Well hello 2019! Lovely to meet you!

Well hello 2019! Lovely to meet you!

Well hello again, and happy new year!

I love the feeling of ‘resetting’ that happens with a new year. It really feels like I can put stuff behind me and move onto new things. I know in some ways it’s just an arbitrary date, but it somehow doesn’t feel that way. January 1st arrives and it does feel new and exciting – what will 2019 bring? What do I want to focus on this year? Where do I want to guide things? What do I want to do?

One of things I always do is recapitulate the old year, and write down goals for the new. I don’t use the word ‘resolutions’ or ‘promises’, goals is just fine. I’ve kept my old lists going back about 15 years and I confess there are some things that come back year after year. When I was playing a lot of World of Warcraft one of my goals was ‘To play less WOW’. Yes, that one was repeated for a few years, but now it’s gone.

One of the goals I wrote this year was:

  • Make my blog an exploration of my spirituality. A part of my growth.

I know. Of course it always has been, but for whatever reason this was added to my goals for 2019. Maybe it’s because I see so much division, so much disquiet, even in the Pagan world, that I want my blog to be a place where this just doesn’t happen. A haven that encourages connection rather than division. I’m very much up for that, and I hope you’ll join me.

So what else is in store for 2019 so far?

Well, I’ve just added the gigs I’ve been booked to play so far on my concerts page here on the website. I’m looking forward to playing a gig at Paganicon in the USA having not been there at all in 2018 – I missed you lovely American Pagans! I’m then off to Australia in April to help run a Druid camp with Cerri and our good friend, Kristoffer Hughes, then afterwards I’ll doubtlessly be playing another gig in Adelaide, plus it looks like I’m booked to play a concert at the wonderful English Ale, just outside Adelaide at Mylor, so plenty of exciting things there too.

This year I’m taking a break from the Y Mabinogi albums to focus on an album of songs and I’ll be getting my teeth into writing those songs over the next few months. My aim is to have the album out ready for Yule, but that could change, and I’ll certainly keep you posted! I am really looking forward to the freedom that comes with writing new songs, songs that aren’t linked to a particularly story, and the Awen is already starting to flow.

As well as the music I’m increasingly being booked to speak at conferences and camps and although this is right outside of my comfort zone, I thoroughly enjoy the challenges it brings. For instance I’m not playing music at this year’s Pagan Pheonix South West conference (what was the PF Devon and Cornwall conference) but instead will be talking about Y Mabinogi, the history and lore surrounding the tales. I’ll also be speaking at Paganicon in Minneapolis, as well as playing a concert on the opening night, Witchfest Midlands, and at the Druid camp in Australia.

And then of course there is the monthly DruidCast podcast and my other work with the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, the seasonal open Wheel of the Year rituals at the Long Man of Wilmington have entered their 19th year, and it looks like there will be another Anderida camp in the Autumn, so plenty to keep me busy.

But also this year there will be space. Space to just be, to connect with the Source, to watch the sunrise, to sing to the stars, to allow that Awen to flow into songs.

Whatever you have planned for 2019, may it bring you wonder and joy, magic, and blessings!

13 responses to “Well hello 2019! Lovely to meet you!”

  1. All the best to you and Cerri. Hope all the coughs and colds have gone and the voice bavk to normal.xx

  2. Happy 2019 Damh and family!

    Our family here in Canada is watching the days get longer. I have already been leafing through gardening books. My worm composters are making beautiful enriched fertilizer. In 2018, my son produced his first album. 2019 is looking full of promise.

    With Mother Earth’s Blessings,

  3. Talking may feel outside your comfort zone but its well within your competence. Much as I love to hear you sing and play I think you have a lot to say that’s worth hearing so keep blogging and keep talking!

    All the best for this current cycle. May all your goals be fulfilled! and some you didn’t expect!

  4. The beginning of this year does feel positive and exciting for a change and dealing with depression on and off, this hasn’t been the case in the recent past. When the clouds and the rain cleared on New Year’s Day and the sin came out, the blue sky showed and I even spotted a rainbow, I chose to see this as a good omen.

  5. After all the hard landscaping we did last year we are making plans to add the softer touches to our magical garden. That, and sort the various buildings and rooms out so we can find everything that has lay dormant for years ! New adventures being planned with days out when warmer. yes, we are going to put the National Trust pass to good use too !!

  6. Looking forward to this all! Please, please come to Canada! (planting seed….Winnipeg Folk Fest). 🙂

    Blessings to you and your family!

  7. happiest of new years to you and yours!!! i hope you reach all your goal you set for yourself this year!! i look forward to the new album, too!!! and a new year of blogs! so much to be excited about!!! peace and blessings!!! )O(

  8. Oddly enough, I discovered druidry as a result from WOW (still playing, and guess what main I play?). I hope you can find enough downtime and peaceful glades to inspire new songs — we are eagerly awaiting! Ali

  9. Happy New Year Damh and Cerri! Am totally thrilled to be coming from Western Australia to the camp and English Ale in Adelaide and to finally get to meet you both in person. I like to pick a word for how i’d like the year to go, and my word for this year is Adventure, so a trip back and forth across the Nullabor will fit right in there! Sounds like a great year for you too. Am fully in for a place of connection and peace. <3

  10. Happy New Year! Your words, both in prose and song, have been an inspiration to me and helped me to rediscover my pagan path when I found myself rather lost in a corporate world, thank you! I look forward to following your blogs on 2019 and meeting you at Pagan Tribal Gathering in June!

  11. Thank you Damh, Happy New year i hope it serves you well. Can’t wait to hear the new album.
    Bright Blessings to you & Cerri

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