It is at this time of year, in the Northern Hemisphere, that we begin to see the light of Spring poking through the cold Earth.
Have you seen the white flowers of snowdrops? For many generations these flowers have indicated that winter’s harshness is easing, new life is beginning.
Imbolc/Imbolg (pronounced without the ‘b’) is a Celtic festival that celebrates the first stirrings of Spring. As with the festivals of Samhain, Beltane and Lughnasadh, it is a fire festival, but with Imbolc the emphasis is on light rather than heat.
This is a time to sit with the Goddess, Mother, Bringer of Light - why? What does that mean?
In the British Isles, winter is cold, dark and difficult. At the winter Solstice we cross the turning point at which the days begin to become longer and the nights shorter, however it is only really by the start of February that we really begin to feel the effect of this.
It is still cold, but we have survived the toughest part of the year. We can begin to emerge from our nest of rest to plant seeds - both literally and metaphorically, for the year ahead.
As we begin to see the seeds of the new year beginning to grow, our history is enveloped with stories of the return of the Goddess to the land. Often, this Goddess is known as Brighid, Brig, Brigit, Brighde or Bride. She is associated with sacred fire, fertile earth, poetry, healing and the art of smithing. Brighid is one of the ancient Goddesses who held such a strong place in the hearts of the Celtic people, that she later became revered as a Christian saint. Later still, the Catholic Church brought about the festival of Candlemas Day on February 2nd, a celebration dedicated to the Virgin Mary which features a candlelit procession.
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Always in love,
NatalieGrace & Steve
Nastee Chapel
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