Happy Chinese New Year!

February 16, 2018

It’s the Year of the Dog.

I decided a few years ago that I would observe this holiday every year, after learning that it’s ill advised to clean your house during the first three days of the Chinese New Year. You’re sweeping good luck out the door if you do. I can’t say I would necessarily be cleaning on these three days if I didn’t know better, but now for three days out of the year I don’t feel like I should be cleaning.

And that’s something to celebrate.

God of the Woodpeckers

February 9, 2018

In my forthcoming book, Divining with Animal Guides, I have a chapter on woodpeckers. I mention that woodpeckers are associated with rain, thunder, and the god Thor. The red cap on some woodpeckers is how Thor gets his red hair. I was looking at pendants representing Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, and noticed that the bottom part of the hammer has a beak-like point. The pointy Mjolnir is not the only depiction, but it has been found in many graves. This replica from Sweden (Kurck collection, date and site unknown) has a particularly strong bird resemblance.

Happy Imbolc!

February 2, 2018
Photo: Bamyers99

Snow on the ground right now, but can’t show you one of these in the snow because they hibernate. Yes, groundhogs do climb trees. They also swim.