#we are too connected with spirituality and nature ig so it isn’t that much of a surprise

[oftenderweapons]

Dirty ABCs | Namjoon and Vixen

Pairing: Namjoon x Vixen (OC)

Wordcount: 2.1k

Genre: headcanons

Rating: 18+. Minors, do not interact.

This just me having a little bit of fun in between collabs and commissions with an NSFW alphabet, so I can also get to know my characters better (yes, they're just characters. Do not assume the boys like/dislike any of the things I mention). A new drabble should be out soon, but just in case you missed it, here's Jimin's post-Soowoozoo smut! Please, read the trigger warnings carefully 🥺💖

Here's my masterlist! enjoy!!!! 💜✨

Trigger warnings: cumshots, cumeating, creampie, marking, unprotected sex, switch!vixen, switch!joon, daddy!joon, DDLG, lapdance, stripping, masturbation, voyeurism, exhibitionism, roleplay, homework within a professorxstudent roleplay, positions (doggy, missionary, reverse cowgirl, bend over), intimacy kink (?), bondage (hands tied, gags), impact play, oral sex, oral fixation, biting, casual mention of foot fetish, food play, choking kink, erotic massage, jealousy (kink), sapiosexuality, size kink, mention of infidelity and sharing partners, mention of outdoor sex, sex toys (dildo, vibrator, manacles, cockring, paddle, buttplug), edging, orgasm denial, orgasm control, overstimulation, BDSM club, uhm...bicuriosity ig?, thickdick!Namjoon, bubblebutt!Vixen impressive sex drive (?)

Aftercare: Namjoon is the kind of guy who’d gladly collapse in bed after some good, nasty fucking. He puts plenty of energy in it and he isn’t content until he’s barely alive before calling it a night. Yes, both him and Vixen need to force the other into heading to the bathroom and cleaning up before falling asleep. When he goes especially hard on her, aftercare becomes a way to relax for both of them: he needs to pamper her to even things out, and she in return likes spoiling him, giving him cuddles, letting him fall asleep with his head on her chest while she strokes his hair. Yes, his favourite cuddle is her touching his hair and chatting about how they felt during sex.

Body part: He most definitely has a thing for legs, hips and ass. Vixen is all about his chest and arms — but, truth is she’s absolutely crazy about his neck.

Cum: He either cums inside or on Vixen’s ass. No other alternatives for him. He hates cumming in her mouth, mostly because her cunt is soooo much better to him; and then again, that means he can eat her out right after — or mark her up and shove his cum back inside. Vixen is a fan of him cumming inside, she’s pretty much traditional about this.

Dirty secret: Namjoon loves when Vixen doms him. He’d never admit that out loud but he’s praying for her to tie him up and strip for him before performing a lapdance and fucking herself with that glass dildo he bought her… He’ll just wait… hopefully… Vixen wants Namjoon to give her homework on some impossible topic and then punish her for every mistake she makes while he’s dressed in a suit and glasses.

Experience: We know all about Joon’s and Vixen’s bodycount. Joon had four, possibly five partners, one of which broke his heart. He wasn’t entirely vanilla with them, but Vixen is most definitely the spiciest he’s been with — and the most rewarding. Vixen had two partners before Namjoon and her first boyfriend was way more experienced than Namjoon is, but that is not an issue to her. She knows if she ever asked him, they could try out pretty much anything.

Favourite position: Namjoon is mostly about doggy and missionary. Doggy for enthusiastic fucking with that teenage eagerness that characterises them both. Missionary when he needs to make love to her slow and steady — though he admits Vixen on top of him in reverse cowgirl is also a hot topic for him. Vixen likes good old missionary since she likes Namjoon’s body shielding hers. She also enjoys bending over for him — especially on the back of the sofa.

Goofy: neither of them is that goofy when it comes to sex. For them is a moment to get rid of tension and gain more intimacy. It’s a moment of communication and connection, and a very spiritual one at that. There might be little giggles and laughs here and there when they’re in a playful mood, but even then they’re more happy than goofy.

