Through the cracks 🌱
Welcoming the Spring Equinox
I’m not a winter person, my blood runs cold, and my disabled body struggles against the winds. While snow excites others to don their wellies, it fills me with dread. I am made for warm grass and the stability of bare feet. When spring comes, it’s a relief. The pain remains, but my body begins to feel more possibility.
Today is Ostara, the spring equinox. Ostara is a pagan sabbat that celebrates the arrival of spring and the equilibrium of day and night. Rooted in ancient traditions, it's one of the eight sabbats in the Wheel of the Year. The festival marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Summer Solstice, it’s a shift towards brighter, longer days and the awakening of the earth from its winter slumber. While the Wheel of the Year observance is common among pagans and witches, you don't need to identify as either to celebrate the Sabbats. Many people follow the Wheel of the Year rather than the Gregorian calendar, as it’s arguably a more intuitive way to mark the year and flow with its changes.
Why on earth would January be the time for goal setting when our bodies still demand rest? In February, when Imbolc arrives, it’s a gentle preparation for spring, slowly shaking off our hibernation cobwebs. And now that we arrive at Ostara, it’s a time for renewal.
You can learn more about Ostara in my latest Honey and the Hex episode.
There is an egg spell guide you can follow 23:04 minutes in.
Aries has entered the room (and there’s nowhere to hide)
March is a bridge month that carries us from very different places. Pisces to Aries. The Moon to The Emperor. As a Pisces myself, I revel in the deep waters of my season, but as all things must transition, I love coming up for air and channelling the fire within for Aries season - time for rebirth baby!
Are there any wishes you reflected on at the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024 that you haven’t been able to focus on? Well Ostara is the perfect time to prioritise your creativity, actions, and ambitions.
I keep reminding myself that this does not mean spreading myself thin just because there is more energy in the air. I won’t be making plans that I don’t think I can keep, I’ll be getting clear about what I’m wanting to focus on, and I want to be present in the plans I do make.
Resurrecting old passions
Theatre was my first love. I dedicated years of my life to my practice until it all got swept from under me when I unexpectedly became disabled at age 18. I had to leave my professional training in 2012, and I was isolated with no support at all. The industry is still terrible when it comes to inclusion and care, but back then, it was almost nonexistent.
What I went through I will go into in a future newsletter to give it the space and depth it deserves, but I mention it here for some context to my news this week.
For a long time, I have wanted to step my toes back into performance, but it’s been on hold due to survival, a lack of resources, and my health. Two months ago, I made a promise to myself that I would no longer put my desire to one side, and I have been putting in the work behind the scenes to focus on my creative practice.
I applied for this year's Camden People’s Theatre Seed Commissions scheme, which supports the development of innovative new theatre projects at the early work-in-progress stage. After my written application, I was invited to an in-person interview, where the director informed me that they received 250 applications and only 15 were invited for an interview. So I was proud of myself regardless of the outcome. On Monday I found out I was successful, and will be receiving a small grant, a week of rehearsal space for research and development, and mentoring opportunities.
I received another email this week that made me squeal out loud. I got cast in a show that I self taped for, which I can’t share details about yet, but I’m very excited and look forward to sharing this journey with you.
The creative seeds are sprouting. I’m nervous but beaming that I am finally swimming back into what I love most.
Nature should be accessible
This month I ran another Accessibility and Inclusion workshop at Kew Gardens. The Youth Explainers is a training and volunteering programme for young people aged 14-17. After their training, they go out into the gardens, playing self- designed games with the visitors to engage them in discussions about conservation and sustainability.
I’m grateful that Kew continue to invite me back to run sessions with each cohort where we explore disability and access, the medical and social model, how to ensure accessible science communication, and how to actively include disabled visitors at the gardens.
The feedback from the programme leaders has been immensely warming. They've observed the young volunteers confidently engaging with disabled visitors, and implementing their learnings. This gives me hope that they are also aware, inclusive, and supportive in their environments outside of Kew.
I wish I had workshops like this when I was a teen, and I’m grateful that I get to do this work. It makes my heart beam.
Kacey’s Saturn has returned (mine too)
Kacey Musgraves new album arrived, and I am shook. My passion is merch and limited edition vinyls and I managed to get Kacey’s tortoise shell record. I think this might be my favourite album of hers? I mean, how could it not be, it’s a witchy pagan masterpiece.
Cardinal has 70’s vibes, it gives me the same feeling I get when listening to the band Pentangle, and specifically the sensation that overcomes me when I listen to Eagle by Abba. I feel like I’m the main character in a fantasy world, I’m on an important quest!
Other favourites on the record are ‘Jade Green’ which feels like I’m riding a horse through a mediaeval town. ‘Heaven is’ has the melody of old Celtic folk songs, and ‘Dinner with friends’ made me sob in my bedroom. Oh and ‘The Architect’ is perfect. Okay I’ll stop there otherwise my favourites just become the entire album. I have tickets to see her live at the Roundhouse in May, I will of course be geeking out and reporting back to you what merch I get my hands on.
The Grief of Spring
There is an ache that comes with celebrating spring, knowing that Palestine is in the depths of darkness regardless of the seasons.
I am deeply appreciative of an instagram live conversation I caught between Chani Nicholas and the makers of the film Israelism - which is available to watch back here.
The film is an important resource that we should all engage with.
“When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns. They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism’s relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.”
You can rent Isrealism here.
You can find more resources and ways to show up here:
Harness the arrival of spring to continue shining a light on the truth. Keep sharing, keep showing up, and stay motivated for a free Palestine.
Offerings
A playlist to welcome spring.
This spring, I hope the flowers you planted (in any form) come into bloom.
Accessibility:
Alt text available on photos.
Voiceover of the newsletter.