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With Imbolc sparks of spring and hope

With Imbolc sparks of spring and hope

Last updated on: February 5, 2025 at 3:45 pm by Ann Trip

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With Imbolc sparks of spring and hope 2025-02-05T15:45:59+00:00 Ann Trip

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Imbolc

Brigid’s Well, Killare, Co. Westmeath PHOTO BY BRIDGET

Tomorrow is Imbolc/Imbolg, St. Bridget’s day for Catholics, or Groundhog Day for the mundane. To Celtic Druids this marks the first light of spring.

While we Pagans are celebrating the first signs of spring, the mundane world is watching a groundhog to see if there will be six additional weeks of winter. Groundhog Day started from German settlers in Pennsylvania with hedgehogs and badgers. This was part of early Christianity and the holiday of Candlemas — St. Bridget’’s Day.

As most of us should know, Imbolc or Imbolg is the Gaelic purification festival. It is the beginning of lambing season in southern climates and Europe. Livestock, especially ewes, begin lactating as they prepare for the first births of spring.

Additionally, we begin to see the first signs of retreating winter. Crocuses and daffodils begin popping through the snow. If we look closely we could see the first shoots of greenery starting to reach for the sun. Moreover, the earliest signs of buds on trees and shrubs start to appear too. The sun grows stronger and the days are noticeably lighter. This all began at Yule but it is more prominent now.

Lamb PHOTO BY A ROGER DAVIES

This marks the beginning of the agricultural year: farmers begin hiring workers and preparing to sow cool-weather crop seeds. Home gardeners like myself, make sure we have everything prepared to start our seeds indoors getting a jump start.

We clean our houses for Brigit’s return – the ubiquitous spring cleaning. I find this kind of ironic. About two weeks before Yule I had a messy accident in my house. A large section of my ceiling fell into my room. Fortunately, no one got hurt and nothing broke on me or in my bedroom. The mess was huge, plaster, insulation and drywall dust all over everything, especially my bed. I am still cleaning things. I think my repaired room is now well prepared for Brigit’s return.

This year, we celebrate this sabbat on Feb. 1, although usually it falls on Feb. 2. However, it is more natural to celebrate when the snow blankets the ground. It recently snowed here in New Jersey and most of the states out west and down south.

On Sunday, my group, Sacred Wheel CUUPs at the

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair

, NJ is holding our Imbolc ritual. This year, another member is officiating the rite. I will be assisting in any way I can. The intention this year is hope and love.

Hope is a good focal point, considering we approach the end of winter’s darkness. Our ancestors held on to hope as well during the cold dark half of the year. Lately there is a lot of darkness in the world, especially here in the United States. We seem to be moving backwards counter-intuitively. So many live in fear now. Who might be wrongly deported? Who won’t get help because of the gender that they know is right for them? These impact all of us, especially when it comes to our military. And, what about those who need abortions for whatever reason no longer can get them safely? With all this gloom over us, any spark of hope is necessary.

I think we could all use a little healing as well. A healing circle is probably overdue for

many of us. Then again, I cannot think of a time when a healing circle for Mother Earth isn’t a good idea. Especially now during Imbolc, after all it is a purification festival.

Alternately, if someone in your group was coming of age, this would be an ideal time to do their ceremony. Girls, after their first menstruation, are traditionally considered adults, closer to becoming mothers. Young women are physically able to be a parent and mentally capable of committing to their path. For a maiden ceremony, creating a cradle would be a good craft for this sabbat.

Brigid’s Cross PHOTO BY EDITOR B

Or build a Bridget’s cross out of straw, reeds or raffia for a crafting for this sabbat. I did this once during an Imbolc ritual. It’s not as easy as it looks but when it’s created you feel like you really accomplished something. Additionally, it is something you will always have for future Imbolc rituals. These were traditionally displayed over the door of houses to ward off evil. It additionally marks the beginning of spring.

We used red and white pipe cleaners to create the cross they last forever. Tradition says to use the straw or similar products I mentioned earlier. We cannot always follow tradition. However, Druid colors associated with the sabbat are white, yellow, red and green. White is associated with the snow that covers the ground, yellow for the sun, red represents fire and green Mother Earth.

So create Brigid’s cross, or a cradle but most importantly find a way to celebrate that spring is arriving. Oh and don’t forget to get your seeds ready as well.

Seasonal Reflection

Spiritual Practice

Sacred Wheel CUUPs

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair

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