29/01/2026
The Cailleach is the guardian of winter.
Let’s hope it’s dreich on the 1st of February 🙏🏼Imbolc is the mid point between the winter solstice and spring equinox ✨
"Whispers of Winter: The Tale of Winter Mōor"
Here in Wessex we have Winter Mōor, the Saxon personification of winter, who embodies the cold stillness of the season. While similar to the Cailleach in her role as a guardian of winter, Winter Mōor is a more patient and balanced figure. She holds the frost in place, ensuring that winter rests before the awakening of spring, and guides the quiet transition between the seasons with steady presence and wisdom.
As Gēola fades, Winter Mōor begins her work. She gathers her kindling with intent. Should she wish to deepen winter’s grasp, she calls for sun upon Éomærce, stacking her firewood high to stretch the chill of the long moons. But when clouds weep and winds wail, her hands falter, her stores dwindle, and spring’s breath stirs the earth’s bones once more.
Yet, even in the fading cold, Winte Mōor whispers to the wyrd, calling upon the spirits of the trees. The elder yew answers first, its roots tangled with the stories of those who walked before. "A new sun rises," it murmurs. "But remember, the frost is never far."
Winter Mōor nods, her voice but a murmur against the howl of the wind. She knows that even as the first tendrils of green reach up from the earth’s heart, she must not forget the patience of ice. And so she waits, still and sure, her presence a quiet testament to the balance.
(Gēola: the Saxon Yule, marking midwinter. Winter Mōor: Winter Mother, a personification of winter, symbolizing the long, cold months when nature rests and the earth sleeps. In Saxon belief, Winter Mōor might be seen as a figure who holds the frost in her grasp, but also ensures the balance of seasons. She represents the necessary stillness of winter before the awakening of spring, and in this way, she is both a guardian of the harshness and a protector of the return of life. Éomærce: the horse bound boundary of February, when winter loosens its hold. Wyrd: fate or destiny, often linked to the spirits of nature. The elder yew: an ancient tree associated with wisdom, the past, and the continuation of life through cycles.)
