Imbolc | Candlemas






Imbolc is the season of winter turning into spring.  Our days are visibly getting warmer and longer and thus the long winter is finally becoming less frightening. 

I love reading about the old pagan ways and seeing how they have transformed over the years, how they were co-opted by Christianity in many cases, and how these old roots still find their ways into our present day.

When I first started learning about this holiday it didn't really resonate with me. Much of the festivals/traditions are derived from Celtic traditions which talk about spring is finally coming and as a Minnesotan, I am just like, "nuh-uh". But I have to remind myself, like with all of this new spirituality stuff I get to carve my own path. I plan on doing a series of posts over the season (when the mood strikes and time allows) exploring some of the different aspects of this holiday as a way to meditate on this season. Here are the core concepts/themes of the holiday as I see them.
  • Winter tipping into Spring
  • Hibernation coming to an end, a time for planning for the future
  • A celebration of the Goddesses of hearth and home
  • Symbolism of the Holiday: Rebirth, Renewal, burrowing animals, bears, lambs, stags, lambs, owls, milk, seeds, white, yellow, green, lavender, candles.

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