Radicalizing Imbolc & the Hermit's Journey
There is Hope for us, Complex Creatures
Blessings to you this February & Happy Imbolc my beloved’s.
As we follow the rhythms of nature…our energies may still be in hibernation mode, but our bones are starting to stir awake. We are apart of nature, connected as one moving through the last cross quarter of the Seasonal Wheel of the Year. This midpoint between Winter Solstice|Yuletide and the Spring Equinox|Ostara is known as Imbolc.
Imbolc is considered a Celtic|Pagan time of celebration, where the Earth remembers. Remembers that it’s time to come back home and reawaken. It’s the shift that calls in Rebirth and Renewal. Imbolc meaning ‘in the belly’ or ‘ewe’s milk’, calls to the first signals of Spring - the first baby lambs born, the first glimpse of a flower breaking through the snow, like white snowdrops. The sun’s warmth is slowly finding us and we are reemerging. Moving through the last threshold of the Wheel, ushering in light, hope and new life. This is a time of energized magic and creation.
We have been in a Crucible these past few months. [Crucible] meaning a container that can hold alchemizing powers. Powers of deep introspection + intense energy. Winter itself is a crucible, as we have been crossing over the bridge of Death along the Seasonal Wheel. A natural part within the spiralic cycle of Life, Death, Rebirth - Death is not the end, it is the catalyst to change form. As we witness the world stage, there is a high energy of change & metamorphosis happening right now in all of us - underneath the surface - in the peripheral - through the liminal - deep in the soil - in the depths of our soul.
Mother Nature has shown us already this year - a crucible of it’s own type of devastating transformation, with the climate crisis of wildfires in LA. Sacred Saturdaze Outpost hosted a Tarot Fundraising Event on January 20th - as an act of rebellion against this incoming regime, focusing on love, community & hope in honor of MLK Day. 100% of raised funds were donated to support the people, the animals and the city of Los Angeles.
We raised $530! So amazing what 20 minutes of connections can create. We were able to donate directly to 5 families who lost everything in the Eaton Fires. Thank you to everyone who signed up and a big thank you to The Meadows for hosting the space for the event.
“Community is faster than government” is a phrase I saw repeatedly during January’s wildfires on social media. And it’s true. The people of LA mobilized so rapidly it has been a blessing to witness. Not only to support those who lost their homes and animal shelters but to also bring awareness to the first responders in California - 30% of the firefighters are incarcerated folk that opted to sign up in hopes of a decreased sentence. These people are putting their lives on the line for prison labor wages. $5/day, which is criminal within itself. To learn more, I highly recommend signing up for IMPACT’s newsletter HERE: A Gen-Z newsletter with social justice news, action items, and recommendations.
If you’d like to still donate to those affected by the LA wildfires - here is a Go Fund Me Google Spreadsheet of Black Families listed and another Go Fund Me Google Spreadsheet of families listed with their direct link for donations. Or you can purchase this City of Angels Ritual Candle from Spellbound Sky - 100% of proceeds are being donated.
So as we now shift into Imbolc, we are in Rebirth phase of the Life-Death-Rebirth cycle. This next month & a half is a time that is all about Renewal. And with Renewal comes hope & magic. But how can we carry hope in these current times?
We are all too aware that the future can feel bleak. This new fascist regime of government isn’t good for ANY OF US, the state of the climate crisis is on full blast, we got asshole billionaires edging towards trillionaires while conflict, wars and suffering are abundant. It is a hard, stark reality to bear witness to every day. But this is why Hope & Magic are important now more than ever before.
We are complex creatures, us humans. And this is a complicated time to live through. But because of our beautiful complexities, we have the ability to expand our capacity to hold multiple truths at once. This means we can witness the horrors of this world and not by pass them, while staying connected to our feelings and allowing ourselves to call in joy & pleasure too. It feels paradoxical, because it is. It feels rebellious, because it is. The patriarchal, oppressive systems within our society wants us to feel hopeless, isolated, disconnected from each other and too busy-minded within productivity to pay attention. But luckily, WE ARE beautiful, complex, deep, powerful, sensitive creatures that do have the power to bring awareness around our choices & actions. We can decide to be more intentional with how we more through the world. It’s time my beloveds. We are moving into a new era, a new rebirth - how we have operated in past cycles will not work anymore. I’ve shared this diagram before but I’m going to share it again because it will always ring true:
I saw someone say on their last tiktok video post before it was banned for what 24 hours (chaos energy), “The problems are not between the left & the right, between republicans and democrats - it’s an up and down problem. It’s an up and down problem, not a left & right problem.” Look at that triangle of power above - it is an up & down problem - The elites, millionaires & bought-out government would rather pin us against each other, but it’s these 500-700 people that are the problem. With Patriarchy based on individualism & Matriarchy based in collectivism, we can envision a paradigm shift. Individualistic cultures like America, value independence and personal achievement - which creates competitive energy between each other to climb the narrow ladder. While in collectivist societies & cultures, they value group harmony and interdependence, rooted in shared values & resources which can create an equilibrium of shared peace and sustainability - the ladder becomes a wide grand staircase that we can all fit on.
