Imbolc (Feb 2nd)

Imbolc

Imbolc is the second of the Greater Sabbats in the witches wheel of the year. Imbolc is an Irish Gaelic word which is pronounced im’-molk. Other variations of this festival’s name include the Gaelic Imbolg and the English Candalmas. Imbolc celebrates the official end of the “dead time”, the period from October 31 to February 2 during which witches perform very little magick. This dead time coincided with the “death” of the sun, the light of day, and subsequently all perennial plant life. Pagan folk could see that the day light hours were visibly longer at Imbolc and country folk and witches alike celebrated this turn in events as one of awakening for the earth’s energies. Along with this extended daylight came the promise of spring and the renewal of life. Imbolc is a celebration of the first stirrings of the earth.

The ancient Celts favoured Brigid, the triple Goddess of wells and springs, as the patroness of Imbolc. Devotees of Brigid believed she could bring fertilitie, and they lit candals in her honour to mark the growth of light and the coming change of seasons. So popular was Brigids worship that she is still the patron deity of contemporary Druid circles. ‘St Bridget’ is the Christianized version of the Irish fire Goddess, whose immese popularity could not be eradicated by Christianity. Brigid’s role as fierce protector of woman, children and newborn animals is reflected in Christian mythology, where St Bridget is the midwife to Mary. In Wicca she is midwife to the spring, the divine woman who breathes her fiery breath upon the earth to awaken it> Her role extends to enabling new projects – many of us plant seeds and bulbs at this time to represent areas in our lives that we wish to nurture and grow.

Imbolc is also an important time for you to get in touch with whatever nourishes your soul. Have you left your interest in art or music behind so that you can focus seriously on your real work, your career, monetary gain, or daily routine? What nourishing intersts have you abandoned – no mater what they are – simply because you cannot seem to find the time for them? It’s time to awaken to your whole self. Feed yourself with the nourishment of enjoyment. You are not complete when you repress your talents, your interests, your sense of fun and curiosity. Imbolc is a time to return to simple pleasures, good food, good sex, good friendships, and whatever nurtures your tender soul. These are what quicken the flame at candalmas, and what stir the seeds of full potential within you.