The sun is gaining power slowly, making January a wonderful time to clear clutter both spiritually and physically. We’ve passed the darkest time of winter, and this offers the perfect energy to let go of the old so that you can let in the new.
Imbolc, also known as Brigid's Day, is a celebration on the Wheel of the Year that marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, usually on February 1st or 2nd.
It’s often said during Imbolc, that the time for looking to the past is gone–now it’s time to now look to the brighter future and the promise of the sun to come in the coming months. It is a time of transformation and hope, as the earth begins to reawaken from its slumber.
Imbolc is associated with the goddess Brigid, who represents the three aspects of the goddess: maiden, mother, and crone. She is a goddess of fertility, motherhood, and healing, as well as fire, flame, and transformation.
To celebrate Imbolc, people often engage in rituals such as spring cleaning, making offerings at sacred wells and waterways, lighting candles or fires in Brigid's honor, planting seeds with intentions, and making a Brigid Cross or corn doll.
Imbolc Rituals and Gatherings
To celebrate Imbolc, pay attention to the ways in which you are reawakening, much like the Earth is.
Ask yourself questions like:
What can I let go of in my life to create space for new opportunities?
In what ways am I currently changing and evolving?
What goals or aspirations am I setting for myself?
What possibilities or new beginnings can I look forward to in the future?
During Imbolc, it is also common to focus on self-reflection and introspection. This can be done by asking yourself the questions listed above, and also by engaging in practices such as journaling, meditating, or setting intentions for the coming season.
Some people choose to engage in physical rituals such as spring cleaning, both in the home and in personal energy, by using a besom (a traditional broom) to sweep out areas of the home that may be filled with stagnant energy; or by misting white sage spray. This can be done as a symbolic gesture to clear out old energy and make space for new growth and opportunities.
Additionally, people often focus on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in their home, by lighting candles or fires, and decorating with symbols of spring such as flowers or Brigid crosses. It's also common to make offerings to Brigid, the goddess associated with Imbolc, by leaving gifts of coins or other offerings at sacred wells or waterways.
Overall, Imbolc is a time of renewal, self-reflection, and preparing for new beginnings. It's a powerful time to focus on personal growth and to set intentions for the coming months.
It is also a time to ask for healing, protection, and inspiration from the goddess.
Imbolc blessings, magical ones!
Leave a comment