Hair: Namjoon trims his hair slightly, just to keep things neat and tidy. Vixen used to shave at the beginning of their relationship. She waxed a few times, to try something different and to feel Namjoon’s tongue better when he goes down on her. She switched to trimming when she found out Namjoon enjoyed a more natural look.

Intimacy: Nothing isn’t intimate between these two. Brushing their teeth together before going to bed? Religion. Getting dinner ready? A ritual. Making love? Therapy. Fucking like gorillas? Relief. These two share one single soul. They’re each other’s temple, and their bedroom is their church.

Jack off: These two? Masturbation galore. They’re the literal proof that being in a relationship should never stop you from taking care of yourself. They masturbate together while they watch porn, they masturbate to the sight of the other one doing it or just watching them. Namjoon is a huge fan of watching Vixen touch herself. He can do it with his hands tied, untied, or stroking his cock. He really doesn’t care as long as he can watch. Plus the fact that the wall dividing his bedroom from the shower is made of glass really gives him the best view when he has morning wood and Vixen is washing herself. And that goes both ways. She likes watching him while she showers, putting on a bit of a show. Vixen also likes watching Namjoon masturbate, though she prefers putting her hands on him. And Namjoon prefers her hands to his own, especially since she’s so fucking good at that.

Kink: We all know these two are the resident DDLG freaks. Other than that Namjoon suffers from a pretty severe case of voyeurism. On the side, all giving, we have oral fixation, impact play, marking, biting, cumplay and cumeating, and a very mild, very experimental foot fetish. He’s also into roleplay, especially regarding school/university environments. To that, we need to add on Vixen’s end exhibitionism and food play, and then, all giving, choking kink, exhibitionism, bondage and gags, erotic massage.

Location: these two need someplace private, since they can’t get in the mood unless they’re 200% sure they can take their time and relax and be as loud as possible. Namjoon would never stand the idea of them getting caught: he needs to protect Vixen. And Vixen would never try something in public. She knows he’d be too focused on the possible dangers to properly enjoy the experience. That doesn’t mean that they don’t tease each other in public. Vixen likes when they talk dirty in public so once they get home Namjoon rips her clothes off her.

Motivation: Namjoon gets turned on whenever Vixen looks incredibly refined and elegant, completely out of his league. Pair that up with someone flirting with her and he goes out of his way to remind her why she got his ring on her finger ten months after they first met. He also gets hot under the collar when he’s reminded of how fucking smart she is; that makes him both proud and horny. On a baser level, she just needs to grind against his thigh, rub her ass on his crotch, kiss his neck or suck his fingers to make him instantly hard. Vixen gets horny very easily when she sees him exercise power — which happens pretty often with him being the leader. Also watching him tower over someone who isn’t her makes her a little volatile — that’s her daddy, he’s her protector.

No: easy. Sharing. Even simply her moans being overheard by someone would make him nervous. Once he used to share everything about his sex life with his friends, but after he and Vixen got engaged, everything involving her without clothes on became a 100% restricted topic. He still happens to talk about sex with his friends, but he must be in need of desperate help in order to share details. Vixen agrees on sharing being a hard no. She also thinks doing stuff in public is absolutely a hard no: she’s far too attached to her job to risk a scandal ruining it. And of course she would never stand Namjoon’s career and reputation going downhill.

Oral: Both fans, Namjoon both on the giving and receiving side, though he prefers giving by far. Vixen is also a fan of receiving. If Namjoon weren’t so damn intimidating, she would enjoy giving more, too.

Pace: depends on the mood. Playful or angry? Then he’s fucking her like she’s nothing but a cocksleeve, straight up jackhammering his way in. Loving and emotional? Then they’re going slow and steady so they can feel every inch of their flesh meeting and parting and squeezing and squelching and sliding.

Quickie: yes, but not excessively. Vixen can only consider a quickie as a form of foreplay. There’s no way to satisfy her unless at least two rounds are involved. Namjoon is more than happy to take his time with her. If they don’t have that much time, they prefer masturbating together — quick, efficient, delectable.

