:sparkles: Imbolc :sparkles:

*This is my first slightly informational post. I am a Christian/Catholic witch, but I highly respect and ire pagan religions and deities. :heart:

Introduction

Hello! My name is Mabell Lotus, and I am a new-ish Witch. This is the very first year I am going to be celebrating Imbolc, and I love to prepare early. I am very excited to share with all of you what I know and how I will celebrate this wonderful Sabbat coming up. :blush:

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History of Imbolc

•   Imbolc, also known as Oimelc, Candlemas, or (St) Brigid's Day, is a Gaelic-originating holiday occuring between the Winter Solstice, and the Spring Equinox.

• The holiday celebrates the change in the seasons, and the Goddess Brigid. It is traditionally celebrated on February 1st and/or 2nd.

• The earliest known mentions of Imbolc in Irish literature date back to the 10th century. Poetry from that time relates the holiday to Ewe's Milk, with an emphasis on purification. (The associated word "Oimelc" means Milk of Ewes, because it is also the traditional lambing season in the old world.)

• Imbolc traditions included blessing seeds and consecration of agricultural tools, festivals honoring the Celtic Goddess Brigid, and the lighting of bonfires and lamps, among other things.

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The Goddess: Brigid

*I recommend learning more about her, since this is just a brief overview.

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•  For pagans and witches alike, honoring the Celtic Goddess Brigid is oftentimes the primary focus of Imbolc. The name "Brigid" means exhalted one. Her oldest name, Breo-Saighead, means fiery arrow. Within that name is the attribute of punishment and divine justice.

• Since she is a solar Goddess, she is often represented with rays of light or fire eminating from her head. Brigid is commonly seen as a triple Goddess, due to her fires of hearth, inspiration, and the forge.

• She is sometimes viewed as the maiden aspect of the maiden/mother/crone cycle, though some consider it more fitting for her to be the mother, given her connection with home and childbirth.

• The Goddess Brigid is the patroness of fire, poetry, healing, childbirth, unity, healing, smithcraft, and creativity. She is also the guardian of hearth and home. ^ - ^

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The Saint: Brigid of Kildare

*Being that I am a Catholic Witch, I thought I'd also include a general description of the Saint version of Brigid. I also recommend reading more about her. She preformed many miracles not listed here.

• Saint Brigid was born Brigit and shares her name with the Celtic Goddess. Saint Brigid is one of Ireland's patron saints. She is also the patron saint of babies, blacksmiths, boatmen, brewers, cattle, poets, poor, poultry farmers, scholars, and travelers.

• As a child, Brigid reportedly showed many remarkable demonstrations of charity. Her father, a chieftain, became weary of her charitable nature because she repeatedly donated his possessions to anyone who asked.

• In one story, Dubthach, (her father) took her to the King of Leinster, with the intention of selling her. During the time he spoke to the king, Brigid gave his jeweled sword to a beggar so he could barter it for food for his family. When the King, noticed this act, he recognized her pure heart and convinced Dubthach to grant her freedom.

• Saint Brigid healed many people in her lifetime, and had many other miracles attributed to her. On February 1 525, she ed away of natural causes. After her death, the name and characteristics of the goddess became attached to the saint.

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Correspondences

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How I'll Celebrate

To celebrate my first Imbolc, I am going to do the following-

• Decorate my altar in Green, Red, and White

• Have a purification bath

• Preform a blessing ritual of seeds I'm going to plant

• Do a home blessing

•Spring Cleaning

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Thank you for reading my post! Let me know what you think in the comments.

How will you celebrate Imbolc?