Officially celebrated on February 1 at sunset, Imbolc, or Imbolg, signals the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. Its name derives from Celtic meaning "in the belly,” as it refers to the “just-showing” pregnancy or a stirring of new life that has just begun. At its core, this Pagan holiday is a clearing and cleansing preparing us for rebirth. Imbolc focuses on fertility and the promise of returning light in the spring season.
However, Imbolc’s claim to fame is the Irish Goddess Brigid, also spelled Brigit, Bride, or Brighid. She was considered a triple goddess or triune representing maiden, mother, and crone. In this way she had several facets to her symbolism of fire, hearth, poetry, and smithcraft. Brigit was believed to bring fertility to land and its people and therefore also has a close connection to midwives and other healing touch. With Imbolc, Brigit takes on her maiden aspect as being pregnant with possibility with sacred fires representing inspiration, creativity, and cleansing.
As with most Earth-based holidays, Christianity adopted its own versions and the well-loved Brigit was honored as Saint Brigid. With the Christianization of Ireland, Candlemas was celebrated on February 2 instead of Imbolc. It was instead renamed the “Feast of Purification” and paid homage to the fertility and purification of Virgin Mary and her guiding light instead of Brigit’s flame.
Fortunately in both the Pagan and Christian versions of Imbolc, the Brigit’s Cross remains sacred symbolism. Usually made of reeds, it is a solar cross or wheel—she was a Sun goddess of sorts--woven together and used for protection. According to some Neo-Pagan rituals, a new one was made every year and then the old one was burned.
Brigit's Cross
Other traditional celebrations of Imbolc included putting out the main home fire and doing a thorough cleaning of the hearth. In other cases, entire fields purified with fire rituals or bread offerings to the Grain Goddesses. The adapted holiday Candlemas was honored in the Roman Catholic Church as a day to cleanse and bless the church candles. Below are more modern ways to celebrate Imbolc, Candlemas, or Brigit and her fiery fertility:
Create an altar with candles (duh), poetry books, chalice representing healing waters, flowers, or other spring symbols.
If you are feeling ambitious you could make a traditional Brigit’s cross out of reeds, there are plenty of resources online with an easy Internet search. See our example above.
Start cleaning out closets and dusting corners (this can also be an honoring of Marie Kondo)
Wear red or other bright colors or decorate the home with some added elements (I bought some bright red tulips for the occasion)
Rebecca Farrar ofWild Witch of the Westhas her M.A. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness, and has worked with many renowned astrologists and cosmologists. Read her bio here, and catch more of her work on Witch of the West.
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Read more on astrology, horoscopes, occultism, magick & ritual on our blog, Esoteric Insights!
Aries, the cardinal fire sign, is the very first of the zodiac. It’s a sign known for its independence and willingness to forge on. This is the very first New Moon in the astrological new year. This begins once the Sun moves into Aries, as it did starts to the day before on March 20th. For astrologers and those from the Northern Hemisphere, we call this the Spring equinox. This is the welcoming of new energy and new life. Those of you wanting to set new personal “new year” goals, now is your time. We promise they’re more likely to stick than the ones set in January!
It’s Pisces season! Enjoy the depth and breadth of compassionate cracklings, spiritual connections and synchronicities, creative flow, and also closings. Pisces is a very poignant transitional sign as the ruler of the 12th house. There is something akin to “inner honor ceremonies” as our personal planets cross this threshold, and for all when the sun ingresses this sign. We lovingly, sometimes grievingly, part with certain energies, ideas, and relationships before a cosmic rebirth in the spring upon Aries season. Take a final swim in February, kiss those inner waves, and see what you can’t bring up to your shore during this celestial portal.
March greetings to all, and happy solar return wishes to Pisces and early Aries folks! Below are your intuitive tarot readings by me, coupled with insightful astro snapshots by Sera. Both tarot and astro horoscopes are per sign for the month ahead. There is also a card for the Collective, which you can use in conjunction with your personal tarot card to create a more robust narrative around what is calling your attention during this monthly cycle, or as a clarifier to your zodiac’s card.
