This is one of Nature's very special holidays as we reach the halfway point between one season to the next. In the northern hemisphere, we are moving from winter into spring. The light is returning. The energies begin to move outward as the days become longer, the sun becomes stronger and the sleeping plants,insects and some of the animals begin to stir. We light our candles (hence the name Candlemas, also known as Imbolic), to celebrate the return of the light.

In the southern hemisphere, the opposite is true. The energies begin to move inward as we move from summer to fall. The light is retreating as the daylight shortens and the sun's rays grow softer in the sky. The plants, insects and animals are at the peak of their cycle, but soon they'll prepare for a season of rest.

In the year of 2020, this cycle is especially potent as we are moving through a Time/Space Portal known as the Aquarius Gate. Remember the song in the 60's by "The Fifth Dimension" called, "Aquarius; Let The Sunshine In"? Well folks, that's the Age we're moving into, the Age of Aquarius! We're leaving the Piscean Era behind, the era where we looked to others to find our truth. We looked to those in authority (the teachers, ministers, doctors, politicians and gurus to name a few), who would tell us how to think and act. That has been the Piscean dynamic which has been in play on this planet for a very long time and served our lessons well. All of that is changing. The Aquarian Era will be one of autonomy, an era where we look to ourselves to find our own special brand of truth. In this way, we become our own teachers, ministers and gurus, and though we may still find guidance through them, we ultimately listen to the voice within to know what is true for us.

The Aquarius Gate opened at New Moon on January 24th, and the energies become fully activated on this cross-quarter day of Candlemas, February 2. The gate empowers us to move forward into 2020 with confidence in our own knowing and follow our truth, no matter how it looks to the outside world. In the midst of the chaos, the light is indeed returning, and it's a good time to open our hearts, be kind to one another and light the candles to celebrate!

This has been quite the winter of moisture in the west and now we're celebrating all the rain and snow we've received. Spring has sprung! In Southern Calif, the Earth is smiling with a superbloom of Poppies and they are glorious!! The energy signature of the poppy is rebirth and renewal and they are heralding a new season of hope for all of us. Our beautiful Earth has been nourished and she is shining with fields of flowers and butterflies! We are in the midst of a huge transformation on this Planet as we heal and grow in unity and may this new year open our hearts even more as we are reborn in the spring. The bright orange poppies are showing us the way...

It's been cold in the garden lately. February was a mix of rain and snow with lots of chilly days and nights you had to put on plenty of layers to brave the cold!  But today is different. There's a warm breeze and the sun is shining brightly! And the crocus, whose blooms have remained tightly closed against the cold,have opened in all their golden glory! Could it be - is the spring really coming? We shall see but for now we'll enjoy the first garden blooms and dream...

It's hard to believe that we are already halfway through winter here in the Northern hemisphere. Candlemas marks the cross quarter day when the light of the sun continues to grow as we leave the dark days of winter behind .. We are being born again into the light! Some cultures celebrate by lighting candles and placing them all over the house to signify the return of the sun. Here in the garden, many of the bulbs are starting to pop out of the ground and the roses are forming little red leaf buds, ready to sprout as soon as the days become warmer. This morning I spotted something yellow in the garden and lo'n behold, a bright sunny daffodill had blessed us with her early beauty! The light has returned!!!

It's a New Year and what an amazing year it will be! With so much changing on the Planet, whether we're speaking of climate change or the various social movements around the world in response to women's equality, racial equality, gender fluidity or the importance of new thinking in regards to Animal and Earth rights, all will find a bigger voice in 2019! It's only just begun, so let's create a bigger world with love. Here in the Northern hemisphere where I live, it's wintertime and the season to go inward and dream and plan for our own personal New Year. We can look to Mother Nature as she is doing the same thing as her plants and insects slowly return to the soil to nourish next year's growth. It's all connected and what is created - whether through us or through Nature, will become our future. So in the quiet days of winter dream well my fellow gardeners, as out of the womb of darkness comes the light of creation. And let that light shine!!!

What an amazing season it has been! Despite the adversity of heat,wind and smoke, the garden continued to shine for a good long season. We are truly blessed and now the garden can rest in Winter's silence. So here are the last splashes of the Fall season-enjoy!