Also called Candlemas, The Feast of the Waxing Light, Oimelc, Disting-tid, Feast of Brighid, Festival of Light, Feast of the Virgin, Feast of the Milk, Anagantios, Feast Day of St. Blaize, St. Bridget's Day
Called Candelaria in the Mexican Craft traditions
Cross-Quarter festival, falling between Yule and Ostara
Imbolgc is the time to�
Honor the Virgin Goddess
Celebrate the Strengthening of the Waxing Sun
Welcome the change from old to new
Work on household projects
Traditional Incense: basil, myrrh, wisteria
Traditional candle colors: brown, pink, red, lavender and white
Traditional gemstones: amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise
Traditional foods: seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), poppy seed breads and cakes, herbal teas
Traditional herbs: angelica, basil, bay, celandine, heather, myrrh, all yellow flowers
Traditional animals: robins, burrowing animals, sheep, lambs, dragons, deer
Attunement teas: chamomile, red clover, rosemary, blackberry
Suggested decorations: L-O-T-S of candles, luminarias, candle rings, snowdrops, rowan, the first flowers of the year in your area, bride dolls, representations of burrowing animals, grain dollies, Sun wheels
Suggested activities: candle lighting, searching for signs of Spring, gathering stones
Taboos: cutting or picking plants
Goddesses of Imbolgc:
All Flame Goddesses
All Virgin Goddesses
Amaterasu (Japanese)
Anu (Irish)
Arachne (Greek)
Aradia (Tuscan)
Arianhrod (Welsh)
Arinna (Anatolian)
Artio (Gaulish)
Athena (Greek)
Attar (Arabic)
Befana (Italian)
Blaize (Breton)
Branwen (Manx-Teutonic)
Brigit (Irish)
Brynhild (Teutonic)
Cardea (Roman)
Dahud (Breton-Cornish)
Februa (Roman)
Freya (Norse)
Frimia (Teutonic)
Gaia (Greek)
Hestia (Greek)
Igaehindvo (Native American)
Inanna (Sumerian)
Juno Februata (Roman)
Kebehut (Egyptian)
Laufey (Teutonic)
Lucia (Swedish)
Lucina (Roman-Norse)
Oya (African)
Pele (Polynesian)
Perchta or Bertha (German)
Selene (Greek)
Sul-Minerva (British)
Triduanna (Scottish)
Vesta (Roman)
Imbolgc Gods:
All Dragon-headed Gods
All Flame Gods
Bannik (Slavic)
Braggi (Norse)
Cupid (Roman)
Dainichi (Japanese)
Diancecht (Irish)
Eros (Greek)
Essus (Gaulish)
Februus (Roman)
Pax (Roman)
Trusto (Teutonic)
Suggested chant (author unknown):
"The Earth, the Air, the Fire, the Water
Return, return, return, return.
The Earth, the Air, the Fire, the Water
Return, return, return, return.
Ay Ey, Ay Ey, Ay Ey, Ay Ey
Ay Oh, Ay Oh, Ay Oh, Ay Oh"
Imbolgc Incense:
2 parts Dragon�s Blood
3 parts Frankincense
� part red Sandalwood
1 part Cinnamon
a few drops of red wine, a pinch of the first flower available in the area at Imbolgc
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My sources include, but are not confined to, the following works:
Bereyl, Paul. The Master Book of Herbalism
Cunningham, Scott. The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews.
------------------. Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Dunwich, Gerina. Wicca Craft.
Galenorn, Yasmine. Dancing with the Sun.
K., Amber. Covencraft: Witchcraft for Three or More.
McCoy, Edain. The Sabbats.
Starhawk. The Spiral Dance.
Stein, Diane. Casting the Circle: A Women�s Book of Ritual.
