What's known as the ”Wheel of the Year” is a series of ancient traditions and celebrations that honor the cycles of the Earth as she shifts, through what we understand as the seasons.
What is Imbolc?
In early February, life here in the North is still mostly sleeping, snuggled down under a quilt of frost and snow, where the dark hours are still longer than the light, and long naps and dreamy contemplations take precedence.
But, almost imperceptibly at first, there's a stirring that begins to happen - an anticipation that's growing day-by-day.
A feeling that just under the surface, life is beginning to wake up from its hibernation, and the dreamy visions for the future are about to break through.
This is the feeling I get when Imbolc comes around. We're not quite ready to jump up and get going, but we're close, and it's time to start preparations.
Imbolc, for me, is like that first morning wake up alarm, where we're just realizing the day is about to break, and it's time to get energized and ready to go. It's all about the promise of new beginnings, the coming back of the light, and the first signs of Mother Earth and her children reawakening from their winter slumbers.
When is Imbolc?
Imbolc marks the cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Different cultures and traditions have created different 'dates' anywhere from January 31st, all the way to February 9th. As for me, my Virgo mind likes to be precise, but also practical - so, I tend to go with what the 'Calendar gods' say, and then plan my festivities over a few days when it fits in my schedule.
As I've said many times over, it's not about a specific date, it's about the intentions and energy you put into it. That's where the magic happens. That's where the shift from 'going through the motions' turns into 'living with purpose and reverence'. So, with that being said, let's get to the fun part...the celebrating!
Celebrating the Return of the Light
Candles are everywhere in my house, no matter what time of year, but I particularly love white candles for Imbolc because they feel clean and 'pure'. Fire, as a symbol of the Sun and of the element itself, features prominently in nearly every celebration and culture throughout history. At Imbolc, fire represents the return of the Sun's warmth and the 'firing' up of renewed energy.
Tradition says that during Imbolc, you should leave some fire burning throughout the night to honor the sacred hearth flame. Practically speaking though, I'd rather not lay awake all night worrying about some random circumstance that would tip over my candles and burn my house down. So, I err on the side of safety and use the battery operated versions for this.
I recently heard an idea about gathering friends and having them bring their half used candles, and then melting them all together to create new ones for everyone to bring home - sounds like a lovely way to celebrate community and the renewal of the light at the same time.
Celebrating the Re-awakening of the Earth
One of my favorite ways to celebrate this is, of course, to pour over seed catalogs and pick out all the herbs and flowers I want to plant this year. By the time I'm done, most every page is marked, which often leads to the reality-check discussion of how many I can actually manage. But hey, this is about celebrating new growth and potentials, so for now I dream big!
Taking walks in the fresh air and feeling into the quickening happening just underneath the blanket of snow can be challenging here in the North. But, I have been known to bundle up and pop out for a few minutes, if only to set out my offerings and put my hands on the Earth before hustling back to the warmth inside.
Honoring Brigid
Imbolc has traditionally been a time to honor the goddess Brigid, and for me, she is one that I feel a strong connection to. As with most everything, Brigid has undergone many variations, but what I connect most with is her links to healing, fertility, and alchemy. She is the keeper of the fires of hearth, home, inspiration and creativity. She is the wise herb crafter and fierce protector of women and children.
Milk, honey, herbs, and oats are some favorite foods associated with Brigid, so I incorporate these into my morning tea - adding in nourishing milk and oatstraw, sunny and deliciously healing honey, cinnamon for abundance, and rosemary for cleansing and remembrance.
You will often find my favorite 'sickie' shawl hanging outside at Imbolc for Brigid to bless, so I can wrap my family members in this when they're sick and need extra comfort throughout the year. The past few years, I've also left a cup of the above tea out for her. Hopefully, she will have a moment to rest in my gardens before traveling on.
I wish you all abundant Imbolc blessings of light and inspiration! As with all my oversharings, these are just my personal reflections and traditions, so take what resonates with you, and leave the rest.
We'll talk soon.
Shannon
Other Ways To Help You Begin Your Practice:
What have you been dreaming of over the winter? Jot down some action steps to start making those dreams a reality.
Reflect on what no longer works for you and what you can do to shed those things and clear space for new potentials.
Clear out the cobwebs and negative, dusty energy in your space to revitalize and open up room for all the vibrant new energy to come in.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi there! I'm Shannon Bueche, and this is my space to share what's on my mind, as concisely as my Virgo brain will allow. Not only do I 'spill the tea' on some common misconceptions, but I also like to drink it while I'm running down the rabbit holes of the hows and whys of what I do to harmonize with the greater connections of life.
Whether it's living, growing, and harvesting in tune with the cycles of the year, the struggles of being human in this age, or just the random musings of an everyday Earth Mother, you'll find it all here. I believe in keeping things authentic, but still practical. So, while I may overshare details from time-to-time, I will always offer suggestions that make sense for living right now.
So, grab a cup, sit a spell, and join me on this journey of living from the ground up.
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