Atrocious of me...

Evening ladies. With the start of a new calendar, I'm feeling quite inspired to remember and observe the things I always want to, but don't seem to manage. Eg - the birthday's of my friends' children, the Wheel of the Year, etc etc. And on that note, I'd love it if someone could list for me the days of the Sabbats and Esbats this year, or link me somewhere helpful in this matter.

I find that as time passes I'm leaning more and more into observing the cycles of the earth, and feeling more settled in myself about my spirituality (even if I am very much alone in it), but find myself unsure and without ideas on how to observe these things. Do any of you have any specific rituals or routines that help you feel connected to the cycles of the seasons? Any hints for a lonely pagan in need of a greater connection to her world?

I'm also hoping to get into my garden more now. I have a small patch of earth by my kitchen window, with foxgloves (which I am still waiting on to flower!), some native wattles, rosemary and rampant daisies and pansies. We also have an apple tree and a mandarin tree in memory of our lost babies. I'd love to know more about when it's the right time to do various things for the garden, and plants..oh and how to set up a compost bin with a very small garden and an unenthused DH!

Sorry if it seems I am trying to broach two different topics here in one post, but for me my spirituality and my garden are inextricably linked. I am always happiest when I've been working in the garden, or seen some flowers blossom, watching the blackbirds ferreting about in the freshly turned soil, or the wattle birds balancing on the branches, reaching for pollen and nectar. Combine that with my love of cooking and old-fashioned ideas about family and materialism, and I could almost pass for a Hobbit!

Lisa xx

Edit: Oh dear, I just realised I could be misconstrued! By old fashioned values about family, I simply meant that to me family is extremely important, and elders should be respected, that every family member is important, and that things like hand knitted cardigans, and passed down blankets, are important! I absolutely do not think that gay parents should be discriminated against, or disallowed from marrying, or that blended families or anything else, is any less than the 'traditional' nuclear family! A family is love, regardless of gender, age, sexual preference, race, religion, etc etc. If there is love, and care, it's a family, and all families are important! I hope I'm making sense...

January
* 10: Full moon -- Cold Moon
* 26: New moon

February
* 2: Lammas or Lughnasadh
* 9: Full moon -- Quickening Moon
* 14: Valentine's Day
* 24: New moon

March
* 10: Full moon Storm Moon
* 20: Mabon
* 26: New moon

April
* 9: Full moon -- Wind Moon
* 24: New moon
* 30: Walpurgisnacht celebrated by German witches

May
* 1: Samhain
* 9: Full moon - Flower Moon
* 24: New moon

June
* 7: Full moon -- Strong Sun Moon
* 21: Yule
* 22: New moon

July
* 7: Full moon -- Blessing Moon
* 21: New moon

August
* 1: Imbolc
* 5: Full Moon -- Corn Moon
* 20: New moon

September
* 4: Full Moon -- Harvest Moon
* 18: New moon
* 22: Ostara

October
* 4: Full moon -- Blood Moon
* 18: New moon
* 31: Beltane

November
* 2: Full moon -- Mourning Moon
* 16: New moon

December
* 2: Full moon -- Long Nights Moon
* 16: New moon
* 21: Litha
* 25: Christmas Day
* 31: Full moon -- Blue Moon

Punkin, you're awesome :)

Lisa xx