Northern People

It’s February 2. The groundhog emerges from his earthly cave offering the forecast that either spring will come early indicated by his eagerness to remain outside; or he’ll scurry back to his winter dreams for another six weeks. The groundhog is a totem symbolizing the ability to open fully to our dreams and embrace the great unconsciousness without fear or harm, which to me, is one of the major themes of winter – time for rest and introspection.  February 2 is also the Celtic feast of Imbolc, a cross-quarter holy day signifying the onset of spring. This day celebrates the Celtic goddess, Brigid, in the name of fertility and purification, at a time when spring rose into the hearts of those who endured many long nights. So at a moment when we acknowledge going inward, we do a turnabout, resilient and in time with the cycles of the earth.

Although I love my Vermont winters, soon the time will come when I will feel the same as those ancient people. Whether the weather remains cold and no matter what the calendar says, our nature dictates we move out of the darkness, that great unconsciousness, and into the light.