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Imbolc

At Imbolc we loose the shackles of dark Samhain. It's the time when the seed splits it's shell and starts on it's new journey.

From the School's Collection: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4758488/4748056/4780582
The first day of February is regarded as the end of winter and the beginning of the long days. When the first of February comes the people say.
"Throw away candles and candlesticks the first day of February and eat your supper with the pure daylight."

Imbolg, Imbolc, (usually explained that the g is modern Irish and the c the ancient language), is a cross quarter day, mid way between the Winter Solstice [Samhain] and the Spring Equinox [Imbolc] .

The name Imbolc translates to the belly/womb and hints at pregnancy reminding us that there is a lot of invisible work happening under the surface. It is often described as according to the Modern Calendar: 1st February and Ancient Calendar around 4th Feb, depending on the moon.

In the same timeframe we have Oimelc (Ewe's milk), St. Brigit’s day, Candlemas (the Presentation of Christ), St. Blaise’s Day (Patron of sore throats), Groundhog day in North America, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin and when the sun arrives in the midpoint of Aquarius (15°).

It is a time of the year which is, in Ireland, oppressively cold and damp. Nature seems barren and almost lifeless. Livestock are still housed indoors and the fields are unproductive. But this is an important doorway into the more comfortable fertile part of the year, through which we must pass.

Up until now the Goddess of the Land is personified by the Cailleach who holds close association with the fierce Morrigan, phantom queen, goddess of war, and Macha, goddess of death. However, it is at this time, passing through the door of Imbolc, that the natural world is reborn out of darkness and death. Winter is over.

The Snowdrop, also referred to as Brigit’s flower, associated with the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, shoots forth in defiance of the harsh conditions and is a landmark victory over the end of winter.

In Ireland it is generally considered the first flower to appear after the winter has passed. Appearing around St. Brigit’s day has given it close association with hope, strength and fortitude. This timid little flower is the first to poke it's head above the ground and proclaim the important news that winter has passed. Although sometimes considered unlucky to bring inside as it typically is found in graveyards, it is not out of place on a Brigit's altar.

While it is still cold the days are beginning to noticeably lengthen and with the lengthening days will come the higher temperatures and mild weather encouraging growth in the fields. Attention is drawn towards the plants and animals which are active at this time of the year.

Frogs are a good totem animal representing the energy at this time of year. They appear suddenly from nowhere, croaking loudly, laying spawn, moving between the water and the land (liminal aspects and suggestive of mediumship), and they have the ability to change their skin colour and jump on land and swim in water. It is an animal that reminds us to wake up and jump from one level of consciousness to another and to adapt to our constantly changing surroundings.

There is lore which states frogs can predict the summer weather by the position of their spawning clumps. If the clumps are found in deep water the frogs are expecting a dry summer so move to deeper water to ensure supplies for the tadpoles. If they expect wet weather they will spawn close to the edge of the pool !

Their spawn is a very obvious sign of spring and its appearance reminds us to be preparing for new growth in the future.

We utilise the underlying energy of Imbolc to start new projects, receive fresh insights and choose where and how we want to be growing. At this time Brigid reminds us to nurture our plans, heal what is weak, warm what is cold and light that which is dark.

Our Neolithic ancestors were obviously acutely aware of this time of the year, as were the Celts and the later settlers on the Island, each seeming to adopt some of the traditions and beliefs of the previous culture.

In county Meath there are two important Neolithic solar alignments to Imbolc.

Firstly, on the Hill of Tara, the Mound of the Hostages a Neolithic passage grave has an entrance directed towards the sunrise on the 8th November and the 4th February, the start and end of winter respectively. As the sun rises it squarely illuminates the backstone of the chamber for about a week. The stone engravings are illuminated, not by the sun beam directly, but it's diffuse reflection from the back stone.

