Imbolc came early, again

it seems to be the theme where I live. Imbolc of '03 was surprisingly right on schedule. Walked outside that morning to discover everything melting and drippy. But in the years following that, Imbolc came generally a week early. But, today, it is officially Imbolc in Southern Wisconsin! 

It began last night, appropriate for this Celtic based holiday, just at dark: it was suddenly much warmer. This morning found the snow melted from the trees, icicles where there were none before, and that smell that can only mean one thing... Spring.

I'm antsy now. We've had the windows open occasionally, to let that glorious smell in and shake out some of the stagnant energy. So, of course, now I just want to be outside, walking through the wet snow, watching the squirrels chase each other about, listen to the birds with their sudden new-found songs. 

My family (i.e. parents and grandparents) are celebrating the day the same they have for as long as anyone can remember. This time of warming may mean that life is returning to the land, but it also means that as the meat supply is getting low it's now time to stock up again. So, appropriate to that farming lifestyle, the day will be marked not just with the flow of water but of blood as well as today marks the annual pig slaughter.

But, this weather won't last. In about two weeks time Stribog will remind us of His awesome power, there will be a good long storm, and everything will freeze again ...hard. Come Ostara, we may still have snow, but that isn't as certain as it used to be anymore. Global warming? Change in the Earth's own cycles? Can't be sure. But with weather like today, I can't wait to for the chance to walk barefoot outside and role in the grass. *sigh*