How to decide what to do next - by Lu Hersey

Feb 1st is Imbolc, the Celtic fire festival that celebrates the first stirrings of new growth, the sparks of life preparing for the coming spring. Traditionally it's the feast of the goddess Brigid, or in more recent times, St Bridget - whatever you believe, it's the perfect time to set goals for the coming year. Inject some creative energy into a project simmering on the back burner, or fire up something completely new. 

Here's a simple ritual that might help you focus, decide what you want to do next, and get going.

To start, make a list of things you might want to work on and develop this year, however tentative or currently unformed your ideas might be. 

Next, choose an object to represent each of these ideas. I currently have five different writing projects percolating, so my list goes something like this:

1. The cosy crime for adults I gave up on last year because even though I liked the characters, the plot was all over the place. 30K words in and I realised there still wasn't a body, which probably should have happened back in chapter one. I'm choosing a penknife to represent this one, to help me remember to kill someone a lot earlier. 

2. Writing a screenplay for unpublished novel number 3. This book would definitely work as a film, even if it stands very little chance of being made. Possibly a big waste of time, but I really enjoy writing screenplays... I'm choosing a small bottle of Sahara sand someone gave me for this idea, because at one point, the characters nearly die trying to get out of a desert.

3. Revitalising the time-slip story I got really gloomy about when I realised how many time-slip stories are out there already. Choosing a carved dragon head for this one, because there's a very elusive dragon at the heart of it.

4. A completely new book idea I've had, set in the mesolithic. I wrote the first chapter a while ago, but haven't written a single word since. Choosing a toadstool for this, because there were probably a lot of forests back then (and I happen to have a felt toadstool).

5. A spooky detective story I gave up on because it was giving me nightmares, but I really loved the parrot at the centre of the plot. I've selected a macaw feather I picked up in an aviary for this. 

Anyway, you get the idea. Once you've chosen the objects you want to represent your projects, put them on a plate (or maybe a tray if you have too many ideas or your objects are too big) and find a candle. It doesn't matter what colour the candle is, but white and green are the colours for Imbolc and most of us probably have a tealight somewhere. 

Put your candle where it won't set fire to anything, next to something that represents Imbolc - a vase of snowdrops, a twig of hazel catkins, a birch twig, a Brigid's cross - even an egg will do. This is all about setting intentions, so choose something to symbolise new beginnings. 

Cover your plate/tray and turn it round a few times until you lose track of where each object is. Now light your candle and stare at the flame as you try to empty your mind. Stop thinking about your plot ideas. If you simply find yourself wondering what you're going to have for lunch instead, it really doesn't matter. 

Now close your eyes, and reach out to touch the plate with your index finger. What's the first object your finger touches? Lift up the cover to find out. This will be the project to focus on. 

OK, maybe you hate the object you've picked, wish you hadn't put it on the tray, and want to choose again? Fine. At the very least, you've made your final decision easier by narrowing down your choices. Remove that object, mull it over, and try again. Of course there's nothing to say you can't work on two or three different projects at the same time if you want to. 

The point of the exercise is simply to set your goals for the coming months. Hocus pocus? Possibly. But if it helps to motivate you, who cares? 

In case you're interested, the object I picked was this:

So looks like it's murder ahead for me...

Happy New Year!

Lu Hersey

A good time for a new start - by Lu Hersey

Imbolc, or Candlemas (1st February) is fast approaching. In the Celtic seasonal calendar it marks the first stirrings of new life, when lambing starts and snowdrops bloom - winter is by no means over, but there are signals that spring is coming.

swan feathers, snowdrops and candlelight for Imbolc

According to Wikipedia (okay, I got lazy), the word Imbolc is probably derived from the Old Irish i mbolc meaning 'in the belly', as with pregnant ewes, or possibly Old Irish Imb-fholc, meaning 'to wash or cleanse oneself', referring to a ritual cleansing.

The festival marks the quickening of the year, when the earth is awakening, the light is returning and everything is about to burst into life - and you can apply this to your creativity too. If you have an idea for a new book, or any new project, it's a good time to let it grow, ready to come into being.

Imbolc honours Brigid (or Brigit, Brighid, Bride), a pagan goddess so popular, the Christians took her on board as St Bridget. She is a goddess of healing, poetry, and smithies. A goddess of fire, the sun and of the hearth, she brings fertility to the land and its people - and might help you find fresh inspiration.

To pave the way, it's a good idea to start cleaning out the old and making space for the new. Spring cleaning doesn't just have to apply to your house (though cleaning and junk clearance is a good way to begin - and makes a brilliant displacement activity) - it's also a time to try clearing your mind to allow inspiration to enter a new cycle.

Symbolic actions can be very helpful. Dedicate a space in your home to symbolise your new beginnings. Traditionally this space is decorated with snowdrops, swan feathers and green candles - but you might want to go a step further and make a Brigid cross, symbolic of Brigid's firewheel. (It's a kind of simple corn dolly made with reeds or willow - you can even make one with pipe cleaners or strips of paper.)

Supposedly made simple with pipe cleaners...

Follow the diagram above if it makes sense (or find a YouTube video) to make your cross. When it's the size you want it to be, you'll need to tie the four ends (or four quarters) with string or ribbon. If you like, you can decorate your cross in a way that's meaningful to you.

Reckon that's too much of a faff and you'd much rather make a cake? Fine. Here's a recipe for a traditional Imbolc seed cake that I nicked from the internet:

Imbolc Seed Cake

10oz/300gms flour
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
4oz/125gms butter
1 oz/25gms caraway seeds
6 oz/175gms sugar
2 eggs, beaten
4 tablespoons of water

Set the oven to 200C or 400F, grease and line a 6" cake tin
Sieve flour, salt and baking powder into your mixing bowl, then rub in the butter. As you do this, think of family and friends and your wishes for everyone as spring approaches.Visualise light flowing into the mix, the fire of creativity.
Stir in the seeds and sugar and then the eggs, mixing with just enough water to create a mix that softly drops off your spoon. Stir in patience for the coming spring, as this is still a time of waiting.
Pour the mix into the tin and cook for an hour before reducing the temperature to 175C/375F for a further half hour, or until the cake is golden brown and well risen. Leave it to cool in the tin before taking it out and tying it round with green and white ribbons.

Still too much effort? Try something much simpler. Plant some seeds. Any ritual is about intent, so think about what you want to bring into your life as you sew them. (If you're doing this outside, calendula is a good thing to plant at this time of the year, as it's very hardy.)

Lastly, Imbolc is about bringing back the light. So if nothing else, light some candles in your home and make wishes for the coming year, for you and your family and friends - the simplest form of candle magic.

Good luck. Remember to set your intentions, and hopefully the rest will follow.

Lu Hersey
twitter: @LuWrites

luhersey.com