Imbolc
29th Jan 2008
Imbolc
(Pronounced Im-bolc), also known as Imbolg, Oimelc, Brigids Day, Saint Brigids Day and the “Festival of Lights” is celebrated on February 1st. It represents the first signs of the coming spring and the waning of the winter months. It is a time of hope, when we begin to feel the creative inspirations coming to life in our souls, and we begin to anticipate the warmer, lighter weather that spurs us into action. This inspiration has been dormant through the winter months, just as a seed lies dormant under the frozen ground covered with snow.
To most people who celebrate the Winter Solstice, it represents the birth of the Sun. To me, it makes much more sense to think of the Solstice as the “conception” of the Sun and Imbolc as the pregnancy. Imbolg, in Gaelic means “in the belly”. The seeds of spring are buried deep “in the belly” of Mother Earth, waiting for the ground to warm up enough for them to come to the surface. For now, they are safely sheltered from the harsh winds and cold rains. Imbolc is that time during the pregnancy known as “the quickening” – that magical moment when the Mother first feels her baby move inside her.
The seeds buried deep in the earth mirror the seeds of our dreams. We have visions, ideas….all the things we want to create, achieve, experience, and learn in this coming Year. We know that when the time is right, these seeds will sprout and blossom. For now, though, they are still held close, sheltered inside, until the time is just right.
“February is the time of stirring deep within, when the seeds of new growth begin to awaken. It’s the time to shut out the world and find the creativity amidst the quiet. When we find stillness, we make room for creativity. The strongest step you can take towards restoring your creativity is to remove distractions. Turn off your cell phone, landline, answering machine, computer, television, even music. You can choose not to live in a state of constant crisis. Although it can trigger short bursts of creative energy, a state of perpetual crisis is counterproductive to the long term creative process. Learn when to use chaos to spur creativity and when to use quiet.” ~ from Llewelyn’s Witches Calendar
In Celtic cultures, one of the most popular candle lighting customs was to have the youngest girl, representing the virgin Goddess, enter carrying a circle of lit candles, called a candle wheel. This was a symbol of the wheel of the year being warmed and lighted again by the returning sun. Later it was adopted that the youngest virgin girl, would wear this as a circlet on her head.
Traditionally, this time of year was important because it was the time when farm animals began to give birth and lactate. The cows and ewes would begin to produce milk, which was plentiful, and geese began to lay eggs. This was celebrated because at this time of year, food was scarce and the return of spring meant the return of abundance and sustenance for the communities. Honey was offered to the gods and smeared on the lips of babies as protective magic. This is why, our ancestors gave an offering of milk and honey that would either be left out overnight or poured on the step as an offering to the God and Goddess to encourage more bounty.
Another important aspect of Imbolc revolves around cleansing and purification. This is why spring cleaning is associated with this holiday and why many pagans burn their greens from Yule at this time. This is also a time to let go of things that we no longer need, to make room for new blessings to enter our lives. This is not only a time for physical cleansing and purification, but can be used for spiritual purification and cleansing as well. This is a time to take inventory of relationships and jobs and a time to let go of people and material possessions that no longer serve our spiritual needs.
Though in early February the days were growing noticeably longer, this was still a dark time, and candles were the only means of lighting the long nights. If there were enough candles, a celebration of light was held, with each window of a house being lit on this night. This was a time to make and bless the candles to be used throughout the coming year.
In Scotland Bride’s day was celebrated with a feast following a procession when a dressed doll was taken around the village. Originally this was a sheaf of corn that was dressed in clothing like a doll. The “doll” was placed in a basket, Bride’s bed. Candles were placed by the bed. At home, Bride’s bed was made near the hearth and women would take a drink of milk and honey and make a wish. Brigid’s Crosses were usually made from rushes or, less often, straw. It contains a woven square in the center and four radials tied at the ends.It was traditionally believed that a Brigid’s Cross protects the house from fire and evil.
The Goddess Brigid
Imbolc is dedicated to the Celtic Goddess, Brigid. She is an ancient Goddess of healing, smithcraft, poetry, art, and all forms of creativity and inspiration. She is the fierce protector of women & children – a maiden warrior, midwife, herbalist, and healer. She is one of the few Goddesses that survived the conversion towards Christianity.
