It’s Imbolc again, or Groundhog Day, if you will. Thinking of the latter, I’m reminded of the clever Bill Murray movie. Also realizing that February itself can make one feel like they’re trapped in an endless time loop of drudgery–repeating the same thing day in and day out, ad nauseum. February might be the shortest month, but it can be a tough one to get through, especially if you don’t have anything to look forward to. Grey days with not enough sun, especially in the Midwest–we’ve all been there. I have things to look forward to this year, many in fact. I must remind myself of them repeatedly as I inch ever closer to spring and the best month ever, March. OK, it’s my Birthday month, but that’s beside the point. That’s when spring is officially sprung, and the real thaw and signs of life begin. Along with new hope, new beginnings, new ideas. All of which, I have a boatload of this year. I just have to be patient and see what takes hold and what falls away. I know intellectually that it’s a good practice to let go of things, materially and otherwise. It’s just the figuring out of when to wave the white flag officially, that perplexes me somewhat. I’m stubborn and a fighter, so sometimes “giving up” doesn’t come quite naturally to me. Perhaps some of you can relate?

 Imbolc Rituals

This Imbolc, perhaps we could all stand some extra moments of quiet reflection to truly meditate on what to let fall away from our lives. What no longer serves us, what doesn’t fit, what cherished piece of clothing has grown so many holes it needs to be repurposed as a cleaning rag. Just needed to interject a bit of levity there. I think that’s another thing to keep in mind this February, the longest and shortest month. Keep some laughter in your life. Don’t take things too seriously, and let stuff roll off your back whenever possible. They say it’s the best medicine, and they’re not wrong. Think of Bill Murray in that movie, when he learns to find joy and take delight in the simplest pleasures, where once he only found monotony and annoyance.

Stone House Alchemy

 Something you can definitely take delight in is this month’s (40^th!) podcast episode of, “Women Who Howl at the Moon.” Kathleen A. Egelkraut at Stone House Alchemy is an energetic, curious, artistic soul who specializes in paranormal investigation and beautiful, handcrafted protection bells, among many other things. Join us in tuning in to her story on SoundCloud and check out the latest posts, news, and musings on our Facebook page, Wolf Women Howl. I truly love doing this podcast, and meeting all of the independent, inspiring, and amazing women that I have and continue to, in the process. Although you can currently listen for free, every little bit helps to assist my costs in production: equipment, software, travel, phone calls for interviews, etc. Won’t you please consider contributing on Patreon? I’m offering all sorts of cool swag and merch to welcome you aboard as a member, and you can join for as little as $3 a month. Heck, you can even try it out for free, at different times this year, and still enjoy the perks! I appreciate you and having an audience to write for and share my creativity with. Let’s all get through February together on a positive note, shall we?