Thank you, Chris. I love this work of the augury which I have been teaching for over 40 years: it is has been a transmission that ensures that an ancient skill passes on down.
THis is wonderful. I now have a much better understanding of how to augury the 12 days.
One of the things I so enjoy about your posts is what I learn every time about Celtic wisdom, dare I say mythology in the true sense of the word (I like Campbell's description of it best).
As to the standing still of time, I keep track of the number of hours and minutes long or short the daylight is each day of the year. I have noticed that indeed time stands still around the Winter Solstice for about three days. On each of those days the amount of time of daylight is the same. Also, I naturally feel, at this time, a need for rest from everything except household chores. Cleaning seems to be a necessity for me at this time. I'm sure it's a nesting thing preparing for the new year. Thanks once again for confirming what I seems to be in tune with in nature and the powers both higher and lower.
Thank you for not only for the encouragement to prioritize being fallow and taking time for reflection and renewal at this time of year but also for sharing such an incredible way to do it! I did this Omen Days practice last year for the first time and I was so looking forward to doing it again this year. Being outside, first thing, connecting with nature is just what I needed to anchor into spirit of this season and not feel overtaken by the consumer culture pressure, as well as other duties of daily life that abound all around. Thank you so very much!!!
I wonder how this relates to the Roman festival of Brumalia which began on Nov 24 and lasted 24 days. It seems to be linked to Saturnalia but it’s so close to the years end I wonder….
Brumalia seems to have begun when deep winter (after 24 November) had arrived. It lasted round and had a lot of flack from Christians in the empire; here is the Council of Trullo inveighing against it - it tells us so much more: 'The so-called Kalends, and what are called Bota and Brumalia, and the full assembly which takes place on the first of March, we wish to be abolished from the life of the faithful. And also the public dances of women, which may do so much harm and mischief. Moreover we drive away from the life of Christians the dances given in the names of those falsely called gods by the Greeks whether of men or women, and which are performed after an ancient and un-Christian fashion; decreeing that no man from this time forth shall be dressed as a woman, nor any woman in the garb suitable to men. Nor shall he assume comic, satyric, or tragic masks; nor may men invoke the name of the execrable Bacchus when they squeeze out the wine in the presses; nor when pouring out wine into jars [to cause a laugh], practicing in ignorance and vanity the things which proceed from the deceit of insanity. Therefore those who in the future attempt any of these things which are written, having obtained knowledge of them, if they be clerics we order them to be deposed, and if laymen to be cut off. (The Council of Trullo Canon 62). It is echoed by the 9th century warning from churchmen to be 'not going about at the kalends of the year in the likeness of a beast.'
Happy Birthday to you both, and thank you for this post, I am lucky enough that this is the one time of year that I can stop and also top up ready for the coming year. Many blessings for your work and I am looking forward to learning on your courses and from your writings xx
Thank you Caitlin for this wonderful ritual. I have always enjoyed the quiet time after the 25th and spending the New Year without the pressure of family to engage in festivities. Although I am a few days into it, I plan to follow the rest of the Omen days.
I have been following the Omen days too. So far, a Hazelnut for January, A BlackBerry flower for February... Got Wagtails today... Then surprised to see your pic of a wagtail! Lovely serendipity!
It makes me think of the nineteenth century journeys from London to New York. For five days the clocks would stop for an hour at midnight meaning you arrive in New York on time and not early!! Many saw the hours as magical with rules applied differently. These days I think that the clock is simply put back an hour at 2am., so there is always a time reference, who dare live without!
Thank you for a well informed post. You are one of my main reliable sources.
Thank you, Chris. I love this work of the augury which I have been teaching for over 40 years: it is has been a transmission that ensures that an ancient skill passes on down.
THis is wonderful. I now have a much better understanding of how to augury the 12 days.
One of the things I so enjoy about your posts is what I learn every time about Celtic wisdom, dare I say mythology in the true sense of the word (I like Campbell's description of it best).
