At Imbolc, the Earth is beginning to wake up and we celebrate the approaching return of spring. We are through the harshest, longest, and darkest part of the winter. We begin to prepare ourselves to awaken from a hibernation and time of reflection. We begin to reach for the light again as we open our eyes, stretch our limbs, and prepare to leave our places of safety to venture out into the wilderness again. Imbolc is a time for cleansing, renewal, and planting the seeds — both literal and metaphorical — for what you want to grow in the year ahead. Imbolc is holiday all about reflecting on the promise of new life and the first signs of spring stirring within the earth. Come with me as the wheel turns again and learn all about this transitional festival from Winter to Spring with me in this blogpost.
First, What is Imbolc?
Imbolc is a sabbat on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year but, is originally an ancient Gaelic/Celtic holiday celebrating the first signs of Spring. The word Imbolc is believed to mean either “ewe’s milk” or “in the belly”, which many believe refers to the birth of baby lambs around this time in Ireland and Scotland. In modern times, most of us don’t understand the harshness of Winter and what a brutal mistress she can be, that our ancestors endured. Not even me who lives in Minnesota. Our winter’s get quite harsh but, I still can’t understand their experience. So, at this time they were coming out of a period of brutal weather. They had endured the harshest part of the winter and their food stores were declining. So when the baby lambs were born around this time and their mother’s milk started flowing, it was a good day. The birth of new lambs and milk meant they’d have more food to last the rest of the Winter season. Another coming mean I come across, is that Imbolc means; “in the belly of the Mother,” because the seeds of spring are beginning to stir in the belly of Mother Earth.
In addition to celebrating rebirth, life, and replenishment, the Celtic goddess Brigid is honored on Imbolc and takes a central role. This is because, another name for Imbolc is Brigid’s Day. I am going to talk about her more below so just keep reading if you want to learn why she is so important.
When is Imbolc celebrated?
Imbolc is celebrated annually on February 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and August 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. Imbolc marks the halfway point between the winter solstice or Yule and the spring equinox or Ostara. Because Imbolc is the midway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, it was regarded as a season unto itself. A time of change, when the days are longer and the sun is stronger.
History of Imbolc
Historically, this was a time to honor the increasing sunlight and prepare for the coming growing season. Although winter still holds its harsh grip, the days are growing noticeably longer, and we see signs of the earth beginning to awaken. Farmers would bless their fields and livestock, symbolizing hope for a bountiful harvest to come. Our ancestors looked forward to Imbolc as a sign that the darkest days of winter were behind them. As the darkness began to give way to the light, they experienced a sense of hope and anticipation that the cold, dark winter season was coming to an end.
Imbolc the day the earth begins to awaken
On this day, the earth stirs from its slumber, and the first signs of spring begin to emerge. Imbolc means we see the gradual return of warmth and light, the stirring of life in the natural world, and a sense of rejuvenation that permeates both the earth and our own spirits and bodies. This energy brings a palpable sense of anticipation and renewal as nature prepares to burst forth with life once more. Even though there may still be snow on the ground where you are, even if it’s freezing cold outside, we are beginning to feel the very earliest hints of spring rising in our spirits. After months of turning inward, of hibernation & of rest, life is beginning to stir again. The Earth is beginning to reawaken after her Winter slumber.
Imbolc a day of fertile manifestation
The dormant earth starts to awaken, and we sense a surge of potential and possibility in the air. It’s a time for new beginnings, for setting intentions, and for sowing the seeds of our dreams. Imbolc gives you a chance to reflect on your own life and how you want to grow in the coming year. Now is a time to honor the potential waiting within you as well. It’s the spark of an idea or a dream waiting to come true. Let your creativity and imagination help manifest these dreams!
Brigid the Irish goddess of Imbolc; who is she?.
A Goddess in Irish tradition, Brigid is one of the most well-known because, she is the Goddess of fertility and spring. To many she is also known as the Great Mother Goddess of Ireland, and to Christians as a Saint Brigid. With this energy, Brigid brings the remembrance of our Oneness and of the Eternal Essence of the Divine Feminine. She is the daughter of the Celtic God Dagda, a Fae leader of the Tuatha dè Danann.She’s often depicted with fiery hair and a sunbeam cloak. She was born at sunrise with rays of sunlight radiating around her head. She is associated with many things; Poetry, Healing, Midwinter/Imbolc, Flames/fire, Fertility, and Motherhood.
Brigid is considered a Triple Goddess, yet many references distinguish Brigit differently than the traditional Triple Goddess aspects of Maiden, Mother and Crone. Rather Brigid is frequently referenced having three sister selves with three distinct roles, Lady of Healing Waters, Goddess of the Sacred Flame and Goddess of the Fertile Earth.
