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Oimelc literally means, "Ewe's milk," and Imbolc means, "in the belly," both
referencing the pregnancy of sheep and other animals in spring. Although
spring is still officially more than six weeks away, Imbolc is a day to
celebrate its first glimpses. It is a time of cleansing and purification to
rid ourselves of old habits and make room in our lives and homes for the
Earth's upcoming bounty. This day is also sacred to the Celtic Goddess
Brigid, who reigns over Fire (smith crafting), Art (poetry), and Healing
(midwifery). Brigid is also sometimes called Bride and is the patron Goddess
of women to be handfasted. It is said that on Brigid's Day, Brigid's snake
emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, giving us the
origin of our modern Groundhog Day. Imbolc is also regarded as a fire
festival. It's a time to celebrate the lengthening days and welcome the
returning Light with bonfires and candle flames.
Regardless of what name you call it, this sabbat brings us hope that the Sun
will once again warm us and bring new life, and it symbolizes purification
and new beginnings. Imbolc offers us an array of opportunities and
activities to mark its occurrence both for individuals and groups, young and
old. So, let's take a look at some of the ways to celebrate this ancient
Pagan festival.
First Glimpses of Spring:
Although on Imbolc many parts of the Northern Hemisphere are still in the
grips of Winter, if you look carefully, you might see signs of the slow
awakening of Nature all around you. The following are activities that focus
on this resurgence and/or aid Nature's creatures during this time. Many of
them can be done with children or as a family activity.
*Loosely tie small strips of fabric on branches of trees and shrubs that can be used
by birds for nesting. Our feathered friends will appreciate the threads they
can pluck to build and fortify their nests. Choose fabrics in Brigid's
colors of white, red, blue, and green. Don't worry about any pieces of
fabric not chosen as they will biodegrade over time.
*Place a salt lick block outdoors to help provide this necessary mineral for
any wild animals that are in your area.
*Hang or refill bird feeders or place saucers of seeds outside. Make sure to
keep your bird feeders filled with seed and birdbaths or saucers filled with
fresh water. You can also make a special treat for birds by coating
pinecones with sticky peanut butter and rolling them thoroughly in birdseed.
Tie string or twine around the pinecones and hang from branches,
clotheslines, swing sets, porches, or anywhere in your yard accessible to
birds.
*As a natural link to the Wheel of the Year, choose a tree in your yard,
neighborhood, or local park as your "own." Spend time regularly observing
your tree's cycles of growth, and watch how it reacts to each Season. Visit
your tree, and meditate under it when you can. Although you can choose any
tree that appeals and feels right to you, it might be better to choose a
tree that sheds its leaves instead of an evergreen since the changes will be
more visible. Note that ash, elder, hawthorn, oak, rowan, and willow are
considered sacred trees and would be particularly powerful choices.
*Go outdoors and remove your shoes and socks. Connect with the Earth by
walking around and feeling the grass, soil, or even mud under your feet and
between your toes. Walk around and search for signs of spring. Collect
pebbles, rocks, branches, pods, seeds, or other natural trinkets that you
might use for future spells and crafts. Be careful not to pluck living
things, and take only from what has fallen to the ground and what you will
use.
*If the weather in your area doesn't permit you to start a garden outdoors
just yet, plant an indoor window herb garden. Lavender, mint, and rosemary
are particularly useful herbs, but any herbs can be chosen.
*Help your child start an inexpensive indoor garden using soil and old glass
jars or washed tuna or cat food cans. Because they grow relatively quickly,
beans and sprouts are easy and favored items to grow that children enjoy
watching.
Cleaning and Purification:
Imbolc is a time for physical, emotional, and spiritual cleansing. Use this
opportunity to bring some organization to your home, work, or sacred space.
This is also a time of purification and an excellent time to get rid of
destructive habits and thoughts. The following activities focus on cleaning
and purification.
*Clean and re-consecrate your ritual tools and altar or sacred space. This
is a good time to freshen up or redecorate your altar keeping in mind the
Imbolc colors of white, yellow, orange, red, or sage green for altar cloths,
candles, and flowers, whether fresh or silk.
