Twenty fabulous ways to celebrate Imbolc
Plant spring bulbs such as snowdrop, daffodil, crocus and narcissus. white and yellow are good spring flowers to choose for the symbolizing
of the return of spring. Bring white flowers into your home to symbolize purity
and the hope that spring brings.
Make your own Brigit’s Cross. You can
use wool for this if it is easier than finding straw.
Make your own Brighde doll. You can
make your Brighde doll from pipe cleaners if easier than finding straw and make
her a little bed to lie in.
Hold an Imbolc feast with family and
friends, not forgetting to leave some food out for Brighde to ensure she
blesses your home.
Light Imbolc candles in your home to
celebrate the returning of the light. Orange yellow and white are good colours
to use. As you light each one, focus on the flame and the energy behind it and
imagine that energy pouring good luck and warmth into your home.
Make some handmade candles of your own, it is said to be lucky
to make these on the day of Imbolc itself.
Light a fire and gather
with friends and family, and reflect, share and laugh together.
Now is the perfect time
for a good spring clean of your home. Get rid of anything that is cluttering up
your home and stagnating the energy, and scrub all the surfaces down
thoroughly.
Carry out a home purification
(see my psychic protection pages ) www.astarte-moon.co.uk
Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate either
shared with family or on your own. This delicious treat is a wonderful way of
celebrating the dairy products that are a symbol of Imbolc. As you stir the hot
chocolate think about your desires and goals for the coming month and stir
these into your drink. If you are vegan, substitue for soya milk and dark
chocolate.
Place a piece of silk or fabric on a
windowsill or mantle piece overnight to be blessed by Brighde. You can then use
this piece of fabric for something special, perhaps to carry crystals in or
tarot cards.
Traditionally, Imbolc
was a time for visiting holy water; a spring or a well, to both purify and
bring fertility. If you have a well near you to visit that would be perfect, if
not a spring or river would be wonderful. Being near running water is very
uplifting and healing.
Begin a moon diary. The
moon puts us in touch with our emotional selves and balances our solar minds.
It can be very insightful to keep a diary of how we feel physically and
emotionally and how this may relate to the moon
Leave an offering outside for birds
and other wild animals who may be having a trying time whilst the ground may be
still hard and it is difficult for them to find sufficient food.
Walk the perimeter of your home with
a smudge stick or incense in order to purify it and protect it.
Have a candlelit meal with your family.
Ask each member of the family to light a candle ( if they are old enough and with supervision if required) and
give a small blessing as they light it.
Weave
an Imbolc Ring - made from stems of flexible wood such as willow, winter
jasmine, honeysuckle, forsythia, dogwood. Create a circle the size of a plate,
using the thinner end of each stem as a needle, weaving it in and out until it
holds firm. Continue weaving in different branches until you build up the ring.
As you work, focus on your desires and goals. When finished, place the ring in
a shallow dish of water and it should leaf and flower giving new life energy to
your ideas and dreams.
Pour a little milk on the
ground as a tribute to Mother Earth Gaia (soya or rice milk serves the purpose
brilliantly if you are vegan!) Ask for growth and fertility in any areas of
your life you may feel need it. Drink the rest of the milk then or use in
your cooking
Make an Imbolc lantern: using
a willow frame cover it with coloured tissue, paint the outside of the tissue
with watered down pva glue to make it strong. Weave a bottom so that you can
have a jam jar with a tea light in it, leaving a space to hold a tea light.
Never leave this unsupervised, as it will be very flammable.
Make snake sticks. Driftwood
is ideal for this as it is already smooth but any stick will do, sandpaper it
down then paint a face and snake markings on it. The snake represents healing
and energy and is a perfect symbol for imbolc.
Sources Celebrating the seasons by Ashleen O'Gaea
Earth
Wisdom by Glennie Kindred
