Category: Brigid

Imbolc is here

.Reading time 4 minutes.

Imbolc 2020

The feeling that comes from within this week is one of having passed a threshold of something that held us in a static position, almost dragging us back, but failing in its efforts. Nature speaks of forward movement in all its manifestations from a vibrant bird song to snowdrops appearing on the forest floor.

Imbolc carries a subtle yet moving energy and what I love at this point is the knowing that spring will come, flowers will bloom and light will continue to grow with increasing warmth.

Archetypes and deities of the season, Brigit in particular, are all around us on the eve of Imbolc. They are so much more than an imaginary energy of psyche and nature. They are not here only to tell us metaphorically of spring coming but, most importantly to awaken us to our own potential blooming. Its aim is to remind us we look at nature and life from a perspective of moving forward with present moment awareness, with every step, every day, every month. It is uniting in its perspective, whatever we do and whoever we are nature is a form of reflection of what is possible. One can always change perspective, direction and we will be supported on that journey. That is the message. It is a reality that is wide and all-encompassing reminding us that we are all part of the whole, part of the bigger picture. Just as the divinity of the goodness is in everything so are we. Brigit begins her dance in and through the fabric of life. It is like water penetrates every corner and opening she seeks to fill our awareness with the potential of life.

Imbolc is a milestone in Celtic calendar and nature-spirituality beliefs that speaks of a soul needing to be stirred up with every step, a reminder of conditions being present for waking up. It is not abstract but grounded in nature, which is always present, changing no matter what. It is like love that never goes away, a well open and ready for drinking, ground ready to cultivate. She’s in the mud under foot and in copper coloured tree tops that will soon take shape in its blooming canopy.

The light is lit and with awareness of its faint glow through consciously keeping its flame alive we will reap rewards of its power.

Brigit is the most visible deities, goddesses if you like during this time. She comes forward at Imbolc predictable and strong carrying flowers, light, nurturing energy to the land and us all. Incredibly reassuring and for that I am always grateful. Her fiery hair and gentle manner and compassion warms the heart and the earth.

She’s a saint dressed in delicate white and with a soft smile and bowed head watching over the light of divinity. She is also an earth mother goddess, dressed in browns, grey and copper dancing in the woods singing with the birdsong. She is Celtic and Christian loved by so many for centuries.

Blessed Imbolc, everyone! Let this time bring balance into all that is in life and in spirit and open our eyes to possibilities.

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Walking into spring

.Reading time 4 minutes.

Imbolc, meditation walk in nature

I went outside and was met with a cold wind on my skin and a bright sun reflected in my hair. I squinted towards the light and took in the wind’s cold embrace into my face with pleasure. I exhaled all I no longer wished to carry.

When I walk in nature I always find I begin to breathe properly, deeply, slower, more aware of each inner and outer breath. I stop, close my eyes and feel into my body, as nature surrounds me. Birds’ wild swooping above my head and a distant calling of their comrade wakes me up into my walk again. I begin slowly and steadily on my path, through some farm fields and into a wooded area. I become aware of a chant, as I carefully watch my steps and feel pressure against the earth with delight and embodied knowing. The chant becomes louder mud, sticks, stones and trees; mud, sticks, stones and trees. As I repeat the words I am completely and fully aware of where I am, who I am, what I am doing and my breath has never been more profoundly present. I close my eyes again and stand still for a minute continuing reciting the words again and again and with each in-breath I feel full of life. I also become aware of my body in a way that it carries me every day. I am grateful for my legs and feet that allow me to be in nature whenever I feel like it. A grounded walk is all I ever need to come back to myself.

It’s just passed Imbolc and the air is filled with hope and anticipation. Everything around us is waking up, yet everything is still, about to move, about to sprout, but not just yet. It is pure joy and excitement. I love early spring and begin to crave some warmth and softness of soil in my hands, as I begin to plant seeds in my garden. Every year with the arrival of copper topped trees that unveil in the landscape I see Brigit with her red hair. She is singing and calling in the birds for a dance. Young, free and beautiful she plays amidst trees in pure knowledge of her own divine force and power to bring creativity into our new spring and support us as this new cycle begins. Soon everything will explode in ecstasy of spring and with a fragrant fresh air we are reminded there will be light, warmth, harvest and bounty to be had in months to come. She stands in the middle of the woodland grove in white and green clothing cupping a white candle. She sings and bows to trees, then sits down to play a tune on her flute and writes a poem with a goose feather wand. I observe in reverence and silence and my own heart is filled with immense gratitude, peace and authentic energy of myself being here and now, in this moment and that is all there is and it is utterly beautiful. A blessing, indeed!

End of winter Imbolc 2017

.Reading time 3 minutes.

Imbolc 2017I sat on an early morning train to London feeling apprehensive yet excited at the possibilities that might await me at the end of my journey. I felt a slight smile touching my lips and became aware of a warm feeling within, which reassured me I was in the right place, at the right time. I continued by observation of passengers looking at their faces wondering what they might be thinking, feeling and where the train was taking them on this morning of Imbolc 2017.

