Imbolc Correspondences
One of the 4 major Sabbats, Imbolc, celebrates the banishing of Winter and welcomes the Spring. At the time of Imbolc, the newborn Sun God is seen as a small child nursing from his Mother. Imbolc is a time to swept away Winter and nuture new beginnings. This Sabbat also represents spiritual growth. Imbolc is a good time to get your life in order, whether mentally, physically, spiritually or emotionally. The name Imbolc, is derived from Gaelic, and means "ewe's milk" after the lactating sheep that are feeding their first born lambs of the new season at this time of year. Imbolc is also known as Imbolg, Oimelc, Candlemas, Feast of Brigid, Festival of Light, Candlelaria, and Anagantious and is celebrated on February 2nd.
Symbols used to represent Imbolc are: a representation of a snowflake, a dish of snow, the bride, burrowing animals, grain dolly, sun wheels, candles.
Foods in tune with Imbolc are: seeds - pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, poppyseed breads, cakes, muffins, foods from the dairy - sour cream dishes, meat dishes with poultry, pork or lamb, spicy dishes, all dishes made with peppers, onions, leeks, garlic or chives, herbal, teas, spicy wines, honey, dishes containing raisins.
The plants & herbs associated with Imbolc are: angelica, basil, bay, heather, myrrh, evergreens, clover, willow trees, dill, all yellow flowers.
For Imbolc incense and oils you can use any of the following scents, either blended together or alone: frankincense, jasmine, apricot, sweet pear, olive, neroli, carnation, rosemary, basil, myrrh, wisteria.
Colors associated with Imbolc are: white, yellow, pink, red, light blue, light green, brown.
Stones associated with Imbolc are: amethyst, garent, onyx, turquoise.
Animals and mythical beasts associated with Imbolc are: robins, sheep, lambs, deers, groundhogs, dragons, firebirds, berometz.
Appropriate Imbolc Goddesses are: all Virgin Goddesses, Flame Goddesses. Some Imbolc Goddesses are: Athena (Greek), Brynhild (Teutonic), Branwen (Manx-Welsh) , Vesta (Roman), Brigid/Brid (Irish), Lucina (Roman-Norse), Triduana (Scottish), Artio (Gaulish).
Appropriate Imbolc Gods are: all Dragon-headed Gods, Flame Gods. Some Imbolc Gods are: Bannink (Slavic), Diancecht (Irish), Essus (Gaulish), Pax (Roman), Braggi (Norse), Dainichi (Japanese), Februus (Roman), Trusto (Teutonic).
Altar decorations can consist of: a crown of 13 red candles, a spring of evergreen, a besom (Witch's broom), a small statue/figurine of the Maiden aspect of the Goddess, candle wheels, grain dollies, sun wheels.
Traditional activities during Imbolc consist of: lighting all the lamps in your home (either at sunset or after your ritual) - even if only for a moment, or placing lit candles in each room on Imbolc eve, gathering stones, searching for signs of spring and learning about alternative healing techinques.
Taboos during Imbolc are: cutting or picking plants
Spellwork can be for: fertility, protection, as well as ones to help define and focus on spiritual and physical desires for the future.
Imbolc is one of the four major sabbats of Witchcraft, falling on February Eve. It marks the halfway point through the "dark half" of the year, or the winter months. Great bonfires, or balefires, were once lit on highest hilltops across Britain and much of Europe to lend extra energy to the God as he made his way through the dark half of the year toward Beltane (May Eve) and the coming of the Goddess. The Goddess herself was in the throes of transferring from the Crone aspect to that of the Maiden, when she emerged from the Underworld in the spring. The Christian church adopted the old Pagan Imbolc festival, as it did so many others, calling it Candlemas. By the fifth century, a procession of lighted candles became a regular part of the Roman Catholic rites, echoing the Pagan origins.
Stewart Farrar says that Imbolc, or the Irish form of i'mbolg, means "in the belly, being the "first foetal stirrings of Spring in the womb of Mother Earth". However, Graham Harvey says the word means "lactation". Regardless of meaning, it traditionally marks the beginning of lambing season and the time of the lactation of the ewes. It is also the Feast of Brighid, who is a fertility bringer. In a monastery at Kildare, in Ireland, a perpetual fire was kept burning in Brighid's honor.
The making of corn dollies and sun wheels is a popular Pagan practice, to recognize and honor the Maiden aspect of the Goddess. In many cases, the straw used to weave the Corn Dollies is that which was cut from the last bundle - known as the Corn Mother - at the previous year's harvest.
Imbolc is the time of the year when Wiccans look to make a change, to clear out that which is no longer useful in their lives to make room for the new things that need to come into their lives. Some traditions and Solitaries symbolically sweep the circle with a broomstick as part of the Imbolc rites.
Sources:
Campanelli, Pauline
Wheel of the Year
Llewellyn, 1989
Campanelli, Pauline
Ancients Ways
Llewellyn, 1991
Farrar, Janet and Stewart
Four Sabbats for Witches
Robert Hale 1981
Havey, Graham
Contemporary Paganism
New York University Press 1997
Brighid
The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is placed by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun.
Another traditional symbol of Imbolc is the plough. In some areas, this is the first day of ploughing in preparation of the first planting of crops. A decorated plough is dragged from door to door, with costumed children following asking for food, drinks, or money. Should they be refused, the household is paid back by having its front garden ploughed up.
In other areas, the plough is decorated and then Whiskey, the "water of life" is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the plough and in the newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.
Deities: All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.
Symbolism: Purity, Growth and Re-Newal, The Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and dispensing of the old and making way for the new.
Symbols: Brideo'gas, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brighid's Crosses, Priapic Wands (acorn-tipped), and Ploughs.
Herbs: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.
Foods: Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.
Incense: Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh.
Colors: White, Pink, Red, Yellow, lt. Green, Brown.
Stones: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise.
Activities: Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Making of Brideo'gas and Bride's Beds, Making Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires maybe lit.
