This day is used to make or bless the candles that we will use during the year. Filling the space with good energy, love, and laughter is the best way to end your evening. The name Imbolc refers to the lactation of the Ewes. Write one name of a person you love on a bay leaf, and then on the other side, write a wish or blessing for them. So today we celebrate the return of Spring. Make sure you throw this salt away after the spell is done! The word Imbolc means literally "in the belly" in the old Irish Neolithic language, referring to the pregnancy of ewes. The meaning of the term “Imbolc” is still a matter of debate among scholars. St. Brigid, also known as “Mary of the Gael”, was the founder of the first Irish monastery in County Kildare. Imbolc is also associated with Goddess Brigid, who’s name means … This ritual is designed for a group of individuals, but could easily be … Pagans and witches love to celebrate during this holiday, just as much as anyone else! Put your candle in your candle holder, centering it as best you can. The winter is a very depressing and hard time for me and many others. Happy Imbolc. We talk about growth & change & letting go of the things that no longer serve us with anticipation & excitement. Salt removes negative energy from our home and altar. I love this simple spell because it’s perfect for the beginner witch. That’s part of why there’s a candle in this spell, because Imbolc is a fire festival! Its one of the main Sabbats or seasonal celebrations that make up The Wheel of the Year. These candles are also used in healing spells, so if you are blessing someone who has been ill or is dealing with mental health issues, white is the best candle to choose. The Spiritual Significance of Imbolc. You can send them good energy or bad energy. Many Imbolc spells involve the deity Brigid since the holiday is so closely associated with her. She was a fire goddess, so lighting candles and bonfires is typical at Imbolc. Fall is coming, and with it a rainbow of colors. If you’re not familiar with the idea of the Wheel of The Year, it is essentially a map of the Earth’s journey through the changing seasons throughout the course of a year. Its one of the main Sabbats or seasonal celebrations that make up The Wheel of … Finally, white is associated with prayers and devotion. As each wick is met with a flame, call in Brigid. Then stick the bay leaves into the salt around the candle. In the Christian calendar, this day is observed as Candlemas. Although most people maintain that Imbolc means “milking” referring to the pregnancy and milk that comes from livestock in spring, there scanty evidence for this. Imbolc is the first of the Celtic spring festivals (Imbolc/Imbolg, Spring Equinox, Bealtaine) and one of the four fire festivals in the Celtic Wheel of the Year. Winter Blessings and Beauties: Day 94. It is the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, and traditionally marks the beginning of spring. Imbolc is an Irish fire festival dedicated to the goddess Brigid. A few basics paired with harvest essentials like a cornucopia will make your home festive…. Merry Meet and Blessed … They are also an all-purpose tool for spells when you don’t have a specific color to represent your desires. In other words, the holiday is either related to the pregnancy of ewes or to cleansing rituals. Her canonization is celebrated with a perpetual flame at her shrine in Kildare.St. This Imbolc blessing spell is a modification of that kind of magic. I’m Emma, your host and guide through all things witchy and new age. Do this as many times as you need to bless everyone you love. It is derived from the … At Imbolc, it's a season to honor Brighid, the goddess of hearth, home and domesticity. Use this Imbolc blessing spell to bestow prosperity, happiness, and courage not only to yourself but to everyone you love. If you have witchy or new age friends, something on this list is sure…, Please note that posts on this site may contain affiliate linksMabon brings splashes of orange and red to the greens of summer. Below the blessings is a section for Calling in the Directions and opening and closing the circle. Those old hurts or betrayals, that seem to linger on? They can be unpredictable sometimes! Traditionally at sunset on Imbolc, each lamp in the house would be lit. Some experts believe that the term comes from Old Irish i mbolc, “in the belly” or imb-fholc, “to wash or cleanse oneself.”