| February 1 is Imbolc, also known as Candlemas. | | | | encouraged by the sunlight, but it is his own |
| Imbolc is a cross-quarter day, midway between | | | | shadow that drives him underground. This |
| the Winter Solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox | | | | exemplifies the uncertainty and struggle of this |
| (Ostara). At Yule, the days slowly started getting | | | | season, when our own lethargy or "shadow" |
| longer, and at Imbolc the lengthening days are | | | | becomes an obstacle against moving forward. So |
| finally noticible. Although in many places this is the | | | | don't look at the shadows - look ahead to the |
| coldest time of the year, we are moving toward | | | | light! |
| spring. | | | | Imbolc traditions center on light and purification. |
| Imbolc is an old Irish word meaning "in the belly" | | | | Candles are a symbol of Imbolc (hence the |
| (or Oimelc, meaning "in the milk"). This was the | | | | Christianized name "Candlemas"). Candles are |
| lambing season and the sheep were beginning to | | | | often lit in each room to honor the returning sun. |
| lactate in preparation for giving birth. "In the belly" | | | | This is a perfect time to cleanse or bless your |
| also refers to the womb of Mother Earth, to the | | | | house. |
| land and the soil becoming fertile in preparation for | | | | This day is also the festival of the Goddess Brigid, |
| the planting season in the spring. | | | | the Celtic Goddess of poetry, healing and |
| This is the time of the Maiden Goddess, ripe with | | | | smithcraft. She is associated with holy wells, |
| the promise of new life. The light is returning and | | | | sacred flames, and healing. She was so beloved |
| with it comes the urge to start new projects and | | | | by the Celtic people that she was one of the few |
| begin to plan for the next season. Some days | | | | ancient deities to survive into modern times. |
| seem bright and warm, and then the next day it | | | | When the Catholic Church became dominant in |
| seems to be winter again. Similarly, on some days | | | | Ireland they could not demonize her and so she |
| projects seem to be off to a great start, then | | | | was canonized as St. Brigid, patron saint of the |
| the next day lethargy overtakes us and problems | | | | arts and healing. Many people weave corn dollies |
| spring up. But in this season of waxing light, we | | | | out of cornhusks to symbolize Brigid, and crosses |
| need to look ahead to the promise of the | | | | woven out of rushes are known as Brigid's |
| increase of light and overcome the obstacles we | | | | Crosses. |
| set up for ourselves. | | | | Light some candles or a fire and visualize the |
| Here is the United States, many people celebrate | | | | returning warmth of spring and the spark of life |
| this day as Groundhog Day. According to the | | | | and fertility for the coming planting season, |
| legend, if the day is bright and the groundhog | | | | whether you will be planting actual seeds or the |
| sees his shadow, he retreats back to his hole and | | | | seeds of creativity. Shake off the shadows of |
| there will be six more weeks of winter. But if the | | | | winter and look ahead to the light and abundance |
| day is overcast, we can look forward to an early | | | | of the upcoming spring. |
| spring. It seems like the groundhog would be | | | | |