How to Celebrate Imbolg

Witches and Wiccans celebrate Imbolg (im-bolg) on February 1st or 2nd. Other names for this Sabbat are Imbolc, Oimelc, Candlemas, Brigit’s or Brighid’s Day. Imbolg is a celebration where Wiccans or Witches make ready for the coming of spring. For people in northern hemispheres, Imbolg falls during the end of winter, when temperatures are at their lowest and the snow still lies on the earth. However, the days are growing longer, and the ancients knew that the time of the long dark nights and the cold days of deprivation were coming to an end. Just like the ancients, modern pagans know that the harshness of winter is leaving them, and it is time to celebrate the day of the goddess Brighid (pronounced Bree).The holiday also carries the name Brighid because it is associated with the Celtic goddess Brighid. Brighid is the triple goddess of the Celtic pantheon. Sshe is Maiden, Mother, Crone. Brighid is associated with poetry, inspiration, fire, smiths and healing. Wiccans and Witches identify the Sabbat with fire and light because the strength of the sun is growing and assures the coming of spring. Fire abolishes the cold and acts as a cleansing element.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Altar
• White altar cloth
• 1 yellow (votive or tea light) and 1 white candle
• Herbs and plants: cedar, chamomile, evergreen branches, rose hips, sage, sunflowers, or white flowers
• Athame (optional)
• Incense
• Stones: amber, carnelian, clear quartz, rose quartz
• Paper and pen

1. Because Brighid is the goddess of poetry and inspiration, write a poem or any type of written work that details what you want to do or change for the upcoming year. If you don’t feel that you can write down what you want to do, draw a picture. Or, if you are an artist, you can sculpt something and use that during your ritual. Be as specific as you can, so you know that your intention will go out to the universe as clearly as possible.

2. Purify the space where you will conduct your ritual. Sweep or vacuum the floor and clear away any items that are cluttering the space. You can sprinkle salt water around the area where you will cast your circle (use sea salt). You can use a drum or bell and walk the space where you will perform your ritual, the vibration of the noise will dissipate any negative energy. Set up your altar with the items in the “What You Will Need” list. You don’t have to use all of the items, but you will need the candles to represent the Goddess; the yellow candle is to represent the fire of Imbolg. Purify yourself. Take a ritual bath. This doesn’t have to take long.

3. Cast a circle to create sacred space. Start from the North, or East and using an invoking pentagram welcome each Guardian of the direction (North, East, West, and South) and ask it to guard and protect your circle. Travel clockwise as you make your circle. Think about raising power the entire time you are creating your circle. Think about power moving up from the earth through your body as it creates an invisible sphere around you, which is the circle. The circle you create is really a sphere of energy not just a flat circle you have created on the floor.

4. Invoke or welcome the Deity to your circle. This will be Brighid because it is her holy day. You can say something like, “Brighid I ask your presence to bless this ritual for ceremony to you and your holy day.” Light the white candle to symbolize the presence of Brighid. Now light the yellow candle, and as it burns read out what you have written and ask Brighid to bless your plans for the New Year. If you have drawn a picture or created a sculpture, hold it or place it on the altar and dedicate it to the goddess and describe to Her what you want to accomplish during the year. Ask Her to help you and guide you as you progress in your endeavor. If you wish, you can meditate on your plans and the power of Brighid until the yellow candle burns out.

5. After you have finished meditating on your supplication to Brighid, release the power that you have created. Close your eyes and imagine it flowing out of you. Think of it flowing out of the bottoms of your feet and downward into the earth. Thank Brighid for participating in your ritual, and thank Her for listening to your request. Break the circle. Walk widdershins (counterclockwise) the break the circle. Stop at each of the four directions like you did when you created the circle and release their presence by drawing an devoking pentagram. Thank them for watching and protecting your circle.

Tips & Warnings

• This is the time to start any new project. Even though most people think of January the 1st as “New Year’s Resolution” time, for pagans Imbolg is really the time to make resolutions and start new endeavors. When you conduct your ritual, this is the time to ask Brighid to bless any new project you take on.
• Brighid was demoted from a goddess to St. Brigit by Christian authorities in approximately the sixth century.