Imbolc is my favourite Sabbat, which always feels fragrant with delicate scents of crocuses, tulips and daffodils to me. Snowdrops begin to poke their innocent white heads out of the ground preparing of the play of spring ahead. Those are the first signs of the earth beginning to wake up in the next few weeks. We are not out of the winter yet, but I always feel this energy of fresh, newly promised possibilities around me. I feel grounded in this day, which is particularly useful when today I am taking a journey towards exciting possibilities of working in a hospital with patients and other team members. It is all happening and there is a sense of disbelief that this is actually possible. The outcome of today is yet to be known, but I am filled with hope.

It wasn’t an easy ‘birth’, with a lot of people and energies completing for space and I found myself breathing into my heart with reassurance that whatever was to happen would be for the best. I resolved to being myself and presented with authenticity. It worked. I got the place and the manifestation of that felt so fast that amidst pure joy I felt overwhelmed by this new beginning.

Success and achievement is the primary happiness signature for me. It makes me feel expanded in all senses, full of joy and hope. I feel truly satisfied, a feeling I embody within myself. It feels good.

On the way back I reflected on my encounter with Brigit on the train and how real that was. She felt so present and free-flowing in her deep wisdom and knowing. I am filled with gratitude and love for the possibility of connecting to deities and their sacred energies if and when needed or called. Imbolc has been the most ‘deity present’ celebration for me so far when Brigit never fails to be close to me with her support and teachings.

Blessed end of winter!

Imbolc – the stirring of the Earth

.Reading time 4 minutes.
Imbolc 2016
Imbolc altar 2016

The Feminine stirs gently stretching towards the potential light underneath warm layers of soil. With my body I feel the nourishment, with my limbs I predict movement that will propel my body into creating energy by walking, in my skin I know and cherish every breath of the Earth that runs through my blood. I am home, I am safe, I am powerful and gentle. I am in love with everything that is Gaia and all that is me that lives within her. I am a ray of the Sun manifested on Earth. I am a servant and devoted manifestation of all that The Spirit has in store for us, Earthlings. We carry it gently, we merge with the Earth for all the lessons contained within it and within us. What a wonderful journey of becoming, unfolding, stretching into consciousness and manifesting gifts that seem unimaginable, yet very simple.

Walk on Earth with your feet bare, feel how she feels and merge with the rhythms and vibrations of the warm pulsating heart hidden underneath the rich soil and warm protective layer. Imbolc is approaching, things are coming into life. My heart begins to flutter with the knowledge of new possibilities, cleansing, purifying, refreshing my ways and musings and my walk upon the sacred and homely. It is the time to cleanse the home, work on protecting with light and love all that we cherish dear. It is time to light the Fire of new possibilities, new births within our souls and listening to that gentle voice that is approaching us beneath the layers of the Earth, calling us into new ways of being, new adventures and explorations.

Blessed Imbolc, Gaia calls for renewal and peace

Brigit dances in the light of the Sun with her hair flying free in the fresh breathe

You stretch your arms and straiten your body, rise up as if you are a tree growing from the Earth to the Sky and let your face immerse into the Sunshine of the season, all the possibilities that it brings

Birth yourself all over again with the turn of the Wheel.

Words to describe this festival are feminine energy, returning to light, internal Fire, candles, birth, purification, poetry, creating arts, home, moving towards the Sun

At Imbolc all those creative ideas, plans, visions, stirrings of the heart that excited and propelled you into possibilities present an opening into becoming, showing ways to manifest and keep that Fire going. It is reminiscent of the New Moon energy where we plan, we seed and we watch something grow. Imbolc is the time to tune into all that is possible.

At this time we might want to ask ourselves bigger questions like Can I do this? Am I part of the bigger picture? Am I capable, worthy, strong enough? Feel your way into experiencing this ‘cracking open’ moment, slow, careful, gentle, but intentive, focused and inevitable. You are what you believe you are, your strength is just as real as the Heat of the Sun or the movement of the ocean or the greenness of trees in mid-summer. Embody the carrier of that Fire torch, Brigit, the Goddess of home and creativity, nurturing and birth and as you accompany her on her journey through the land during Imbolc, days before and after, feel your feet firmly on the ground and your heart wide open to all that is possible.

In search of your Brigit – Imbolc celebrations

.Reading time 6 minutes.

sacred brigit on Imbolc eve

Imbolc is the first pagan fire festival of the year and the first promise of spring when the Earth begins to stir into life. It is associated with the bride Goddess Brigit (my favourite spelling), Irish Goddess of hearth and home, who comes to me very strongly on the eve of Imbolc. Brigit is the Goddess of healing and inspiration, her presence blessed the Earth for centuries and her sacred fire had been kept alive and cherished by so many before us. Today she is very present for me, as I light a white candle, make my Brigit cross and sit down to draw her face.

This month I go on a journey with her for 30 days doing little exercises every day to tune into her energy and honour her sacred presence during this transitional time. I look at what I am looking to release in order to let myself be born again and what my new being seeks to manifest and also what seeks me. It is the time of rebirth and separating from the familiar and starting afresh. It can be scary yet necessary again and again, as we flow through the cycles of nature and life. With each new cycle we have wonderful opportunities to grow, nothing stays the same and nothing stands still, it is in the movement forward and letting go off what holds us back we experience the flow of life. Our actions, feelings and thoughts create our reality and with conscious awareness of potential growth and flow through all our experiences we live, we manifest, we learn and we find peace and joy.

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