Kindled Fire 2021
Yesterday was our first circle of the (Gregorian calendar) year, the rite of Kindled Fire. This is the time of year when the sun’s increasing presence in the day starts to be noticeable, when we begin to think about what we can do with the oncoming warm seasons. It’s a tenuous time; in many places, February is still one of the coldest months of the year, and where we live now, it still tends to be very dark and rainy. In fact, last night’s ritual was the first one in years that had to be substantially altered because of inclement weather.
In a way, I think this sort of hope in this time of year is even more important because it’s hard. At Glowtide (the solstice), there’s a lot of joy about the sun’s return, but the reality is, it’ll be weeks before we really feel it. Those weeks are the time for the hard work of taking that little spark of beginning, and tending it; letting it kindle, you could say. In the Conflux calendar, this whole season, from solstice to equinox, is the season of Kindled Fire (or just Kindling-season), with the ritual date itself set at its center, casting its faint glimmering light over these months of endurance and preparation.
Endurance and preparation are more difficult some years than others. This year, for me, enough stuff added up that I found myself unable to do the rite-tending duties that I usually do (bringing folks to the circle, sharing words, guiding offerings and toasts). I feel so thankful that some of my housemates were able to step up and tend ritual in my place. Elanna and Elluim did a beautiful job of honoring the season, and talking about something that was on my mind a lot, something that makes this season a bit easier: the power of connection with others.
Without others tending and attending ritual, I would probably be feeling worse off today than I was yesterday (and I was pretty bad). But seeing folks there, sharing light, helping kindle fires together, warmed my heart in a way that feels right in line with the season. It was wonderful to be reminded that even a small flame can light others, and those small flames added together make quite a bit of fire.