. In this spell, of course, we’re sending them good things! The Cross is used to protect a house and drive evil, fire, and hunger away.Representing the Celtic aspect of the Divine Feminine, the Saint and the Goddess continue to intermingle into the present day. Brigid’s Cross has a square centerpiece with four radials, and it’s usually made of straw, rushes, or reeds that are woven together in a criss-cross pattern. It is a moment of celebration that honors the passage of time between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Encourage them to bring foods and drinks that represent the season. Ancient Celtic peoples celebrated Her as Bride, Brigit, or Brighid, a Goddess of healing. Imbolc is thought to derive from the Irish 'i mbolc' meaning 'in the belly' - referring to the soon-to-be-born lambs in the bellies of pregnant ewes. How do you decorate your home for Mabon? Last night on my walk I saw jonquils, and friends have seen snowdrops Wishing you all the joy, new energy and awakening as the light returns, and you plant the seeds of what you’d like to grow in your life . Purification and cleaning rituals for the home and self are also welcome. Imbolc Blessings During this time of the year many Pagans in the northern hemisphere are celebrating Imbolc. Among agrarian peoples, Imbolc has been traditionally associated with the onset of lactation of ewes, soon to give birth to the spring lambs. In this spell, the salt is being used to absorb any negative energy or bad luck surrounding the people we are blessing. The days stretch a little longer every day. Fill the empty space around the candle with an inch or so of salt. It’s a prayer dedicated to Brigid and the hearth fire. February 1st has been celebrated for time immemorial as Imbolc. Here are 5 simple ways to call in the Goddess Brigid for your Imbolc celebration… 1. It allows you to charge many wishes at once. This connection allows you to manipulate the energy around them. Please note that posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Imbolc is the first Celtic Sabbat in the calendar year, falling halfway between the Winter Solstice + Spring Equinox. Imbolc is the season of lambing, of new life, and a time to celebrate the nurturing warmth of the Goddess Brighid. I haven’t had…, Please note that posts on this site may contain affiliate linksSetting Samhain intentions will guide you through the lonely, cold autumn and winter. So this spell doesn’t rely on the blessing of a deity. The centerpiece also recalls the movement of the stars as the year passes. The worship of Brigid was so widespread, and devotion to her so intense that the Christian church made her a saint. I posted last year about the meaning of the day, and about its significance to Pagans -- particularly to those of us who follow Brighid, since it's Her day and all. Imbolc means “in the belly” and corresponds with the time that sheep would typically become pregnant. May the stirring of life underground,stir new dreams into life within you.May the flames of inspiration and new growthbe ignited within your Being.~ Imbolc Blessing. The celebration embraces the return of spring, the welcomed end of long, cold, dark winter months. The word “Imbolc” (usually pronounced “EE-molg) is from the Gaelic word for ewe’s milk, for this is the time when the first lambs are born. 2 min read. Bay leaves are associated with granting wishes and with prosperity and abundance. Imbolc is an Irish fire festival dedicated to the goddess Brigid. There are a lot of similarities, and there is a historical tie between them. Jan 31, 2019 - Explore Jeanette Blake's board "Imbolc blessings" on Pinterest. Imbolc most commonly is celebrated on February 2nd, since this is the cross-quarter day on the solar calendar, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere. And as the earth grows full of life, may you find abundance on your own path. You can throw an awesome eco-friendly Christmas or Yule party by choosing reusable…, Please note that posts on this site may contain affiliate linksIt’s common for people to think that Samhain and Halloween are the same holiday. To look within, to let go of things in your past and to move confidently forward. It is the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, and traditionally marks the beginning of spring. I homeschool my son, I do digital art, and I love to run and do yoga. It cleanses and protects us. Light the candle and let it entirely burn out. Being unable to spend hours outside…, Please note that posts on this site may contain affiliate linksYule is soon to be upon us, so why not grab some Etsy Christmas gift ideas? What was born at the Winter Solstice begins to manifest, and we see young Sun grow strong as the days become visibly longer. The word Imbolc means “in the belly” in the old Irish Neolithic language, referring to the pregnancy of ewes. Or, light it for an hour or so every day until it burns out, making sure to snuff it out instead of blowing it out. So we are using white salt, which will draw in any negativity around them. In some modern Pagan traditions, it is customary to offer a blessing before a meal, particularly if it's being held in a ritual context. When I’m not blogging about witchcraft, I can be found doing a couple of things. Bless all your loved ones with this simple spell for Imbolc. White candles represent hope, purity, protection, spirituality, and spirits. The