Imbolc, blackthorn and elf caps
(Nimue)
As the wheel turns from Imbolc to the equinox, blackthorn and elf caps are important seasonal markers for me. Generally elfcaps have a long season through the winter, but in my local area these cheery little fungi show up in February. This is also the time of year for blossom on the blackthorn. Blackthorn flowers before any other tree and at this point in the year, there are no leaves, so the flowers really stand out. These are plants that give me feelings of new life and abundance after the depletions of winter.
One of the things on my mind as I write this, is the names we use for the seasonal festivals. I’m using the names I was given when I first started studying Druidry. I’m increasingly uneasy about it because these are Irish names that are being used in wider Paganism. I’m not following any Irish traditions and I’m questioning whether this is the right language to be using. It’s not a fair representation of what I’m celebrating.
I’ve never adopted the fancy names for the equinoxes and solstices. Those are 20th century anyway, and use of Mabon for an equinox is highly problematic. I’m in a landscape that has been part of Wales in the past, and there is more Welsh influence in what I do than there is Irish, but I feel uneasy about adopting Welsh language instead.
Imbolc falls at the same time as Candlemas – which is a lovely and much more English word. But it’s also a specific festival and not one I honour. St Blaise’s Day falls at the same time, and while he’s not part of my religion, his presence in the local calender is significant to me. I find Saints fascinating and appealing and some of them suggest something pre-Christian, although he’s not one of those so far as I know.
Some years ago I read Julie Brett’s book on Australian Druidry. She hit all of these issues with the wheel of the year (and more) because none of the seasonal stuff makes any sense in an Australian context. Solstices and equinoxes are ubiquitous, but the rest of the wheel of the year is northern European. She wrote about her explorations of the seasons on her own terms. I think this is something I need to do, and will explore as the year progresses.
Right now it’s elf cap season. That’s definitely the local feature looming largest for me. I’m not sure what comes next, what defines the turning of the wheel of the year. I’ll be watching out and reporting back as I go. In my own practice I’m going to be rethinking the names I use and asking what’s most relevant and appropriate for me.
