February 26th

There’s dawn-light now when we waken,
and on an overcast, heavy day in February I can see no difference between dawn-light and dawn,

the sun might be there,
or it might not,
and all is pearl-grey with bare black branches.

There is a peace, and I wish it into my bones.

February 22nd

Yesterday I reached for a seldom-used notebook –

it’s pretty, you see, so it is hard to be sure that it’s for me –

and I turned a few pages to find that I had made a star map. I had been struck by a morning so lovely as to record it in pen and ink in the pretty notebook (the silver one which is for magical things).

There I had set old friends, Scorpius and Serpens caput, and the moon just so, and the bare branched trees before them.

This morning, I am up in the first touch of dawnlight to velvet blackness.

There they are.

February 6th

I was still ruminating about long term plans.
Where could I be, spiritually and professionally, in a year?
Two years?
Five?

Sgiobalta woke me gently this morning and told me that she had a plan all figured out. What is it, sweetheart? I asked.

Mamaidh, let’s have a beautiful day.

Second day after Imbolc

More dreams than usual,
vivid ones.
Perhaps it’s time to write them down.

My dear one asked me about the future
and I realized that I have not looked beyond next summer
with any sort of deliberate care,
With the exception that when I’m seventy I would like to carry the ghost of Trina Schart Hyman in case there is more work she would like to do.

This is the work of this season:
What seeds lie under the snow?
Plant them with care this year,
Broadcasting will not do.

Plant with care.

February 1st

I dreamed in the wee hours
of a troll
– long-limbed, preternaturally slender, covered in long hair, with two glowing spots –
under a bridge.

(the exit 10 bridge on Route 89)

And suddenly I was afraid and perceived him as several, and human, and terrifying in that way.

My voice of reason reminded me of two very important things:

First, how to defend myself: when one is inside and in control of a ton and a half of both armor and battering ram, there are ways; then get on the highway South because Exit 9 is well populated.

Second, that the danger I perceived was my own projection. If I stopped and really looked, it was not a scary gang. In truth, it was just a troll signaling for help, a cosmic neighbor crash-landed and panicking.

First aid for blue leaking fluids is simply first aid, and I called state police to help with towing and helping him get checked for a concussion.

Approaching Ostara

Friends, I’m delighted to announce that the meditation manual is available which accompanies the days from Imbolc (tonight or tomorrow or next week, depending on your calendar; or in August, depending on your hemisphere) to Ostara (the spring equinox).

This time of the year is difficult for me, and I imagine it is for many. Will you join me on our meditations and walks and imaginings? Our Morning Meanders are available through Kindle.

January 29th

It finally happened.

The ladies’ room here has two paper towel dispensers which are activated by motion.
One of them is also haunted and activates when the light is turned on.

I entered, the motion-detecting lights turned on.

The light-detecting towel dispenser dispensed a towel.

The motion detecting towel dispenser detected the motion of the light-detecting towel dispenser and dispensed a towel.

The light detecting towel dispenser (which, you will recall, also detects motion) detected its companions motion in dispensing a towel and responded in kind.

I left them still chattering back and forth between themselves.