Imbolc, in the Celtic seasonal calendar marks the beginning of the lambing season and signals the beginning of Spring and the stirrings of new life. It is Feile Brighde, the 'quickening of the year'. The original word Imbolg means 'in the belly'. All is pregnant and expectant - and only just visible if at all, like the gentle curve of a 'just-showing' pregnancy. It is the promise of renewal, of hidden potential, of earth awakening and life-force stirring.
Here is hope. We welcome the growth of the returning light and witness Life's insatiable appetite for rebirth.
It is time to let go of the past and to look to the future, clearing out the old, making both outer and inner space for new beginnings. This can be done in numerous ways, from spring cleaning your home to clearing the mind and heart to allow inspiration to enter for the new cycle.
('Spring cleaning was originally a nature ritual' - Doreen Valiente). It's a good time for wish-making or making a dedication.
Imbolc is traditionally the great festival and honouring of Brigid (Brighid, Bride, Brigit), so loved as a pagan Goddess that her worship was woven into the Christian church as St Bridget. She is a Goddess of healing, poetry and Smithcraft. She is a Goddess of Fire, of the Sun and of the Hearth. She brings fertility to the landand its people and is closely connected to midwives and new-born babies. She also is known as the Triple Goddess, but at Imbolc she is in her Maiden aspect.
Ideas for Your Altar
Decorate your altar with snowdrops, swan feathers, a Brigid Cross, a Bridey Doll, white and green candles.
Make a Brigid Cross
Brigid Crosses are traditionally made from reeds but can be made from several alternatives so long as they are pliable. Here in Glastonbury we have often used willow which grows plentifully on the Somerset Levels and also because of its symbolism. It needs a long soaking and is perhaps not the easiest to work with but makes a wonderful cross. Go for a walk, see what you can find in the hedgerows and on the river banks, use straws or even cut long strips of paper.
Begin by bending your reeds and hooking them into each other as in the first figure and follow the diagram. Just keep going and you will end up with a little piece of magic which honours Brigid - and the Four Directions. When it is the size you want it to be you will need to tie the four ends, the four quarters - with string, thread, ribbon etc. Decorate the completed cross with ribbons and swan feathers if you have them - whatever is meaningful for you.
Make A Bridey Doll
Below is a basic shape to work with. It can be as simple or as complex as you wish. The possibilities are endless - you don't even need a sewing machine as it's quickly made by hand and a joy to do in a circle of women and daughters. Even very small children can be involved with this. Either use plain fabric or choose a piece to re cycle from a piece of clothing that has particular meaning for you. Fill her with wool, or herbs and dried flowers, a special stone or crystal, even a prayer or wish for the future on a tiny piece of paper. If you choose you can make her a dress, decorate her with ribbons and beads. Include her in your Imbolc Celebrations. Her home is wherever the heart/hearth of your home is.
Or do it in a different way, like this..... (thanks to S.Saille for sharing her experience):
Each year I make a doll of Spring, a Brigid doll.
I take a walk out on the Levels, usually somewhere I have not been in a while or a path I have not walked at all. I create the poppet as I go using what I find as I walk, some years these have been mainly based around reeds, other times twigs and grasses. Each is unique and incorporates the energy of that Winter passing and that Spring arriving.
One walk to make it, the next day I keep it with me to charge it, then I formally welcome it into my home, welcoming the potential of the year to come and the energy of Brigid, Goddess of hearth and home, into my home. Then she is put to bed, under tree or under hill or in a stone circle. My annual ritual.Plant Seeds Seeds are completely magical - pure potential! Plant each one as representing your hopes, ideas and dreams. Or make a seed cake to share, seeds are full of possibilities. Tie it with silver, or white, or green, or any combination of ribbon.
Simple Seed Cake Flour 300gms/10oz Set the oven to 400F/200C and grease and line a 6 inch cake tin. A simple stirring rhyme, using your wooden spoon, might go like this: Continuous motion, May all things flow, Circles of magic, Let the power grow, Elements mixing, Accept my plea, As I wish, So mote it be. From The Kitchen Cauldron by M S Saille. As part of your celebrations, light candles (the Flame of Brigid) and make wishes for your family and friends - the simplest form of candle magic. Don't leave burning candles unattended, EVER, and allow them to burn down completely. Some of the symbols attributed to Brigid are:
You will need:
A pinch of salt
I teaspoon baking powder
Butter 125gms/4oz
caraway seeds 25gms/1oz
sugar 175gms/6oz
Two eggs, beaten
Four tablespoons of water
Sieve the flour, salt and baking powder into your cauldron or a large bowl and then rub in the butter.
