Imbolc 2026

It's Imbolc. Early spring. Time for the spirit of the land to 'wake up'. A time of germination and conception, of Aconite, Bluebells, catkins and Cuckoo pint. A time of first light and returning energy, when creative forces are stirring, ideas are alive, and green life is re-emerging.

Last week a friend visited and we talked about nature's constant process of emerging and merging, of combining and separating. (Spoiler alert... I'm going to use the word separation a lot in this blog!)

We reflected that the first flowers of spring are beginning to appear now, and the local birds are beginning to establish territories, claiming separate spaces in the acoustic ecological sphere.
When a daffodil begins to emerge from the bulb, growth naturally separates into multiple leaves and a flower stalk... and the flower stalk then grows into the various parts of the flower.
As beech tree buds open - each bud swells, the protective bud scales, or cataphylls, drop off, the buds then unpack, growing into multiple leaves.
In tree trunks, with each passing year growth rings are added. These rings are made of earlywood and latewood. Earlywood is less dense, latewood more dense. This alternation contributes to the strength of the wood.
Separation is necessary too, in the offspring to parent spiral through the generations.

So, in terms of growth, separation is necessary and beneficial.

We wondered if emergence and separation are more of a spring phenomenon, or a constant through the year, and is separation a 'good' or a 'bad' thing?

In terms of personal relationships, separation is often seen as negative, with a focus on the relationship having 'failed'. There is also the separation from Nature that many humans, who have grown in the capitalist and dualistic paradigm experience. As we know this belief has negative effects on a huge range of metrics, organisms and climate. So separation in terms of relationships could be said to be bad.

We concluded that even though the earth has oppositely charged poles, trying to decide if separation is a good or bad thing is pretty pointless in the grand scheme of things because.. what do we know?!

So, while separation is necessary, all of life on earth is connected - whether we feel that in our hearts, know that with our intellect... or not.

And separation does not necessarily mean more complexity. Complexity arises from interactions among components, integration across space and time, and hierarchical organisation, not simply from greater separation of elements.

I am not knowledgeable about politics, but it does affect my mood and well-being. Political voices and opinions seem to be increasingly polarised. I see a lot of fear and grabbing for power and resources, increasing separation between rich and poor, there is much deceit and blatant greed...and I have deep concern at times for the future of 'all my relations'. I experience moments of great grief, ire and despair. I feel sadness and frustration that my way of life is far from my low impact ideal, but also I don't want to live an ascetic life, and I'm very grateful for the life and health I have.

My mind often swirls and races, like clouds in a storm.

I take a moment to listen to the land, with a cuppa. A pause. To regulate and recalibrate.

As I write it's wild and windy again here in Devon, and I muse that wind is a sign of transference of power and potential. There's a lot shifting in the world right now. As we know, winds are predicted to blow stronger, mixing the warming air of our planet.

Winds are one of the voices our world speaks in.

I remember that merging and emerging are natural processes. Each year is a process, and there is certainty in the journey around the sun. We may not be out of winter yet, but spring is certainly on its way.

And so by day I take care of the woods I work in as best I can. I try to be connected to my values and be an example of the person I would like to be. I try to speak with kindness and authenticity at all times, remembering that what I do or say, and also don't do or don't say, ripples out into the whole world.

Which brings me back to early spring, Imbolc, the spirit of the land awakening, pulsing. Expectant. Emergent. Hopeful. Proud to be itself. The roots of the word proud are 'valiant', 'brave', to be useful.

"What are you proud of today?"

It's my new favourite question to ask myself and others. I work with children several days of the week and I'll see how it lands and what the effects are of asking this question more often are, longer term. I noticed in my own dreams that things I am not proud of were re-visited for a couple of nights. Interesting.

Perhaps like spring, it will take a little while for this question to work it's magic, but there is power in words, and maybe it will bring some more positivity, some more moral pride and light into the world.

Perhaps, then, there are many questions to be lived this year.

So I wonder, in a playful, curious and encouraging way, what question might you live this year?

Whatever you choose, I wish you all the best of health and contentment this year, the ability to make best use of the energy within the winds of change, and some vibrant green curiosity about the emergent wonders of the earth's evolution.

With love,

Chris