Welcome to Imbolc, or Oimelc, the first festival of early spring between sunset on January 31 and February 2, when it is told the Celtic maiden goddess Brighid melted the winter snows with her willow wand, to call back the lighter and warmer days. A special Imbolc because it is 1500 years after the death of St Brigid of Kildare in 524 AD, the saint who was linked with the Celtic goddess and the return of her relic to Kildare. Some say the first Brigid nuns may have been the goddesses’ converted priestesses who combined old and new ways and this is a time above all for reconciliation.
Imbolc awakens passion for life, love, health and joy, the tentative growth of new beginnings psychologically and emotionally, light in the darkness that became Candlemas, the Christian festival celebrated on February 2, the final day of Imbolc
If you doubt or the days of your life seem dark, reach across the world to absorb the warmth of the mirror festival. For in the Southern hemisphere, we celebrate the Festival of Lughnassadh, or Lammas, in the old traditions the willing offering by the Grain god of his life cut down as the last sheaf, to be made into the first bread of the first harvest, Christianised as the Lammas loaf on August 1. This willing sacrifice symbolically promised the continuing growth of the land in the year ahead and that the people and animals would have sufficient to survive the winter until the following Imbolc and spring.
Wherever you live in the world, the Lammas energies warn there may be necessary sacrifices and endeavour to make your dreams to bear fruit. If life is unfair, dark and hopeless, reach across the world and let the maiden goddess Brigit melt your sorrows, letting fears, obstacles and doubts likewise flow away.
Though all may not have flourished in our personal harvest, in their place, we can plant the seeds of new plans we can nurture in the months ahead. Then with diligence and sheer hard work not miracles, we can reap the rewards not of bounty falling from the heavens as we sit in our deck chairs and pray for a divine next day delivery of riches but savour the fruits of our own well-earned efforts.
Light twin white and golden yellow candles for Imbolc and Lughnassadh, fill a small dish with dried rosemary and sprinkle a few grains in each flame, leaving the candles to burn, in a safe place, naming whatever is frozen in your life that may melt and take root for future happiness, love, reconciliation or success.
When the candles are burned through, scatter a quarter of the remaining rosemary outdoors to be blown by the wind or lie fallow, bury a quarter in the earth, cast a quarter in flowing water; use the final quarter in cooking, as you stir in the rosemary making a wish for yourself and another wish for someone who deserves a lucky break or helping hand and saying, I take in hope and plant my dreams that they may come true, I seek the growth and blossoming of life anew.
Now do something fun and creative and as the grains of your gifts grow in the six months ahead, you may make an income from what you enjoy most, find true love, conceive a healthy child when you had given up hope, move to the place you most want to be - or experience the pleasure of small harvest treasures, rejoicing as you help others also to fulfil their dreams. Then you can value maybe for the first time in ages, who you are as you are and make you unique mark on the ever-turning world.
May the new energies awaken your dreams that you may reach out for the future you can make.