Rounding the Year: Flowers, Birds, Pancakes & Valentines

There are so many things to celebrate this week, including three widely celebrated festivals: the start of the Year of the Dragon, Pancake Day and Valentine's Day. Those events might not be pagan but, as I mention in my book Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year, I'm happy to enjoy most seasonal customs. However, what's really making my heart sing is the sight of more first buds and blossoms as spring flowers return. 

Over the past two weeks I've shared photos of  snowdrops just beginning to bud, and now there are little white flowers all over my garden. On Friday I saw daffodils in my local park (pictured left). At the weekend I spotted pink and white blossom appearing on several trees, and today the first primroses flowered in my front garden. You can see a photo of them further down this post. 

I've also been noticing birds nest-building. A pair of great-tits have been gathering twigs in my front garden. I've been watching them from my study window when I should probably be working. At the weekend, I went away to the coast where I saw a pair of gulls. I took a photo, but they were quite far away so it's not great. According to folklore, birds choose their mates at around the time of Valentine's Day.

I recently started prompts to share seasonal pictures, art, crafts, words and other creativity. I'll continue this over the months ahead. I'd love to encourage readers to record what's happening in nature in various ways including photographs, journalling, drawing or painting and crafting.

Here are ways to share the things you're doing or what you see out and about as the wheel turns:

• Leave a comment on this post about what you're up to
• Find my prompts to share on my Facebook Page: Lucya Starza Pagan Portals Author
• Share on Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) with the tag #RoundingtheYear

My book offers more ways to acknowledge the Wheel of the Year and celebrate the seasons in ritual, magic, folklore and nature. You can find it at estoeric bookshops and via my publisher Moon Books: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-rounding-wheel-year