Rest is a common enough theme for me at this time of year. This year though, I'm feeling a pull towards more. More rest? Certainly. But a different kind. Even the weather agrees. Yesterday, it lashed down all day. Ag stealladh báistí you might say. Today? Well look below.

Today I'm going to talk about decisions and consequences. I understand this is a break from the Imbolc related topics of the last few weeks, but it's needed given some of the rhetoric showing on various social media over the weekend. But first I'm going to talk about some decisions I made over the weekend and the consequences of those decisions.

I read Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams this week. It's her memoir of her time in Facebook, ending up as Director of Public Policy. She tells about a time when she was an idealistic young woman, convinced that Facebook could change the world, her year long campaign to be hired in their non-existent policy department and her six years in the business.

I feel lucky—the energy is rising just when I need it most. January and February are traditionally my most busy times of the year. And - this may be a bit of a stretch for some people, but the energy is rising in the world! Trust me!

I'm lucky that the energy is rising at the time I most need it. Yes, I am re-using this song. It's a great song!!! Now, I get it. You might be thinking, wasn't last week's blog post all about energy? Well, yes, it was. But I want to get more focused this week. On specifically, the energy I can use and feed off - and the energy you can use as well!

Your Imbolc prep requires candles, right? I've written before around preparing for Imbolc. I mean, I generally write a few times a year on the topic. But this year, I want to discuss ascending to Imbolc. Because, I want to change the focus a little bit. I want to talk about coming up out of winter and into Spring. Out of darkness, into the light.

I spent ... more than a few hours... on Threads over the Christmas. And, I have to say, it was illuminating. (If you fancy listening to more of my ramblings, you can check me out here) One thing that shocked me was this attitude among certain members of the Threads community that feminism is sexist. Hence the title of this post.

Guilt is a big one this time of year. It creeps in quietly and before you know it, you’re juggling family expectations, gift lists, and traditions while feeling like you’re failing everyone. Today, let’s talk about how to manage that guilt and keep it from running the show. Guilt vs. Shame These two often get mixed up. Psychology Today explains it well:

I know Brigid isn't strongly associate with Christmas or Solstice for that matter. But guilt is. It's a big one this time of year! Today we're going to talk about how to manage guilt and use Brigid to help. Now, I've written in passing about guilt before. But I've not done a deep dive into it at all. And particularly with women, particularly at this time of year, …

... do we not bleed? Spiritual freedom is today's topic and I'm feeling angry. The full quote from Act III, Scene I, The Merchant of Venice Shylock's quote from The Merchant of Venice is oft quoted as speaking to the humanity of Jewish people. I mean, context is a thing here, but I want to explore a few things today that is strongly linked to this.

I know, you're wondering what the shooting of Jews celebrating Hannukah has to do with a women in engineering blog. Well, it comes back to my feminism being nothing if it is not intersectional. And that means standing up for women of faiths other than my own, as well as women of colour other than my own, women of sexuality other than my own...

Last week, I wrote about the Memorare. This week, it's the Rosary. I know, two Catholic posts in a row, but they're heavily linked. Now, if you're looking for the official Roman Catholic approach to the Rosary, the Vatican website on the topic is probably your best bet. An image of a rosary What is the Rosary? The word "rosary" apparently means something along the lines of "crown of roses" or "garland of roses" in Latin.

I've written before about personal sovereignty, the power of clothing, and a few other bits and bobs on this blog. But following last week's post on Amber Czech, I wanted to talk about power in the workplace. You see, at times, it can seem like we have very little power in our own workplace. There are plenty of people out there willing to tell us how lacking we are in many different ways.

The Memorare is a lovely, powerful prayer to the Virgin Mary. And it's one I have found reverberating through my head in the last few weeks. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,that never was it knownthat anyone who fled to thy protection,implored thy help,or sought thy intercession,was left unaided.Inspired by this confidenceI fly unto thee,

Yes, Amber Czech is who I will be speaking about today. Or typing. You know what I mean. For those who don't know, Amber Czech was a welder in Minnesota, who was killed by a co-worker, in her workplace on 11 November 2025. Yeah, less than a month ago as I write this. If today's topics are too much for you, please skip this one.

As we wrap up 2025 and look toward 2026, many of us feel the pull to grow, improve, or pivot professionally. But deciding what to change - and how - can feel overwhelming. If you’ve ever sat down with a blank page and thought, “Where do I even start?”, this post is for you. Here’s a simple, structured process to help you clarify your next steps and design the changes you want to see in your career.

Last night, a thought struck me: “If you want to change, you have to change.” Simple, but powerful. It’s an extension of that well-known phrase: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Why talk about change? Because in engineering—and in leadership—change is constant. Processes evolve, technologies advance, teams restructure. And yet, when it comes to personal or career growth, we often forget the basics.

The topic of change came up during our Brigid's Forge Collective session last night. And I thought it warranted writing about today. Because so often, we want things to be different, we look for it, beg for it - but forget the basics. I've written before about Brigid and liminality, not to mention transformation. But change, real, physical change is difficult at the best of times.

I've previously done an entire series on Catholicism. But more and more, I'm seeing on line people questioning Are Catholics Christian or not. Or indeed, in one message I received, the gyst was, "If Catholics are practicing paganism, can they really be considered to be 'of God'?" So, I thought I'd see what's at the root of this. Are Catholics Christian?

Years ago, I attended my first UCD Women in Leadership Conference. It was a huge deal for me, I was massively excited, really anticipated powerful conversations and key insights. And, I got them. But a recurring theme through the offline conversations and many of the sessions was the importance of choosing the right life partner, when you are woman in leadership.

I know, I know. This appears to be all I'm talking about lately. I get it. But trust me. It's important. And it does help you get clear on what you want from 2026 and into the future. But what does finishing strong actually mean when you’re a woman in STEM, no longer with the energy you had in your 20's, juggling career goals, childcare, elder care, and the invisible load that never seems to let up?

As the days shorten and the year winds down, many of us feel the pull to turn inward - to rest, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. Preparing for Imbolc doesn't appear in our minds right now. But wait... In the Irish seasonal calendar, this time of year is a quiet descent toward Imbolc, the festival that marks the first stirrings of spring.

In engineering teams, we often talk about “bad apples” as isolated cases: someone who’s difficult, disruptive, or just not a team player. But the full phrase, “One bad apple spoils the whole barrel,” reminds us that the impact of one person can extend far beyond their individual actions. A single toxic presence can shift the tone of a team. What starts as subtle undermining or passive - aggressive behaviour can evolve into widespread mistrust, disengagement, and fractured collaboration.

One bad apple spoils the whole barrel Very often, we talk about bad apples in organisations. But it's often in the context of being a "one off" or an unusual event. It seems that people have forgotten about the full phrase and why it is key to root out the bad apples. (Why yes, this is following on from my thoughts last week…