Other names she goes by
Brigid is also known as Brigit or Bríg
- The Bright One
- Fiery Arrow
- The Powerful One
- The High One
- Great Mother Goddess of Ireland
- Lady of the Sacred Flame
- Eternal Flame of Life
- Flame of Inspiration
- The Mistress of the Mantle
Cailleach, the Goddess of Winter, heads out to gather wood
On Imbolc, Cailleach, the Goddess of Winter, heads out into the world to gather firewood to keep her warm for the rest of winter. If the weather is bright and sunny, Cailleach is out gathering the wood and will be able to gather enough to make winter last a good bit longer. However, if the weather is bad and cold, Cailleach is still asleep and will soon run out of firewood, and spring will come sooner.
Cailleach is often depicted as a powerful, crone-like figure who embodies the harshness and stillness of winter. When she appears to me she also has a blue aurora about her, and her mythical staff in hand. As the guardian of the cold, she is said to control the storms, the winds, and the snow that blanket the earth during the winter months. She is a symbol of death and decay but also of transformation and the wisdom that comes with age and experience. While Brigid heralds the coming of spring and new life, Cailleach represents the slowing down and rest that winter brings, urging us to pause and reflect. On Imbolc, Cailleach’s presence is especially poignant as it marks the shift from the deep, inward-focused energies of winter toward the budding life of spring. Cailleach holds the power to either prolong winter or usher in the first signs of spring, depending on whether she decides to create a fierce storm or allow the warmth to return.
Cailleach is a goddess that until this year I had only read about and had not worked with. This is for many reasons but, the main one being I hate winter. Well, now it’s hated. since I have been able to walk alongside her in the winter wonderland that is the Minnesota woods this year. This winter I have listened to her call from the woods to come and join her time and time again. Each time she was able to help me heal a layer of trauma, let go of parts of me that need to rest, and remember the strength found in the resilience of winter. This Winter has shown me that Cailleach teaches us that winter’s resilience and silence is just as important as the energy of growth. Her winter reign creates the space needed for rebirth and growth, teaching that sometimes we must go through periods of stillness, darkness, and challenge before we can emerge into the light. If you want to learn more about her check out the anthology that is within the Dark Goddess Collective I am apart of.
Common traditions for Imbolc
Most traditions observed around Midwinter are focused on awakening Nature from its sleep and dormancy and the coming fertility of spring. Honor Imbolc by including traditions connecting you to the rhythms of Nature. Let’s take a look at some of the many but, certainly not all, of the ancient traditions associated with Imbolc. Listen to your intuition and celebrate Imbolc in whatever way calls to you.
Use milk and dairy as an offering to Brigid or in your spell workings
Traditionally milk and dairy are included in meals. This is an easy way to work ancient traditions into your modern Imbolc rituals. Leave a glass of milk as a offering to Brigid or your spirits at the table or on your altar. When you have your Imbolc feast make a dish that features cheese, cream, or milk. Lastly, you could use milk in spells or rituals. Some of my favorites are adding it to ritual baths for fertility and purification or in abundance spells.
Lighting a fire in your hearth
As a fire festival, Imbolc symbolizes the return of light after the dark days of winter. The hearth fire was central to celebrations, representing warmth, protection, and the growing power of the sun. Fire is also used to purify and protect and is an Imbolc symbol for these reasons. In addition, fire is an element sacred to the goddess Brigid and employed to honor her on her sacred day.
Making a Brigid cross or dollie
The Brigid’s cross is a four-armed cross constructed of reeds. It is traditionally made fresh every year and hung above the front door for protection. This has become one of the most popular symbols of Imbolc.
Bless your seeds to plant this coming spring
Now is the traditional time to bless the seeds for the coming planting season. I f you already purchased seeds for spring, leave them on the altar on the night of Imbolc to charge with positive energy for fertility for planting in the spring.
Cleansing and purification rituals
Imbolc is also a time of purification and cleansing after the festivities of Yule. Cleansing rituals are common at Imbolc as a way of sweeping away the dense and dark energy of winter. To usher in the joy and hope of Spring.
Magical themes of Imbolc
Every season and every pagan holiday has certain concepts and magical themes. Which means, depending on your tradition and needs, you can weave one or more of these themes into your personal celebrations. This festival on the wheel perform spells to harness the energies of winter, spring, fertility, awakening, growth, manifestation, and renewal. This is also a time to reflect on the past year, but in a way to be present. To truly let go of the things that no longer serve you. This festival is reminder to harness the last bit of the reflection power of winter as Spring begins to awaken for the planting soon just ahead. On Imbolc, we see the following magical rituals and spells below as well. Remember these are just some of the themes and energies you can connect to and work with on Imbolc.
