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February 02, 2009
In praise of the Snowdrop
As I am under 75 can I just say "Yippee" for this "weather event". Sadly the South East never gets much snow but I'm grateful for all that we have.
This is my best bit of the year because
a) it is my birthday-time
b) it is Imbolc (festival of emerging)
c) it is feast of my favourite saint - Brigid who is also a goddess (so much to tell but google her. Giver of all good things, poetry, metalwork, fire, water, healing, prophesy, milk and cows, all creatures etc etc) Great stories of this feisty woman in sharp contrast to.....
d) the Judeo-Christian view of childbirth (so dirty, Mary had to be purified from such a nasty messy thing). So boo for Purification but hooray for Candlemas and this women's festival. A little plea to restore to Mary what the church robbed her of.
e) the snow - it should be here but normally isn't so thank you winter. Thank you. This is the best, most purifying winter we've had for years. The snowdrops arrived at the right time for years (the old time) and they mean to me - my birthday, Imbolc, Brigid and Candlemas.
Here is a prayer to celebrate:
Blessed be you Divine Presence
nurturing, generous and milky kind,
yet defiant as the snowdrop in a cold climate,
feisty, pure and natural
with your white singular unbroken focus,
little candles of hope emerging from the wintry dark
petals drawn open revealing the green heart of your renewing love
warming us as we greet all that rises to meet us
in the lengthening of our days.
By the way Mr B - As I'm not the intended recipient for your last mail, I just wanted to say you've forgotten the mother of them all: "With all due respect".........
Posted by Tess at February 2, 2009 06:03 PM