Honouring the Seasons - Imbolc
On February 1st the Pagan Wheel of the Year turns toward Imbolc, the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.
Imbolc is one of four cross-quarter festivals (also known as the fire festivals) which occur when the energy of each season has reached its peak and the signs of the next season are starting to show.
The other cross quarter festivals are Beltane on May 1st, Lammas on August 1st and Samhain on October 31st.
Wheel of the Year image - Tijana Draws
The first mention of Imbolc is in the medieval ‘Ulster cycle’, written sometime between the eighth and eleventh centuries.
“No man will travel this country, who hasn’t gone sleepless from Samhain, when the summer goes to its rest, until Imbolc, when the ewe’s are milked at Spring’s beginning, and from Imbolc to Beltane at the Summer’s beginning”
The name Imbolc comes from the Old Irish meaning ‘in the belly’. Imbolc marks the start of lambing season. It symbolises life held in the dark, not yet announced, a period of gestation soon to be awakened and unfurled.
The Celtic Goddess Brigid
The Pagan tradition celebrates Brigid as the Goddess of Imbolc. Brigid is the Goddess of fire, fertility, healing and poetry (and the patroness of blacksmithing and metalwork!) which are all domains of alchemy and transformation.
Brigid is seen as a triple Goddess - embodying maiden, mother and crone. At Imbolc, she was said to transform into maiden and walk the land, the light from her fire igniting life that had been lying dormant, stirring seeds buried deep underneath the earth.
As with many Pagan traditions, there is a later link to Christianity and Brigid is thought to have become Saint Brigid. In Ireland St Brigid’s day is celebrated on the same day as Imbolc and Brigid’s crosses made of reeds are still made and hung in homes.
What does Imbolc mean for us?
Imbolc is a liminal time; we might have new ideas but still be low on energy, moments of creativity alongside a lingering tiredness. Our wintering period is starting to thaw but our bodies are still restoring.
Imbolc invites us to take an inventory before the bolder action of Spring, to honour the subtle changes that begin quietly in protected spaces before they become visible.
Full moon in Leo
This year Imbolc also aligns with the full moon in Leo, which can ignite sparks of expression and release. We might find the courage to let go of things we don't wish to carry into a new cycle.
Imbolc is a time to pause and reflect on our wintering, looking ahead with intention and hope to the next season.
Sources
Williams, Liz (2021) Miracles of Our Own Making - A History of Paganism. Reaktion Books
Gallagher, Kirsty (2023) Sacred Seasons. Yellow Kite
Crowe, Rebecca (2026) What is Imbolc? Available at URL https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/imbolc-celtic-celebration-brigid