*Clean and restock your magickal cabinet. Check your magickal oils, herbs,
and incense. Discard oils that have "turned," changed smell, or have a
disagreeable odor. Discard herbs that are a year old. You can save these
older herbs for craft projects if you so desire, but herbs that are a year
old have usually lost their potency for spells and works of magick. Discard
incense that has lost its smell or acquired the smell of neighboring incense
due to improper storage.
If you haven't already done so, store your oils, herbs, and incense in
tightly sealed glass jars or glass containers. Glass is preferable to
plastic because it prevents the mixing of scents and the loss of potency.
Tall jars made to store spaghetti are excellent for stick incense. It's best
to use dark containers to protect oils, herbs, and incense from sunlight,
but it is okay to use clear or light-colored glass if storing them away from
light in a closed cabinet, closet, or drawer. Make sure to label and date
your oils, herbs, and incense for future use and for ease when it comes time
to restock again.
*Give your home a spiritual cleansing sweep by sweeping each and every room
with your besom or magickal broom. Start at one end of your home and finish
up at the other end, chanting the following as you sweep:
"Sweep! Sweep! Be gone all woe!
Out the door, now you go!
Sweep! Sweep! I shall not weep!
Bad luck flee, and good luck keep!"
Finish sweeping at the front door, opening the door on the final "sweep" to
sweep all the negativity out of the house. Then, permanently place your
besom by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the
new.
*Ever wonder where the tradition of spring cleaning comes from? You guessed
it....the ancient Pagan festival of Imbolc. So, put on some music that
energizes and uplifts, and clean out those cupboards, closets, and drawers.
Wash your windows, curtains, and walls, and clean out and straighten up your
garage. Take your unwanted clothing, shoes, linens, and household items, and
get ready for the Mother-of-all garage sales. Or, donate your unwanted items
to your local second-hand store or the charity of your choice. Women's
domestic violence shelters and children's abuse centers are always excellent
locations for donations of this sort.
Speaking of children, get your little ones involved in the cleaning spirit.
Have them help you clean out their unwanted and outgrown clothes, toys, and
books. Motivate them to get the job done by reminding them that their items
will go to other children who desperately need them.
*Don't want to use strong chemicals or artificial cleaners for your spring
cleaning? Using more natural products to clean your home will help you adapt
to a "greener" way of life and will enhance the essence of the outdoors in
your indoor living space. Try the following:
Kitchen Spray Cleaner
2 cups of white vinegar
1 tablespoon dried (or 2 tablespoons fresh) sage or rosemary
Wrap the herb, either dried or fresh, in cheesecloth, and put it in a
saucepan with vinegar. Gently simmer for 15 minutes. Allow to cool
thoroughly, and remove the cloth-wrapped herb. Pour only the liquid into a
spray bottle. Use to clean sinks and countertops.
Window Cleaner
Juice from 1 lemon
2 cups distilled vinegar
Add the lemon juice to the vinegar in a spray bottle. Shake well, and use to
clean glass surfaces, windows, and mirrors.
Carpet Freshener
Note this is a carpet "freshener" and not a carpet cleaner. Take one handful
of your favorite mix of dried herbs and grind up very fine with mortar and
pestle or blender/processor. Add the ground herbs to a box of baking soda,
and then add in 2-3 drops of a complementary essential oil. Mix or shake well,
and store in an old (but washed) plastic powdered cleanser container or any
container with holes on top for sprinkling. Shake mixture onto carpet, and
vacuum up. Lavender is a pleasant scent to use, but remember that whatever
herbs you choose, the pieces must be ground very fine so they don't get
stuck in the sweeper or left behind in the carpet fibers.
Wood Polish
Olive oil is a wonderful natural polish for wooden furniture. Dribble a
small amount on a clean cloth and rub thoroughly. Watch for the nice luster
it leaves on woodwork, cabinets, and tables.
*Create a rite of healing and purification in your bathtub. Light white
candles, and ask the Goddess (or specifically, Brigid) to bless the water.
Let yourself soak in the healing water, and focus on the candle flames while
you meditate on Her healing qualities. If you have a fireplace, dry off at
the hearth, asking for Her blessings with the Element of Fire. Brigid is the
Goddess of Fire and Water; thus, you have invoked both of Her properties in
your rite.
