By Kerrilyn Bachler-Connor

Imbolc is usually associated with the Goddess of Ireland, Brighid, (also known as Brigit) a Goddess of healing, fire and inspiration. The fire of Brighid was carried from Brigantia on the British Isles to Kildare near Dublin, Ireland. The fires were taken care of by the Nine Sacred Virgins who no man could look upon. Brighid’s fires were purifying and healing.

Since it was one of the four Celtic fire festivals, it has an emphasis on the returning light of the sun and the first signs of spring. This showed the Celts that they would be able to survive for another year now that the harshness of winter was ending.

This was a major Celtic festival celebrating the pregnancies of the sheep and to the Earth beginning to grow with new life. Imbolg (pronounced in “em-bowl’g” or in Gaelic “im – OLL’g”) means “in the belly”. 

Brighid is often depicted as a triple Goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft and was one of the Tuatha de Danaan – the

people of the Goddess Danu. She is also known as a Sun Goddess, a Fertility Goddess and the patroness of domestic

animals, crops, prosperity, and midwifery. She is often called upon to protect mothers and babies during labor and through

giving birth. Brighid was a warrior and her a briga – a teacher of martial arts. Her soldiers were called brigands, another

word twisted through Christianity to a new meaning – that being “thieves”.

Brighid is associated with both life and death and therefore qualified as a “Great” Goddess. In Irish legend, Brighid is

associated with the Sidhe fairies and was a Queen of Faery. She dressed in a green cloak with a golden crown.

Perhaps one of the most important legends surrounding Brighid is her connection with King Arthur. It is said Brighid owned

the Isle of Apples, also known as Avalon. Brighid may not only have been the smith that forged Excalibur, she may also

have been the Lady of the Lake who gave it to Arthur, and accepted it back from Arthur. Brighid may also have been on

the boat with Morgan Le Fey when Arthur was escorted to Avalon as he lay dying after a mortal wound from his own son

Mordred.

The Roman holiday was known as Lupercalia and celebrated as a fertility rite.

The Witches’ Festival of Lights, signifies the beginning of spring on the Wheel of the Year. The days begin growing longer.

Candlemas was the name given to this holiday as the Christians tried to Christianize all of the Pagan Festivals.

According to Donna Henes in Celestially Auspicious Occasions: Seasons, Cycles and Celebrations:

Prophecy and purification are the recurrent mythic

and symbolic themes on the midwinter festivals.

Prophesy – drawn from the foresight and faith

that spring, in all its verdant glory is on its

predictable way, even amid the hard white winter.

Purification suggests careful preparations for it’s

coming – clearing the way with the fiery brilliance

of insight which comes from visiting the deep, dark,

internal winter or our world and seeing therein our

own part in the constant and continually changing

cycles of life.

In the cycle of life through the Goddess and the God, the God is a boy now and the Goddess recovering from his birth.

Nature Spirits

House faeries of both the home and house plants, are generally helpful as long as they are appreciated and not harmed.

Brownies are very small Faeries who live near or with humans. They do their work at night and value their privacy.

Brownies chase mean spirits from the home. They aid in protection of your home, family and animals and may also choose

to help out with housework. Brownies come to you when they see that you need help and they believe you are a person

worthy of their help. Brownies are attracted to people who are kind to all living creatures. In A Witch’s Guide to Faery Folk, Edain McCoy says: The best way to get a Brownie to work with you is to offer it the sort of home and environment it likes on the astral plane in your astral residence. Over time you will no doubt develop a sense of mutual trust and will begin doing small kindnesses for each other. Build your relationship from there. It will be immensely rewarding.

Colors

Red is for love, passion, fire, willpower, courage, energy, strength, anger, blood, life cycle desire and war.

White symbolizes cleansing, peace, protection, healing, truth, divination, tranquility, purification, childhood and innocence.

Black aids in divination, banishing, absorbing negative energy, protection, binding, limitations, loss, confusion, and defining

boundaries.

Pink bestows compassion, tenderness, harmony, affection, love, romance, spiritual healing, spring, household peace,

honor, virtue, morality, success, and contentment.

Silver summons the Goddess, spiritual truth, intuition, receptivity, psychic ability, stability, balance, the moon, inner self,

spells of feminity, moon power, and the night.

Light Blue imparts calmness, tranquility, patience, understanding, and good health.

Violet is used for success, intuition, self-improvement, spiritual awareness, deep sleep and healing.

Flowers

Primrose aids in protection, love, and attracts spring fairies.

Tulips grant love, happiness, dreams and purification

Hyacinth symbolizes love, protection, happiness, overcoming grief, and peaceful sleep.

Crocus stands for love, and visions.

