I'm back after a short semi-break from social media.

January is always a challenging month. The cold edge of winter bites hard, the festivities are past, and it's time to commit to eating healthier and exercising again while navigating a return to normality.

My main goal during January was to return to my writing routine. I am so happy to say I have been writing my new book on every one of those thirty-one days!

Now, we can begin to look forward. With sundown today began Imbolc, the Pagan sabbat celebrating the oncoming spring as nature begins to stir and shake off its hibernation. In ancient times, it was associated with the Celtic goddess, Brigid, goddess of spring, fire, healing, fertility, motherhood, music and poetry, and much more, with many myths surrounding her.

The Christian Church later adopted the day as St. Brigid's Day (preceding Candlemas, often linked to Imbolc, though geographical evidence suggests they initially developed independently). Legend recounts how Brigid was born into slavery and went on to become Ireland's first female bishop. Believed to have performed many miracles, including an abortion through blessing (interesting how we don't hear much about that one these days), she was known as a formidable force and a passionate protector of women. There are many legends related to her, all the more fascinating when you consider that, a thousand years later, women would be persecuted and executed as witches.

It is also National Storytelling Week. A perfect way to end one month and begin another, by celebrating our love and the power of storytelling, which has been part of the human experience for millennia!

Something all these events share is the symbolism of seeking and finding the light, of emerging from the darkness. No matter the stories we seek or what they mean to us, we can all find some comfort in that.

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