Imbolc
Snowdrops amongst decaying leaves
Imbolc and Saint Brigid’s Day are marked on the 1st February, and I am hosting an Online Retreat between 3-5pm to mark it. Book Here. Imbolc old Irish word meaning ‘in the belly”. As the light grows stronger, seeds in the earth start waking and we see early spring flowers appearing such as crocus and snowdrops.
In the Celtic Wheel of the Year, Imbolc falls midway between Winter Solstice, the longest night (21st December 2024) and Spring Equinox (20th March 2025), when we experience equal hours of day and night. Today we have 3 hours 20 minutes more hours of daylight since Winter Solstice! January can be a tough month and the festival of Imbolc reminds us that better weather is to come and new life is on it’s way. The Celts were pastoral people and February was when they saw the first lambs being born.
Dancing monk icon of St. Brigid © Marcy Hall of Rabbit Room Arts.
Brigid: Goddess and Saint
1st of February also marks Brigid’s Day, both Celtic Goddess and Celtic Saint. Myth and legend role into one, there was a women who became known as Brigid of Kildare (451 - 525), who was the leader of her Druid community, was named after the Goddess Brigid.
Ancient Celtic Goddess
The Celtic Goddess, known as the Maidan Goddess, who brings us out of from winter’s grip or the Cailleach, the crone of Winter. This Goddess is associated with many things including healing, poetry, smithing and fire.
Saint Brigid
Brigid of Kildare in Ireland was the daughter of a Druid Father and a Christian mother. She developed a love for Jesus alongside her Druid ancestry, following Jesus did not mean abandoning her pagan roots but instead weaving them together. She founded and led the Abbey of Kildare, Kildare means ‘church of the oak” and oaks were sacred symbols to the Celtic, sacred gateways between this world and the spiritual realm. Brigid became the patron saint of midwifes, because she stands with us in threshold moments. Legend has it that she was born at twilight (between day and night) and in the threshold doorway (neither in or out the home). In the Celtic imagination and mythology, she was taken back in time to be the midwife at the birth of Christ and is know as Mary of the Gael’s.
She was known for her greaet compassion and generosity towards the poor and marginalised. A women so significance that we can find her name all over the British Isles including the Scottish Outer Hebrides and Brides Bay in Wales and Rivers Brigit, Braint and Brent in Ireland, Wales and England. Her divine feminine remember in our ancient landscapes and homestead (many villages and churches ar ename after her too).
Bare Oak tree during an overcast twilight (after sunset and before night).
Imbolc marks our emergence from Winter in the Northern Hemisphere and offers the promise of Spring. 1st Feb marks the threshold between Winter and Spring, as the light continues to returns.
An Imbolc Ritual:
Take a slow wander at twilight - the 40 mins before sunrise and 40 minutes after sunset. At this time of year in the UK, sunrise is around 8.00 am and sunset around 5.15 pm, depending on where you live. Twice a day we experience this “threshold” time, between day and night or night and day, a liminal space that offers an opportunity to pause:
Takes some deep breaths.
Practice greeting yourself as a good friend.
Notice your body and try and soften around any areas of any tension.
Without judgement and with compassion, notice how you are doing/feeling.
Use your senses to notice things in the natural world around you. Can you see signs of Spring alongside winters grip? Get curious.
Contemplate any new beginnings emerging in your life. Are you experiencing any transitions in your life?
Imagine a support loving presence alongside you in these new beginnings or thresholds moments. It could be be Brigid or an loving ancestor, friend or relative or God (or whatever words you put it to). Imagine what they might do or say to you at this time and be open to receive their love and wisdom.
Misty field overlooking woodland with the moon above just before sunrise at twilight
Join me at Imbolc - St Brigid Online retreat this Sunday 1st Feb 3-5pm.
It would be lovely to mark the moment in the calendar year with you.