The Groundhog, Brigid and the serpents

Originally published: 2/1/2017 on Weebly blog


This Saturday marks the celestial midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. We celebrate it on Thursday as Groundhog Day - the day when the sleeping fertile earth begins to awaken. That's a version of the Celtic tradition of watching for serpents (the life force) to emerge from hibernation under the wintered earth, and it's a version of the Old Hag of Winter - the Old Bone Mother - gathering her last bit of firewood. It's a charged time on the Celtic medicine wheel because it marks the opening of the door to the direction East - the door of new life and springtime. It's the time we "plant the seed of hope." Here is a simple prayer or ceremony you can do: What is your hope? Plant it with prayer- ask for it to be brought into being.

This is a great time to ask for and welcome a new pattern, a new way of living, a great time to ask for old patterns to finally be erased. In Celtic shamanic tradition, these few days are dedicated to Brigid, the goddess of healing, grieving, inspiration and smith-craft (otherwise known as "making useful things for this world").  These four powers are linked - they feed one another, and when one is weak, it weakens all the others. The other word for grieving is emotional fullness. The other word for inspiration is vulnerability to Spirit, also known as trust. The other word for healing is flowing of the waters.  If you are struggling anywhere in your life, it can be moved by attending to one of the four, and so often, the attention needs to go where we may least expect it. You can make a simple prayer to the East - asking it to help activate each of these four powers in you so that in you so that you can live fully. Place your hands over your heart as you make this prayer because this is the location of the "Cauldron of Calling" that empowers our actions in this world.

May your soil be warmed by beauty, wonder and awe,

​Jaime

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