Risk: No? The only risk he would take would be fucking her out in the open, but someplace where the possibility of getting caught is lower than 0.1%. He’d book super secluded villas for their holidays and fuck her until she’s begging him to give her a break.

Stamina: Namjoon hasn’t got too much stamina and Vixen doesn’t either, they just deprive and tease each other when they want to make it super special, otherwise they would be lazy and take naps in between a round and another. And they can truly deal with that brilliantly since they are great at foreplay and that makes up for their rather weak stamina.

Toy: These two are shameless about their toys. Vixen has a thing for dildos, and Namjoon loves spoiling her with those. She has a couple vibrators too, but she’s not that much of a fan: she has a practical one, when she needs things done quick and easy and another one that looked way too cute for her not to have it. In addition to that, they have manacles, a cockring, a paddle and a quite interesting plug.

Unfair: Being with Namjoon is all about the pleasure. He’d much rather overstimulate Vixen rather than deny her. Also because he has very poor control over his instincts and he can’t deny himself. He would tease, edge or deny Vixen only to punish her and make sure that she actually reads that as a punishment and not as some sick way for her to get exactly what she wants (aka spanks). Vixen is more on the teasing side, and she enjoys controlling Namjoon’s orgasms, but she’s very fair. They like to play dirty, but they make sure everyone gets what they need.

Volume: Namjoon is all about low and deep. His moans, groans, growls and grunts all come in a very quiet, although very eloquent way. He prefers keeping it quiet so it feels more intimate. Vixen on the other hand is very vocal, especially when Namjoon goes down on her or is trying to overstimulate her. She’s still considerate about the people living next door, but at the same time, she has a thing for doing it in the studio so she can be as loud as she wants, much to Namjoon’s — and his private tracks’ — chagrin.

Wild card: if it weren’t for his jealousy and his position, Namjoon would love to fuck Vixen in a room full of strangers, just to show how good he can make her feel, and to enjoy just how deranged she would get once adrenaline started kicking in. Claiming her in a semi-public context would help him sate his possessiveness for a good while. Vixen instead would love to go to a BDSM club with Namjoon and watch scenes from other people — maybe, potentially, join? — she most definitely wishes she had done stuff with a girl before getting with Namjoon.

X-Ray: Namjoon is packed. Length is not exceedingly more than average. But match that with more than impressive girth? That’s a wild ride. It most definitely takes a stretch. Vixen has rather small boobs — but she’s more than stubborn to make up with a full, round bubble butt.

Yearning: at the beginning they go pretty wild. Vixen is used to getting at least an orgasm before falling asleep — every night. Of course that tones down once she gets with Namjoon, especially since she learns to prefer quality over quantity and he refuses to get stuff done in ten minutes. She easily slips into a two to three times a week regimen, but deprive her for longer than ten days and she’ll feel neglected. Of course she’d take care of herself, but that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t start drifting away as she’d feel emotionally neglected too. Namjoon considers himself happy as long as he can have a full weekend of fucking: he tends to cram all the sex in days where he can relax since during the week he’s often too tense to initiate anything sexual. But he wouldn’t deny it if the fancy struck him.

Zzz: He falls asleep like a bear. He goes positively lethargic the moment he hits the bed after cleaning up. Vixen finds it extremely endearing. She usually takes longer, but not too much. She likes cuddling him while he’s sleeping.

#Namjoon x vixen #namjoon headcanons #namjoon x reader #namjoon smut #namjoon alphabet #kim namjoon smut #kim namjoon scenarios #namjoon x yn #bts headcanons #bts headcanon

[pussymagicuniverse]

The Babe With the Power: Blending Healing Magic and Popular Culture

I need to start with a disclaimer: everything I say here is based in my own experience, and one person’s experience should not replace professional help or medical advice. I’m in therapy, but I use magic and charms, too. In the past I’ve been on medication, and regularly practised meditation. Sometimes you use several tools from the box to get well.

