Imbolg
ALTERNATE NAMES & SIMILAR OBSERVANCES:
Imbolc, Imbolg (Irish-Gaelic), Oimelc, Brigit's Day, St. Brigid's Day (Irish), Brigid, Feast of Brigid/Brid/Brigante, Feast of Lights, Lupercalia (Roman), Gwyl y Canhwyllau (Welsh), Candlemas, Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day (Christian)
circa February 2
The keyword for Imbolg is INSPIRATION. We celebrate the "spark" of creation, which ignites the inspiration of love, art, poetry, music, ideas, birth, and any other creative impulses, including fire, fertility, and healing, all sacred to the Celtic Goddess Brigid.*
Imbolg is acknowledged by some when the Sun reaches 15 degrees in Aquarius. Aquarius is an Air sign, symbolic of independence, originality, inventiveness, and humanitarianism. To experience these qualities involves the spark of creativity.
Find YOUR spark, what ignites your soul to move forward. As Nature begins it's growth from the seeds planted into Mother Earth, we too begin our plans for what we wish to achieve this year. This is a time for new possibilities. This time of year marks the halfway point between the peaks of Winter and Spring. As with all of the cross-quarter days, Imbolg can be used to tell the weather in reverse. This is where the idea of Groundhog Day came to be. Valentine's Day is also linked to Imbolg, since it is a time of frivolity, love, fertility, and so forth. It seems very likely that the rituals designed for Valentine's Day, although created to honor Saint Valentine, were inspired by the season and it's traditional observances.
Correspondences
HERBS/FLOWERS/INCENSE:
amaryllis, angelica, baby's breath, basil, carnation, cinnamon, crocus, heather, laurel (bay), rose, rosemary, snowdrop, violet
COLORS:
red and white
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
candles, lamps, or other ritual fire to symbolize the returning Sun, and fire Goddess, broom (fertility), cauldron to symbolize the womb, red and white flowers, symbols of love, fertility, and personal inspiration
FOODS:
all dairy, seeds, raisins, curries, chives, garlic, onion, peppers, leeks, shallots, spicy foods, spiced wine
GODS/GODDESSES:
Anu, Aphrodite, Aradia, Astarte, Athena, Arianrhod, Branwen, Brigid, Brigit, Brid, Brigante, Cerridwen, Demeter, Freya, Frigga, Hathor, Ishtar, Inanna, Isis, Juno Februta, Juno Lucina, Nut, Ostara, Persephone, Rhiannon, Venus, Vesta
Adonis, Angus Mac Og, Balder, Cernunnos, Cupid, Dagda, Eros, Frey, Jupiter, Odin, Osiris, Pan, Ra
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
healing, cleansing and purification rituals, creation, making and blessing candles, burning ritual fire/candles, wearing a crown of 13 candles in honor of the fire Goddess, making Brigid crosses and Brigid beds for fertility and protection, jumping a candle/fire/broom for fertility and protection
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
lactating animals as in ewes (female sheep), cows, women, etc.
GEMSTONES:
amethyst, aquamarine, turquoise, garnet, ruby, red jasper
TAROT CARDS:
The Star
© 2005-2008 GypsyJaguar
amaryllis, angelica, baby's breath, basil, carnation, cinnamon, crocus, heather, laurel (bay), rose, rosemary, snowdrop, violet
COLORS:
red and white
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
candles, lamps, or other ritual fire to symbolize the returning Sun, and fire Goddess, broom (fertility), cauldron to symbolize the womb, red and white flowers, symbols of love, fertility, and personal inspiration
FOODS:
all dairy, seeds, raisins, curries, chives, garlic, onion, peppers, leeks, shallots, spicy foods, spiced wine
GODS/GODDESSES:
Anu, Aphrodite, Aradia, Astarte, Athena, Arianrhod, Branwen, Brigid, Brigit, Brid, Brigante, Cerridwen, Demeter, Freya, Frigga, Hathor, Ishtar, Inanna, Isis, Juno Februta, Juno Lucina, Nut, Ostara, Persephone, Rhiannon, Venus, Vesta
Adonis, Angus Mac Og, Balder, Cernunnos, Cupid, Dagda, Eros, Frey, Jupiter, Odin, Osiris, Pan, Ra
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
healing, cleansing and purification rituals, creation, making and blessing candles, burning ritual fire/candles, wearing a crown of 13 candles in honor of the fire Goddess, making Brigid crosses and Brigid beds for fertility and protection, jumping a candle/fire/broom for fertility and protection
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
lactating animals as in ewes (female sheep), cows, women, etc.
GEMSTONES:
amethyst, aquamarine, turquoise, garnet, ruby, red jasper
TAROT CARDS:
The Star
© 2005-2008 GypsyJaguar
References:
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
Mike Nichols, The Witches' Sabbats
Raven Grimassi, The Wiccan Mysteries
Janet & Stewart Farrar, A Witches' Bible
D.J. Conway, Celtic Magic
Silver RavenWolf, To Ride a Silver Broomstick
Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Henry I. Christ, Myths and Folklore
Cliffs Notes on Mythology
Also see:
Magic - Wheel of the Year - Imbolg - Vernal Equinox - Beltane - Summer Solstice - Lughnassadh - Autumnal Equinox - Samhain - Winter Solstice - Days of the Week - Elemental Correspondences - The Moon - The Sun - Altars and Ritual Tools - A Basic Spell - True Love Spell - Ideal Career Spell - Protection - Herbs and Oils for Protection - Symbolism - Colors
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