Imbolc arrives and reminds us Spring is coming

This celebration marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. 
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It is a time for celebrating the coming Spring, for preparing homes and (where possible), garden beds and fields. 

Imbolc or Imbolg means “the belly”. This is the belly of Winter to be certain but it is also the belly of fertility, as animals begin to mate and some to birth. 

Weather witching also arrives with Imbolc. Remember our friend the Groundhog? It is said that if he pokes his head out on the 2nd of February and sees his shadow, 6 more weeks of foul Winter weather are to come, while if the sky is grey, and his shadow is in hiding, then these last 6 weeks of Winter will be mild. 

A similar story of weather divination lies with the Winter Hag, the Callieach, who goes to gather her firewood at Imbolc and if the day is fine and fair, she finds herself able to gather lots of wood which suggests the remainder of Winter will be fierce, while if the day is dark and dreary and only a bit of wood is found, the Spring will emerge sooner. 

It is likely you also have heard that Imbolc is the goddess Brigid’s day. She is a goddess of fire and water, of forge and healing, of creativity and poetry. This day was a day to celebrate and honor  her and ask for her blessings. 

If you want to read a bit more about Imbolc and get some ideas for celebrating you can cheek out my blog from Imbolc 2020

And if you would like to meet Brigid at her sacred well, you can listen to a meditation on the Witch Next Door podcast here 


Speaking of the Witch Next Door…
This weeks episode takes us to Iceland, where we discover the way witchcraft appears there both historically and in present day. 
Listen in!

Happy Imbolc Wise Ones! 

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