The Waning of Winter: Time to Check-In With Ourselves
Imbolc and February bring all kinds of magic. Wisdom is all around us during these finial weeks of Winter. What can we focus on in the coming weeks that will help us as we approach a seasonal transition?
Imbolc: A Time of Rebirth
“The word Imbolc derives from the Irish, ‘i mbolg’, meaning ‘in the belly’, or "first milk" in the old Irish Neolithic language. It marks the beginning of the birthing season, as the soon-to-be-born lambs are growing in their mother’s bellies. Another powerful way to view and describe this potent time of year is ‘Winter pregnant with Summer’.”
Though we can feel it in the air and see glimpses in the crocus, snowdrops, and daffodils inching through the soil, Spring has not yet arrived. The ever-growing longer days allow us to feel the light on the way — the hope and possibility to come.
A time for planning the gardens and land for the year ahead. The soil is fertile again, the sun rises higher in the sky, and life is sprouting all around us. The lambs are always a sound I welcome with open arms. Their sweet sounds filling the valleys and fells. Life force is rising, the sun is strengthening.
Imbolc is synonymous with Brigid, Celtic goddess and saint, who embodies the energy of new life and of new beginnings. Brigid is the fertile aspect of the divine feminine (the light half of the year), which emerges from the hag or cailleach (the dark half of the year), which represents the dark aspect of the feminine.
The dark Cailleach of Winter shapeshifts into Brigid who embodies both the powerful Yin heart and the fiery courage and conviction of the Yang energy rising with the Sun. In Ireland, the festival of Imbolc became known commonly as Lá Fheile Bríde.
The festival of Imbolc celebrates the re-awakening of the fertility of the land and the inception of a new cycle of agricultural activity. The fire of Brigid was both the fire of fertility within the earth and the fire of the sun, now growing in strength each day. The elements of fire and water, which both play an essential role in the fertility of the land are associated with Brigid and her festivals.
Journal Prompts & Self Reflections for Imbolc
What new beginnings are awakening within you at this time in your life?
Which image of Brigid resonates with you the most — Goddess, Holy woman, Saint, Druid, Creatrix, Revolutionary?
What seeds were planted this Winter that you are now going to tend to this coming Spring?
How was turning inwards and focusing on the Yin since the Winter Solstice on December 21st?
Is there an internal fire that wants to be kindled at this time?
What can you see coming back to life in the natural world around you?
Time to check-in with ourselves
How to honour this sacred time of year
As we approach a seasonal transition, our bodies and spirits begin transitioning from deep Yin mode as we move to the lighter half of the year: ruled by Yang. However, we don’t want to rush this process as slow living is living in alignment with the Earth.
Taking time to honour the Yin in these final weeks is essential to supporting our bodies and nervous systems through the coming seasonal change.
So, how can you embrace the Wisdom of this time of year?
Enjoy the final weeks of longer, dark nights. Embrace the stillness, rest, and enjoy the Yin pace of life.
Bring your focus to deep nourishment of your body through warming foods and Qi boosting teas. This will help with seasonal allergies come Spring and aid your body in grounding throughout change.
Tending to your emotional state. Accept of what you released and let go of this Winter as emotions come to the surface. Be kind to yourself as grief and/or longing may come to the forefront of the collective heart space.
Grief is part of living. To honour death is to honour life. Make your final offerings to Winter, to death, to the darkness, to those who have been and left this realm. Take peace in knowing everything is cyclical. Life is ahead.
A time to honour those who are no longer with us. A time to give thanks for the wisdom, love and guidance our ancestors provide — and be grateful for the lessons we learn from ancestors whom we shouldn’t imitate.
Honouring the change all around us. Offerings of bone, seasonal produce, nuts, spring water, herbal blends, and fire. Working with the colours of silver, gold, purple, and green to honour the fertile time of year and Brigid.
The earthly elements are here for us; to guide, protect, light, and nourish. Be sure to adventure into the wild if you can — the woods, a mountain, or your local city park. Take note of what elements you can feel, see, hear, smell, and experience. Open your body to experience all the elements around you during this transitional time.
Light candles to honour fire — or if you’re rural, light bonfires. The flame has kept you safe and comfortable this past Winter.
Collect spring water from a local natural spring or stream. Find morning dew on an old leaf. Collect ocean water. Keep fresh water on your altar. Work with and welcome the element of Water and pray for blessings of fertility for your goals, garden, or body for the coming wheel of the year.
Feel soil in your hands and decaying leaves of the forest floor under your feet. Collect the now old acorns, chestnuts, hazelnuts. Find remnants of life on your local walk.
Open and embrace the change in the air, the feeling of spring on your face. Feel the cool air in your lungs and give thanks for life.
Darkness is waning. Light is returning. What is out of balance both internally and externally at the moment? Where are you overexerting yourself? What are you neglecting for yourself? Journey within and let words flow in your journal. Spend time caring for your inner world and focusing on welcoming balance.
How is this time of year treating you? I for one am ready for longer days, warmer walks, and watching my garden come back to life. There is beauty in every season but Spring holds a special place in my heart: it feels like a homecoming every year.
May you come across magical snow drops on woodland walks.
Le grá,
Em