Scents

Wisteria helps develop third eye and psychic awareness.

Heliotrope encourages prophetic dreams, healing, wealth, and invisibility.

Stones

Amethyst assures courage, psychic energy, dreams, healing addictions, peace, happiness, and love.

Jasper helps with healing, protection, health, beauty and energy.

Rock Crystal absorbs energies.

Incense, Herbs, Trees and Woods

Rowan protects against evil magic, disasters and illness. It is also used for divination, healing, power and success.

Cedar is for healing, courage, purification, protection, money, hexbreaking, spirituality and self control.

Hazel is associated with keening. Hazel was invented by Brighid when she mourned the death of her son Ruadan.

Balm of Gilead summons love, manifestations, protection and emotional healing.

Hyssop is for purification, protection, prosperity and conscious mind.

Rosemary increases mental powers, youth, protection, love, purification, sleep, longevity, conscious mind, memory and

love.

Dill aids is obtaining money, love, and protection, while encouraging the conscious mind and purification.

Red Clover aids in protection, money, love, fidelity, and success.

Myrrh is for spirituality, healing, protection, transformation, consecration and meditation.

Sage: Wisdom, prosperity, healing, longevity, money, memory, and conscious mind.

Spikenard encourages good luck, fidelity and health

Blackberry is the plant most associated with Brighid, other than the oak. It represents prosperity, healing and protection.

Dragon’s Blood is a power amplifier, and also used for protection, love, banishing and potency.

Frankincense encourages spirituality, protection, banishing of negative entities, consecration, and meditation.

Sandalwood supports spirituality, protection, wishes, healing, and meditation.

Heather promotes protection, rain making and luck.

Lemon encourages good health, healing, physical energy and purification.

Birch represents fertility, purification, and banishment of negativity.

Brambles aid in healing

Willow is for love, divination, protection, healing, rebirth, purification, and feminine magick.

Grains and Hops are the ingredients for ale and beer which were Brighid’s favorite drinks, and so the plants required to

make them area also revered. The openness of one’s mind after a partaking in ale or beer was said to lead to creativity

and inspiration.

Animals and Birds

Brighid took care of the king of the boars so all boars are sacred to her. Brighid owned a white cow with red ears. These colors showed that her cow was a magickal cow of faery. This cow from faery provided her with milk when she was a baby being raised by a Druid. She also owned a cow whose milk never dried up. The cow is a symbol of fertility.

Because Imbolg celebrates the season when lambs are born, sheep are also sacred animals to Brighid.

The otter represents joy, playfulness and sharing.

The Unicorn symbolizes innocence, purity of heart and and primal perfection. Where unicorns played, the land was said to

be in eternal springtime. The creature's horn was believed to have vast magickal power including the ability to negate

poisons This powerful totem helps to bring peace, gentleness, courage, inner wisdom and healing.

The eagle represents illumination of the spirit, healing and creation.

The chickadee is cheerful and represents truthful expression.

Other Symbols

The flame is a scared symbol at Imbolg (among other times of the year) as it represents the column of fire that was seen at

the birth of Brighid. It also represents the hearth fire and the “eternal flame” of Kildare.

Iron is sacred to the Goddess Brighid because she is a Goddess of smithcraft.

The Milky Way refers to the cow that fed Brighid as a baby, considered the “cosmic cow”.

Brighid’s Cross is a sun emblem that also represented the four quarters of the year.

The moon is often associated with the Goddess in triple aspect: Maiden, Mother and Crone. Brighid is the winter Crone

who is reincarnated into the spring Maiden and the Goddess of fertility.

The Nine White Stones represent the nine virgins who attended Brighid.

Water represents healing and divination and access to the Otherworld. Water from a sacred spring or well is even more

potent.

Energy and Power Flows

Energy is focused on conception, initiation and inspiration. At this time of the year power is working toward the surface, as

it has been submersed during the winter cold. It is a time for purification, growth, healing and loving your self. Now is the

time to accept responsibility for past errors and mistakes and forgiving yourself and others. It’s also the time to start acting

out plans already made for the future.

Power is turning now from a time of rest to a time of gearing up to begin growing again. As the ground begins thawing out,

and plants get ready to grow, anticipation begins to grow in the air and energy fields around us. Because of the coming

spring, now is the time to ritually bless seeds for the garden and gardening tools.

Traditions

Imbolc is a time for ritual cleansings and purifications of all types. This includes:

Cleansing fast: Spend at least one day sacrificing all food and drinking only water to clear out your system physically. Also

use this time to “cleanse” your mind with meditation.

Cleansing ritual bath: Cleanse your body with salt for the Earth. Add a drop or two of cleansing and purifying oils to your

bath such as peppermint or lemon.

