Lorri@Mabon_House 11/16/22 Lorri@Mabon_House 11/16/22

Permission to Slow Down

After one of the mildest October’s in recent memory, I woke up this morning to the first snowfall of the year. My favorite part of a snowy day is how quiet the outside world becomes. It’s as if the world is resting and all I hear is the soft pitter pat of falling snow. After the hectic happenings of October and early November, some quiet is a welcome change. Has it snowed in your corner of the world yet?

I started a new job a few months ago, moving from a completely remote position back to an office full of people. It was a good move and I’m happy to be working with folks in-person once more. However, as I’ve settled into this new cadence of work life, I’ve started to notice some smaller issues that, if left unchecked, could lead to burnout and exhaustion.

After many years of trial and error, I understand exactly what my limits are when it comes to my work. I know exactly how much energy I can devote to my job before burnout ensues. I also know how to maximize my time. I don’t believe in filling up 40 hours a week with busy work. I don’t volunteer for committees or work groups or anything else, unless I know it somehow make my team’s job easier. I consistently focus on the most important parts of my job and largely let the rest go. I think I may be considered a “Quiet Quitter” but really, I’m just good at putting boundaries in place. It’s my career superpower.

But even with all my experience, it’s still exhausting to stand up to the toxic work culture that permeates so much of the American psyche. If we are idle, we are bad. If we aren’t putting in 110% are we even working? Checking emails after hours and weekends is just part of the job. Right? And so on and so on….

And lately I have felt like I am being swept up in a tide of office chaos, running from one fire to another, always busy but not accomplishing much. It is incredibly frustrating, not to mention emotionally draining. And so I’ve been making a concentrated effort to return to my own truth and work in a way that is best for me. Because ultimately that benefits everyone.

Which brings me to this week’s featured printable - a gentle reminder for myself that it’s okay to slow down and rest. It’s okay to trust yourself. It’s okay to feel at peace in a world that is full of chaos. So, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by work or life, I hope this helps you as well.

This print is available in the free Member’s Library

November Musings and The Perfect Cup of Tea

After a really mild October and early November, the air has finally turned properly cold here in Western Maine. While some folks don’t love the shorter days and approaching winter that November ushers in, personally I think it’s one of the most beautiful months to be in Maine. What November lacks in the Pinterest-Autumn-Aesthetic, it more than makes up for with gentle colors and muted sunlight that gives the most ordinary days a little bit of ethereal beauty.

If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ll know that I’ve been trying to install a new wood stove in my sitting room, which has turned into quite the saga. I’m happy to report that it’s finally in, just in time for the first predictions of snow next week. I’m looking forward to some cozy evenings watching the fire and enjoying some tea.

To celebrate the start of the cozy season, I thought it'd be fun to make a printable that embodies my deep and abiding love of being home. The Perfect Cup of Tea is more of a suggestion than a recipe. The most important element is making sure you have the space and time to enjoy it. I’ve shared this printable as a JPEG so it will be easier to resize, if you’d like to add it to any holiday gifts for the tea drinker in your life. I hope you like it!

Grab your free Perfect Cup of Tea print in the Mabon House Member’s Library. You can join for free HERE.

What do you love about November? Share in the comments or over at Instagram!

Lorri@Mabon_House 11/2/22 Lorri@Mabon_House 11/2/22

Cross-Quarter Days and The Wheel of the Year

Disclaimer: This website uses affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. If you’d prefer to support local retailers in your area, independent booksellers can often order specific books for you and have them delivered to the store for pick up, for the same price as ordering online.

The Wheel of the Year is divided into eight seasonal celebrations. Four of these seasons (Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon) align with either a solstice or equinox. The other four seasonal celebrations (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh) are midpoints within a season, also known as a cross-quarter day. These four days are rooted in ancient Irish Celtic culture as seasonal fire festivals. Today, the cross-quarter days offer an opportunity to pause reflect, set intentions, and give thanks.

Early Origins of the Cross-Quarter Days

Seasonal observances are largely universal in ancient cultures. Astrology, lunar phases and seasonal changes all served as a guide for ancient communities. Planting, harvesting and hunting were all done in cadence with these monthly and seasonal changes happening throughout the year.

In Irish lore, cross-quarter days are also known as the ancient Celtic fire festivals, as bonfires figure prominently in the celebration of each one. It’s important to note that according to Irish mythology, the ancient Irish Celts marked the start of each season with these fire festivals, rather than viewing them as a midpoint for each season. As Christianity spread throughout Europe in the early Middle Ages the traditional fire festivals/ cross-quarter days were incorporated into the Church calendar as various saints days. As late as the 19th Century, cross-quarter days were when British and Irish tradition servants hired, rents due and school terms started.

Grab Your Free Cross Quarter Days Printable

Cross Quarter Days and The wheel of the year

Within the Wheel of the Year, cross-quarter days each fall exactly at the midpoint (cross) of each season (quarter). Samhain is the midpoint between Autumn and Winter; Imbolc is the midpoint between Winter and Spring; Beltane is the midpoint between spring and summer; Lughnasadh is the midpoint between summer and autumn. Today, modern pagans and those following a nature based spiritual path observe these seasonal midpoints in a variety of ways, including festivals, parties and feasting.

One of the reasons I follow the Wheel of the Year is because I am drawn to the natural cadence of the seasons. My energy ebbs and flows with natural sunlight and I draw strength from the long periods of rest in the darker months. The cross-quarter days are always a time of transition for me - it is when I balance being present and enjoying the current season, while also looking ahead and thinking about what I need to get done.

Do you follow the Wheel of the Year? Share in the comments below or over on Instagram