At the solstices and the equinoxes -- Druids will remind us -- the veils between the worlds grow thin.

As writers, we may find that access to creative flow increases in these moments, that the veil between the intellect and the intuition opens up, softens, becomes more permeable.

By attuning ourselves to the patterns of nature we create touchpoints by which to gauge our own patterns. These moments of hesitation and momentum shift -- the longest and shortest days, the midpoints between -- create natural delineations separate from familial or religious significant, observed with ritual from the moment they were observed as pattern, perhaps to retain and communicate the promise that they would recur.

Whether we celebrate the birth of a son in midwinter or the rebirth of the sun, it's pretty clear somebody who understood a calendar said, "Light some candles. Be kind to one another. Light and warmth will return. Celebrate and push back the darkness for just a few days more."

With a knowledge of recurring seasons we know when to plant, when to harvest, when to put up the storm windows and when to pull out the white wardrobe.

At the cardinal moments in the compass of the year, we meet to write. No rules. Just write.

Hit me with your e-mail and you'll get everything you need for the opening of the door! Bookmark it, and I'll see you there!