Anyway. Back to the beginning: five and a half long years ago, in September 2013, I stopped speaking to my mother as a last desperate act of self-preservation. Our relationship was never good; I am a survivor of child abuse and neglect. But even when I was young, I wanted a mother, so as an adult at the time, I was doing my best to ‘fix’ things with her.

“Sometimes you use several tools from the box to get well.” (click to tweet)

Autumn is always a turning point. That September I was 33 years old, a mother myself, and had been living in a different country. Thousands of miles away from her, for years – yet through the miracle of social media, she was still able to upset me and trigger flashbacks at the touch of a keyboard. The end came when she posted a public rant about forgiving someone else for abusing her kids, then pretended she hadn’t said it when I asked her about it.

A good friend of mine was there to be the voice of reason when I felt confused about whether I was doing the right thing – kind, caring parents don’t say and do things like that, they said. I believe some parent-child relationships can be healed, even when the damage runs deep, and I tried to talk to my mother in an honest, open way towards that healing. She came back with incoherent hand-wringing and ranting about how I don’t understand anything. In the end, I blocked her.

“Whenever I feel desperately low, have flashbacks, nightmares, or any of the other awful aspects of c-ptsd kick in, I think it again. You have no power over me.” (click to tweet)

That didn’t cure my c-ptsd. At first it made it worse because I was always worrying about how she’d next try to get in contact, what she would say, and even how she was feeling (they hurt us, but still we love them). But it was shortly after, when I was watching the film Labyrinth with my sons, that I realised the answer was in Sarah’s final confrontation with Jareth, the Goblin King (spoiler alert, but this film is over thirty years old, so I spoiler with a clear conscience) – she can’t remember the line she needs to say to defeat him, and when she does finally remember, she believes every one of the six words and blows the whole kingdom apart: You have no power over me.

It was soothing; it made me sit up a little straighter. This is a mantra I’ve been using ever since, not just where my mother is concerned, but to counter the after-effects of all the abusers I’ve known (there have been a few, unfortunately). It was magic for the character of Sarah in Labyrinth – a film that, from start to finish, places extreme importance on using the right words – and it’s also been magical for me (but magic, in real life, is a much slower process sometimes).

As for my lovely friend who helped me through this change – when I told them about my small but meaningful epiphany, it was comforting to learn they had a similar feeling about the film Drop Dead Fred: when the adult Elizabeth discovers she is strong enough to break away from her controlling mother, the words are I’m not afraid of you. Both lines had the same effect for each of us, the only difference was which film we connected with best as children.

When my mother tries to contact me – it happens, and always with a strange reason she feels I must speak to her, always with a non-apology built in – I think it again. Whenever I feel desperately low, have flashbacks, nightmares, or any of the other awful aspects of c-ptsd kick in, I think it again. You have no power over me.

“Sometimes things are difficult, it’s ok to admit I struggle, but I keep going. Rearranging my brain because of trauma has been necessary and important work, but one thing it isn’t is painless. It has to hurt if it’s to heal.” (click to tweet)

There have been other quotes, from other films. In the months leading up to starting therapy last year, the line ‘It has to hurt if it’s to heal’ from The NeverEnding Story was – and still is – essential. In this movie, Atreyu is on a quest to save Fantasia – a world built by the imaginations of human children – and finds himself seriously injured along the way, then taken in by an old gnome couple, where the wife tends to his wounds and gives him this important advice. It’s in the broader context of the film I find it helpful as well – he’s saving a whole world. He’s already lost his beloved horse, narrowly escapes death himself, and he keeps going. This quote has kept me from the brink very recently. Sometimes things are difficult, it’s ok to admit I struggle, but I keep going. Rearranging my brain because of trauma has been necessary and important work, but one thing it isn’t is painless. It has to hurt if it’s to heal.

These are only two examples of many in my own life. And countless other people are saved by music, books, tv, films, (video) games, art, comics (the list is, as they say, endless) in a similar way, and to me that’s a big beautiful deal. I know I see it my way because I’m a witch, others will see it as it suits them. It’s psychology, emotions. It’s being human and finding comfort and connections where we can. Speaking to my therapist about writing this essay, she agreed with all of the above – including the magic. And when I was explaining how the potential for such magic is given to popular forms of media in no small part because they’re shared by so many people, she said “they have become our mythologies.”