In the midst of the chaos, we have to choose Hope.
Hope lives in connection. Hope lives in witnessing & holding space to listen to each other’s lived experiences. Hope lives in empathy and in our tender hearts. Hope can live in anger and grief. Hope is made manifest by community and action. Hope is having a feeling of trust. Ask yourself, where do you put your trust? Where do you put your time and energy? It is aligned to your values? Hope is radical. Hope is medicine. When we put our personal intentions & desires aligned behind our thoughts & actions, we start to embody our own revolutionary hope that can be expressed through so many ways that can help the collective, that can help humanity.
In the midst of the chaos, we have to tune into our own Magic.
This can look like recommitting to the core truths you hold dear, this can be making a tangible change on where you put your energy - ie. social media/META is not the place to be ( a social media exit strategy is needed - a future museletter coming soon). This can look like divesting from monopolistic companies that are causing more harm than the casual convenience it gives us - add Target to the list folks! Magic can be calling out to what you truly desire and casting spells of positive practice to make sure you are aligned with what you want in life. The foundation of your magic is built on staying open & receptive, while listening to your intuition - not closing yourself off. Magic is spending time in nature, finding expression through art, simplifying life and decluttering from the noise - honoring your boundaries. Magic is shining a light towards your dark corners to seek understanding & healing. Magic is intentionally staying present to what is true for you. This is what makes you feel alive, this is what makes you reach out to others, this is what makes you participate in the world that truly does need your magic.
What we are witnessing right now - in community movements, in community waves of grief, anger and resilience - is the crumbling of capitalistic structures & its’ ideologies. The systems are broken y’all, we see Oz and their evil doings & blatantly what they stand for - control, greed & power. And this further invigorates the collective to awaken to a new wave of revolution.
WE the People, FOR the people, BY the people.
This is the Imbolc Rebirth energy we need to lean into. It is through community action that grass root movements can grow deep roots that give sway to societal changes. Find a lane of activism that you can connect with and be active in that lane. This is connected to Pluto in Aquarius Energy.
Pluto, our Planet of Renewal, Transformation, Power, the Underworld, Death & Regeneration. Deep foundational changes are happening, even if we can not see them, we are starting to feel them. Pluto is seen as a healer planet, but it’s through destruction that brings healing. Harnessing out personal power & agency can we dive into the intensities - bear witness - and call in change. This will feel like turbulence & discomfort but it’s because core truths & wounds are being revealed & released. This clears the path to a new dawn that we can choose to participate, to heal and to do things differently.
Pluto is harnessing Aquarian energies. Rebelliousness. Communities. Truth Seeking. Science & Technology. Aquarius is the Futurist. The Innovator. Aquarius is always thinking outside of the box. Forward thinking with the notion of “When I honor myself in true alignment, I can then be a better person to support to the collective.” Humanitarian efforts are being called into the forefront. We are being asked to reshape our values in order to shift societal goals. A surge in advancements in medicine and technology is happening. There are new radical ideals that seem way more appetizing, than what were currently being served up. Aquarius wants us to envision a different future than the one we are in now. In hopes of a decentralization, where power & information is shared & redistributed, fore the betterment of the whole and not just the powerful few. This is Matriarchy energy.
This transit, Pluto in Aquarius will be happening for the next 20 years. It’s generational, it’s long lasting deep foundational shifts. The last time Pluto was in Aquarius was in 1778. This was a period of great change in the world. This time included the American and French Revolutions, the Age of Enlightenment, and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution!
In the spirit of Imbolc and with the support of Pluto in Aquarius - This is the energy we need to lean into. ‘Renewal’ by definition means: To make new, to give spiritual strength to, to revive, to replace or refill with a fresh supply, to begin again. Replacing what is old and restoring with something new. Replenishment, rejuvenate, restore, reshape, recharge, refresh, revivification, revitalization, reinvigoration, renaissance, revival, rebirth, a new dawn, a fresh start, to rally, to rise to another chance.
February & March are crucial months of personal renewal. We are in the long game y’all and Imbolc is asking us to fortify our endurance, as we start to crown into our rebirth. When we go through the process of replenishing our energies, we can actively participate within community. When we pay attention to our soul calling and our values, we can increase our spiritual strength. When we start to reshape the way we think & act based on who were are right now and not by the trauma or wounds from our past, we start to realign our direction that is for the betterment of ourselves AND the collective = We rebirth into our own Renaissance Period. That way we are prepared, equipped and ready to start our next journey as the New Dawn of Spring commences with the seasonal new year and astrological new year of Aries season both coming in on March 20th.
