You may have noticed your local pub and community orchard putting on a strange named event – Wassail.

I’ve definitely noticed an increased interest in all things folk. Whether folk music, folk tales, storytelling, traditional recipes and heritage plants. In times of uncertainty we ate naturally drawn to tradition.

Wassail is a traditional agricultural based community activity conducted in January/February. In essence its a blessing and protection ritual. Often done in the earlier part of January it can stretch into early February.

With words and song, noise and a, little or lot, of drinking. Announcing our thanks to the fruit bearing trees for last years crop. Requesting fertility and a healthy harvest for this years. And to banish pernicious energies that might harm the trees.

There are various regional adaptations to the words and songs and ceremony. Ive attended quite a number of these years. It was time for me to introduce this to my own fruit trees.

It occurred to me that as gardeners, stewards and keepers of the land that is within our personal reach, that Wassail isn’t just community. Its for each of us.

So I got local apple cider and along with seedy bread and natural salt went out in the pouring rain to speak to my trees. Well then I thought the rest of the veggies and fruits ought to be included in this act of gratitude and reverence.

It felt like I was bringing a little piece of sacred in the gloom of this winter-going-into-spring. Imbolc season. With Wassail there’s a call and answer that can be used from the sender to the receiver. Thus when there’s more than just you we herald ‘wassail’ and the reply is ‘good hail’. Similar to sending out compassionate feelings in mindfulness meditation practice towards others and then receiving compassion returned towards oneself.

So spare a moment to consider the blessed earth (soil) with all it’s wiggly creatures and microbe and mycelium working their magic to enrich the soil. A thank you to the birds and insects that pollinate to help germination towards the blossom and fruiting.

Gratitude to the rain and winds, warmth and frosts for these are part of the natural cycles of fertility as well. And yes a thank you to yourself as carer in this busy and industrious cycle . Like a parent (a guardian) who sees what needs attention, where to go softly or act quickly.

Maybe you might have considered creating your own Wassail ceremony to brighten a gloomy day and bring ‘good hail’ and cheer to your open spaces. Yes just do ‘it’, set your good intentions and wait and watch for the alchemy to happen. In the garden and beyond.

Wassail to you, good hail to you.

Pausing. Sacred life.

If you’re curious about having sacredness and pause in your life and home. It’s my ‘thing’ seeing what and where and how to live life with more sacred spiritual aspects and spaces with pause moments.

I facilitate at festivals and small groups workshops and as a creative womens circle host.

Photo: Wassail in the orchard at Weald & Downland historic living museum. www.wealddown.co.uk