Imbolc
- Jan 13
- 3 min read
What is Imbolc? Imbolc is a cross quarter Sabbat, third in the Celtic wheel if the year. (the Celtic year starts at Samhain).
In some documents the year begins with Wassail. Imbolc is celebrated on the 1st February in the calendar but astrologically it has shifted to the 5th. The festival is dedicated to the goddess Brigid, daughter of The Dagda and one of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Brigid was, and is once more, a goddess of spring, new beginnings, pregnancy, birth, sewing of seeds. She is a goddess of fire, the heart, home making, and healing.
Brigid was the first deity I met when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, she is a deity always close to my heart within my family and for my path as a doula. I feel lucky to have been in Ireland november of last year and been able to visit two of her shrines in Kildare, the well and her flame.
I wrote a blog following my visit to Ireland, which you can read here: Reflections from a pagan path
Brigid was of one the deities Christianized, she became saint Brigid, and for the local people to begin honouring her as saint Brigid, the local priest named his daughter Brigid too. St Brigid asked the local king for land, she asked for a piece that her cloak would cover. The king obviously laughed as her cloak looked tiny. She placed her cloak down and asked four of her friends to take a corner each and walk into each directions, east, south, west and north. Her cloak grew and grew, but she only wanted a small amount of land for a temple to be built. Her lack of greed shocked the king too. It is in this temple her flame still sits, now relit by nuns in recent years and it still burns.
How can you honour this time in your heart?
On Brigids day:
Place a candle in your window to draw her near to bless your home,
Hang a cross on your door, plant your first seeds of hope. How to make a cross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn_MG4HZVOo
You can hang a wish on the tree for Brigid to gather as she passes.
If you are a doula reading this, hang your rebozo / Manta out for Brighid to bless as she passes. Or any sacred tools you may use.
I use to run a pagan kids group and this festival was by far the loveliest for children.
Bardic Offerings for Imbolc
There are lots of songs to Imbolc and Imbolc out there which you will find on your tube, by Damh the Bard, Lisa Thiel, Trinity, and many others.
Damh the Bard - Bridget
Lisa Thiel - Song to Brighd
Trinity - Brighids Kiss
Phillip Carr Gomm did a lovely Meditation a few years back too in his Tea with a Druid, Ill reshare it here : An Imbolc Meditaion - Tea with a Druid
A Poem by Bard Adam Ranger, The Snow Drops Song
A poem I wrote to Bridget called '' A Letter from a Birthkeeper'' two years ago
Imbolc is of course the time of lambing too, and the word Imbolc means Ewes milk. It is represented also by the snowdrop flow, the frosts, the seeds in the ground, Brigids cross, and your inner flames of growth.
With the inner flames of growth we druids / pagans use this time to share poetry and songs in our Imbolc ceremonies. Within our Imbolc ceremony we have a bardic competition to win the bardic chair for a year. Its fun, and its bring a sharing of community and shows us new hope, and community connection.
Here is a story of Bridget I wrote a few years back for a workshop I shared running with friends Ally and Jeanie.
To continue your exploration here are a few links to help.
Celtic Myth Podshow by Gary and ruthie Colcombe Imbolc Special
Order of BArds Ovates and Druid Article on Imbolc
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