Goddess Brigid and the Returning Light:
As mentioned earlier, this day is sacred to the Celtic Goddess Brigid, who
reigns over Fire (smith crafting), Art (poetry), and Healing (midwifery).
Activities and handicrafts that honor Brigid and focus on any of these three
properties are most appropriate. The following are activities that celebrate
Brigid and welcome the returning Light.
*In the capital of Kildare in ancient Ireland, an on-going group of nineteen
virgin priestesses kept a perpetual sacred flame burning in a women's only
shrine in honor of the Goddess Brigid for approximately 1,500 years until it
was extinguished by King Henry VIII's soldiers. Five hundred years later in
1995, the fire was once more rebuilt in Brigid's honor. So too, you can
honor Brigid and the returning Light by floating 19 small white candles
(tea lights work well for this) in a water-filled basin on Imbolc to
represent Brigid's priestesses who maintained Her eternal Fire.
*To welcome the returning Light, place a lighted candle in each and every
window of your home beginning at sundown on February 1st, the eve of Imbolc.
Allow the candles to burn until sunrise. Make sure each candle is securely
seated in a heatproof holder so that it won't tip over and is placed far
enough away from curtains, drapes, or any material that could burn. An
alternative to real candles is to use oil lamps or even artificial
battery-powered or electric candle lamps similar to those sold during the
Christmas holidays.
*Brigid is the Goddess of poetry. Write a poem in Her honor, and read it
aloud during any Imbolc ritual you may have planned.
*Make a Crown of Light to wear on Imbolc for ritual or for decorative
purposes. A Crown of Light is sometimes worn or carried by the High
Priestess or any woman representing the Goddess in the Imbolc Circle and is
similar to those worn on St. Lucy's Day in Scandinavian countries. The Crown
of Light represents the Wheel of the Year being warmed and lighted again by
the returning Sun.
Any craft store should have all the necessary components to make a Crown of
Light. Using strong wire, fashion the basic cup-shaped crown making a circle
with spokes radiating from a center point. If you are making this to fit a
head, make sure it is the right size and use whatever number of spokes will
fit in the design. If making this for decoration, make eight spokes
representing the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year. When it is shaped
correctly, cover the wire with a garland of greenery, either real or
artificial. Fashion small "cups" out of aluminum foil and place the cups
around the circle at the end of each spoke and one cup in the center. Wrap
wire around each cup and attach to crown to hold them in place. Securely
place dripless white candles in each cup and pinch the foil tightly around
each candle. Because this crown can be heavy to wear, small and light
candles like birthday candles or thin tapers work best.
Before lighting the crown on someone's head, it is strongly recommended you
shield their scalp and hair by fashioning a "skull cap" of aluminum foil
that is worn underneath the Crown of Light. If used as a decoration, be sure
to put the crown on a heatproof surface, plate, or
r before lighting. PLEASE EXERCISE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN WEARING OR HANDLING A CROWN OF LIGHT
SINCE CANDLE FLAME AND BURNING WAX CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR FIRE.
*A children's version of the Crown of Light can be made using construction
paper, glue or glue stick, a ruler, and a marker, pen, or crayon. Cut a
strip of green construction paper about 2 inches wide and long enough to
wrap around your child's head allowing for a small overlap of about 2
inches. (You may have to glue two pieces of construction paper together to
get the right length.) Draw and cut out eight thin rectangles about 4-6
inches in length out of white (or any color you prefer) construction paper
for the candles. Draw and cut out eight flames for the candles out of
yellow, orange, or red construction paper, and glue the flames to the tops
of each candle. Place the candles evenly around the crown and glue in place.
Once the glue has dried, wrap the strip around your child's head in the
appropriate location for a crown and mark the overlap. Glue the overlapping
areas and allow to dry. Draw and cut out a small Goddess design for the
front of the crown out of construction paper, incorporating waxing, waning,
and full Moon shapes, pentacles, or whatever designs you'd like. Glue the
design to the center of the crown.