As to the standing still of time, I keep track of the number of hours and minutes long or short the daylight is each day of the year. I have noticed that indeed time stands still around the Winter Solstice for about three days. On each of those days the amount of time of daylight is the same. Also, I naturally feel, at this time, a need for rest from everything except household chores. Cleaning seems to be a necessity for me at this time. I'm sure it's a nesting thing preparing for the new year. Thanks once again for confirming what I seems to be in tune with in nature and the powers both higher and lower.
Thank you for not only for the encouragement to prioritize being fallow and taking time for reflection and renewal at this time of year but also for sharing such an incredible way to do it! I did this Omen Days practice last year for the first time and I was so looking forward to doing it again this year. Being outside, first thing, connecting with nature is just what I needed to anchor into spirit of this season and not feel overtaken by the consumer culture pressure, as well as other duties of daily life that abound all around. Thank you so very much!!!
Thank you, Caroline. Without the decompressing of serial time, I think we would all explode!
I wonder how this relates to the Roman festival of Brumalia which began on Nov 24 and lasted 24 days. It seems to be linked to Saturnalia but it’s so close to the years end I wonder….
Brumalia seems to have begun when deep winter (after 24 November) had arrived. It lasted round and had a lot of flack from Christians in the empire; here is the Council of Trullo inveighing against it - it tells us so much more: 'The so-called Kalends, and what are called Bota and Brumalia, and the full assembly which takes place on the first of March, we wish to be abolished from the life of the faithful. And also the public dances of women, which may do so much harm and mischief. Moreover we drive away from the life of Christians the dances given in the names of those falsely called gods by the Greeks whether of men or women, and which are performed after an ancient and un-Christian fashion; decreeing that no man from this time forth shall be dressed as a woman, nor any woman in the garb suitable to men. Nor shall he assume comic, satyric, or tragic masks; nor may men invoke the name of the execrable Bacchus when they squeeze out the wine in the presses; nor when pouring out wine into jars [to cause a laugh], practicing in ignorance and vanity the things which proceed from the deceit of insanity. Therefore those who in the future attempt any of these things which are written, having obtained knowledge of them, if they be clerics we order them to be deposed, and if laymen to be cut off. (The Council of Trullo Canon 62). It is echoed by the 9th century warning from churchmen to be 'not going about at the kalends of the year in the likeness of a beast.'
Happy Birthday to you both, and thank you for this post, I am lucky enough that this is the one time of year that I can stop and also top up ready for the coming year. Many blessings for your work and I am looking forward to learning on your courses and from your writings xx
Thank you, Jonathon! May the New Year bring you space and scope spread the teachings further!
Thank you Caitlin for this wonderful ritual. I have always enjoyed the quiet time after the 25th and spending the New Year without the pressure of family to engage in festivities. Although I am a few days into it, I plan to follow the rest of the Omen days.
Do enjoy it - this really is the most compressed a year can become!
I have been following the Omen days too. So far, a Hazelnut for January, A BlackBerry flower for February... Got Wagtails today... Then surprised to see your pic of a wagtail! Lovely serendipity!
The pied wagtail is my augury sign for snow and ice in Oxford - they come up from the stream nearby find warmer ground, particularly liking carparks.
I've seen them three times today, all in car parks! Wonderful and interesting piece. Thanks Caitlín 💜
Someone called John the Lydian wrote about it. Quite extraordinary. I’ve sent the text to you!
It makes me think of the nineteenth century journeys from London to New York. For five days the clocks would stop for an hour at midnight meaning you arrive in New York on time and not early!! Many saw the hours as magical with rules applied differently. These days I think that the clock is simply put back an hour at 2am., so there is always a time reference, who dare live without!
Perfect timing this post! Incredibly helpful ☀️
Thank you for this accurate information, I’ve seen many incorrect iterations, I will be doing this for the remaining omen days!