renewal

February 2025

~ Ashley ~ 69 Comments 

February;
Springtime brings the light,
And hope.


Green tongues,
Sense the growing light;
New shoots.
 

Mid way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox is Imbolc, a pagan festival of renewal; I read that in Old Irish the term means “the belly of the Mother” (Earth).  In Christianity this time is known as Candlemas, also a time of renewal and the returning light.  The earth is stirring from the cold of winter, plants are beginning to grow and since the Winter Solstice in December, the days are perceptibly longer.

All my photos were taken at Rowallane, near Saintfield, County Down.  It was a day for hat and gloves but every now and then the sun shone brightly.  As we entered the walled garden we could see the work already done by the many volunteers who joyfully tend these borders.  Whilst there were few flowers there was one exception, Daphne bholua “Alba” (see my first photo).  This shrub was covered in wonderful little flowers and in this walled garden the scent was heavenly.  If there had been a seat close by we might still be sitting there!

Have a wonderful Spring.

Ashley

#Note: WordPress have once again made changes, resulting in me not adding as many photos as usual and I found it very frustrating producing this blog. I know of one or two others who’ve had similar difficulties.

#Note: my email notifications were filled by someone “liking” many of my posts and as usual WP asks if I’d like to check out this other persons blog which I did and I was taken to a website that shows my blogs but on someone else’s page! Beware of SPAM!



Samhain 2024

~ Ashley ~ 38 Comments

samhain 24 original

Winter

Darkness grows;
An ending, a beginning,
And renewal.

Today, we are midway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice and in the Celtic tradition this time is seen as the start of winter.  Known as Samhain (pronounced sow-ein) it is the end and the beginning of the Celtic new year.  As the darkness grows it is believed we are reborn.

If you are a regular visitor to my blog you already know that in my writing I follow the cycle of seasons, echoing the ancient spiritual pathways.  Now that I’ve begun drawing again I hope to follow the same seasonal cycle.

From reading and study, the colours of this seasonal festival are black representing death, ending and the spiritual world, orange suggesting life within death, and purple for wisdom and insight.  Here in the northern hemisphere we feel the effects of the earth’s tilt away from the sun and I hope that my interpretation of this in my sketch echoes the phenomenon.

It is a time to remember ancestors, family and friends who have passed away but also a time to prepare for the winter to come.

Ashley