Imbolc Hike

Sorry for the lack of blogging.  Every so often I go through an angsty "why oh why do I blog...does anyone really read it...blah blah...woe is me" period.

Our tradition over the past few years has been to take an Imbolc hike at the same location and look for signs of the earth changing toward spring.  In case you don't know, Imbolc is a Pagan sabbat (holiday) that falls at the midpoint between winter and spring.  It is a reminder that even though aboveground things look dead and brown, below the ground changes are happening and Mother Earth is beginning to awaken after her long winter rest.  I always tell the boys that Imbolc is when the root children begin to stir in their beds.  Imbolc is that little spark of hope that gets us through the rest of the dreary winter.

When we've hiked the last two years the waterfalls at our spot have been beautifully frozen.  Because this winter has been so crazy mild there was no ice at all.  Quite a change, but still lovely.

There is such a comfort that comes to me when I'm surrounded by woods - the same thing at the ocean.  I think it's the reminder that there is something that is bigger and in a way wiser than myself. 

In truth I think that many of our society's problems come from our seperation from nature.  We *need* to be reminded that there is a force more powerful than ourselves.  Humans can prodouce marvelous things, and we can even attempt to recreate the force of nature with our manmade lakes, etc. but we can't create a beautiful sunset, or a boulder covered with moss.  We need a sense of awe and wonder.  We need something that makes us children again.

Happy belated Imbolc!