Imbolc

Today, February 2, 2011, is Imbolc. Imbolc is the Pagan celebration of the First Day of Spring. It is a time when we celebrate the fact that, beneath the icy mantle of the Earth, there are seeds that are beginning to stir and that will gestate and create beautiful greenery in the Summer. It is also a time when we acknowledge the fact that the Light is returning to our world.

One of the traditions that I love to do is to light every lamp (candles included) in the house and walk through with incense chanting, "By all that's Good, and blood of Kin, We welcome the Light and let it in!" I did that this morning because I actually had time to do so. Sometimes it takes me until the evening to have the time, but it really doesn't matter when it is done, as long as it gets done. Yesterday I created more light at my Healing Altar, both as a celebration of Imbolc and, well, because I was tired of the decorations that were there. New meaning had to be expressed. And when better to create something new than on the New Moon?

I like the light that is expressed in this photo, taken by my friend, Bob Menzies, off the coast of Scotland. When an area is used to having grey skies, any amount of light becomes precious and appreciated to the fullest. That is how I have felt this winter. Not a lot of light was experienced because of cloud cover. But today is bright and sunny and beautiful.

That is truly what magic is all about. It is the honoring and expression of the beauty that is experienced in nature each and every day, each and every season, each and every moon phase. The celebration of life begins with appreciation thereof, and continues into an exuberance and abundance that overflows from our hearts to the Earth, out to the Universe and back!

Blessed Be
Trent
http://www.youtube.com/trentdeerhorn
www.deerhornshamanic.com

Celebration time...Come On!

So often people get all humbug about celebrations. They don't want anyone acknowledging their birthdays, they forget anniversaries, they completely ignore the holidays. Sometimes I see these people and wonder what the heck their damage is??? When I ask them what's up with the ba-humbug attitude all I get from them is additional attitude about the "commercialism" of these events. I get stuff like, "It's only a Hallmark holiday." Sometimes I get, "I don't think Christmas is anything other than a way to boost the economy." I find this sort of thinking sad.

We can choose to celebrate whatever we want in whatever way we want. When we buckle to the idea that it is either commercialism or nothing, we lack imagination. We can celebrate in whatever way we choose, even if that is just blowing up balloons, putting up streamers and yelling, "Surprise!!" when someone enters the room. My Love tells me that I sing the best rendition of Happy Birthday bar none. All her friends who have heard it agree. That is the way I celebrate people's birthdays. I sing. Is it any wonder I have taken on the position of "Birthday Coordinator" at work? The good thing is that folks at work appreciate that. Besides, it is just fun, fun, fun!

Blessed Be

Trent

www.deerhornshamanic.com

Celebrations of Success

I was in a store with my family today and my 12 year old found something that she thought she might like to purchase. She is very conscientious about making decisions, especially when it comes to money, so she wanted our opinions on whether or not we thought it would be a good purchase. Yes, it is a very nice object. Yes, it is also something that comes with a sizable price tag. So I told her that if she truly wanted it, and she knew that she had enough money for it without breaking her bank account, and she knew that she would get a LOT of use out of it, then she can feel free to purchase it. But I also told her that she needed to do so without looking back. She needed to fully enjoy the thing and not in any way feel guilty about the buy. She decided to wait. Later today I had to go back into town, so she came along with me and we also went back to the store and she bought it. I was so impressed with her ability to contemplate and to remove herself from the environment of the store so that she didn't feel pressure to purchase something and could then make a clear decision. She loves it and she does not fee guilty in any way. And the best part was that I got to spend some one on one time with her on the trip into town.

All this seems to be somewhat meaningless to some, but I know in our consumer driven world, it is difficult to foster skills that allow us to purchase with responsibility instead of out of instant gratification. Also, this evening I pulled an Osho Zen Tarot card and got the one called "Success". About success he writes:

Welcome it, enjoy it, and share your joy with others - and remember that all bright parades have a beginning and an end. If you keep this in mind, and squeeze every drop of juice out of the happiness you are experiencing right now, you will be able to take the future as it comes without regrets.

This brings to mind how often I have heard people say things like, "Had I only known this was about to happen, I would never have____________" (fill in the blank). Most often the regret has been about spending some money on something that later, in hard times, seems frivolous. I always look at it as a situation where one has done the best one can knowing only what one has known at the time. So what if you lost your job right after your vacation to some tropical location? Did you enjoy the vacation? Good. Now move on and look for another job and stop feeling guilty about having had a well needed vacation. People guilt themselves much too often. And then we wonder why we don't enjoy our lives.

So squeeze every drop of juice out of the happiness you are experiencing right now.

Blessed Be

Trent