I was reading the online version of the Pueblo (Colorado) Chieftain this afternoon and happened onto this article provided by the Pueblo Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center, formerly known more prosaically as Pueblo Mountain Park: “Nature’s Classroom: Imbolg, Time of Germination.”
The park has a long and interesting history. I have mentioned it before in connection with its Yule Log tradition.
The Yule log celebration is Pagan-ish for sure. So is this Imbolg column. You could have told me that I was reading one of John Beckett’s Druidic homilies, and I would have believed you.
Homily: a short commentary on a sacred topic — something less formal than a sermon.
Especially when the writer moves from observing nature “out there” to personal transformation.
Again, the trees are giving us an ample lesson and functional metaphor for our own new growth and blossoming. Perhaps you are working to lose weight, or to strengthen underused muscles, or to heal some aspect of your body or psyche. These things take time.
It sounds to me like creeping Paganism. Heh.
Nature with its many processes and happenings may instruct us humans. I, a Pagan and Crafter, can only agree with and uphold such a proposition. Foundational, even, for Paganism.
I also enjoyed the observations specific to locale. Timing and species are different in Cascadia, although mud season is likely much the same.
I prefer to think that Paganism is dancing rather than creeping into popular awareness.