The Roman Catholic church, during the times when they were trying to recruit the pagan people to Christianity, took this holiday, and its symbolism and created the Christian holiday, Candlemas, also celebrated on Feb 2nd, which was a day to bless all candles. At this time, they also adapted Brigid, who was too popular with the pagan people to just be abandoned, and made her Saint Brigit, who is said to have been the midwife to Mary during the birth of the Christ child.
Into the 18th Century, her sacred flame was tended, at first, by priestesses, and later by nuns, when the shrine became a convent, at Kildare, Ireland. These nineteen virgin priestesses were called Daughters of the Flame. Today these same sacred fires are tended by nineteen nuns. No man was ever allowed near. In fact, these women had other women in the village bring them their necessary supplies so they wouldn’t have to deal with men. This no-men policy infuriated the Catholic church. Because they would not submit themselves to inspection by a priest, the Bishop ordered the sacred flame to be extinguished. Even so, Brigit remained Ireland’s most popular saint. And in 1993, the Brigidine sisters of Ireland rekindled her flame at Kildare.
Brigid is the Goddess I feel most closely connected to. She represents creative fire, passion, and inspiration. As a writer and an artist, when I’m feeling like I need a creative boost, I call upon Brigid. She is also a warrior Goddess and a protector of children. She teaches me to have courage and passion. She inspires me to stand up and be a warrioress when the need arises and the cause is just. In addition to the Sacred Flame, her symbol is a healing well. It was said that people came from all around the country to drink from her sacred well, thus ensuring long life and vitality.
Brigid teaches us that to be alive is to be creative – that our energy must move – it must flow – it must be expressed in some way in order for us to be balanced, healthy, and whole. I connect to Her so strongly because of our shared connection to the elements Fire and Water. Being a Triple Fire Sign, I know what it’s like to be burning within with a creative passion that feels like it might blow you apart. And being so connected to my more Watery side, I’ve learned how to temper that fire so it doesn’t burn so hot that it burns itself out.
Fire is the element of chaos, crisis, and destruction. It’s also the element of transformation and passion. Water is the element of quiet stillness, of healing, soothing, nurturing, and gentleness. Both of these elements purify and cleanse, just in different ways. Fire will come in and destroy all that was there, leaving everything in ashes. And only then, can what is most authentic rise up and be reborn in it’s truest form. Water comes in and washes away what is old and worn. It’s true that water can be harsh and cruel as well. Just think of a tsunami. For me, though, water has always been the gentle, soothing force that balances out the raging inferno. The chaos and the quiet, working side by side, shaping and molding me – showing me how to burst and flow, expand and contract.
Brigid, Goddess of Fire and Water, I am your faithful Daughter.
Blessed Brigid, firey and bright,
Fill me with your healing light,
Blessed Brigid, who tends the flame,
And hears me when I call Her name,
Goddess of healing, poetry, and art,
Inspire me and lift my heart,
On fire may you set my soul,
With you, I am balanced, whole
Activities for Imbolc
- Create an Imbolc Altar : With the promise of spring and rebirth in the air, you may want to include a statue of the Goddess Brigid on your altar. Red, pink and white candles are appropriate. Use a small set of lights to brighten your altar and acknowledge the fire festival. You can include a small bowl of seeds and sprouts as a symbol of fertility and rebirth. Also include a Brigid Cross and bowls of milk and honey.
- Thoroughly clean your altar and/or temple room. The concept of spring-cleaning comes from Imbolc. Cleanse and consecrate the house from top to bottom. Ritually sweep each area with a broom and sprinkle areas with salt or herbs. Clean out cupboards, closets, and drawers. Wash your windows, curtains, and walls. Clean out and straighten up the garage. I like to get in the mood by opening up all the windows and turning on some energizing, uplifting music. I dance and sing as I clean and fill the space with positive energies. Once the room is clean, purify the space even more by smudging with sage. Take your unwanted clothing, shoes, linens, and household items and either have a garage sale or donate them to a local second hand store or charity. Help your kids go through all their clothes, toys, and books as well. This is a great activity to do with kids, because it teaches them that letting go of things is a natural part of life.
