Namaste,

       We are soon coming up on February and Ground Hog day (a movie worth seeing again!), also called Imbolc in the Celtic tradition,  honoring  the coming of spring and the Goddess Brigid. The word  'imbolc' derives from the Old Irish word meaning 'in the belly', referring to the pregnancy of ewes.

          In my childhood Catholic tradition, February 2 was called Candlemas, and we went to church to have our throats blessed with two crossed candles. The day was considered a feast day honoring Mother Mary of the Candles. I didn't really knew what that actually meant back then but see now that so many of the Church's holy days were concurrent with the ancient pagan days of seasonal celebrations. 

        I loved this ceremony, i loved all of the ceremonies, especially those with frankincense, Gregorian chants, and the traditional Latin songs of praise and adoration, especially those devoted to the Divine Mother.  I learned about ecstatic states in these early ceremonies, as well as direct experience of the Mystery and the Holy Mother.  

           Still in love with ceremony and the overlapping of traditions and symbols, i find i am curious today about what's 'in the belly' right now. What's in your belly, gestating, waiting for the right time to emerge? What's happening in our throat chakras, what needs to be spoken, healed, blessed in some way? What is the ceremony you need on February 2 to complete what needs to be completed for winter and to go forth into spring, into your new life? 

         Every moment now seems to be filled with a sense of the immanence and the imminence of creation, the invitation to come forth authentically, show up fully, speak forth in whatever 'voice' is your authentic voice, which may be art, writing, singing, dancing, talking, filmmaking.....etc.  

          Part of the creative process is destruction--making art has taught me that again and again. So what needs to go, be de-constructed or destroyed, given away or left behind?

          I sense such an invitation to be fully, extravagantly present NOW, to take that step we may be resisting NOW. There is Grace available for this... 

for you, for whatever is emerging in your world.   

Candlemas blessings to you in advance,

Sheila