Category: Imbolc

I took the weekend to celebrate Imbolc properly with my fur babies and it was amazing! To begin with, I cleansed the house with some Palo Santo and lit incense to Hekate. The entire house was covered in candles and everything smelled so good! Glade has 2 limited edition candles out right now that I highly recommend because they made every room they were lit in smell like heaven; Bamboo Bliss Song and Sultry Spiced Rhythm. Not sure how those are scents because they sound like music? But they smelled amazing!

From there, I had some amazing pho (because I don’t eat out very often and I wanted to celebrate) and I dropped by a Greek bakery to pick up dessert! I got a pina colada mousse for the first day and a turtle cheesecake for the second day. Absolutely worth it…. Texas has a GREAT Middle Eastern influence and their markets, restaurants, and bakeries are all delicious! And I topped it all off with several cups of peppermint tea!

Imbolc is about making it through winter and getting ready to welcome in the spring! It is about growth and new beginnings! So what better way to celebrate properly than to do a little bit of gardening! My snake plant is starting to get a bit crazy so I decided to try something I had never done before: divide it. Dividing the plant has to do when it begins to grow too many new stalks and it becomes too small for the pot it is in. Some plants can be divided from the new plants that are beginning to grow! I originally got my snake plant because I wanted to improve the air quality in my home and since I change my filters monthly, I can tell it is working!

For more on snake plants, check out their article!

First you must remove the plant from the pot. I did this all inside so I did it over a cardboard box. It is really better to do it outside but I know the kitties like being involved in gardening and it is so easy to sweep up the mess, so I just do it inside.

Gently pull apart by grabbing a section of the thick leaves close to the base and gently tug as much as you can. Pulling it apart will help give you a good visual of where you can cut apart some of the thicker roots. Have a sharp garden knife ready to sever the section from its neighbor.  I used a giant kitchen knife I no longer use in the kitchen. It is very sharp and did the job nicely! Put your new sections into new pots with a well draining potting mix. 

I wound up separating 2 new sections and potting them so now I have snake plants in 2 rooms of my house! I hope to continue to grow them and spread them around to continue to improve the air quality of my home. The kitties like sitting near them too. I think it makes them feel like they are fierce predators in a jungle. Spoiler alert: they aren’t.

The Romans named the month February after a word signifying purification, as this was the time when ritual cleansing would prepare a person for a fresh start. I purified my home, but I also took a meditative and cleansing shower. It felt amazing. I thought of all the things I wanted to cast off and all of the ways I wanted to improve myself. When I left the shower, I felt renewed.

I also blessed my kitties and gave them a big celebratory wet dinner. They were most excited. Imbolc is a great time to give blessings to those furry little creatures that make your even more of an adventure.

From there, I also did a lot of spring cleaning. If you guys know anything about me, it is that I love to clean. I was NEVER this into it when I was growing up I can assure you. My mom would be lucky if she didn’t have to yell a good 20 times to get me to do my chores! I think living with roommates who were so disgusting and unsanitary along with working in the medical profession (infection control anyone?), it has just become a part of who I am even though I live alone now. It felt so good to clean the house super thoroughly and that mixed with the amazingly scented candles, left me feeling very proud of my home!

Finally, I also took the time to go hiking. Health has always been important to me and unfortunately, a new medication I am on has caused me to gain about 15 lbs. My eating is quite healthy so clearly, I need to increase exercise to combat this issue. I went for an amazing 4.5 mile hike which left me with such a nature high that the rest of my day was blissful without even trying! The park ranger told me that there are oftentimes fossils along the trail I was taking and I kept an eye out, but sadly, no fossils were found!

I hope that every single one of you had an amazing Imbolc and an amazing weekend! Holidays are all about enjoying life, welcoming in new experiences, and spending time with loved ones! I did all those things and so I would call it a glorious success! The only thing I didn’t do was create a new Brigid’s wheel or a corn dollie, but that’s ok because I did so much else, that I still consider all a success. I am ready to go back to work tomorrow feeling renewed and happy!

From our altar to yours, with love from the sea,

Animals: Deer, hawks, owls, groundhogs, bears, crows, ravens, wolves, lambs, ewes, snakes, robins, sheep, burrowing animals, hibernating animals, swans, badgers,

Mythological: Phoenix, dragon, firebirds,

Drink: Spiced wines, herbal teas, apple cider, white wine, beer, milk,

Food: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, poppyseed cake, muffins, scones and breads, all dairy products, peppers, onions, garlic, raisins, blackberries, pork dishes, leeks, shallots, olives, butter, cheese, grains, hops, lamb, yogurt, beef, spicy foods in honor of the sun, oats, milk, buttermilk, eggs, dried fruit, honey,

Colors: Pink, white, red, pale yellow, light blue, greens, black, brown, lavender, silver,

Gods: Gods as young men or boys, Februa/ Februus, Aengus Mac Og, Eros, Dagon, Pan, Pax, Freyr, Lupercas, Faunus, Inuus,

Goddesses: Virgin or child goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, Diana, Lucina, Selene, Venus, Vesta, Bromwen, Artio, Artemis, Persephone, Selene, Vara, Hestia, Ana, Aphrodite, Artemis, Freya, Gerda, Hygia,

Ruling Planet: Saturn, Uranus

Gemstones: Onyx, garnet, turquoise, bloodstone, amethyst, ruby, heliotrope, rose quartz, moonstone, amber, geodes, tiger’s eye,

Sabbat gemstones can be worn in the form of jewelry and also placed on the altar to empower Sabbat rituals with vital energies of Gaia. In addition, they can be used to mark off ritual circle space. Some witches also use them when performing Sabbat divinations. For example, the scrying of an obsidian mirror or sphere at Samhain, or the use of a rose quartz crystal as a dowsing pendulum at Spring Equinox.