*Make a prayer necklace of nineteen white beads, white representing
purification and nineteen representing Brigid's nineteen priestesses as
discussed above. You can add a special symbol to your necklace that
represents the Goddess Brigid, such as a Brigid's Cross, snake pendant, or
Triple Goddess design. Wear this necklace as a focal point for meditation
with Brigid. Keep it with you whenever you need Her inspiration or
protection.
*Weave a Brigid's Cross from straw, reeds, wheat stalks, or stalks of other
grains to honor Brigid or the Maiden aspect of the Goddess. Hang over your
front door to protect your home from fire or in any room in your home to
invite Her blessings and protection. Brigid's Cross is sometimes fashioned
as a three-legged triskele shape to represent the three phases of the
Goddess, but it is more often made in the shape of a Pagan Sun Wheel with a
woven four-armed cross representing the Solstices and Equinoxes and a square
in the middle representing the Cross-Quarter sabbats. A Brigid's Cross also
makes a great housewarming gift.
Step 1: Gather a few dozen shafts of straw, wheat, or stalks of other
grains of the same length. Soak them in water to soften them so they will
bend easily.
Step 2: Hold one shaft vertically, and fold another in half around the
middle of the first.
Step 3: Fold next shaft over the last one. (It will be parallel to the
first shaft.)
Step 4: Fold next shaft over shafts one and three. (It will be parallel to
the second shaft.)
Step 5: Continue to work in a circular fashion until you have used up your
shafts or created a large enough woven center for the cross. While carefully
gathering the shafts of each arm together, tie the end of each arm with
string so that the cross won't fall apart.
*Make a Brideo'gas, Bride's or Brigid's Bed, and Priapic Wand.
Brideo'gas is a doll made out of corn husks, grain stalks, straw, or even a
wooden clothespin (one piece kind without any metal hinges or springs). It
represents the Goddess Brigid in Her Maiden aspect and ensures fertility of
body, mind, and spirit. This is an activity that can be done by adults or
children with a bit of adult supervision and help. Clear directions to make
a simple corn husk doll can be found here:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/cornhusk.htm and on multiple online
sites.
Whether made out of corn husks, straw, or a clothespin, you can dress and
decorate your doll using craft or sewing items you may already have in your
home or items you can inexpensively find in your local craft store. If using
a wooden clothespin, you can wrap pipe cleaners around it for arms. Make a
dress for your doll using white fabric or lace scraps. Wrap and tie the
fabric dress to your doll with thread, yarn, or string. Glue short pieces of
yarn to the head for hair, and draw on facial features with a thin-tipped
marker.
The Bride's or Brigid's Bed can be made out of a small fabric-lined basket.
You can also make a bed out of a shoe box or small box that you cover or
wrap with fabric, wrapping paper, construction paper, tissue paper, or even
left-over wallpaper.
Place the completed Brideo'gas doll into the Bride's Bed, symbolizing the
young Goddess awaiting Her husband who will come to Her at Beltane.
Using a stick or branch, make a Priapic Wand (phallic symbol) to represent
the God. Glue an acorn or small pinecone on the tip of the wand, and wrap
the wand with ribbons in colors of white, gold, yellow, or green. If so
desired, you can also tie a few streamers of ribbon near the top of the wand
and tie small gold or silver "jingle bells" to the ends of the ribbon so
that the wand makes a jingly sound when moved. If making this wand with
children, tell them how the wand is a symbol of the Lord of the Forest, and
shaking this magickal wand will help sleeping plants and animals wake up
from Winter's sleep and prepare for Spring.
When finished making the Priapic Wand, place it across the Brideo'gas so
that the wand and bride doll form an "X" in the Bride's Bed, and recite the
following:
"The Maiden comes to bring us Light
The Winter dies and all is bright
The frozen ground shall disappear
And all shall sprout for Spring is near"
*As Imbolc is also known as the Festival of Lights, this is an excellent
time to make candles for ritual, spellwork, and home. Some industrious
solitaries and covens (holding candle-making parties) try to make and bless
all the candles they will use for the coming year during this time. If
you've never made candles before, there are instructions for making a
variety of candles on many internet sites that can easily be found with an
online search.
*Make Imbolc incense, oil, and potpourri for rituals, works of magick, and
candle dressing.