“…magic doesn’t have to be fancy, but it needs to work. For me, if any of it is going to be effective, the most important part is being able to attach real power from within me and direct it outward.” (click to tweet)

She’s right. They are our myths. And we often weave myths into spells, and it comes back to one important rule in my personal practice: magic doesn’t have to be fancy, but it needs to work. For me, if any of it is going to be effective, the most important part is being able to attach real power from within me and direct it outward. Of course, it’s always been important (and fun) learning the meanings of herbs, crystals, colours, animal and dream symbolism, how stars and planets affect us, and so on – but if I’m not connecting the knowledge to a force of my own, it’s all just decoration. And maybe some would dismiss pop culture talismans and chants and charms, but if you put ten tonnes of power and meaning behind them, they’re just as effective and life-changing – and potentially as spiritually resonant – as anything older.

“…maybe some would dismiss pop culture talismans and chants and charms, but if you put ten tonnes of power and meaning behind them, they’re just as effective and life-changing – and potentially as spiritually resonant – as anything older.” (click to tweet)

Born in Southern Ohio, but settled in the UK since 1999, Kate is a writer, witch, editor and mother of five. She is the author of several poetry pamphlets, and the founding editor of four web journals and a micropress. Her witchcraft is a blend of her great-grandmother's Appalachian ways and the Anglo-Celtic craft of the country she now calls home – though she incorporates tarot, astrology, and her ancestors, plus music, film, books, and many other things into her practice. Her spiritual life is best described as queer Christopagan with emphasis on the feminine and the natural world. She believes magic is everywhere. Find Kate on twitter and IG - @mskateybelle - and at her website.

#abuse #motherhood #mother daughter relationships #trauma #childhood healing #healing #witchcraft #pop culture #pop culture healing #labrynth #jennifer connelly #david bowie #drop dead fred #the neverending story #wisdom #film #healing magic #popular culture #katey bell #labyrinth

[mycreativefanworld-blog]

A letter to a dear friend...

Well 2017 is almost nearing the end and it has been such a long walk for me with self discovery and just allowing it to happen. It has been hard balancing myself as an individual, as a daughter, as a sister, as a wife, as a mum and as a friend.  I've made such huge adjustments, the hardest adjustment was realising toxic energy and where it was actually coming from.  I really don't believe it possible to eliminate toxic energy indefinitely, I believe it's something that has to be managed, sort of like triage and even like a care plan.  You will find toxic energy emitted from people, your surroundings, your job and even within yourself.  I focused on people, connections and relationships.  What I have learned in the last five years, but especially this year just gone is that everyone emits toxic energy, what I needed to learn was how I reacted or responded to it.  I feel reactions are harsh and responses are things you think through and work out.  I ultimately did let go of a couple of connections, some I just stood back from and others I have chosen are worth my extra energy, but before I could do this I closely watched how I was reacting or responding to certain connections.

You see, I'm polyamory by nature, for a lot of people they see this as wrong, for me I see it as sharing my love.  Others that are polyamory do have numerous 'relationships', I don't; I have connections.  My husband is my relationship and my daughter, my parents and siblings too of course.  My connections tend to be friends, but a lot closer than what 'friends' normally are and that is why I call them connections.  My husband understands this and is very accepting, so I consider myself very lucky.  I did pay close attention to some of the connections I have and unfortunately I discovered that what I valued as a connection, they wanted beyond and because of this their behaviors become toxic, this didn't mean I no longer loved them, it just meant I loved myself more.  I let go of at least two connections, I watched one from the side lines and discovered that he needed to really work on himself, he needed to recognise his own toxic energy and what it was doing to him.  I've wished him well and sent him on his way, I've simply told him that my focus has changed direction, that I'm working on myself for my family.  I didn't say he needed to work on himself, I'm just hoping that seeing what I am doing, he will be able to see what he can do. 

