Welcome to the Faerie Festival of Imbolc!
Feb 1st.
A time of awakening, yet not quite yet awake, my sleepy faerie friends. A stirring from the deepest slumbers of winter. Emerging from the time of the north and the element of earth. Swap the rich balm of Oakmoss, Patchouli, and dank thawing earth, with hints of blossoms and fruit saturated in thickly winter-aged, spring-honeyed nectar. Brash, then vanishing. Urging us forth. Wintry snow/rain cleansing for the early snow buds and the time of the east. The element of air wherein sylphs grace the ethers with softly muted florescence.
Awaken! Awaken! Awaken!
As a child I would anticipate the spring by imagining the fair folk prepping their paints deep under the roots of sleeping oak trees. Cruelly crushing berries, mosses, and barks. Coaxing iridescence from clouds and shadows. All for the Spring Faerie Queen’s vast cache of aromas and pigments created with express purpose to gloss on delicate blossoms with wee paintbrushes of spider threads. I would anticipate with glee the those first colors and scents of thaw, green, and tender blossoms.
In fact, I still do this.
Do you have a favorite spring ritual or scent?
I still remember that taste of cranberries found under melting snow at first thaw. Yum !!
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Lilacs are always my favorite spring scent. Of course they will not be coming for a few months. but still it is nice to anticipate!
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Forsythia bushes in lemon colored blossoms brighten my feelings once Spring comes. The green shoots of new plants through white snow in the photo look beautiful.
My Mom liked Muguet des bois, Lily of the valley perfume. It was light and springy. 🙂
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Ahh yes, forsythia! It makes the heart beat just a little faster, doesn’t it? My mom had same perfume, in a creme. I would sneak in there and steal some… I also used to pick them from a nearby school yard on mother’s day for her. Sweet little bouquets… Happy Imbolc!
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What a luscious post! I love the scent of hyacinths in early spring . . .
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oh yes – Hyacinths! I heard once to keep them by your bed when you sleep…
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I actually love to do that! I wish we could capture the fragrance of hyacinths for natural perfumery. There must be a way!
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Yes – i wonder about the enfluerage method…
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