Imbolc

Imbolc falls on Thursday, February 1, 2024

Imbolc is a time of quickening in the belly of the earth. Winter still drags on yet there is the promise of spring. Celebrations for this festival usually revolve around the Goddess Brigid. She is the Irish triple Goddess of hearth and home, the keeper of the sacred flame. She is also the Goddess of healers, craft makers and poets. For me I find myself in a sort of creative slump during this time of year, lighting a candle in honor of my creative fire always seems right to me during my Imbolc rituals. It feels good to take the time to recognize that we are always spiraling to something new, and that soon the dark winter will be behind us.

Imbolc Rituals to Honor Brigid

I want to share few ways to honor this time of Brigid, the coming spring and the hopeful return of our creativity.

Candle Making to Celebrate Imbolc

A fun activity to honor the fires of Brigid is to partake in the old handiwork of Candle making. There are many options you can make them rolled out of beeswax sheets, a meltdown of all the old nubs of used candles, or just making an entire new batch! After you are done, arrange them on your Imbolc altar. Rolled was the least messy, required no extra equipment and was easy for my five-year-old to be hands on. Buy some beeswax sheets, cut on a diagonal, place the wick at the large end and roll. Fun, easy and smells like honey.

How to Make Corn Husk Dolls

My daughter really enjoys making corn husk dollies for Imbolc. It is super easy to do and kids love it. Let’s face it, we go a little crazy being stuck inside so it’s nice to work with our hands. These dolls make great additions to your altars as well. I found corn husks at our local grocery store. I soaked them in hot water until pliable, then patted them dry between tea towels and followed the instructions in the photo below.

You can paint them, add yarn hair or any extra embellishments you can think of. We left them pretty rustic looking, just adding a braided belt or crown. For tying off the parts that need a little reinforcement use thin yellow string or cut strips of husk.

Spring Cleaning as a Ritual

Maybe you want to celebrate with a little early spring cleaning. One way of making chores more enjoyable is to turn it into a sacred ritual. Cleaning your home with intention and love for the shelter it provides and the memories it holds is a great practice for Imbolc. Go around your house dust out the knickknacks, sweep out the old energy that has been collecting in the corners, wipe down the leaves of the house plants that purify the air you breathe, sing songs and burn herbs to clear the energy. It may be cold, but open up the windows even just for a minute to circulate the energy and bring in some fresh air. Light some candles and gather up a glass bowl, some pink Himalayan salt, a few pinches of herbs and a few drops of essential oil. Bring these to your altar. As you mix together your ingredients say “ I pour in love and gratitude for my home”. Place the mixture in the four corners of your house. Pour over baseboards and window sills, in a circular motion scrub gently around your home, (may want to have a test section as not to damage anything) meditate on clearing out stagnant energies. When you are done, ceremoniously sweep the mixture out the front door.

Imbolc Tarot Spread

What should I be planting and growing?
What was sleeping within me?
What is now stirring within me?
What is being blocked?
What will emerge come spring?

About the Wheel of The Year

The wheel of the year is a round of festivals that celebrate the cyclical nature of the Earth. The wheel of the year integrates festivals from many ancient cultures. Living your life in accordance with the seasons and rhythms of nature will help bring you into balance and leave you feeling in tune with your non linear, cyclical self. Learn about all the other festivals on the wheel of the year in the Learning Center.