- Creativity
- Awakenings
- Fresh Beginnings
- Renewal
- Healing
- Introspection
- Resilience
- Patience
- Self-Care
- The Sun
- Potential
- purification
- abundance
- reflection
- light
- Manifestation
- Fertility
- Last half of winter
- beginning of Spring
- hope
- Home and hearth
- Joy
- quickening
- Inspiration
- new life
Imbolc and duality
Since, I am a grey witch I look for the duality in every single energy I work with including sacred times like Imbolc. The duality of Imbolc is as deep as it’s fertile energy. That is because, this is the transition period aka a liminal period between the harsh winter and the warming, new life of spring. Imbolc is that moment between what was and what’s still to come – a time to pause, reflect, and let the first seeds of hope take root. It’s not about rushing forward or forcing change but gently preparing ourselves for what’s next. Imbolc is a festival that celebrates the duality of light and dark, and the need for in our life. It’s reminds us of the wisdom found in the reflection and introspection of winter and the spark of hope and creativity in the light of spring. It’s a time to honor the cyclical nature of life and rebirth.
Correspondences for Imbolc
First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be a deity, an archetype energy, the zodiac energy the moon is currently or for A holiday or sacred time like Imbolc. I will list below for you to use. Remember this is not an all encompassing list and there may be other correspondences to use. Just follow your intuition and use what calls to you.
- Planet-the sun
- Animal-bears, deer, sheep, lark, swan, cow, wolves, groundhog
- Element-fire
- symbol- Brigids cross, Candle Flame or Light, Besom/Broom, snake/ serpent, Sheep, Flowing water and springs, snowflakes, white flowers, seeds
- colors-White: represents the Snow and milk, Green: represents the newly emerging earth and the green of Brigid’s mantle, Pink: symbolizes the female reproductive system, Orange and red: represent Brigid’s sacred fire, Pastel Spring colors, you can also use silver
- Herbs/flowers-acorns, evergreen, basil. bay leaves, chamomile, jasmine, rosemary, lavender, Snowdrops (one of the first flowers to blossom), Cinnamon, Cedar, Juniper, Dandelion
- Stones/ crystals-amethyst, moonstone, ruby, garnet, bloodstone, onyx, turquoise
- Deities-Brigid, Hestia, Epona, and other fertility or hearth-related deities
- Food/drinks-grains, dairy, milk, oats, butter, seeds, or bread, Root vegetables, Dried fruits, Stews, Mead, Fermented foods, Cider, Herbal tea. Canned foods, Pancakes
How to celebrate Imbolc
However you choose to work with the Imbolc magic and energies make sure to follow your intuition where it leads you. Make sure you tap into the energies of abundance, renewal, manifestation, and awakening from the slumber of winter. In your everyday life, you can work with any affirmations, mantras, and visualization work for abundance, new beginnings, endings, renewal, awakening, fertility, and Spring. Let’s take a look at some of the many different ways you can magically work with the energy of Imbolc.
Light candles in your home on Imbolc eve
Lighting candles during Imbolc rituals symbolizes the awakening of the earth from its dormant state and the emergence of new possibilities. The illumination serves as a beacon of hope, guiding individuals through the last throes of winter toward the light-filled days of spring. Don’t forget to set an intention with each candle you light, focusing on renewal and new beginnings.
Cleanse, purify, and clean your home or space
Imbolc is an excellent time for a thorough physical and energetic cleansing. Perform a symbolic “spring cleaning” by decluttering or tidying your home. Sweep your home to remove stagnant energy, smudge with rosemary or sage, and open the windows to invite fresh air and light.
Honor Brigid by creating poetry or art and giving it to her as an offering
Brigid’s connection to poetry and craftsmanship makes Imbolc an excellent time to engage in creative pursuits. Write a poem, craft a piece of jewelry, or work on a project that sparks joy and expresses your unique voice. Dedicate your work to Brigid and ask for her blessings of inspiration and skill.
Other ways to celebrate Imbolc
- Make a Brigid Cross. Crafting a Brigid’s Cross from straw or wheat is a traditional Imbolc activity. Place it above your door or hearth for protection and blessings throughout the year.
