Imbolc holds such incredible promise. In BTW traditions (British Traditionalist Wicca like Gardnerian and Alexandrian traditions) Imbolc is seen as the stirring of the first seeds beneath the ground, even though the earth may be ice and snow covered and the air frigid. It's like the world is holding its breath in expectation, waiting for the long winter to pass. Underneath the snow and ice are the first, tiny crocus sprouts peeking hopefully out from under the snow with the promise of beautiful flowers in just one month. It is the perfect moment of stillness just before everything bursts into bloom. In that moment, anything is possible...anything.
The Celtic Fire Festival, Imbolc, celebrates winter's waning and the earliest stirrings of Spring. Even though it is still freezing in many areas, the buds are starting to swell and the sap to run. Baby lambs are born at this time and frolic delightfully across the hills. The days are finally starting to lengthen. It is a time for new beginnings, cleansing, initiation, and purification. It is a perfect time to plan out your new year and make a list of your goals. It is the best time for garden planning and at Bru Na Bhride (the magickal name of our home) we always plant our peas on February 1-2. This year, 2015, from 2:09 AM Saturday, January 31 until 8:37 AM Sunday morning, February 2 are good times to plant since the moon is in Cancer, a good sign for growth and planting.
Contrary to what you see on the Internet, Imbolc does not mean “in the belly.” The book, A Social History of Ancient Ireland: Treating of the Government, Military System, and Law ; Religion, Learning, and Art ; Trades, Industries, and Commerce ; Manners, Customs, and Domestic Life, of the Ancient Irish People, Volume 1, by Patrick Weston Joyce,published by Longmans, Green, and Company in 1903 in Ireland, has this to say about the origins of the name: “Errach or Spring began on the first of February. This day was called oimelc, imolg, or imbulc: the first form aimelc is given in Cormac’s Glossary (p. 127, åi”), where it is derived from åi, a sheep, and melc or melg, milk :åi-melg,’ ewe-milk,’ for that is the time the sheep’s milk comes.” That oimelc is the first Of February we know from Peter O’Connell’s Dictionary, where oimelc is identified with Féil Brighde (St. Brigit’s feast day), which has been, and is still, the Irish name for the first of February all through Ireland, the old Pagan name oimelc being obsolete for centuries.”
In Ireland today, the Sabbat is still called Fhéile Bríde and the sacred flame has been reestablished. In 1993, Sister Mary Teresa Cullen re-lit St. Brigid's flame in Kildare, Ireland Sister Mary Minehan moved to Kildare and set up Solas Bhride, a Christian Community Centre for Celtic Spirituality in the spirit of Brigid of Kildare. There is a festival, Feile Bhride, held in Kildare around Imbolc each year. This year's festival is only a few days away. You can find information here: Feile Bride – Light: A New Awakening – January 30th – February 8th, 2015.
Many of you have read my article in Circle Magazine about my trip to Ireland to see Brigid's Holy Well in Kildare where I was fortunate enough to meet Sister Mary. What these Brigidine nuns have done is nothing short of miraculous. In 1997, I lit my candle from a tiny flame in Sister Mary's living-room and now they have grown to a large conference center with all sorts of opportunities to study and honor Brigid.
