Blessed Imbolc

Shh, listen. Can you hear it? A stirring deep within the Earth, hushed, nearly imperceptible.

From the belly of the Mother, new life pushes forth at the Imbolc cross-quarter gateway. In the depths of the Earth womb, beneath snow and ice, natural cycles of creation are silently at work. New life is gestating. Rebirth is at hand.

The ancient Sabbat of Imbolc marks the seasonal turning from winter toward spring in the northern hemisphere. The days grow noticeably longer, and signs of spring begin to emerge from the ground. The promise of rebirth and renewal is fulfilled. South of the equator, this is the Lammas cross-quarter, with the Sun's light beginning to recede as autumn approaches.

February 2 is the traditional date of Imbolc. The festival was Christianized as Candlemas, when the candles to be used in the Catholic Church in the coming year are blessed. In North America, February 2 is Groundhog Day. The groundhog tells us when spring will come, based on whether he sees his shadow.

Traditional Imbolc on February 2 coincides this year with a revolutionary New Moon featuring five planets in Aquarius and a highly-charged aspect between Venus and Uranus. Details in my blog post here.

Zodiacal Imbolc falls on February 3 as the Sun crosses 15 degrees Aquarius. This is the mid-point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Imbolc is one of the four “cross-quarters" traditionally celebrated as Sabbats in pagan traditions. Like the solstices and equinoxes, the effects of the cross-quarters are felt for three days, so the gateway is February 2-4.

“Imbolc” means “in the belly.” In Celtic tradition, this Sabbat is the festival of the Goddess Brighid, who relates to the Corn Maiden in Native American tradition. Both goddess archetypes symbolize the potential of new life within the Earth, within the human female form, and within the feminine aspect of all beings, male and female. Imbolc reminds us of our powers of creation.

The Sabbat

Traditionally we celebrate the Sabbats with ritual, consciously creating with intent as we move toward the birthing at the Spring Equinox on March 20. Progress may seem slow on the surface. Trust that new life is sprouting on inner levels, just as the tiny seeds of spring are beginning to germinate deep within the belly of Mother Earth.

The cosmos gives the green light for new projects, travel and adventure when the Sun enters active Aries at the Vernal Equinox on March 20. This year, Imbolc heralds the beginning of the ninth and final underworld of the Mayan calendar (March 9) and the advent of Uranus' re-entry into Aries (March 11) as he closes in on seven exact squares to powerhouse Pluto in 2012-2015.

Soon, hibernation will be over. The Sun warms our bodies and kisses the Earth. The sights and sounds and smells of a wondrous creation fill our senses. Spring is life on Earth. A new you blossoms, as a flower opening to the sky.