Having said that, I knew I still needed to work on myself.  I let my guard drop and I started to gravitate towards Doreen Virtue and her books, I'm not sure if you have seen my IG and the books I have read.   I'm currently reading one book for the second time, it's about tapping into your creativity.  So I'm learning not to force it, but to just let it be ... so much easier said than done.  In the past I've never really liked being creative when I've had down days, I wanted it to be my release, not my vice.  I had it so wrong, I needed it to be my guide, I needed it to teach me.  I didn't need it to be perfect, I just needed it to reflect me.  I'm still working on it!

I also embarked on a fitness journey, such a bloody eye opener! Here I am thinking, I want a better body, I want to be sexy and attractive, after all that was my motive the last time I lost weight.   However, the last time I set about loosing weight, I was doing it to gain lost attention from my (ex) husband.  I had just given birth to Bella Mia and felt so unwanted, undesired and unloved, maybe because I was giving so much of me to motherhood.  But yes I lost the weight, but nothing changed with my (ex) husband and the biggest mistake here (hindsight!) was lack of communication, lack of self respect, lack of awareness and not listening to my body and mind. 

This time however, it wasn't just about looking good, I know by now my body is never going to be what it once was, I have separated stomach muscles from my pregnancy, they won't go back entirely without surgery and that's not an option. So this journey was about embracing the amazing things my body has been through and that sexy isn't about your body, it's about your confidence.  This journey however has opened my eyes to my body internally, especially mentally!  This journey has shown me how much my hormones can affect my day to day life and how important it is to be in touch with your inner woman.  I'm still learning and one of the hardest things I've notice thus far, is that no matter how in touch you are as a woman, there is always one medical professor or another who will say otherwise ... not anymore, never again, this is my body, my life, my journey. My spirituality has well and truly been woken.  I feel like the teenage me again, just less confused.  As a teenager, Earth was my 'feels', animals were my 'humans'.  I'm fast learning that I need to get in touch with my spirit animal and discover what it actually is.  I'm in touch with Mother Earth, way more than I used to be.  I want to be a lot more in touch with Mother Nature also, simply because I am stardust and I'm in a state of deep gratitude that Earth is my home for now.  My faith in reincarnation is stronger than ever, I will be cycled back into the universe once this life has run it's course and I will gravitate towards the energies that either need me or I need them.  I have a deep sense of feeling that my daughter and I will always need each other and our paths will always cross no matter what life, what planet or what galaxy we tumble towards.

I feel I still have a lot to discover with my spirituality, this year has seen me fumble blindly towards anything and feel nothing.  However I did discover I am an Empath and this is a door I've opened, I just need to step further into it, I need to awaken the abilities that come with this and this will be a hard task, but is achievable and beyond, for now, I've reached a sense of deep gratitude towards everything that has come into being for me this year.  There still some uncertainty, but I need to learn not to fear this and embrace what is to come.  I plan to be more focused on this next year, I plan to keep reminding myself that I do not need approval from anyone to just be me, oh and I plan on making room for more stardust!!! *hint hint*!!! So there you have it, I don't need to fit a certain idea or model of what I need to be as a spiritual person, I just need to unique and genuine. I just need to be me ... Talk again soon love! Much love Bec xx

[pussymagicuniverse]

In (St) Brigid’s Arms: an Imbolc Devotional

The week leading to Imbolc 2018 was probably the darkest end of January in my life, but it was the one where Brigid’s flame burned the brightest in my heart. Brigid had always been an important divine figure to me, as a goddess of poetry and creation, as the saint associated with the coming of spring and new life. She didn’t push her way forward as often as, for example, Ceridwen or the Virgin Mary had, but on 23 January 2018 my daughter Bonnie was born with congenital heart defects, and we sped away to a hospital in another city for a week. I was alone with my delicate, unwell child (who is now turning out to be quite a fierce and fiery child, heart problems or not, which is a relief almost one year on), and Brigid stepped up and made her presence felt when I didn’t know who else to ask for help.  

