Blessed Imbolc
View from my mountain office... which sounds super glamorous. It's not...as glamorous as it sounds. There is running water, though.
As a solitary witch, I never practiced the normally celebrated traditions. A lot of that dealt with the fact I had to keep it a secret and the other part was--well, I just didn't know. I knew about Yule and Samhain and that was about it.
So, I'm going to share with you some of the information I've learned... by becoming a little less solitary.
Imbolc starts on Feb 1 and Feb 2.
It's a Celtic holiday marking the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Fire is typically used in Imbolc celebrations. We burned our trash and celebrated a smidge early, which wasn't very...well, I mean. We were doing chores and while we were burning the trash, I pulled double duty. But I will also make a meal and lighting a candle tomorrow too. I've got deadlines, dude. A lot, a lot of deadlines.
Fire represents the return of warmth and the longer days, though with a greater focus on the sun's power as we build up to spring.
I did my spring cleaning the day before but only because the hubby was there for that and he needed to help clean up his mess. I feel the gods - namely Brigid - will understand. There's a reason I'm solitary. I like to learn the rules, but I also like to bend them so I don't break under their strain.
In the circle I've recently been a part of, Brigid was brought up more than once, so I looked up her significance to Imbolc and determined that because she's the goddess of spring, that's probably the reason she'd invoked. "Please, please, please, make this snow disappear and bring a wonderful and wet spring."
But as far as rituals go, it's a pretty easy one. Well, they all really are. Light fire, invoke the call for a plentiful spring, and start making preparations to make it a bountiful spring. Get your seeds in order. Plan your gardens. Get ready to start your seeds soon - unless you're in Alaska. You've got months yet. Don't get crazy. Clean your house. Maybe don't choose the coldest day of the week to open all the windows like a crazy person.
Easy stuff.
The trick to incorporating the craft into a busy schedule is to make sure to not overcomplicate it. If you like ceremonies, definitely do that! But if you like it low-key, keep it genuine to yourself, and incorporate stuff into the things you're already doing.
Here's more information:
