It may not be conventional, but my New Year starts at Brighid, on February 1. The first circle I was part of was made up predominantly of musicians and artists, all of them dedicated to Brighid. Our celebrations of her Sabbat were multi-day events, including ritual, bardic circles that went into the wee hours, and magick to support our creative endeavors in the coming year. Because we were in Texas, we never knew whether we'd be circling with snow on the ground or new buds on the trees, and this added an additional element of magick to our rites. Brighid (or Imbolc) also comes after we've all had a chance to decompress from the craziness of Yuletide and the secular New Years, and as such seems to afford more time for reflection. I find myself feeling more ready to emerge into the new light of the spring at Brighid than I do at Yule, and so for over two decades I've claimed this Sabbat as the real "start" to my year.

It was also the tradition in my circle to declare creative goals for the year at Brighid. We'd call on Her to lend her inspiration and creative fire to our own arts, whatever those may be.

It is in that spirit that I return to this blog. The last half of 2014 was a time in which I needed to go within, and to let go of (even if temporarily) things that were not immediately serving my healing and growth. Blogging was one thing I had to let go of for a time. I have a clear message now that it is as important to take up blogging again as it was for me to set it down for a time. I am looking forward to sharing with you all, and am dedicating myself to at least two posts per week. One will be the weekly Goddess card draws, and the other will be more my own thoughts, on whatever matters inspire me!

I'd love your feedback, too! What would you like to see here? What wold you like me to talk about? Do you want to give an interview? Is there a book, album, blog ,podcast, film, I should review? Leave me a comment!