Imbolc, pronounced without the ‘b’ as ‘Imolc‘, is from the Druid tradition In England.  It is an early Spring Celebration around the 1st and 2nd of February to mark the clearing of Winter debris, the first ploughing, and the sowing of new seeds.

As the snowdrops begin to emerge, it is a time of the first stirrings of Spring in the womb of Mother Earth as the Goddess returns to the land bringing milk for the newborn lambs.

It is a quarter-day fire festival, similar to Samhuinn, Beltane, and Lughnasdh, although the emphasis is on light rather than heat as the longer days become more noticeable.  This was represented by candles standing in a dish of water to symbolise the rising light of Spring emerging from the creative feminine waters.

With the emergence of the first spring shoots from Mother Earth and the ewes birthing their first lambs, it is a time to honour the feminine; all women and the Mother Goddess.  To the Celts, she was known as Brighid, Brig, Brigit, Brighde, or Bride, and was associated with sacred fire, the fertile earth, healing, and the art of smithing.  Such was her power as a Light-Bringer amongst the people, she was later revered as a Christian saint.

The Celts, Druids, Aztecs, Tibetans, and Greeks all recognised the great importance of this time.  In the Eleusinian Mysteries, the carrying of torches celebrated the return of Persephone to the light.  In Roman times, candles were carried in the streets to celebrate the Goddess Februa, the mother of Mars.  The Church had been unable to stop the pagan custom of bearing candles through the streets of Rome, so they assimilated it into Christianity.

For Christians, it is the time of Candlemas, when the infant Yeshua was forty days old and taken to the Temple to be presented. Simeon took the infant in his arms and declared him ‘A light to lighten the Gentiles’ (Luke 2.22-23).  In Monestaries every monk would take a candle from the Sacristy and the abbot would consecrate, sprinkle with holt water and cense each one.  The Catholic Church took the 2nd February for Candlemas Day and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary with candlelight processions throughout the churches.

White candles can be used to represent the themes of white lambs, milk, and snowdrops combined with the waxing of sunlight.  It is also the time to start a fresh start in our lives and just as we can plant seeds of herbs and flowers in our gardens, we can plant the psychic seeds of our hopes and dreams.

Clear out the old and give your psyche a Spring Clean with a Shamanic Healing either in-person at our healing room in central Petersfield, or via a Distance Healing Session, which is just as effective at bringing permanent changes in our health and behaviour.

0

0

20