Release negative emotions: Cleanse your emotions with water, your thoughts with incense, and your spiritual body with a

healing crystal.

House cleaning: Time for a deep cleaning. If it’s warm enough, open the windows and let some fresh air in. Dust

everything using a lemon or orange based cleanser. Clean out cupboards. Use a broom to knock cobwebs out of corners.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Rid your house of all the physical dirt you can find. This is also the time to take clothes that no

longer fit and other unwanted items to charities that accept such donations.

House blessing: Now that the house has been physically cleaned, you need to cleanse it spiritual and emotionally followed

by a home blessing. Cut lemons in half and place 2 halves in each room to soak up any negativity. When the lemons turn

black thrown them away. Walk the house with burning sage and ask the Goddess for her blessing and protection over your

home. Remember to thank her when you are through!

Yard cleaning and landscaping: Some places may still be under snow, but for those who aren’t, now is the time to get

started on cleaning the yard and preparing the ground for the spring. If your ground is thawed, now is an excellent time to

begin tilling the garden - before weeds begin to grow! You may also use burning sage to walk your property and ask the

Goddess for her blessing and protection over your land and garden.

Clean and reconsecrate your altar tools: Since all cleaning should be done at this time, this includes the cleansing of your

magickal supplies too. Cleans each item through the smoke of burning sage and ask the Goddess for her blessing upon

them.

Prepare for the feast of Imbolg by decorations with the following items and colors:

Gold or brass

Red and white

Evergreen boughs

Pussy willows

Crocuses

Snowdrops

Celtic knotwork

Brighid’s Cross

Use a wreath with spring flowers and candles as a centerpiece.

Use a white table cloth and sprinkle with silver glitter.

The Celebration

Put Brighid in her bed near a fire place or heat source.

Light candles.

Bless the house and invite Brighid to come in and stay the night. This may be done as a role playing ritual in which

someone plays the role of Brighid.

Have a processional to a bonfire to burn the greenery leftover from Yule – this represents the end of winter and the

beginning of spring.

Perform rituals for creative inspiration, purification, initiation, candle work, and house blessings.

What you need:

Poster board in the color of your choice. (for head band – base of crown)

Construction paper in different colors, along with yellow, red or orange for flames

Pencil

Scissors

Glue

What to do:

Cut a strip two inches wide and long enough to go around child’s head from the poster board. (You will have to glue more

than one piece together if your posterboard is not long enough.)

Cut out at least 8 thin rectangles from different colored paper – this will be the candles, you need enough to go all the way

around the crown evenly spaced.

Cut out flames to go with each of the candles.

Attach a flame to each candle.

Glue candles to the headband.

Brighid’s Bed

There are different ways you can make Brighid’s bed. You may buy a small doll sized cradle and decorate it in the colors of

Brighid and Imbolc. You may also use a flat wooden or cardboard box filled with straw. If these are not possible for you, try

a small blanket (preferably in Brighid’s colors) and pillow on the floor. Remember to make it look festive and inviting. The

bed should be placed near a heat source, but be careful and safe. Do not place it anywhere it could start on fire.

Brighid’s Cross

What you need:

You can make a cross out of any of the following materials, just make sure they are the same type and approximately the

same length:

Wheat stalks

Thick, long grasses

Reeds

Rushes

If they are too stiff to bend without breaking, soak them in water so they soften and are more pliable.

What to do:

Take two stalks and cross them at the centre.

Fold one back on itself around the other one.

Take a third one and fold it around the second one, parallel to the first. You should now have a T-shaped piece, with one

arm having one strand, another having two and the third having three.

Fold a fourth stalk around the third one to form a cross again.

Fold a fifth one around the fourth, parallel to the single strand.

Continue folding stalks around the previous one until the central square is about one and a half to two inches wide

Finally, tie the ends of each arm tightly with wool or other natural fiber. Tidy up the ends with a scissors.

Brighid Doll

What you need:

8 – 10 corn husks soaked in water for at least 2 hours to soften them and make them pliable.

Cord

Cotton balls

Items to make her clothes and decorate her such as material, yarn, beads, or dried flowers and herbs.

What you do:

Take a strip of husk, fold it in half and place a few cotton balls in the middle, twisting and tying the string around the husk

to make a head.

Make arms by folding another husk in half long ways and tying it near each end to make hands. Slip the arms between the

husk that comes from below the head. Tie the waist with string.

Use enough husks around the doll's waist so that they overlap. Tie them together with string.

Fold the husks down carefully to make the bottom torso and “leg” part of the doll. She will look like she is wearing a dress

or skirt.

Use the material, beads, dried herbs and flowers to “dress” her.