A Witch's Guide to Imbolc
Adapted from Medicine Women’s Ways by Marcia Starck and copied from the goddessandgreenman.co.uk
Imbolc is traditionally the great festival and honoring of Brigid (Brighid, Bride, Brigit), so loved as a pagan Goddess that her worship was woven into the Christian church as St Bridget. She is a Goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft. She is a Goddess of Fire, of the Sun and of the Hearth. She brings fertility to the land and its people and is closely connected to midwives and new-born babies. She is the Triple Goddess, but at Imbolc she is in her Maiden aspect.
It is time 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. (“Spring cleaning was originally a nature ritual” - Doreen Valiente). It's a good time for wish-making or making a dedication.
Brigid’s fire was carried from the land of Brigantia on the British Isles of Kildare, not far from Dublin in Ireland. The daughters of the flame, nine sacred virgins who could be looked on by no man, tended her fire; later it was tended by the Christian sisters when she became St. Bridget. Brigid’s fires are the fires of purification and healing. At a certain point the flames were extinguished by church called “pagan”.
There were also many wells and springs of healing throughout the country side that were dedicated to Brigid. These waters were waters of renewal as it is said that Brigid cured all, including lepers in the important. Brigid was also the Goddess called upon by poets and singers and she revealed how sounds could be turned into written marks and thus understood by others miles away.
Imbolc is the time of the feast of poets, of the nine muses. It is a time where priestesses are initiated into the coven. It is a time when women (and men) dedicate themselves to the goddess. The emphasis here is on the purification from the dark forces of winter.
Some of the symbols attributed to Brigid
The Snowdrop — The first gift of Spring in the bleakness of Winter.
The Swan — The swan mates for life and represents loyalty, fidelity and faithfulness.
Swan feathers are a powerful amulet.
The Flame— Imbolc is a Fire Festival and fire of all kinds is associated with Brigid - the fire of creativity, the protective hearth fire, and her fire wheel - the Brigid Cross, which heralds her as a Sun Goddess.
Brigid's Cross — This is a traditional fire wheel symbol - found at the hearths of homes throughout Ireland and beyond as a symbol of protection. A customer in the shop recounted finding a hearth in Ireland, in recent years, adorned with over 200 Brigid Crosses - 200 years in the life of a hearth and a family, over lit and protected by Brigid.
Brigid Doll— A very old tradition involved the making of a Brigid doll which can be
included in ceremony and/or placed in "Bride’s Bed”; to bring fertility and good fortune to the home.
The Serpent— In Celtic mythology Brigid was associated with an awakening hibernating serpent which emerged from its lair at Imbolc. Traditionally serpents were associated with creativity and inspiration - the powerful Kundalini energy of the Eastern Mysteries. Paths of earth energy were called serpent paths and at Imbolc they are stirred from their slumber.
Sheep— Brigid’s festival is at the beginning of lambing - eat ewe’s milk cheese!
Imbolc Colors — White and silver for purity, green for the fresh burst of life.
Herbs of Imbolc
Blackberry — Sacred to Brigid, the leaves and berries are used to attract prosperity and healing. A Goddess plant, belonging to the planetary sphere of Venus.
Coltsfoot— Coltsfoot or “sponnc”; (Gaelic) is a herb associated with Brigid. A herb of
Venus, moves emotional and physical stagnation and is used magically to engender
love and to bring peace.
Ginger— revitalizes and stimulates the “fire within”; - helps alignment with the rise of
Kundalini serpent energy at this time of year!
Trees of Imbolc
Rowan — Luis, or the Rowan, is the tree usually assigned to this time of year in the Celtic (Ogham) Tree Alphabet. It has long associations with the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. It is also known as the “Quickening Tree”; and is associated with serpents. Traditionally it protects and wards of evil. A sprig of Rowan can be put near the door of your home (we have a whole tree), or a sprig worn for protection. Rowan berries have a tiny five-pointed star on the bottom reminiscent of the pentagram.
Willow — The fourth tree in the Celtic Tree alphabet - S Saille, is also long associated with the Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. Willow is the great “shape shifter”; of consciousness and emotion and symbolizes feminine energy and the lunar cycle. Its branches are flexible - expressing movement and change rather than resistance. It is a tree of enchantment and dreaming, enhancing the confidence to follow one’s intuition, and inspires leaps of imagination.