- Set up an Imbolc altar with symbolic items like candles, flowers (like snowdrops), and representations of Brigid
- visit a dairy farm if possible
- Light a candle in each room after sunset to honor the suns rebirth
- take a mindful walk in nature; notice all of the early new growth
- Give an offering of milk to the earth
- honor Brigid
- cleanse and purify your home and personal spaces
- charge new tools to use for the spring season
- Go and meditate or reflect as you touch a frozen waterway, Feel the energy just pulsating under the surface
- Add a cup or bowl of fresh water to your altar or by the front door
- Plant seeds and place them on your windowsill inside or in a greenhouse to begin their growth before moving them to their outside home later
- Make snow cakes
- Reflect on goals set during Yule and check in with your word of the year set on the new year
- Have a bonfire or do elemental magic with fire
- prepare and host an Imbolc feast
- Visit a spring or steam and make an offering. Brigid whose life giving waters are said to flow from springs and holy wells . You can make a flower or pebble offering to her
- Light a candle on Imbolc eve to meet Brigid in the liminal space
- Make an ice lantern
- candle magic
- Take a ritual bath to cleanse and renew yourself. Don’t forget to add some self love to it as well. I have a self love ritual bath spell on my Pinterest here.
- Make your own candles since it is also known as candlemas
- Take a cleansing shower
- Divination like fire scrying, water scrying
- perform spells and rituals to bless and bring hope into your home and hearth
- Use snow in your rituals for renewal, cleansing, purification
- do release work and let go of the things that no longer serve you by burning them in a ritual fire
- Do spells for growth, transformation, renewal, rebirth
- Work with the lingering energy of the lunar new year
- Work with herbs and start planning your garden
- Harness the energy of fertility for manifestation work
- Since this is a fire festival its a great time to use it passion in sex magic
Reflection questions for Imbolc
Remember how Imbolc is a liminal time. This is because it is a time when we are sitting on the edge of awakening and growth. Growth often begins in darkness and stillness like the essence and energy of winter we have been in and we are now beginning to awaken from. To celebrate Imbolc is to honor the bravery of new beginnings by going within and doing the reflective work needed to heal. One of the best ways to do this is through shadow work . During Imbolc, Shadow work focused on letting go of what no longer serves you, renewal, the return of the light, and awakening to the fertility of spring. If you would like to learn more about shadow work you can purchase my eBook here; you can book me for a 1:1 session as your guide here; and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here. Also don’t forget to head to the shop and register for my 6 month course on shadow work starting at the end of this month!
- While you’ve been cooped up over the winter, what has been growing and stirring within you?
- What brings sunshine and inspiration to your daily life? What brings you light? What can always be relied on to cheer you up?
- How are you transforming during this season of new beginnings and transformation? What will be your fresh start this Imbolc?
- Brigid is a very protective deity. If you could have protection from anything over the next year, what would it be?
- How can you be more creative in your life? What things are inspiring your creativity right now? How do you like to express your creativity?
- What do you need to let go that no longer serves you before the growing season?
- Are there any old beliefs or habits that I need to let go of to truly grow and flourish this spring?
- What tiny buds of new life are beginning to appear from those winter dreams? What new beginning are you experiencing?
- What are the projects & plans you’d like to bring to life over the next few months?
- How are you building wisdom in this season of your life? How can you nurture that growth this winter?
- What areas of my life need be reborn the most with the return of the light?
- Are there changes currently taking place in your life, or transitions you are experiencing that are making you feel out of balance or uncomfortable?
- If you could start fresh and renew an acquaintance from your past life, with whom would you renew it? Reflect on your past relationship with this person.
- What wisdom have you learned this Winter you want to take with you into Spring?
- How will you transform (or contribute to transforming) your community or the world? How will you bring new life this Imbolc?
- What are your favorite signs of spring and new growth as the earth is beginning to come to life? What are the things you look for in nature during this season?
- What are you planting this year, in terms of your personal development? What are your plans for growth?
- How have you been honoring and connecting to winter this season?
- How do you wish to connect with the coming Spring?
Imbolc Wishing Ritual
Imbolc is a celebration of light and the first spark of spring. It is a whisper of warmer weather and an ember of hope in the darkness of winter. Which is why its a time of ripe fertile energy great to focus towards your manifestations and deepest wishes. Use this simple Imbolc wishing ritual below to create a potent vessel to help your deepest wishes come true with the blossoming energy of Spring.
How to preform spell
You can use either a box or a Jar. Take the vessel and decorate it with Imbolc and spring correspondences. Than take a sheet of paper (green if you can) And write out all your wishes for the coming year and/or season. You can also add rosemary and/or bay leaves into the box. Than take the paper and energetically seal it within your vessel while saying
“ As the sun begin its rebirth I gave my thanks back to mother earth. Embracing change, with the light of hope the seeds of the future I continue to sow.” Than Take the vessel and add it to your altar or leave it in a place you can see it often and come back to and charge yourself with its energy.
