Imbolg or Imbolc

Written by Cynthia Killingbeck

February 1^st-2^nd

Imbolc pronunciation: IM-molg

Themes: quickening, hope, renewal, fertility, purification, hearth & home, return of the light, the birth of the first sheep of the year, ewes milk

Also known as: Brigid’s Day, Oimelc, Feast of Pan, Lupercalia, Candlemas, The Feast of Bride (Breed) Scotland, Ground Hog Day

And The Wheel Turns….The Goddess like the Earth is feeling the longer days and stirring from her slumber. The fields and forests hear her whisper to awake. The creatures begin to answer her summons waking from hibernation to see if it’s time to get up. And everything awaits in silence, the coming of spring at Ostara.

For Wiccans and pagans alike, this Sabbat is a time to give thanks for the growing daylight, as the God is developing and strengthening his power. The Goddess, recovering from giving birth to the God at Yule, is beginning once again to step into her Maiden role. The warmth of the growing Sun begins to cause seeds deep in the Earth to germinate and sprout, and even though much of this activity is taking place deep within the soil, those who are attuned to Nature’s rhythms can feel the quickening pace of life emerging all around them.

The third Sabbat of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year celebrates the coming end of Winter and the beginning of the growing cycle in the Northern Hemisphere. The long, cold months are nearly over, and the first quickening’s of Spring can be felt within the Earth. Snow may continue to cover the ground in many regions. Winter is reluctant to release its hold.  This cross-quarter day—midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox—is a welcome milestone for many who eagerly await the warmer months.

As a holiday celebrating beginnings and renewal, Imbolg is often chosen as a time for initiation, whether it be through a coven or through a self-dedication ritual. It is also a time for ritual cleansing after being shut indoors, largely inactive, for the past few months. The ability of the Sun to cleanse and purify is recognized in various ways. Some people light several candles in each room of the house to honor the light returning and Brighid’s eternal flame. Brighid’s crosses are made and hung. Some Witches will leave their ritual tools out in direct sunlight as one of their Imbolg traditions to cleanse and charge them—particularly metal tools and treasured crystals or mineral stones.

Traditional candle colors for Imbolg are white, yellow, orange and red, and altar decorations include fresh Spring flowers, and figurines or images of young animals “Imbolg” is an old Irish word related to the birthing of the first lambs of the season, and is sometimes translated as “ewe’s milk.” Some Witches honor this aspect of the Sabbat by feasting on dishes made with dairy foods including sour cream, milk, butter, cheese and yogurt. We like to drink warm goat milk and honey.

Although many cultures in the pre-Christian world celebrated some type of cross-quarter festival at this time, the one that seems to be most closely aligned with modern Wicca is Brighid’s Day. The Celtic goddess Brighid is considered to be a “triple goddess” of sorts, since the ancient Celts revered her as the goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. These three domains were each central to Celtic life, and Brighid’s major status as a goddess persisted well into Ireland’s Christian era, when she was made into a saint. As a fire goddess (fire being the key transformational ingredient in smithcraft), she was honored with an eternal flame that was tended for centuries by her followers. Many Wiccans, particularly those who follow Celt-inspired traditions, will light a white candle for Brighid and make offerings to her at this Spring Sabbat. The corn dolly made at Lughnasadh or Samhain is ritually placed in a ‘Brides’ bed at this time which was placed on an altar or near the door with candles to welcome the goddess of spring in.