When you unexpectedly find yourself in hospital with a poorly newborn (and still recovering from a c-section yourself) 35 miles from home, missing your husband and other children, frightened for the baby you’ve just brought into the world, then magic, prayer and ritual have never been more important, but also must be improvised. There is so much value in the meditative and energetic qualities of burning a plain white candle, and in over twenty years of practicing my craft, I didn’t fully appreciate this simple act until I wasn’t able to do it. For me, everything about Imbolc, and all the power of Brigid, can be distilled into a white candle – the purity of a new beginning, the desire to heal, take action, and create, in a single simple flame.

But a hospital is no place for candles, and all I had to hand was a little pouch containing a piece of black tourmaline, a seashell, the tiniest statue of the Virgin Mary I’ve ever seen, and a worry stone made of clear resin encasing a bronze-coloured heart emblazoned with a cross, which was a gift from a devout Christian friend during my pregnancy. I brought these items to hospital with me for the birth because I had anxiety about surviving my planned c-section without major complications (I’d had some problems in three out of my four previous births), but I ended up needing them for my daughter instead. Tourmaline is good for staying positive; seashells always bring me closer to the goddess.

And knowing (St) Brigid’s mythical connections to Jesus and Mary in Celtic Christianity and my own path of christopaganism, the cross and the figure of the Virgin were more than enough to connect with Brigid herself. The legend goes that St Brigid found herself acting as midwife to Mary at the birth of Jesus, and even nursed the newborn boy when Mary was too exhausted to do it herself. The time frame is more than a little muddled in this story – St Brigid lived several centuries after Jesus, though of course the pagan goddess Brigid pre-dates him, so I quite like the idea that maybe she was there… – so it isn’t meant to be taken as anything more than a myth. But it’s the energy of this metaphorical act of midwifery/nursing that I could feel coming from Brigid while Bonnie and I were in hospital: “Here, let me help you with this baby – she’s going to need you for the rest of her life. For now, you rest.” Whenever I wasn’t cuddling or breastfeeding Bonnie, for the long hours she slept in her hospital cot, attached to monitors and oxygen, I was doing my best to remember Brigid was looking after her for me, helping her tiny heart. It wasn’t easy, but I had to believe we’d get through whatever might happen.

But of course Brigid’s warmth and empowering love isn’t just for mothers and newborn babies, it’s for anyone who needs it and will honour it; she holds you, pockets your concerns, your frazzled stray thoughts, and lets you rest – then smooths it all out in front of you when you awaken so your problems are easier to solve, battles are easier to win, and she imbues you with strength to keep going. And that’s in the spirit of Imbolc, too: celebrated on 1-2 February in the northern hemisphere, halfway between the longest night and the spring equinox, it’s the border between winter and spring, a planning time, a chance to rest before launching fully into whatever it is you need to do as the light increases, gains strength.

If you feel Brigid’s call or need her assistance, there are so many things you can do to thank her; relationships with deities and/or saints must be personal, but there are tried and tested ways to start if you’re stuck. Create something – poetry, art, a Brigid’s cross – whatever it is, make it sincerely. Do something kind for new mothers or mums-to-be or babies – even mama and baby animals if you prefer them to humans (I know plenty who do). Light those white candles. Go out walking, look for snowdrops or other signs of life, even if you’re still surrounded by snow and ice. Find your own connection to the cross-quarter magic that drifts gently at Imbolc, slowly smudging dormant and dark into bright and alive, and grow with it, whatever that means for you. And I hope you grow well, as my Bonnie has grown.

Born in Southern Ohio, but settled in the UK since 1999, Kate is a writer, witch, editor and mother of five. She is the author of several poetry pamphlets, and the founding editor of four web journals and a micropress. Her witchcraft is a blend of her great-grandmother's Appalachian ways and the Anglo-Celtic craft of the country she now calls home – though she incorporates tarot, astrology, and her ancestors, plus music, film, books, and many other things into her practice. Her spiritual life is best described as queer Christopagan with emphasis on the feminine and the natural world. She believes magic is everywhere. Find Kate on twitter and IG - @mskateybelle - and at her website.

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