Imbolc

Imbolc, also known/celebrated as Imbolg, Oimelc, Candlemas, (St) Brigid's Day, Groundhog Day, and the Festival of Nut, takes place on or near the 1st/2nd of February and is a festival marking a cross-quarter day in the wheel of the year, heralding the first signs of spring.

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This is a festival particularly associated with Brighid (Brigit, Bride, or Brigid), goddess of healing, smith craft, and poetry. She was Christianised as St Brigid of Kildare.

"Brighid's Kiss - LaLugh" (Watch on YouTube)

Brighid of the sunrise, Rising in the morning, Rising with the springtime, Greening all the land Brighid's Kiss, La Lugh, lyrics here

Imbolc is a festival associated with candles, milk, new beginnings, and poetry. The emphasis is on warmth and light and burgeoning spring, being the halfway point between Yule and the Spring Exquinox.
A few ideas on how to celebrate Imbolc:
Make and drink a milkshake
Buy and plant some spring flowers, such as crocuses and early daffodils
Take a photo of something that signifies approaching spring to you
Write a poem
Clean part or all of your home
Scatter nuts, a sign of prosperity, in a garden
Make a candle - try making ice candles. Bless your candles. Burn a candle and think about what you're grateful for and what your plans are.

This article gives some background about the history of Imbolc and some of the other festivals taking place at this time.
In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the time of Lammas/Lughnasadh, which is the first of the harvest holidays.

More about Imbolc, symbolism, and ways to celebrate, under the cut
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Goodbye Bonnie

Bonnie the hamster died last night. I knew it was coming. All the literature says hamsters average a two year life span and I brought a six week old Bonnie home in March two years ago. I'd seen a decline in her activity levels the last few weeks and she'd barely eaten this week, preferring soft foods and a little water.

I purchased a very cheap plant yesterday and so today I buried Bonnie in a plant-pot with the rose, while it was raining. Then I cleaned the cage out and folded it down, and took a long hot shower. Not how I wanted to start my morning nor celebrate Imbolc :/

When she was tiny, I was able to handle her, but around six months old she started to bite – drawing blood – every time I tried. So although I could hand feed her treats and get her out in her exercise ball or put up the metal rabbit run for her to play in, she was not the most cuddly of pets. She was my first and probably last hamster, and she provided some sense of companionship and responsibility. Goodbye, Bonnie.

Da Vinci's Demons fic: How I Feel About You Now

How I Feel About You Now (5800 words) by meridian_rose
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Da Vinci’s Demons
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Leonardo da Vinci/Girolamo Riario, Girolamo Riario & Vanessa (Da Vinci’s Demons)
Characters: Girolamo Riario, Leonardo da Vinci, Vanessa (Da Vinci’s Demons)
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Blood Loss, Friendship, vanessa & riario, eventual leario, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Season/Series 01, Nico makes an appearance, Zo appears briefly, The Princess Bride References, HC Bingo, Bingo
Summary:

Season one au. A badly wounded Riario finds himself at the mercy of Leo’s skills and Vanessa’s ministrations. While he recovers he begins to bond with his caretakers and to reconsider everything he once believed in, and to develop feelings he shouldn’t allow himself to have.

@ AO3

Note: For the hurt/comfort bingo prompt "blood loss". An earlier version appeared at my fic journal; this is a slightly edited version. Thanks to tinamour for the cheerleading and betaread :D

Hurt/Comfort Bingo Round Seven: Claim

BINGO: diagonal line
Author: meridian_rose
Fandoms: Black Sails, Legends of Tomorrow, Da Vinci's Demons
H/C: trapped together, dystopia, healers (wildcard), comfort food or item / feeding someone, blood loss

( Fills below the cut )

Trope Bingo Round Seven: Claim

Claimed last year but the round up didn't get posted here yet.

by: meridian_rose
fandoms: Da Vinci's Demons, Black Sails
tropes: Cross Dressing/Costumes, rare pairs, transformations, hurt comfort, au: alternate professions
( Read more... )

Misc Landcomm and other banners 2014-2024

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