Ending the Silence

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Imbolg
Feb 2

Other names:

Candlemas
Oimelc
Brigid's Day
Imbolg
Lady Day
Feast of Pan

St. Brigid's Cross

Click here to visit a site with instructions on making your own St. Brigid's Cross.

St. Brigid's Ribbon

Bride's Bed:

Links to Imbolg Crafts:

* Imbolg Crafts- Lemon Pomander, Clay Sun, Wacky Grass-head, & Recipes for Imbolg Feast
* Candlemas Candle Wreath
* Imbolg Cross-Stitch
* Brighid's Cross

Links to Imbolg Rituals:

* Imbolg Ritual
* Apythia's Imbolg Ritual
* Imbolc Rite for Solitaire

Much of our Imbolg lore has its roots in the ancient Celtic Ireland were it was not a Sabbat but a special day to honor the Great Mother Goddess Brigid. Among her many interests were fertility, creative inspiration, metalsmithing, medicine, protectress, healer and a guardian of children.

One of the traditons associated with Imbolg is the making of grain dollies woven into human or symbolic form. These dollies are kept thoughout the year in a cradle known as a bride's bed, from the name of Goddess Brigid which is spelled Brid (pronounced breed) in Gaelic. The figure is usually dressed in white at this Sabbat, or in something else related to marriage, with her garb updated as the Wheel of the Year carries her on into cronehood.

Imbolg is also the Sabbat where magickal wells (cauldron images) are visited and coins thrown in them in Brigid's name to grant wishes. To practice this custom go to any well or body of deep water when you can be alone and throw in three coins while stating and concentrating on your wish for the coming year. Before you leave ask the guardian spirits of the well to look after the energies you have left behind and to bless them until they manifest .

In Ireland straws were often woven into an equilateral cross known today as Saint Bridget's cross, but is actually a sun wheel sacred to the God Lugh. Brigid's cross or the sun wheel is also represented by a perfect intersection or crossroad. Crossroads figure prominently in this Sabbat. This is a night when the spirits of the dead are said to walk among the living. A protective ritual to practice is to go out on the eve before this Sabbat to bury negativity at a crossroad so it can't escape.

Imbolg is a festival of lights. Candles are lit in profusion and even worn in crowns on women's heads intended to be a representation of the virgin aspect of the Goddess. Since spring is not far away at Imbolg, the lights act as a sympathetical magickal draw for the sun and it's warmth, a call for the return of the God Lugh.

Brigid, which means "one who exaults herself," is Goddess of the Sacred Flame of Kildare (derived from "Cill Dara," which means "church of the oak") and often is considered to be the White Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess. She was Christianized as the "foster-mother" of Jesus Christ, and called St. Brigit, the daughter of the Druid Dougal the Brown. She sometimes also is associated with the Romano-Celtic goddess Aquae-Sulis in Bathe.

Brighid's festival is Imbolc, celebrated on or around February 1 when she ushers Spring to the land after The Cailleach's Winter reign. This mid-Winter feast commences as the ewes begin to lactate and is the start of the new agricultural cycle. During this time Brigid personifies a bride, virgin or maiden aspect and is the protectoress of women in childbirth. Imbolc also is known as Oimelc, Brigid, Candlemas, or even in America as Groundhog Day.

As the foundation for the American Groundhog Day, Brigid's snake comes out of its mound in which it hibernates and its behavior is said to determine the length of the remaining Winter.

Gailleach, or White Lady, drank from the ancient Well of Youth at dawn. In that instant, she was transformed into her Maiden aspect, the young goddess called Brigid. Wells were considered to be sacred because they arose from oimbelc (literally "in the belly"), or womb of Mother Earth.

Because of her Fire of Inspiration and her connection to the apple and oak trees, Brighid often is considered the patroness of the Druids

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