she gently roused me from sleep. My bedroom was dark, and I could see not a thing. Yet I sensed her movement outside my window.

The children's dreams held them captive. My alarm was silent. Stillness pervaded. I listened carefully until I heard it again: birdsong!

My friends have returned from the south. One of the joys of living in the countryside is that I never hear traffic. Sheep, roosters, and cows color the air. My favorites, of course, are the birds. I have missed their morning calls.

Though the temperatures outside are close to freezing today, the first of February marks Imbolc, the first day of spring on the Celtic calendar. There are buds on my fuchsia bush, and daffodils will soon poke through the earth. Light is slowly returning. Tulips, illuminated by the sun on my sill, herald what is yet to come.

Crosóg Bríde, a photo by Cat-Art.

School children across Ireland brought home St. Brigid’s crosses today, made of wild rushes. The tradition here is to hang the crosses on the front door, in honor of the saint. She is said to protect those who dwell within.

The Catholic saint shares the same name as her predecessor, the Celtic goddess Brigid, keeper of the flame. She’s known as the patron of poets, healers, and smiths. Like the Greek goddess Athena, Brigid is affiliated with wisdom and craftsmanship. She is also a goddess of the home and hearth, similar to the Greek goddess Hestia. Brigid is a powerful goddess, and is associated with new beginnings.

Now is the perfect time to plant seeds for the future, if you haven’t already. Why not light a candle, reflect, and remember Brigid as you set your intentions? Wishing you warmth and blessings as you map your days!

*This post was partly inspired by the #365Altars Project from @whollyjeanne.