“The Lord’s blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it!” (Proverbs 10: 22)
First, a quick shout out to anyone reading this who celebrates the Chinese New Year, which is today. 2022 is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac. Anyone born in The Year of the Tiger is said to be passionate, brave, possess an unusual sense of adventure, be philanthropic and trustworthy but, also said to be stubborn, opinionated and often rebellious. In truth, I’ve found most zodiac descriptions to be quite general (i.e. many of us can claim traits like these even if we’re not born in The Year of the Tiger) but, it’s fun to read and learn, and wonder about. And greater minds than mine studied and learned and gave us the zodiac as a gift; there is also something to be said for the sometimes uncanny accuracy in these descriptions as well. Regardless, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year today if you and yours celebrate the Chinese New Year! And, if you’d care to share, I would love to know more about how your family celebrates. Feast? Parade? Dancing? Please share in the comments section below…=)
Today is also Imbolc, Brigid’s Day, or St. Brigid’s Day. This one I know a little more about. Celebrated traditionally in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, and amongst Wiccans today, Imbolc is the first day of spring. And, if you’re paying close enough attention to nature, even here in New England where we have almost 2 feet of snow on the ground, you’ve probably noticed the days getting just slightly longer and a softness to the air that speaks of the warmer season just ahead.
Brigid, both the goddess and the saint, is said to protect homes and livestock. She is also associated with the lambing season, spring sowing, the blooming of the blackthorn, blacksmithing, healing, wisdom, poetry and, some sources, also associate her with seamstresses. Saint Brigid’s Day is a traditional Gaelic festival celebrating the midpoint between the winter solstice, or Yule, and the spring equinox, or Ostara. Brideogs–doll-like figures of Brigid–and special crosses are often fashioned out of rushes, or reeds, and displayed in the home. In earlier days, the brideogs would be paraded from house to house, and beds made, food and drink left, to welcome her blessings. Sometimes a wand made of birch may be left near the bed to represent the wand she is said to use to grow vegetation. In pagan lore, she is a fertility goddess. Along with St. Patrick, she is a Patron Saint of Ireland. In Christianity, she has the added virtue of having wet-nursed the Christ child.
Whether Brigid is goddess or saint to you, she is said to visit virtuous households and bless the inhabitants. And I pray that today, she will bless your family throughout the coming new year.
May God bless you & keep you!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-this-animal-sanctuary-grow-and-thrive
The Herbal Hare Tomestead and Animal Sanctuary 