Wheel of the year: Imbolc and the first spark of Spring.
35mm film images from a late Winter walk in 2024.
I am writing this at the end of the longest January ever. The depths of this Winter have come with many challenges and I have been very much in the void and definitely not out yet. Here I will rest, finding softness where it’s hard and trusting that life will and is moving through. The other day though, as I looked out the window in between therapy sessions, I noticed it was still light at 4.30pm. There was a moment of recognition in my body that we are through the darkest part of the year.
The light is returning.
A couple of years ago I started writing about the Wheel of The Year. This is the cycle of 8 seasonal festivals or Sabbats that mark the Equinox’s, Solstice’s and cross quarter days of the seasonal year. Over the years I have been slowly shaping my life to this cycle and moving away from the Gregorian calendar. The Wheel of The Year itself is a modern Pagan creation combining the four ancient Celtic fire festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane & Lammas with the Solar events of Solstices (Yule & Litha) and Equinox’s (Ostara & Mabon) which have Germanic and Norse roots.
I really love moving with this cycle. As someone who lives in the Northern Hemisphere, it makes way more sense to my body & heart.
We are about to cross over the threshold of Imbolc on the 1st February. A cross quarter day and ancient Celtic fire festival, this marks the halfway point between the Winter solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox (Ostara) this is moment of the first emergence of Spring, the arrival of the Snowdrops, the days lengthening and the word Imbolc comes from the old Irish Imbolg which means ‘in the belly’. This is a time when we connect with the pregnancy of the land and that new life is coming.
Imbolc is the celebration of the Celtic Goddess Brigid. This fiery deity is connected with healing, transformation, smithing, fertility, poetry and protection. She is the Daughter of Dagda and her name means Exalted One which reflects her high status. If the Cailleach (Goddess of Winter) is the Crone, then Brigid is the Maiden, a cycle beginning again. Brigid is a Sun Goddess and she is deeply connected to Cows, which are seen as sacred in Celtic traditions with links to nourishment, fertility, wealth, magic and the Goddess. Brigid is also connected to the Serpent which also connects back to fire as the rising energy of the Earth during Spring.
Another thing I love about Brigid is how she is connected to justice and some of her stories portray her Warrior side as protector of Hearth & Fire. She created Keening (caoineadh) which is the traditional Irish wailing for mourning the dead. It is said that Brigid first Keened after the death of her Son Ruadan. And lastly, she is the Goddess of Smithing which was seen as a sacred magical practice in Celtic communities because you were mastering the elements fire, earth & metal to create art and objects of great importance. Basically this Maiden Goddess is also a bad ass! Christianity tried to dull her down by making her into a Saint.
HOW TO CELEBRATE IMBOLC.
Fire! This is a fire festival and it’s all about the light returning so you might light some candles around your home. Or perhaps you are able to have a fire (safely) somewhere outside. Fire is transformational and connected with creativity & inspiration so you might write down some intentions or wishes for the Spring & Summer ahead, then release them to the fire.
Feel ready for a Spring clean? This is the perfect time to cleanse your home.
Enjoy hearty seasonal foods, especially dairy if you eat it. And invite others to feast with you.
Get out into nature. See if you can find and give thanks for the first signs of Spring. This is also great time to give offerings to the land and Ancestors. Offerings might look like pouring milk onto the Earth, feeding the birds (the right food) or perhaps creating an ancestors plate when you eat.
Lastly, get creative. You could write a Spring poem (Brigid would love this) or paint the Goddess. We are also in Aquarius season with a big Leo Full Moon on the same day this year, so big creative energy moving around.