Burst of creativity ritual with Brigid on Imbolc
As you begin to awaken from your hibernation during winter, Imbolc is a time for reigniting our motivation and fertile creative energy. It’s a time to be willing to let go of the past ways of creating and feel into those fertile grounds that rest has nourished. Imbolc invites you to reflect on what fires up your soul creatively, what brings you back to your why, the thing that really fires your soul. Then dares you to have the courage to follow that spark and let a passionate inferno of creativity ignite in your soul. Use this ritual involving candle magic and the element of fire to call on Brigid to help you do just that.
What You’ll Need:
White candle (tealight or spell size is best)
Lighter
Carnelian
How to Cast the Spell:
Gather your supplies , pick your spot and get yourself into sacred container however works best for you. If you want to cast a circle you can do this now. Set your carnelian and your candle next to each other directly in front of you. Take the time now to focus on what the igniting passion of fire can light in your soul to create right now. Focus on the energy of fire lighting your creativity and bringing your project to life.
Next, Focus on your breath and when you feel ready on an inhale, light the candle then exhale. Then, recite this spell as you stare into the dancing hot flame now ignited, “candlelight, fire bright, burst through the darkness and stagnancy inside of me. I ask Brigid to lend me her fire of inspiration and creativity.” Close your eyes and repeat the prayer two more times. Visualize a small flame in your heart growing bigger and brighter. This is the fire of passion and creative ingenuity. Let it continue to grow in your mind’s eye as the candle burns down. When the candle is done burning, pick up the carnelian stone and carry it on you. Wear it daily and know that the fire of creativity is inside of that stone. Lending its energy to you. Now CREATE. Whatever that means to you: writing, content, arts and crafts, a new project at work, music, etc. etc.
Milk and Honey Prosperity Spell
A milk and honey prosperity spell is a magical ritual that uses milk and honey as its key ingredients to attract abundance and financial prosperity into your life. By drawing on the symbolism of nourishment and sweetness, essentially invoking a “land of milk and honey” into your life . Bringing you plenty of wealth, happiness, and well-being to you. With Imbolc being a festival and time of fertility and the coming abundance of spring and the return of light it’s a great time to do this spell. Learn how below.
Mix a small bowl of milk with a teaspoon of honey. You can personalize the spell by adding other ingredients that resonate with your personal goals (like cinnamon for motivation, or basil for business success)
Then take a deep breath and Stir your mixture clockwise while focusing on abundance and blessings. Make sure you focus on what it is you specifically want abundance of in your life and what it is you want to sweeten up your life.
Place the bowl on your altar as an offering to Brigid, or pour it into the earth as a sign of gratitude.
Final thoughts
These cold Mid-Winter days give us a moment to pause and notice the signs of life return. The days are beginning to lengthen, and we receive the first faint whispers of warmth. Imbolc is a reminder that Winter does not last forever. Earth’s magic is never idle, even when it appears to be sleeping. Imbolc really is a special time of the year where the chill of winter begins to fade and the promise of spring peeks through. Just like the first flowers pushing through the snow, this is a chance to reconnect with ourselves and embrace the quiet energy of new beginnings. May the life stirring underground stir new dreams to life within you. May the flames of inspiration and passion be ignited in your soul this Imbolc/ Midwinter.
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About Me : I have been a solitary grey magic practitioner for 15 + years. First and foremost, I consider myself a mystic and seeker of all knowledge. I am dedicated to the restoration, and re-enchantment of Magic in society, across this realm, and in each and every soul I come across in life! I am here to create a container that promotes healing, duality, and raw authenticity. I do this by guiding you on your personal journey to understanding your unique magic and sacred contracts. I facilitate this for you through embracing your shadow, duality and learning to live in energetic balance while not wearing a mask. When you work and learn from me you do so from your “darkness” as much as your “light” and in a way to truly harness and accept it not to just go thru it on the way to your light. But, I teach you how to truly embrace it, work with it, and use it alongside your light as a partner. I hold up a mirror for you to be able to see your authentic reflection looking back. Then have the courage to take the next step and do the uncomfortable but vital inner work to completely remove your mask. By facing all of your past wounds, traumas, and hurts. Allowing you to see both the dark and light within your story and take each chapter and alchemize it into something that is so powerful. your unique internal flame will shine so bright you will always be able to go within and find it on a dark cold night. You will learn how to truly live in duality and energetic balance to allow growth, and alignment with your sacred contracts and purposes. to finally move on and truly let the things that hold you back in this life from healing and manifesting go. To see everything I offer; like personalized shadow work sessions, womb healing, eBooks for you to work through on your own, Tarot sessions for guidance and more! Go to my shop!
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