The Collective Tarot Card for 2025 is the Hermit. The Hermit is a card of deep soul work. We are not isolated as a Hermit - this is internal. We are being asked to pay attention to our own path that we are walking, to make sure we are really tapping into the deeper lessons that are needed this year. 2025 is a year of deep introspection, of self exploration & discovery, of recognizing stale cycles & being led in a different direction.
The Hermit asks us, What are you devoted to in this world? How can you incorporate being of service into your personal journey? What lessons do you need to learn? With critical, unbiased self analysis what do you need to let go of in order to evolve? How is your capacity of self-tending? Are you aware of the pace you are moving through life on a default setting?
The Hermit carries a knapsack, staff & lantern on their journey.
The Knapsack on our back, is to make sure you packed the tools you need for this quest ahead. Are you staying hydrated? Did your bring snacks or creature comforts that you can lean into, so you can keep our heart open & tender through the year? Do you have your a compass and is it attuned to your North Star? Your pillow for when you need a nap? What other magic tools are in your bag that can be supportive to you this year? The better we take care of ourselves, the more we can participate in the collective healing that is needed. We need you for the long game babe! Perseverance is possible because we also make sure our energy levels are charged.
The Staff we carry, is to make sure we are aware of the pace at which we are moving. The chaos is not going to calm down around us unfortunately, and more than likely it’s going to get louder. For 2025 we are being asked to slow down, to be intentional in our movements, decisions, choices. When we carry our staff it is the anchor that brings us back to the present moment. A lot of times, our past is living out through our present selves or we are in future freak out mode or we’re just so cluttered & scrambled that dissociative, apathetic, detachment energy starts to come in. This is when we as the Hermit say NO! and slam our staff into the ground - to shake off the oppressive systems, to stop the defaulted egoic protocol and bring our awareness back into the present moment. You are here, you are now. What do you need, what do you see, what do you hear, what do you feel. Get rooted, get centered before we continue on.
The Lantern we hold up, is our blazing hope, our glowing curiosity, our luminous magic. The lantern can shine light into ourselves or signal out to others. We are not alone in the dark. What needs to be illuminated within you? What have you been ignoring? What dark corners of ourselves do we need to clear out to bring in the light? What bright flare of wisdom can you shine onto others? We can’t see too far ahead with this lantern, but this is on purpose and by design. The lantern reminds us that we can support ourselves deeply in each step we take. This can feel disorienting - not knowing where this journey will lead us. This can feel strange or otherworldly or scary. This is when the Hermit whispers to us, “but my friend, do you have trust within yourself? Are you paying attention to what is true for you? Do you trust yourself to make the best, most honest step to keep moving forward? Keep going, the hermit within me honors the hermit within you.”
As we starting to reemerge this Imbolc, it is in our best self interest to stay tender, receptive & curious. To pay attention to our pace & capacity throughout the year. Consistent tuning in. Self preservation will be a theme. Our energy is sacred! Trust yourself! The Hermit asks us be patient while we hold our own discomforts in order to understand and then evolve. We are returning to the heart of ourselves. And the more we do this, the more it helps and supports humanity and the collective. These personal journeys take time & courage. There is a deep wisdom with the Hermit. Keep listening. Keep paying attention. Keep discerning. Keep questioning. Keep talking within communities. Find different ways of having communities. Keep honoring your boundaries of when you need rest and replenishment. Keep tuning into yourself. KEEP FEELING. Keep helping others. Keep being your weird, unique self. Humanity needs you, my beloved.
We have a emboldened backbone that is supported by Hope & Renewal. Focusing on Hope allows us to embody activism, healing & connection. This is the Rebellion of Love. A Personal Renaissance. Our prayers need to be mixed with Magic & Action. If each one of us picks a lane of how we can support the collective this year, then we are strengthening the social fabric of the humanitarian blanket that can heal the world, for the people, by the people.
With this Imbolc Museletter, this concludes our Wheel of the Year Substack Series with Sacred Saturdaze Outpost! I hope over the past year, you’ve been able to learn more about the ancient pagan high holidaze, was able to celebrate in your own ways, and felt closer to the rhythms of nature.
Ostara – Honoring the Spring Equinox starting anew.
Beltane – Celebrating Witches Night and the magic of Fire to mark the beginning of Planting Season.
Litha – Celebrating the Summer Solstice in full expression of Life.
Lughnasadh || Lammas – Commemorating the First Harvest & Abundance
Mabon – Honoring the Autumn Equinox and moving towards the Death part of the cycle.
Samhain – Celebrating The Witch’s New Year and honoring our ancestors who came before us, moving deeper into the night.
Yuletide – Honoring the Winter Solstice, the hearth & home.
Imbolc - Celebrating renewed Life & Hope through Rebirth.
Stay tuned for what’s next with Sacred Saturdaze Outpost. 2025 will be different than the last, as we are ever evolving, learning, witnessing, creating and feeling.
As Above, So Below, As Within, So Without, As the Universe, So the Soul. So mote it be.
XO
Joh
Breaking. It. Down. And putting it back together. Beautiful post, Joh!