As you do this think of family and friends, think of the small personal things that you would have them benefit from as Spring flows into their lives.
Visualise light flowing into the mixture, fire of truth and illumination, if you wish, use a rhyme.
Stir in the seeds and sugar and then the eggs, mix with just enough water to give a mix that softly drops off your spoon.
Stir in patience for the coming Spring, this is still a time of waiting. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for one hour, then reduce the temperature to 375F/175C and cook for a further half to one hour until the cake is golden brown and well risen. Leave this one to cool in its tin.
May you enjoy!
Light Candles
The Swan. The swan mates for life and represents loyalty, fidelity and faithfulness. Swan feathers are a powerful amulet.
The Snowdrop. The first gift of Spring in the bleakness of Winter. The Flame. Imbolc is a Fire Festival and fire of all kinds is associated with Brigid - the fire of creativity, the protective hearth fire, and her fire wheel - the Brigid Cross, which heralds her as a Sun Goddess.
Brigid's Cross.This is a traditional fire wheel symbol - found at the hearths of homes throughout Ireland and beyond as a symbol of protection. A customer in the shop recounted finding a hearth in Ireland, in recent years, adorned with over 200 Brigid Crosses - 200 years in the life of a hearth and a family, overlit and protected by Brigid.
Brigid Doll. A very old tradition involved the making of a Brigid doll which can be included in ceremony and/or placed in 'Bride's Bed' to bring fertility and good fortune to the home.
The Serpent.In Celtic mythology Brigid was associated with an awakening hibernating serpent which emerged from its lair at Imbolc. Traditionally serpents were associated with creativity and inspiration - the powerful Kundalini energy of the Eastern Mysteries. Paths of earth energy were called serpent paths and at Imbolc they are stirred from their slumber.
Sheep. Brigid's festival is at the beginning of lambing - eat ewe's milk cheese! Imbolc Colours: White and silver for purity, green for the fresh burst of life.
Blackberry: Sacred to Brigid, the leaves and berries are used to attract prosperity and healing. A Goddess plant, belonging to the planetary sphere of Venus.
Coltsfoot:Coltsfoot or 'sponnc' (Gaelic) is a herb associated with Brigid. A herb of Venus, moves emotional and physical stagnation and is used magically to engender love and to bring peace.
Ginger:revitalises and stimulates the 'fire within' - helps alignment with the rise of Kundalini serpent energy at this time of year!
Trees of Imbolc
Rowan
Luis, or the Rowan, is the tree usually assigned to this time of year in the Celtic (Ogham) Tree Alphabet. It has long associations with the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. It is also known as the 'Quickening Tree' and is associated with serpents. Traditionally it protects and wards of evil. A sprig of Rowan can be put near the door of your home (we have a whole tree), or a sprig worn for protection. Rowan berries have a tiny five-pointed star on the bottom reminiscent of the pentagram.
Willow
The fourth tree in the Celtic Tree alphabet - S Saille, is also long associated with the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. Willow is the great 'shape shifter' of consciousness and emotion and symbolises feminine energy and the lunar cycle. Its branches are flexible - expressing movement and change rather than resistance. It is a tree of enchantment and dreaming, enhancing the confidence to follow one's intuition, and inspires leaps of imagination. HAVE FUN!
Imagecredits
Photograph of St Bride at Saint Non's Chapel in St Davids © Wolfgang Sauber / CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Rowanberries© Jovik CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Seed cake ©HungryJenny CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Willow ©Asurnipal CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Blackberries ©Ragesoss CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
St Brigid Cross © Melian CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Mute Swans and Cygnets © Sharp Photography CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Jinsha Bronze Serpent Head © Gary Todd CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Ginger © Kirsti Denby CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Coltsfoot © Robert Flogas-Faust CC-BY-SA-3.0 Wikimedia Commons
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