What type of symbology do you associate with this time of year? (Imbolc for those who celebrate it) Do you do anything special around your home and sacred space?

I'm new to the craft and each stop along the Wheel of the Year has been a learning experience for me. A Mabon celebration was the first official ritual I participated in, and since then each Sabbat has essentially been an opportunity for me to learn and to grow.

Historically, early February has been a time when I started to groan about winter and wish that I could be cruising along some tropical island (although living in San Francisco made February more palatable, I'll admit). Only recently have I been considering this time of year as one chock full of spiritual significance.

I learned early on that Imbolc is associated with Brigid. Brigid has come to be very important to me. Not only because, as a creative person, I believe that she has always been there inspiring me, but in my experience with the craft she has actually come to me and taken an active role in the direction my spriritual journey is taking. So, Imbolc is coming to be important indeed from a symbolic point of view. Leaving behind the deadness of winter for the promise of life that spring brings with it - this lesson has more import for my life right now than I can even explain here.

As I have started to learn about Imbolc and its celebratory traditions, I realize that I have missed the boat in some ways. I should have made Brigid's Crosses and conducted a ritual around them (documented in my earlier Imbolc post). But I see this as a learning experience, and I will know better next year. The important thing is that I am connecting with Brigid at this time and am embracing the symbology of light shining where dark has been.

Last night I tied a silk ribbon to the outer doorknob to my fire escape. I asked Brigid to bless it and make it a conduit for healing. On Saturday I will join my friends and classmates from Witchcraft class in an Imbolc ritual performed by our teacher, Christopher Penczak.

I'm still learning, and I know that in future I will be much more prepared to make a sacred space of my home. But I already feel that Imbolc has a special, important and sacred place in my life.

Thank you to Witches Weekly for the Q&A.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:51 PM