Lighting the Fires of Spring - Guest Post by Natalie Wright

Lighting the Fires of Spring

Ah, Spring! The ground thaws and we see the first shoots of sweet green poking through. Bunnies abound and bees pollinate. The sun is ready to take over as the ruler of our skies, growing in influence now as the days grow in length. The warmth blesses the seeds sown now to bring our summer abundance.
It’s little wonder there are so many celebrations around the world that welcome spring. After the grey, cold winter, we all need a reason to party.
Long before there was green beer, Leprechauns with pots of gold and crockpots full of corned beef, and Easter baskets filled with candy, ancient peoples paused in March and early April to celebrate the coming spring. Little is known of the true histories of the ancient Celts and pre-Medieval tribes of Europe, but we can bet that our penchant to party this time of year may well be a rite of spring going back thousands of years.
If you’re tired of green beer and cabbage, here are ways to celebrate spring as our ancestors may have:

1. Sweep and Rake: Get out your broom and sweep away the leaves and dust blown in by the winter winds. Rake up the old leaves mushed onto the grass by the snow. Clear away the dead things left from fall and winter to make room for the new growth of spring.

2. Tend Your Garden: Roll up your sleeves, grab your spade, and get your hands dirty. Even if your garden is a high-rise patio, tend to the plants in your part of the world. Snip the dead blooms, prune, feed, water and show the green things in your world some love.

3. Take a Hike: Preferably with your sweetie. Enjoy a stroll through the neighborhood park or hike into the forest or desert near you. Take in the signs of the change from cold, dead and dreary to warm, blooming and colorful. Who knows, maybe the time together in the great outdoors will kindle the fires of romance.

4. Create a Feast of the Season: Make an outing to a local farmer’s market or, if there isn’t such a market near you, check out the produce at your neighborhood grocery. What’s in season? What’s fresh? Collect your bounty of the season and cook a Spring Feast.


Magickal Graphics

5. Party! Share that feast that you lovingly prepared with your friends and family. If it’s warm enough, take the feast outside and party in your garden. End your evening with a fire to warm the hearts of your guests. It doesn’t have to be a bonfire. Build your fire in a fire pit, chiminea or fireplace. Or if none of those options are available to you, light some candles. The warm glow of the fire’s embers call to mind the warmth of the coming season.

Natalie is the author of the ancient Celtic-inspired Emily’s House and Emily’s Trial, Books 1 and 2 of the Akasha Chronicles, a young adult paranormal fantasy series.  You can stalk Natalie here: Blog Facebook Wattpad Twitter Goodreads Pinterest YouTube