I recently heard about the Celtic Omen Days ritual that sounds interesting. For each of the 12 days from Winter Solstice to New Year’s Day you reflect on a month from the year. Day 1 is January, day 2 is February, etc. Then you go on a walk each day and look for a sign that may be a clue about the upcoming New Year. It could be a stone, shape of a tree, whatever. On the Solstice the sign I got was my sock that kept slipping down into my shoe. I got annoyed at first, then stopped and tried to adjust it without taking off my shoe and finally found a bench out of the rain, sat down, took off my shoe, readjusted my sock and re-tied my shoe tighter. It was fine after that. Sometimes you have to take the time to do something properly or it’s going to keep bugging you and detract from the pleasure of what you are doing. It made me remember not to rush to get things done, but to enjoy the journey and take care of myself.
Looking back at January 24 – Checking out the amazing De Young Open, house and dog sitting for Michele and Tim in Placerville (so beautiful and relaxing), my car not starting – finding out it was partly rodent damage (covered by insurance) and partly needing a new transmission (NOT covered by insurance), a fun sister’s weekend at Sea Ranch, onboarding the new Executive Director at MCBA, the MCBA board retreat, planning for the Installation event and dealing with a horrible event coordinator at the venue, taking an online collaging workshop that I loved, seeing thousands of ladybugs on Mt Diablo with Emmy, going to the awesome Napa Lighted Art Festival. It’s interesting that I’m in a similar place right now onboarding a new Executive Director at a different nonprofit. Remembering how I felt many of the same things I am feeling now- anxiety that I’m remembering all the important information to impart, stress of training up someone new in a short amount of time, relief to be handing over responsibility, sadness that I won’t be working with the wonderful people I’ve met, pride in the work I’ve done to help an organization during a time of transition.
First thing on Solstice morning I lit candles, meditated then journaled. After my morning journaling, I opened my book of Mary Oliver poems, Devotion, and just randomly turned to a page. It turned out to be the poem Why I Wake Early, the same poem I learned about the other day. Definitely a good Solstice omen.
Later in the morning I spent a couple of hours collaging in front of the fire. I can see a difference in my mental health and overall outlook on life when I take time for creativity and spend time in nature.
I am almost finished reading The Life Impossible. Even though it’s fiction it’s so inspiring to read about a 72-year-old woman who completely upends her life and opens herself up to accepting seemingly impossible ideas.
Towards the end of the day, I drove out to Rodeo Beach initially planning to just sit in the car and watch the waves. The rain had pretty much stopped by that point so I decided to get out and walk and hiked up to Battery Townsley. I could hear the fog bell tolling in the water in between the waves crashing. It felt so good to get out and hike up the hill, seeing the foggy views of the hillside and the beach. Afterwards, I sat in the car and listened to the waves. It was easier for me to sit with my eyes closed to relax. When I tried to sit in the car and look at the beach and waves I was restless and wanted to get out and take photos or walk on the beach or DO something. I guess I am someone who needs to close my eyes in order to relax.
My final solstice activity was taking a bath by candlelight. I forgot how much I enjoyed a bath and how soothing it is. I will put this on my list of things to do on a regular basis! The day ended with veggie stir fry for dinner and watching White Christmas with Mom, a favorite holiday movie for both of us. Sisters, sisters, there never were such devoted sisters…
