Season of Imbolc
- Summer Kenney
- Feb 10
- 3 min read
It’s dark outside. The ground is patchy with an old snow that has only partially thawed.
On my kitchen counter sits a large plate, painted with a stag against a wintery backdrop. In the center of the plate stands a tall candle, covered in herbs and dried flowers. As the flame dances, bits of herb crackle softly, releasing their fragrant essence. Dried oranges, crystals, and—today—a sprinkle of lavender encircle the candle.
Because today is Imbolc—and something is stirring.
If you are not attuned to the subtle patterns of nature and the rhythms of the earth, it may still just look like winter. But beneath the surface, there is a shift. A profound awakening, a quiet stirring, a breath of life whispering through the cold.
Imbolc: A Time of Faith and Awakening
The word Imbolc translates to “in the belly”—a fitting beginning, as it is from the belly that all life emerges. Imbolc is tender, gentle, full of quiet magic.
I envision winter as a deep valley that we have gradually descended into. Imbolc is the turning point, the moment we begin our ascent out of the darkness.
It is a season of faith.
Nothing outwardly looks different yet—the air is still cold, the trees still bare, the snow still lingers. But something deep inside you knows. You step outside, and it’s there—gliding on the breeze, whispering through the morning light.
The grip of winter is loosening. Spring is stirring beneath the frozen ground.
A Call to Trust
Imbolc invites us to trust ourselves. To listen to our intuition, even when the world around us does not yet reflect the change we feel inside. It reminds us that the seeds of the coming year are already planted, deep in the belly of the universe.
We cannot yet see them. But they are there.
This is the power of potential—of believing in what is still unseen.
Ways to Observe Imbolc
Observing Imbolc is a deeply fulfilling practice that connects you to nature’s rhythms and the ancient traditions that honor the cycle of the year. Here are a few meaningful ways to celebrate this season of quiet transformation:
🌿 Create an Imbolc Altar
Set up an altar that reflects both the stillness of winter and the first stirrings of spring. Include elements like:✔️ Dried oranges (representing the sun’s return)✔️ Pine branches (symbolizing resilience and renewal)✔️ Candles (the growing light and Brigid’s sacred flame)
🕯️ Light Candles and Reflect
Fire is at the heart of Imbolc, symbolizing the sun’s strengthening power. Light candles and reflect on:🔥 The new beginnings you wish to cultivate🔥 The intentions you are planting for the months ahead🔥 The inner wisdom stirring within you
🌀 Meditation and Introspection
Sit quietly before your altar. Close your eyes. Breathe.
🌾 Imagine the frozen earth beneath you, teeming with life just beneath the surface.🌱 Envision your own potential, waiting for the right moment to bloom.🌿 Trust that even if you can’t see it yet, the shift has already begun.
🌸 Make Offerings & Craft Brigid’s Crosses
As a festival of Brigid, goddess of fertility, poetry, and fire, it is traditional to leave offerings in her honor. Some ideas:🥛 A small dish of milk or honey🍞 A piece of bread or butter
You can also weave a Brigid’s Cross from reeds or straw and place it in your home for protection and blessings.
📖 Write & Journal Your Intentions
Imbolc is a time of visioning. Use this moment to:🖋️ Write down your reflections and insights🌟 Set intentions for the coming year💭 Tune into the subtle messages the season is bringing you
A Season of Becoming
Imbolc is not the full bloom of spring.
It is the promise of it.
It is the whisper before the song, the spark before the flame, the first stirring of life within the darkness.
And it is asking you to trust in what is coming—even if you cannot yet see it.
Because Spring always comes.
And you, too, are beginning to bloom. 🌿✨
Comments