This season belongs to Brigid, the Celtic goddess who in later times became revered as a Christian saint. Originally, her festival on February 1 was known as Imbolc or Oimelc, two names which refer to the lactation of the ewes, the flow of milk that heralds the return of the life-giving forces of spring. Later, the Catholic Church replaced this festival with Candlemas Day on February 2, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and features candlelight processions. The powerful figure of Brigid the Light-Bringer overlights both pagan and Christian celebrations.

Brigid has very special meaning for me. She has come to me a number of times in Inner Temple meditations. She gave me her name to take as my witch name. And I feel her guiding influence all the time. I love this image because it looks like my Inner Temple.

Brigid was the goddess of the Sacred Flame of Kildare and the patron goddess of the Druids. She was the goddess of all things perceived to be of relatively high dimensions such as high-rising flames, highlands, hill-forts and upland areas; and of activities and states conceived as psychologically lofty and elevated, such as wisdom, excellence, perfection, high intelligence, poetic eloquence, craftsmanship, healing ability, druidic knowledge and skill in warfare. She is sometimes considered to be the Celtic equivalent of the Roman goddess Minerva and the Greek goddess Athena.

Brigid possessed an apple orchard in the Otherworld; bees traveled there to obtain magical nectar. She is also associated with the cow, symbolic of the sacredness of motherhood, the life-force sustained and nourished.

Imbolc, in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, is the first festival of spring. In North America and most parts of the British Isles, February is generally cold and bitter, there's snow on the ground, and spring seems a long way off. Although this season seems so dreary, small but sturdy signs of new life began to appear.

Historically, in agrarian cultures, lambs were born and soft rain brought new grass. Ravens began to build their nests and larks were said to sing with a clearer voice. In Ireland, the land was prepared to receive the new seed with spade and plough; calves were born, and fishermen looked eagerly for the end of winter storms and rough seas to launch their boats again. In Scotland, the Old Woman of winter, the Cailleach, is reborn as Bride, Young Maiden of Spring, fragile yet growing stronger each day as the sun rekindles its fire, turning scarcity into abundance.

Alexander Carmichael wrote: 

Bride with her white wand is said to breathe life into the mouth of the dead Winter and to bring him to open his eyes to the tears and the smiles, the sighs and the laughter of Spring. The venom of the cold is said to tremble for its safety on Bride’s Day, and to flee for its life on Patrick’s Day.

And that's what Imbolc is about...spring stirring like a child in the womb of winter. The days become longer, and it gives us hope...the equinox is not so far away, and we can light candles, tell stories and sing songs to pass the time of huddling indoors, and we can endure the last blast of the winter storms to welcome in the spring.

To Celebrate Imbolc Today

This is traditionally a time of purification — clean your house! If you have any Christmas greenery lingering, burn it now.

Make your own Brigid’s Crosses and hang them up, especially in the kitchen where her influence can bless your food.

Put out food — cake, buttered bread and milk will do — outside your door: Brigid and her cow walk through the neighborhood tonight, and will appreciate your offering.

Leave a silk ribbon on your doorstep for Brighid to bless: It can then be used for healing purposes.

Meditate upon what you would like to see grow in health and strength this year: for yourself, your family, your community, the Earth, and ask for Bride's blessing upon your prayers.

I encourage you to participate in a great online ritual conducted by Morgan at Street Prophets.

At Imbolc, the Maiden aspect of the Goddess might be represented in a variety of ways - by a simple ear of dried corn, a figure made of grain at Lughnasadh, or straws or wheat braided into an intricate design. One popular representation of the Goddess is Brigid's Cross. Although the original design may well have been made from rushes, wheat versions have been recreated for centuries. Make a cross for each room in the house to invite the blessings of the Goddess into them.

How to make Brigid's Cross

Brigid's Cross Rite?from Green Witchcraft by Ann Moura

Make a cross for each room of the house. Place a red pillar-sized candle center to the front of the door, with cross in hand, light the candle, open the door, and say:

We welcome in the Goddess and seek the turning of the wheel away from winter and into spring.

Close the door, take up the candle, and go to each room of the house. Say:

Great Lady, enter with the sun and watch over this room!

Leave a cross in each room and proceed thusly throughout the house. The last room should be the kitchen, and here you say:

Mother of the Earth and the Sun?Keep us safe and keep us warm,?As over our home you extend your blessing.

Two of my favorite sources of information about Brigid and Imbolc, and a handy list of symbols associated with Brigid.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 7:22 PM