My wings shake the frost from their veins
My hands feel the pulse of sleepy roots
My skin settles under warmth of cascading sun
Spring beckons my spirit from winter's shadow
I'm sitting on the bed in front of the fan, the window is open, the curtain pulled back to let in some light.
The bedroom is the coolest room in the house. The fans are going in the living room and kitchen, and with the doors open, it's enough.
We don't have air conditioner, and most of the time we don't need it, but on days like this when there is barely a breeze, I have to sit right in front of the fan while I'm writing.
Night is cooler and rainy days always help, but most mornings and afternoons on this island are hot and humid. I live in the land of forever spring/summer.
But that doesn't mean I can't celebrate the seasons and what they offer.
Imbolc (meaning "in the belly") will announce itself on February 1st - 2nd and bring to us a celebration of new life and light. This special day is the half way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It represents the promise of spring, and even though many people won't see the signs of warmer times, Mother Earth whispers that the buds are shaking off their winter sleep beneath the soil.
I'm still quite the newbie when it comes to celebrating the sabbats, but I'm enjoying learning about them and creating my own rituals to honor these special times of year.
Will you join me?
a brief history of imbolc
Depending on the culture, Imbolc has a variety of names and celebrations associated with it, but the one thing it has in common is that it is represents the end of winter and the slow, but sure transition to spring.
In the old world, Imbolc was also known as Oilmelc (meaning "milk of ewes"), as it celebrated the livestock's first offspring and the milk that poured from the mother sheep. It was a time for blessing seeds and consecrating agricultural tools.
The Romans and Egyptians, too, celebrated Imbolc, as well as the Christians who took inspiration from the Pagan goddess Brighid, changing her into the Christian St. Brigit.
Brighid is a Celtic triple goddess (maiden, mother, crone) and the patron and protector of poets and bards, healers and magicians. She represents fire, passion, poetry, hearth and home. She is the "exalted one" and the bringer of light.
Image via Woman as Healer
small ways to celebrate imbolc
I'm a small ritual kind of person. I like to infuse little celebrations throughout my day as a way to honor the season. Here are some simple ways to celebrate Imbolc.
~*~ Start your day with pancakes (to represent the sun) and faery wine.
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
cinnamon
Warm the milk. Once warmed (not boiled), mix in the honey and vanilla. Pour into a mug and sprinkle with cinnamon.
~*~ Spring clean your home, office, or any space/item in order to brush out the old and usher in the new.
~*~ Read poetry or write your own.
~*~ Set up an altar of white flowers and candles in green, white, red, yellow, and orange.
~*~ Make a homemade curry for dinner and drink herbal tea or spiced wine.
~*~ Follow the Brighid Meditation.
