No video for today's newsletter, as my voice has completely left me!
Since my last newsletter, we celebrated a beautiful Imbolc (the halfway point between the Winter Solstice {Yule} and the Spring Equinox {Ostara}), and an incredible full moon, both falling on my niece's 3rd birthday! I spent the evening with friends, in ritual and dancing 💗
Imbolc is the sabbat of Brigid, the Celtic goddess of fire and flame (Goddess of the Eternal Flame), water (Goddess of the Sacred Well), inspiration, transformation, wisdom, healing, creativity, and prophecy, just to name a few. She is powerful, wide reaching and durable.
The days are getting longer as we approach the Daylight Savings switch on March 8, and then Ostara on March 20. We've had streaks of sunshine-y days here in Santa Cruz, calling the buds to start budding and the blossoms to start blossoming! More rain is on its way, creating the beautiful and essential balance of light and dark that creates all of life.
What most has my attention lately is the Lunar New Year, approaching quickly on February 17. As I mentioned in my last newsletter, this will close the year of the Wood Snake and begin the year of the Fire Horse. While much of what is talked about regarding the Fire Horse is momentum, forward motion, leadership, passion and change, there is also something quietly striking about the Fire Horse, and horses in general. They are incredibly intuitive and healing, and often move with a slow, intentional, and intelligent power, not force. The Fire portion of the equation also speaks to this perspective, as fire can slowly cleanse, burn away what is dead and dry, and make way for the new. I am looking forward to both the fast, passionate change, as well as the gradual, deliberate change in the coming year.
Speaking of change, how many of you caught the Superbowl last Sunday? More importantly, the opening acts and halftime show? The NFL, not particularly known for inclusion, selected diverse acts including Brandi Carlile (an LGBTQ+ folk singer), Green Day (a punk, typically anti-government band), and Bad Bunny (a Puerto Rican, Spanish speaking singer) to perform. Bad Bunny's halftime show, in particular, performed entirely in Spanish and packed with symbolism, was different than anything we've seen as a halftime show, and brought in the highest viewership in Superbowl history. At one point he listed all countries in North, Central and South America, reminding us that America consists of more than just the United States (and English speakers). Bad Bunny also referenced the colonization of Puerto Rica and the current occupation of ICE in the US, among so much more. This is the kind of Fire Horse energy I want more of! His show ended with a proclamation on the giant scoreboard:
THE ONLY THING MORE POWERFUL THAN HATE IS LOVE
