Imbolc, Welcoming in the Light !
Imbolc, or Bride, is the celtic sabbat observed on February 2nd. We may be in the dark depths of winter, but the earth is starting to wake up. The word Imbolc literally translates to "in the belly." Much like a woman in stillness, preparing to give birth, here the earth is preparing to bloom again, here we are preparing to once again embrace our newness that has been born out of the darkness of the past few months. The hardest part of the year is behind us, and though we have much more winter to venture through, we are at a turning point. The very earliest sprouts will start to sprout, the planting season begins, and the lightness of spring begins to seep into us.
Imbolc is also a time dedicated to honoring Brigid, the Celtic fire goddess of poetry, healing, childbirth, birth, and craftsmanship. Brigid is a triple goddess, meaning she represents the maiden, the mother, and the crone all at once, encompassing the totality of a woman’s life. Imbolc is a day of celebrating such cycles. We honor the death of the goddess in the winter and her rebirth in the spring as a maiden. What aspects of yourself died this winter, and what is preparing to be born anew?
Brigid, and therefore Imbolc, is strongly associated with the element of fire. What is being illuminated for you right now? What is burning away in these final days of hibernation? And most importantly, what sparks of new life are you starting to feel as we approach springtime? The intentions we planted in the darkness of the winter solstice are starting to sprout. It is now time to nurture those sprouts and begin to wake up and turn outward once again. Below are two ways you can honor this sacred day.
Welcome in the Light
A traditional way to honor Imbolc and the emergence of the spring is with light. It is a time-honored practice at Imbolc to light a candle in every room of your house. Alternatively, you could open all of your curtains or switch on every light in your house.
Another beautiful way to honor the coming of the sun is to go for a walk during the height of the sun's journey through the sky (typically sometime between noon and 3), thanking it for it's warmth and life even if it's too cloudy or stormy to see it. If there is snow on the ground, it is a traditional practice to take a snowy walk and draw an image of the sun in the snow with your dominant hand.
If you have a fireplace, you may wish to light a fire and reflect upon its warmth, seeing it as a mirror of your own inner creative fire. If you do not have a fireplace, this works just as well with a candle.
Creating an Imbolc Altar
Altars are beautiful ways to focus your intentions on something particular. In this case, we want to focus our intentions on the coming light, being “in the belly”, and the young sprouts of our solstice intentions. An imbolc altar works best by a sunny window, though any other well-lit area of your home would work well. Any items that connect you to those things are excellent choices for your altar. Below are a few items to consider:
Crystals for Imbolc: garnets (a powerful stone that purifies, strengthens, and resonates with the fiery solar plexus), moonstone (strengthens your connection with the goddess, fosters intuition, and encourages new beginnings), and moss agate (nourishes growth and fertility).
Imbolc herbs: blackberry leaves (sacred to Brigid and thought to attract abundance and health), coltsfoot (another herb associated with Brigid that helps to move stagnant energy and foster peace), and ginger (helps to strengthen your inner fire and creativity).
Other items to include are Brigid’s cross, images of Brigid, seeds, young plants, images or items that remind you of the intentions you set at the solstice (your vision board, perhaps?), green candles, items that evoke youth/maidenhood, and bird feathers.
Blessed Imbolc! May you remember the light and allow your inner fire to warm the seeds of your beautiful intentions. Spring is near.