- Burn the evergreen boughs that decorated your home during the Winter holidays.
- Bless the seeds for this year’s garden. Hold the seeds in your hands. Talk to the seeds. Bless them with growth and happiness. Fill them with love. Store them in a safe place until the Spring Equinox, when you can plant them.
- Place a besom over the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new.
- Consecrate your gardening tools and ritual tools.
- Make and/or decorate candles. Bless the candles you will be using throughout the coming year.
- Place a lighted candle in each and every window of the house, beginning at sundown on Imbolc Eve (February 1), allowing them to continue burning until sunrise. Make sure that they are well seated against tipping and guarded from nearby curtains, etc. If you are not able to use real candles use those candle lamps sold at crafts and department stores for the Christmas season.
- Clean and restock your magical cabinet. Check your oils, herbs, and incense. Discard oils that have “turned,” changed smell, or have a disagreeable odor. Discard herbs that are a year old. You can save these older herbs for craft projects if you so desire, but herbs that are a year old have usually lost their potency for spells and works of magic. Discard incense that has lost its smell or acquired the smell of neighboring incense due to improper storage. If you haven’t already done so, store your oils, herbs, and incense in tightly sealed glass jars or glass containers. Glass is preferable to plastic because it prevents the mixing of scents and the loss of potency. It’s best to use dark containers to protect oils, herbs, and incense from sunlight, but it is okay to use clear or light-colored glass if storing them away from light in a closed cabinet, closet, or drawer. Make sure to label and date your oils, herbs, and incense for future use and for ease when it comes time to restock again.
- Perform rituals for initiation, transformation, new beginnings. Invoke Brigid for creative inspiration. Reflect upon and reaffirm spiritual vows and commitments you’ve made.
- Take a Nature walk and look for the first signs of Spring.
- Tie tiny strips of fabric in trees near a stream and ask Brigid for her influence in your life. Use cotton strips and the birds will use them for nesting or they will bio-degrade over time
- Meditate as a family. Have everyone explore what it would feel like to be a seed deep in the Earth, feeling the first stirrings of life. Lie on the floor and put out tendrils. Stretch and bloom.
- Have a bardic circle where everyone brings poetry, songs or a short story that they have written to honor Brigid.
- Lead the family on a parade around the outside of your home, banging on pots and pans or playing musical instruments to awaken the spirits of the land.
- Decorate with evergreens to symbolize the winter, and the first spring flowers to symbolize the coming of spring. Remember that snowdrops are sacred to Brigid.
- Do some weather divination. The American holiday, Groundhog day, also coincides with Imbolc, and it is based on a form of Celtic weather divination. In the American tradition, it is said that if the Groundhog comes out of it’s hole on this day and sees it’s own shadow, there would be six more weeks of winter, but if he didn’t, spring would come early. This can be traced to the traditional poem: “If Candlemas day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight. If Candlemas day be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again.”
- Hang or refill bird feeders or place saucers of seeds outside. Make sure to keep your bird feeders filled with seed and birdbaths or saucers filled with fresh water. You can also make a special treat for birds by coating pinecones with sticky peanut butter and rolling them thoroughly in birdseed. Tie string or twine around the pinecones and hang from branches, clotheslines, swing sets, porches, or anywhere in your yard accessible to birds.
- Create a rite of healing and purification in your bathtub. Light white candles, and ask the Goddess (or specifically, Brigid) to bless the water. Let yourself soak in the healing water, and focus on the candle flames while you meditate on Her healing qualities. If you have a fireplace, dry off at the hearth, asking for Her blessings with the Element of Fire. Brigid is the Goddess of Fire and Water; thus, you have invoked both of Her properties in your rite.
- Since the Goddess Brigid reigns over Fire, Art, and Healing, the following skills, arts, crafts, and activities are very appropriate expressions for Imbolc:
Knitting
Crocheting
Sewing
Needlecraft
Woodworking
Scrapbooking
Tie-dying
Weaving
Brewing (ales and meads)
Divination
Singing
Poetry
Gardening
- And last, but certainly not least, prepare and enjoy an Imbolc feast !