Work with what is…

Dear Friends,

Imbolc. A word witches and pagans are familiar with but maybe don't really know. Peoples in northern climes know--even if they know not the word. That feeling that the long haul of winter would come to an end. Signs of Spring peaking their way through snow and the easing of harsh conditions. But seriously people. We live in California. Even though we had snow and rain a week ago, we can barely remember the feeling of the cold. The last several days have been amiably warm, no doubt giving rise to the term June-uary.

I personally struggle with not enough winter. I love the bare trees and grey skies that I remember from my youth. I love bundling up, and wearing layers and scarves. Knee-high boots, and thick socks, evenings by the fire, candles burning all around. Its been more and more difficult to connect to these outward trappings of winter. Even a trip to Truckee was warmer than I'd ever experienced.

Most of what we know about witchcraft comes from places of northern climates. So as we do our best to emulate our imaginings of peoples of old, and celebrate the ways of the craft as closely within tradition as possible, we find ourselves faced with the challenge of not having the same reality, and thereby not having a tangible relatability to our world today. We can point to global warming, and begin to analyze why winter feels different from years past and end up down the rabbit hole. Or we can tune in. We can accept what is actually happening for us right now.

It's part of the plight of the modern witch. Things are globally available in an instant, and we can pick and choose which traditions to study, we can fly to any location to be with a modern master of an ancient technique. And while our body of knowledge may be vast, our roots to our community and our home climate can be shallow and grasping.

As Americans, we come from so many backgrounds, and while the diversity is amazing and engaging and fascinating, I often feel disconnected. I try mightily to root down and feel what is true now. What are the natural cycles that I can tune in to, even if just energetically. Indigenous peoples from all over have developed traditions that reflect the world in which they live. This was always a reflection of the outside world. In our modern world technology has changed the landscape of our lives so deeply that our locale is of less and less consequence, and our inner landscape is the place we must turn to for knowing.

I don't have answers. Just musings and jumbled thoughts presented to you here. I'd love to hear from you about what you do to honor the life cycles you see around you. Even (especially) if it goes counter to what we know of traditional witchcraft. Let's open this up.

With love and curiosity,
Ginger {aka Rachel Lazarus}
February 2, 2018, Cult of Gemini Newsletter