Imbolc Incense #1
1 part each of basil, frankincense, myrrh
2 parts rosemary
3 parts cinnamon
If using whole herbs, grind the herbs and resins into as fine a powder as
possible. Mix all ingredients together, visualizing the cleansing of all
negativity from your home, environment, and life. Burn the incense on charcoal
tablets.
Imbolc Incense #2
3 parts frankincense
2 parts dragon's blood
1/2 part red sandalwood
1 part cinnamon
a few drops of red wine
a pinch of your favorite dried flower
If using whole herbs, grind the herbs and resins into as fine a powder as
possible. Mix all ingredients together, visualizing the cleansing of all
negativity from your home, environment, and life. Burn the incense on charcoal
tablets.
Imbolc Oil
2 tablespoons of sweet almond or grape seed oil
5 drops sandalwood essential oil
5 drops vanilla extract
6 drops jasmine essential oil
2 drops balsam essential oil
Mix all ingredients together. Use oil to dress candles and for amulets and
magickal work.
Imbolc Potpourri
45 drops of musk oil OR myrrh oil
2 cups dried heather
2 cups dried wisteria
1 cup dried oakmoss
1 cup dried yellow tulip petals
1/4 cup dried basil
1/4 cup chopped dried bay leaf
Mix all dried ingredients together. Add oil and gently stir until oil is
thoroughly distributed. Use Imbolc potpourri for your altar, amulets, or
works of magick. Store the potpourri in a tightly sealed jar or container away from light.
Recipe may be cut in half.
*Since the Goddess Brigid reigns over Fire, Art, and Healing, the following
skills, arts, crafts, and activities are very appropriate expressions for
Imbolc:
Knitting
Crocheting
Sewing
Needlecraft
Woodworking
Scrapbooking
Tie-dying
Weaving
Brewing (ales and meads)
Divination
Singing
Poetry
Gardening
Imbolc Correspondences:
As you prepare for and celebrate Imbolc, you may find referencing the
following correspondences helpful.
*Colors: White, orange, yellow, red, pink, brown, blue, sage green
*Herbs/Flowers: Angelica, basil, bay, blackberry, celandine, chamomile,
cinnamon, clover, coltsfoot, crocus, dandelion, dill, frankincense, heather,
iris, myrrh, nettle, orris root, primrose, rosemary, rowan, saffron,
snowdrop, violets
*Incense: Basil, camphor, cinnamon, frankincense, jasmine, lotus, myrrh,
rosemary, sandalwood, wisteria
*Stone/Gems: Amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, onyx, ruby, turquoise
*Tools: garden implements, plough
*Symbols/Decorations: besom or broom, Bride's or Brigid's Bed, Brigid's
Cross, candle, candle wheel or Crown of Light, fire and flames, horseshoes,
lamp, Priapic Wand, seeds, yellow flowers
*Foods: All dairy products, apple cider, breads, chives, curries, garlic,
herbal teas, honey, lamb, muffins, onions, poppyseeds, pork, raisins,
scones, seeds, spiced wines, spring water
*Animals: Bear, eagle, groundhog, lamb, owl, raven, sheep, snake, stag, wolf
*Spellwork: Banishing bad habits, catalyst or putting plans in action, luck
for future endeavors, new beginnings, purification, rejuvenation
************************************************** *
Want to learn or read more about Imbolc? You may find the following of
interest:
Brigid's
Day
Imbolc,
Festival of Lights
A
Goddess in Her Garden
Candlemas:
Feast of Flames by Amber K and Azrael Arynn K
Thelma6954 is a practicing eclectic solitary Wiccan and Witch on staff at
Cauldron Living. She enjoys writing articles about Wicca and Witchcraft and
also moderates several online message boards regarding Wicca, music, and
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered issues. Prior to a disability in
1996, she worked as a medical assistant and paralegal. She has a grown son
and daughter and two grandchildren. She's originally from southern
California, but currently resides in northeast Texas with her boyfriend,
son, cats Luna, Deuce, and Jade, and turtle Freya.
Thelma's son, Chuck, creates unique and custom-made signs and plaques,
hand-painted treasure and trinket boxes, and sacred or whimsical
one-of-a-kind gifts. Stop by and visit
Chuck's
Sign of the Times at the Cauldron Living Market.
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