Simultaneously in Cairn L on Cairnbane West, Loughcrew, the sun is shining into the monument to perform what can only be described as a carefully choreographed ballet. At the instant of sunrise the first rays of light are focused on a free standing white pillar stone and nothing else. The light is seen to visibly move from top to bottom in a matter of seconds and then swing from left to right where it is then focused onto a “mirror” stone which throws the diffuse sunlight into a dark recess illuminating one of the most accomplished pieces of Neolithic art in the world.

In the photographs above the Samhain illuminated stone from Cairn L in Loughcrew is oriented to the same sunrise as the Mound of the Hostages on Tara and of a similar design.

This is the only time when the carvings can be seen without the aid of a torch. All the fine detail being revealed in a very dramatic and stunning way. The sunlight then falls on an angled stone and again within a matter of seconds is seen to shrink and disappear as the sun moves higher in the sky outside the chamber. Curiously the central motif on the Mound of the Hostages stone and the Cairn L stone are remarkably similar , sharing nested concentric circles.

Imbolc written by Anne Newman 4th February 2019

Imbolc is one of the four cross-quarter days which make up the wheel of the year and holds the promise of Spring. This date changes each year and it can fall between the 2nd and 7th of February when calculated as the mid point between the astronomical Winter Solstice and the astronomical Spring Equinox. In 2019, astronomical Imbolc falls on 4th February, which is also the night of the New Moon.

Many people celebrate Imbolc on St. Brigid’s Day on 1st February.

This is the time of the year when the ground is first awakened and the seed placed in the belly of the earth. This is a significant moment in a community which depends on the earth for food. The fields were purified and offerings were made to the goddess.

The promises of the return of the light and the renewal of life which were made at the Winter Solstice are now becoming manifest. It's the dawn of the year.

It is time of the year to let go of the past and to look to the future, clearing out the old, making both outer and inner space for new beginnings. This can be done in numerous ways, from spring cleaning your home to clearing the mind and heart to allow inspiration to enter for the new cycle.

There are several different derivations offered for the name Imbolc:

All of these explanations capture the themes of this festival.

Imbolc was also traditionally a time of weather divination. In Ireland and in Europe the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came from their winter dens may be a forerunner of the North American Groundhog Day.

In Ireland and Scotland, Imbolc was believed to be when the Cailleach - the divine hag of Gaelic tradition - gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter. Legend has it that if she wishes to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people would be relieved if Imbolc is a day of foul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleep and winter is almost over.

Scottish Gaelic proverb:

Thig an nathair as antoll là donn Brìde, ged robh trì troighean dhen t-sneachd airleac an làir.
The serpent will come from the hole on the brown Day of Bríde, though there should be three feet of snow on the flat surface of the ground.

At Imbolc on the Isle of Man, where she is known as Caillagh ny Groamagh, the Cailleach is said to take the form of a gigantic bird carrying sticks in her beak.

An inspired verse created by Martin Dier on St Brigid's Day 2014

Constrained by winters embrace now the silence speaks.
Brooding yet pulsing with life
Swaying knowing my time is at hand
I am returned
I romance the stars of heaven
My smiling crescent moon gathers my cloak of clouds
I am the dance of ecstatic release
Exploding in light
Radiating effervescent life in the great darkness
I am the vibrant flow of the all embracing river
I am returned. I am Brigit.

Other links to Imbolc on this site and on the internet

Anne considers other traditions and festivals at this time of year in her Other Notable Dates and Festivals series.... click here to link into these.

Bernadette's Magic of the Land - Brat Bhride - blessing the land every St.Brigid's Eve

Pinterest Board - Click here for all things Imbolc

Blúiríní Béaloidis 18 - Brigid In Folk Tradition - There is still love and devotion in Ireland for St Brigid... But this programme goes deeper into the pre-Christian origins as far as India to discover the roots of the legends, and then brings everything up to date. Click here to listen to this wonderful discussion.

Camille shares her experience of Mardi Gras in Louisiana, USA, in a wonderfully information article. Click here to read it.