Tag: imbolc

  • Imbolc: Creative New Starts

    Imbolc: Creative New Starts

    Imbolc creative new starts with picture of a single bluebell and myself

    January has been a difficult month for this creative minimalist. However, the festival of Imbolc is as good a time as any to make a creative new start. This week’s vlog explores recent creative highs and lows.


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    namaste
    d
    xox

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  • Imbolc and creativity

    Imbolc and creativity

    Imbolc and creativity text, an image of me and dark clouds

    Into February and despite the weather not quite being springlike I have been inspired by the festival of Imbolc for a creative nudge. FAWM and festivals combine in this week’s vlog, and also a little poetry.


    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

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  • Imbolc and fresh starts

    imbolc journal page with the words within and waiting, life lies beneath

    I’m no expert on the Neo-pagan festivals, but over recent years I have found myself drawn to the natural seasonal cycle to which they relate. The solstices and equinoxes create four astronomical festivals and the other four find themselves pretty equal between. Which brings me to Imbolc, which traditionally is celebrated from the evening of 1st February to the evening of the 2nd. Although, astronomically speaking, it actually occurs about 3pm on 3rd February (GMT).

    Imbolc1 is all about new beginnings after winter. Bulbs begin to sprout shoots, ice begins to melt and life, that has lain dormant through winter tentatively emerges. It is a metaphor that resonates more so this year with our world in the grips of the coronavirus.

    • Life has been dormant beneath the ground and within bare branches.
    • Life has been dormant while we endured lockdowns and loss.

    Like the shoots budding on the trees and the snowdrops and bulbs thinking about breaking through the earth, there are hopes. We now have vaccines and better treatments for those who suffer are being developed.

    Like a late winter storm or spring frost there may be further setbacks. Imbolc doesn’t say winter will not go without a few cries. Imbolc does say that spring is on the way. It is the herald of new life, new opportunities and new hope. That for me is a good feeling.

    Imbolc blessings my friends, may you find hope in the lengthening days ahead.

    1 This is only in the Northern Hemisphere. But each festival offers its positive outlook on things. Wherever you are, may you find hope for the future.


    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

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  • Begin – Weekly Creative Prompt

    Begin - weekly creative prompt

    It’s time for another weekly creative prompt word. These weekly words, or prompts, are to give me, and anyone else who wants to join in, some focus to our creative work.

    The festival Imbolc takes place this week. The exact timing depends on how close you want to stick to the astrological calendar. There are many myths, legends, and stories about what Imbolc is about, with different belief systems vying for prominence. However, what is certain is that the date has historically been seen as the beginning of spring. Therefore…

    This week’s creative prompt word is:

    Begin — perform or undergo the first part of an action or activity:

    if you are in the grip of winter weather it may be hard to believe, but beneath the snow and ice, life is getting ready to begin

    Let the prompt inspire you in any area of creativity that you are interested:

    • writing fiction
    • art journaling
    • songwriting
    • journaling
    • photography
    • painting
    • composing
    • blog posts
    • art therapy
    • anything that could use a little nudge to begin

    I now have ‘begin’ written on the board above my computer. I am hoping it will inspire me on my creative journey this week. So far, this year I have struggled with motivation and my creativity has been minimal. Using begin this week, I hope it will kickstart things.

    As mentioned before, this isn’t a ‘challenge’ but the prompts can be used that way if you want. If you do create anything using them, I would love to see or hear about it. Leave a link in the comments below or tag me @darrenrhill or #thecreativeminimalist on any social platform.


    Thank you for reading this post. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
    namaste
    d
    xox

    If you enjoyed this post please support my writing by making a donation of any amount.

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