Incense: Basil, bay, wisteria, rosemary, cinnamon, violet, vanilla, myrrh, benzoin, celandine, camphor, frankincense, jasmine, lotus,

Plants/Oils: Angelica, basil, heather, myrrh, celandine, bay, laurel, coltsfoot, iris, tansy, violets, all white and yellow flowers, rosemary, benzoin, acorns, crocus, hyacinth, primrose, snowdrops, evergreens, willow trees, blackberry, clover, dill, heather, angelica, asafetida, chamomile, caraway, catnip, cinnamon, clove, copal, coriander, dittany of Crete, elderflower, lilac, lavender, marjoram, mint, pomegranate, saffron, sage, wormwood,

Symbols: Besoms, cauldron full of earth, Brideo’gas, yellow and white flowers in a green wreath and white candle in the center, candle wheel, Brighid’s Cross, Crosses, priapic wands, ploughs, acorns, candles, horse shoes, sheep, snowflakes, sun, swans, shepherd’s crook, seeds, brides, grain dolly, burrowing animals, ewes, Imbolc wands, seeds, sun wheel,

Magickal Energies: Purity, growth, renewal, reunion of the goddess and god, fertility, dispensing old and making way for new, agriculture, beginning, birth, cleansing, courtship, divination, fertility, hearth, home, lactation, life, love, meditation, opportunity, planning, planting, preparation, protection, purity, rebirth, the sun, spiritual goal setting, spring, strength, youth, agriculture, honor spirit within, first stirring of mother earth, growth of the sun god, middle of winter,

From our altar to yours, with love from the sea,

Imbolc/ Imbolg by Celtics, Lupercus, St. Bridget’s Day by Christians, Candlemas or Candlelaria by Mexicans, the Snowdrop Festival, the Festival of Lights, and the Feast of the Virgin. Imbolc means “in the belly.” All virgin and maiden goddesses are honored at this time. It is also called Oimealg by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word “oimelc” which means “ewes milk.” Herd animals have given birth to the first offspring of the year. It is the time of blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year.

As nature shifts from the dark dormancy of winter to the life inducing powers of the strengthening sun that heralds the approach of spring. Our desire for the spring of new possibilities and the end of the long winter of our soul drives us to Brigid’s doorstep. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21^st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Although Imbolc is considered a major fire festival, the emphasis is on the light and not the heat. Imbolc is associated with the myth and legends of Brigid, the patroness of smithcraft, poetry, and healing. It is said in her legends from Ireland that a snake comes up from the womb of mother earth to test the weather (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth. Brigid, being informed winter is weakening, appears with her white wand and is said to breathe life into the mouth of the dead winter and bring him to open his eyes to the signs of spring. The venom of the cold is said to tremble for its safety on Bride’s Day and flee for its life on St. Patrick’s Day.  The light increases and the land begins to warm, while the year is still young. A fresh green mantle is spread across the land and brings the first of the flowers and buds to bloom. Her sacred symbols of purity are the white snowdrops and swan. Brigid’s generosity was well known to both wildlife and the poor. Her healing wells also give her power to those in need, even to this day. Her legend, however, that is most well known is that of her eternal fire at temple. Brigid is a fire goddess and the keeper of the living flame, the spark of life, and of the sacred wells that give the water of life. In this aspect, her symbol is a candle.

The 1^st of February belongs to Brigid, (Brighid, Brigit, Bride) the Celtic goddess who in later times became revered as a Christian saint. Originally her festival on February 1^st was known as Imbolc or Oimealg, two names which refer to the lactation of the ewes, the flow of milk that heralds the return of the life giving forces of spring. Later, the Catholic church replaced with festival with Candlemas Day on February 2^nd which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and features candlelight processions. The powerful figure of Brigid the Light Bringer over lights both pagan and Christian celebrations. In most parts of the British Isles, February is a harsh and bitter  month. In old Scotland, the month fell in the middle of the period known as Faoilleach, the Wolf month. It was also known as a’marnh mhios, the Dead month. But although this season was so cold and drear, small but sturdy signs of new life began to appear: lambs were born and soft rain brought new grass. Ravens began to build their nests and larks were said to sing with a clearer voice.

In some areas, this is the first day of ploughing in preparation of the first planting of crops. A decorated plough is dragged from door to door with costumed children following asking for food, drinks, or money. Should they be refused, the household is paid back by having its front garden ploughed up. In other areas, the plough is decorated and then whiskey, the “water of life” is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the plough and in the newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.

Imbolc is also the day the Cailleach gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she intends to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood to keep herself warm in the coming months. As a result, people are generally relieved if it is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep, she will soon run out of firewood, and therefore winter is almost over.

From our altar to yours, with love from the sea,