Me, the season

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On February 2nd we have the opportunity to mark Imbolc - a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring.  Imbolc is the dawning of the Sun as a source of power and light that is desperately needed on the planet not just for warmth or growth. Fire and purification are an important aspect as well.  So candles and fires can be a part of any celebrations. 

This particular Imbolc I suggest we hone our concept of hearth and home and make it an internal frame of reference. In essence the hearth and home we take care of is the one inside ourselves.  This Imbolc give energy and thought to YOU. Yes, just you! Although Imbolc is just February 2nd, I suggest we celebrate from Feb. 1st to Feb. 3rd, just to make sure we utilize the power that the single day has to offer.

credit: selkywolf.com

Now in terms of how to celebrate, you be the judge. It can be a meal, a gathering of liked minded folks, a meditation, a walk in the woods or forest, a spa day, a day of reading, or a small gift. All acts of ritual and sacredness are welcome. The most important thing to remember is that our intent far exceeds any type of object or element that we can bring to mark this day. Below are questions to begin your exploration of hearth and home. Be free and see where these questions take you.

Questions for Imbolc

Do I know how to make me the focus of my energy?

 
Does my fire burn for me?

 
Am I willing to go farther for myself at Imbolc than before?

 
How do I access love and compassion for myself?

The Sun is returning and all things that you need to know will be revealed, you can count on that. Research, ask, and receive information.  Anything listed below is suggestion or springboard, your true focus will come from within you. See these symbols as pieces that help you construct your own puzzle for Imbolc based on self love, self compassion, ritual, and being blessed by spirit.

 Imbolc Symbols

Imbolc Goddess - Kwan Yin

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 Imbolc Stone - Rose Quartz

credit: www.ziji.com 

 

 

Imbolc Flower/Essence - Redwood

credit: stevenkharper.com

 

Blessings betwix the Winter and Spring

Celebrated on February 2nd of each year, Imbolc is a celebration to many, spiritual and cultural, as the mid point that is between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  It is thought to be a dawning of the Sun, a source of power and light that is desperately needed on the planet not just for warmth or growth, but also for illumination of all kinds.

As one who is paying more attention these days to nature, my health, the world and many customs I find it interesting to take the time to see my actual progress on a day like Imbolc. When paying homage to this often grey time of year, I suggest we find the beauty in it's existence for if there was no mid point there could be no Spring. 

To make this time more focused I propose we select a focus for today; Creation and Creativity.  Both really simple concepts right? Well, as always, the most basic things are really quite layered when we really dig deeper.  Listed below are questions I am venturing to ask myself today and I am committed to giving myself honest answers back, not what I think should be the answer, but what really IS the answer. Feel free to ask yourself these as well or make up your own questions surrounding creativity, mid point, or illumination.

Creation and Creativity Questions

1. Am I insulating my creativity and using it conservatively?
2. Do I properly use breath control in my creation process?
3. As I create have I realized that I have my own personal song and it will constantly change?
4. Have I realized that I can spark my own self resurrection if I am willing to go deep within to find it?
5. Will I show who I am and not breach the creativity I have for fear of losing parts of it or myself

Some of the above are a tall order, but guess what? We are worth it.  So here we go...towards the most creative and progressive strides we have ever known.  This time of the year in particular when we want to hibernate I say to you, me and anyone who will listen, see the coming Sun, know Spring is just a few weeks away, push our way into the best parts of ourselves.  Now these days ahead will not necessarily be easy, but they will be and as such we must be there as well, might as well make our there the Greatest we have to give.

Here are some Imbolc symbolism to notice, use, or let serve as a benchmark.  Use them, think about them and make them a part of your creative process.  

Imbolc Scents

Jasmine

Neroli

Imbolc Elements

Candles

Sacred Water

Hearth Fires

Yellow/White Flowers

Spiced Herbal Teas

Imbolc, our Mid Winter Rebirth

Credit: weheartit.com

This morning as I began preparing my personal rituals I was going to do for Imbolc, I thought wait....Maybe folks would like to know this information as well, so here it goes...

Imbolc is a Gaelic celebration that was, and for many still is, a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring.  It serves as a midpoint for many between the dark, internal, and womb like energies of winter and the lighter, crowning, and re/birth energies of spring.  In the earth based lores it is the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Fire and purification are an important aspect as well.  So candles and fires can be a part of the celebrations.  Makes total sense, since with spring comes more light of the days and our spirits.

As a part of my coming rebirth (what I am marking this Imbolc) I am claiming the new me that has been on deck for what feels like a hundred years.  But I must be honest and say that even though I have been frustrated, at a loss for words, and even a couple of times doubled over in tears up to this point, I know it has all been for a greater, stronger, more focused me.  I wouldn't change a single moment, action, thought, word, or understanding.  Transformation of the self is not for the faint at heart.  Neither can it be ushered in by a personal assistant.  We must do the work in order to reap the benefits.  It's a simple equation, although we make it hard at times.  

Below I laying out some representations of what that midpoint can represent.  Each of us have images in our mind of what these symbols are.  I challenge all of us to see beyond the mere words and give meaning to the symbols.  Does this move you?  Do you need to develop something else? Decide for yourself what you will do with this information and how you will use it to assist your personal goals.  Maybe daily, maybe hourly, or maybe always.  Ritual is a lot of things, but for me it is mainly personalized.  Make these symbols real for you, be it a deity, a food, a saced text, or even a family ancestor.  We give energy to that which we believe.  So figure what you believe.

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 Imbolc Symbols

Deities

Virgin/Maiden Goddesses

Concepts

Growth & Renewal

Fertility

Herbs

Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris

Incense

Basil, Cinnamon, Myrrh

-Andrea/Drea of Waters