Are you ready to get things in your life together? I know I am. After the stress of the holidays and the new year, our minds and our homes are ready for a rest and reset. This is the benefit of the sabbat Imbolc. A time to rest, recharge, and prepare for the bright and beautiful days to come.
Imbolc Meaning
The meaning of Imbolc is “in the belly”, representing the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox (Yule and Ostara). Imbolc is celebrated Feb. 1st and into Feb. 2nd.
February second is not considered Imbolc. It is its own separate holiday, Candlemas.
What is Imbolc?
Imbolc is the celebration of new beginnings. Mother Nature is beginning to awaken. Bears wake from their slumber, sheep begin to give birth, and signs of the first fresh milk of the year is beginning to come in.
This was a time our ancestors waited for. The point where brighter and easier days were soon to come. Winters were way worse than they were now. Housing wasn’t as sturdy as they are now. Gaps between boarded sidings, making heating the home a challenge. Often times, families would allow their farm animals into the home to help heat the home. Not very sanitary if you ask me.
Although winters were harsh and the struggle to survive was an everyday battle, the winter did provide many benefits such as refrigeration. Imbolc is a sign that now is the time to start preserving those food goods that need the cold of winter to stay fresh. Meats needed to be preserved through salt or smoking and some vegetables preserved through fermentation.
Imbolc was also a time for childbirth. Many women would conceive around Beltane and babies were then born on or around Imbolc.
Brigid
To the Celts, Brigid is the goddess of eternal flame. She symbolizes fire, poetry, healing, childbirth, transformation, inspiration and the fires of the forge. Brigid also represents the triple aspect, the maiden, mother and the crone. She was once three forms, each representing different aspects of Brigid.
- Brigid #1: representing the hearth fire
- Brigid #2: representing the forge fires
- Brigid #3: representing the transformation that fire can do
These three aspects forged together to make the now Goddess Brigid.
Saint Brigid
During ancient times, Brigid was lost as a Goddess as Christianity came through Ireland and took over Celtic traditions. Goddess Brigid was turned into Saint Brigid as a way to convert Celts over to Christianity. And it worked!
Saint Brigid was known to be the midwife of Mary. During the birth of Jesus, she placed three drips of water on his head. Thus, making her the goddess of water. Many wells are still established today, protected by decedents of this amazing Goddess.
Modern Imbolc Celebration
This sabbat is not very popular compared to other sabbats such as Yule or Samhain. Imbolc is a time for self-reflection and rest. This time of year, for many of us is kind of the worst part of winter. This is usually when it’s the coldest and not easy to get around due to weather conditions. Staying home and indoors is how this time of year is spent for many of us.
Now is the time to recharge your batteries. A time to plan and prepare for the warm days ahead. What should we plan for?
- Goals to accomplish during the year
- Home projects
- Spring/ Summer projects
- Garden plans
Don’t stop there, now is the time to really kick off the year and get ahead of the game before the busy season really kicks in. Imbolc is a time to get rid of the old and bring in the new.
- Declutter
- Material belongings
- Relationships
- Emotional baggage you want to let go
- Cleaning
- Home
- Altar
- Car(s)
- Cleansing
- Home
- Car(s)
- Magical tools
Celebrating Imbolc
Decorations
How do we celebrate Imbolc? There are so many things we can do to embrace this holiday. Whether you are a pagan, wiccan, witch, Christian beliefs or any other beliefs, you too can celebrate this amazing holiday. Let’s start with something that everyone loves, the decorations! If you have an altar, these items listed below can also be incorporated into your altar.
- White Flowers
- Potted Bulbs
- Brigid’s Cross
- Corn Dolly
- Sheep
- Cow
- Poems/Poetry Book
- Candles/ Candle Wheel*
- Cauldron
Activities
Now onto how to celebrate Imbolc! Some of these listed below are things you have probably already been doing without realizing it. Let’s get into it!
- Cleaning and Cleansing- This can be cleansing your magical tools, space or cleaning your house.
- Have a Bonfire- This would be the time to burn your evergreen decor from the Yule season. Let go of the past year/ season.
- Besom- Place your besom (broom) by the front door which symbolizes sweeping out old stale energy of winter and letting in the fresh new energy into your home.
- Take ritual baths for physical and energetic purification.
- Create a Candle Wheel
- Take a walk/hike
- Banish winter by burning paper snowflakes
- Candle Magic
- Make an offering to the Gods by leaving milk outside for the animals
- Garden Planning– what plants do you wish to plant this coming growing season?
- Buy Seeds– start the process of buying this year’s garden seeds
- Plant Seeds– start planting seeds, some seeds are ready to be planted indoors
- Visit Local Greenhouses– check in your area to see if there are any greenhouses open. Get inspiration and ideas, as well as get into the spirit of Spring
- Make Brigid’s Cross
- Candle Making
- Divination– with a lot of indoor time, perfect for practicing
Imbolc Correspondences
Names: Imbolg, Oimelc, Feast of Brigid
Spiritual Focus: New beginnings, Change/ transformation, Growth, Preparation, Cleansing, Hope, Possibilities, Renewal, Hearth and Home
Magical Focus: Transformation, Protection, Divination, Cleansing
Colors: Light Green, White, Yellow, Red, Pink
Gods/ Goddesses: Athena, Aphrodite, Cupid, Bragi, Juno, Gaia
Herbs/ Trees/ Flowers: Basil, Blackberry, Blackthorn, Cedar, Crocus, Cinnamon, Daffodil, Grain, Snowdrop, Sycamore, Violet, Wormwood
Crystals: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Onyx, Ruby, Turquoise
Animals: Cow, Sheep/ Lamb, Deer, Dragon, Pheonix, Groundhog, Robin, Snake, Swan
Incense: Basil, Cinnamon, Cedar, Peppermint, Myrrh, Violet
Symbols: Corn Dollies, Candles, Brigid’s Cross, Besom, Cauldron, Saint Brigid
Food/ Drink: Pickled/ Fermented foods, Mead, Ale, Grains, Potatoes, Dairy, Sunflower Seeds, Eggs
What do you do to celebrate Imbolc? Leave it in the comments below!
Sources
Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials- Imbolc Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Brigid’s Day