Goddess is celebrated at this time as the Maiden. And on February 2nd, many celebrate Groundhog Day — clearly an anticipation of Spring! Imbolc Blessings and a Spell ... Imbolc is a quiet sabbat, but one full of a deeper meaning. Both of these are important to evoke when making wishes for other people. Imbolc was first celebrated in honor of the original Brighid, a Gaelic fertility goddess, and of the coming spring, and is thought to have been observed since Neolithic times.. © 2021 Eclectic Witchcraft - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP. I call in the Goddess Brighid, Goddess of the three-fold fire. In this spell, we use white to send hope and happiness to our loved ones. Maybe you need to let go of some friends, or people you thought were friends. However, beginner witches sometimes feel uncomfortable working with gods and goddesses. The most common explanation is that it comes from the Old Irish i mbolc (Modern Irish: i mbolg), meaning 'in the belly', and refers to the pregnancy of ewes. Some people make crosses for her or dollies that look like her during this time. I’m one of those people. See more ideas about candlemas, sabbats, wicca. The word Imbolc means “in the belly” in the old Irish Neolithic language, referring to the pregnancy of ewes. printable book of shadows pages for witches here! Many baby witches start out with a bay leaf wish spell: you write your wish on a bay leaf and then burn it. February 2, 2008 Imbolc, (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. To the Irish, Imbolc marks the Feast day of Brigid, Celtic Goddess and Patron Saint.Brigid is the only Saint who retained her Goddess stature … I have been a practicing witch for almost 2 decades now. The Eve of Imbolc falls around the 1st February, the midway point between the winter solstice and the coming vernal equinox of spring… You must devote yourself to their wellbeing and pray for good things to happen to them. Smooring The Fire prayer from Alexander Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica, Throw An Amazing Eco-Friendly Christmas Or Yule Party, Samhain Intentions: 5 Reasons To Set Seasonal Intentions, Etsy Christmas Gift Ideas For Pagans And Witches, Decorate Your Home For Mabon: Fantastic Harvest Decor. One scholar suggested Imbolc derives from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning “milk” and “cleansing” although another scholar suggests that it comes from a Proto-Celtic root meaning “budding.” Candles should always be incorporated into your decor and ritual altar, especially at Imbolc or any one of the other fire festivals. The chickens have recently resumed egg laying again. Often that means Imbolc is a time of real transition & change. What Is Imbolc? Grotto Notre Dame Campus. Sign up to receive our occasional newsletter, Reflections on the February Moon Meditation, Looking for the Queen: Solstice reflections. Imbolc and Candlemas blessings. As the darkness of winter fades, the Imbolc blessings offer a soft radiance surrounding spring blooms inviting us to transcend into the new season. Invite your friends and family around for an Imbolc potluck celebration to complete your house blessing ritual. Also celebrated as Candlemas, Oimelc and Brighid (with or without an “H”), this Fire Festival and greater Sabbat is a time of dedication, purification, and the making or renewing of spiritual vows. Buy my printable book of shadows pages for witches here! The Celtic goddess Brigid was said to visit homes during Imbolc. Please note that posts on this site may contain affiliate linksIs it even possible to throw an eco-friendly Christmas or Yule party? As with many religious traditions, there is a combining of stories and legends.In ancient Irish mythology Brigid was a fire goddess. It might have its roots in the pagan sunwheel, which was meant to bless the earth with fertility and life. But are they really the same holiday? So this spell doesn’t rely on the blessing of a deity. A candle holder big enough for your candle to have about a half-inch of space around it, A cauldron or fireproof and fire-safe container. This is a time of leaving what is safe & comfortable in order to grow more fully into yourself. Let’s learn why I chose the ingredients in this spell, and at the end, you’ll find the directions for the Imbolc blessing spell. N ow you begin to spiral out from the dark seasons, turning, turning to the light. If you decide to honor Brigid while doing this ritual, you could say the Smooring The Fire prayer from Alexander Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica. Do you ever crave something you haven’t had since you were a kid? This concept is woven throughout the sabbat as a time of rebirth, hope, and internal growth. ... IMBOLC BLESSINGS Clearing out to make room for what you would like to grow; meaning … That’s what happened to me this week while dealing with the stress of buying and wrapping Yule gifts.