February 1 or 2, Imbolc/Candlemas

Purification, preparation, & potential

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A cross-quarter sabbat on the Wheel of the Year, Imbolc is celebrated in early February (1st or 2nd) in the northern hemisphere (early August in the southern hemisphere), the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

Meaning “in the belly,” Imbolc is a celebration of potential. The earth begins to thaw, and the first signs of life return. It’s a time for cleansing, blessing, and planting spiritual seeds.

Brigid

Imbolc is most commonly associated with Brigid, a Celtic goddess and a powerful symbol of feminine creativity and empowerment. Invoked to inspire creativity and craftsmanship, she is the patroness of the arts, especially poetry and smith work. She promotes creativity and artistic expression. The peaceful times spent at your craft, when concentration and meditation meld, are when her effect is most noticeable.

Themes

• Renewal and purification

• Awakening, rebirth, and new beginnings

• Light returning and lengthening days

• Fertility and potential

• Embracing stillness

• Resting in preparation

Workings

• Home cleansing rituals

• Candle blessings

• Dedication or re-dedication to your spiritual path

• Fertility and creativity spells

• Tool cleansing and re-consecration

• Intention setting

Elements

• Fire: inspiration, transformation, the returning sun

• Water: fluidity, intuition

Symbols

• Besom

• Brigid’s cross

• Candles and fire

• Corn dollies

• Seeds and sprouting plants

• The sun and hearth

• Wells and sacred water

Colors

• Brown: the re-emerging earth

• Green: growth, fertility, renewal

• Pale Gold: sunlight, inspiration

• Red: life force, fire, transformation

• White: purity, light, new beginnings

Stones

• Amethyst: spiritual growth, intuition

• Garnet: passion, vitality, regeneration

• Moonstone: new beginnings, feminine energy

• Onyx: healing, decision making

• Peridot: releasing that which no longer serves

Animals

• Bear: re-awakening

• Bees: hard work, harmony, light

• Serpents: wisdom, rebirth, cycles

• Sheep and lambs: fertility, renewal, sacred to Brigid

• Swans: grace, transformation

Herbs & Plants

• Angelica: protection, healing

• Basil: clarity, purification

• Bay: wisdom, vision, manifestation

• Blackberry: protection, prosperity, sacred to Brigid

• Chamomile: calm, renewal

• Heather: cleansing, fertility

• Lavender: peace, clarity

• Rosemary: memory, cleansing, fire energy

• Snowdrop: new growth, return of life

Trees

• Birch: new beginnings, purification

• Hazel: wisdom, creativity, divine connection

• Rowan: protection, insight, inspiration

• Willow: intuition, cycles, water energy

Food

• Blackberries: protection, prosperity, sacred to Brigid

• Bread and grains: sustenance, prosperity

• Herbal teas: healing, purification

• Honey: sweetness, blessings

• Milk, butter, and cheese: fertility, nourishment

• Root vegetables: grounding, seasonal abundance

• Seeds: new beginnings

May 1, Beltane/May Day

August 1, Lughnasadh/Lammas

October 31, Samhain/Halloween