Ever since I first heard about the wheel of the year, I have been fascinated by it. I wanted to learn more about these 8 ancient festivals that celebrated the changes happening in the natural world and grabbed every book I found on the topic. I loved the idea of celebrating each new season and the changes it created. So this year I decided to start implementing these beautiful rituals in my life with the intention to deepen my connection with the natural world.
We’re starting 2025 with the celebration of Imbolc which took place last weekend on February 1st, the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
It is a time where the Earth is starting to wake up from its winter slumber and preparing for warmer and sunnier days. The word Imbolc literally means “in the belly of the mother” as this is the time when the seeds of spring are beginning to stir in the belly of Mother Earth. In the Celtic tradition, this time marked the beginning of spring as this is when animals could finally be put out to pasture after the cold winter months and also the time when new lambs were starting to be born.
The celebration of Imbolc is also associated with Brigid, the Celtic goddess of fire, creativity, transformation and the embodiment of the triple goddess (maiden, mother and crone). She is the fire of transformation, just like Imbolc which marks the earth’s transition from winter to spring.
As we begin to awaken from months of introspection, we start to sort out what we have learned during the winter months, identifying what we want to let go of and planning new projects. Imbolc is a time when new plans are made and new ideas are planted.
I chose this picture for the article because I felt that it perfectly represented the spirit of Imbolc, showing us a first glimpse of the light that is coming back after the cold months of winter.
There are many ways that we can honour this fire festival and I thought I would share some easy rituals that you could implement to celebrate Imbolc yourself.
Firstly, you could go for a walk in nature and pay attention to the signs of life breaking through after the cold winter months. Discover the first plants of the year that not only show us the first signs of Spring but also teaches us how resilient life really is.
Imbolc is also a great time to clear out energies and things that are no longer needed in your life. Open up your windows to let some fresh air inside, get rid of the things you never use in your home, making space for what’s coming next. I have personally been through a big declutterring phase in January and it has made me feel so much better. I read recently that a cluttered home meant a cluttered subconscious and I think there's a lot of truth in that statement.
Imbolc is also a great time to plant new seeds, either literally or figuratively. Last weekend I bought some sweet pea seeds to add some greenery into my home and I am very excited to see it sprout soon. You could also be planting the first seed of a new project, a new partnership or. a new adventure.
Finally Imbolc also represents light and new life and it is therefore a perfect day to make yourself cosy, light a white candle and think about your wishes for the upcoming months.
I hope you found this inspiring and maybe learned a thing or two about this beautiful and ancient celebration. I will write an article for each of the 8 festivals this year and I am excited to explore them together with all of you.
Love,
