Imbolc Letter from Cressida Pryor
January 26, 2026

Dear FOI Friends,

We have at last had a little sunshine amidst fairly consistent cloud, drizzle and rain…this seems to resonate with the mood of the moment…mine at least.

So it was with excitement and joy, whilst taking the chance to clear the garden, that my gaze was drawn skyward by the movement of two large birds directly over head…two red kites were carving the air with parallel swoops of precision and purpose; at first I wondered if they were a courting pair and then the concordance was broken with a sharp attack, one upon the other. They tumbled in the sky and then two heart stopping moments later the birds were far apart and my short witness of sky bound drama was over.

An unexpected communion of feather, force and grace had broken through the grey quotidian of late January.

When reflecting on this later it seemed to mirror so much of current life…

We have had our gaze drawn to dramas and threats a distance from most of our lives…on that stage there too has been much posturing, attack and unpredictable jeopardy…and beneath our feet too the earth is engaged in it’s own drama; that of rising energy reminding us of the much awaited spring to come.

Rain has reduced fallen leaves and growth to a brown nutritious slime that hosts buried bulbs new sky bound peaks as they break through earth’s winter hold.

When I feel overwhelmed by the news and the world’s turmoil I often turn to the wisdom of poets…as a antidote to the transient horrors of social media, news and screens. Sheenagh Pugh, in her poem Sometimes reminds us that:

“Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss, sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
That seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.”

I echo her words; may we remember the gift that life is, an invitation to communion and connection beyond ourselves. May we also remember that often if we lift our hearts and gaze from the boundaries of doom laden thought we will notice something wonderful.

May this season of Imbolc bring hope, light and the blessing of the hidden one shining out…