The New Year is well underway and lots of strange and scary things happening all around the world.  To think of Greenland being invaded by the U.S. is something I cannot get my head around!!  I find solace in all of this horror in knowing that the vast majority of people on this planet are doing their best connect to consciously connect with something bigger than themselves – call it God, the Goddess, their Higher Selves, a Spiritual Consciousness, a Force for Good, Nature – so many ways we can turn and focus our power on .  Yes, I believe we all have immense power and we have just forgotten.  I love folklore and I look to the story of the Second Battle of Moytura when the Tuatha de Danaan, (the gods of ancient Ireland) fought the Fomorians ( a race of monsters from under the sea) and remember that good always prevails.  The story of this battle is almost like our current story, it mirrors what we are going through at the moment.  The two races in ancient Ireland agreed to share the land and they began with Bres, a Fomorian chief as their nominated king.  Just like us! We too agreed that certain people could be in power to make laws and ensure that the country and its people do well.

Then Bres began to impose harsh laws and to restrict personal freedoms and to levy heavy taxes on the Tuatha de Danaan.  Just like us!  We too are under harsh laws – we cannot even speak our minds these days without risk.  Just like us, we are being forced into a digital control and we are paying extortionate amounts just for basic living.  Many people cannot afford to eat properly – just the same situation that the Tuatha de Danaan found themselves in.  They rose up and went into battle against the Formorians.  The Tuatha de Danaan won the battle and banished the Formorians.  We thought they had gone for ever but i suspect they are back and in the Dáil!

I hope everyone reading is keeping well.  I am up to my eyes at the moment working to get a book finished for publication with Aeon Books https://www.aeonbooks.co.uk/. They asked me if I would be interested in writing a book so I said, “..funnily enough, yes, I was thinking of it!” That was the prompt I needed and so I began my book which has a working title of  “The Herbal Spiral of the Celtic Year”.  The aim of the book is to bring people back into harmony with Nature by following the Celtic Wheel of the Year as well as some of the other wheels that abound in Nature.  In order to do that I have suggested activities to enjoy; you can discover the folklore of each festival; learn about communicating with plants, creating a garden and eating seasonally.  There are lots of great recipes for each of the festivals.  Some are mine, some are from books around the house and some from my friend Craig.  Craig is a professional forager and wild food chef – https://edible-leeds.blogspot.com/  I am working like mad to finish editing the book and get it to the publishers by the end of the month.

Imbolc is also approaching.  It’s the beginning of spring for us here in Ireland and already Daffodils and Willow catkins are appearing.  Preparations for Imbolc will shortly be underway.  A friend is visiting and we are going to go to Brigit’s Garden https://brigitsgarden.ie/ for a more communal celebration.

Work in the garden is starting again.  Already we have peas and beans sprouting in the greenhouse and more seeds to be started at the end of the month – Peppers, Tomatoes, Cucumbers and salad greens. This year I want to really indulge my garden side and just be outside working and being in the garden.  So many trees to meditate with, bees to sit and listen to and landscaping to finish. Having a garden is one of the greatest gifts I think.  Gardening with intention and co-creating is such a wonderful experience and so reciprocal.  For anyone who does not have a garden, there are things you can do to fill that gap in your heart and you will find suggestions in the book!

Back to work now for me.  I am trying to make butter here, I have a little glass churn and finally got my hands on some organic cream.  Not much happening so far, I think it is too cold but I will persevere and let you know how it turned out.