Imbolc 

On Thursday, February 1st, Imbolc, also known as “Saint Brigid’s Day” takes place this year. Imbolc is traditionally an Irish and Scottish Gaelic holiday and festival. This special day symbolizes the beginning of spring and is the halfway mark between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It is a traditional Gaelic Pagan holiday that is hundreds of years old but has also been adapted into Christianity as the feast day of Saint Brigid. Brigid is originally the goddess of fertility, spring and life. 

It is perfect timing for the Wolf Moon and Imbolc to take place exactly a week apart this year. Both symbolize a fresh start to not only a new year but a new season. Spring has always been a beacon of hope all throughout time. The sun stays with us longer during the day and the nights become shorter. The snow is no longer sticking and the chance of new life is able to sprout.

Now is the time to place the seeds of what we would like to see grow this year. And by seeds, yes we mean both metaphorically and physically. Like we mentioned before, it is time to begin to set the foundations for this year of change so we are able to reap the rewards. It is time for a new and healthier cycle to emerge; a new year, a new moon cycle and a new season! The Universe is telling us so! 

Grounding and De-Stressing in the Winter

It can be hard for us to feel grounded and connected to nature when it's winter; snow covers the ground, the wind nips at our cheeks and we feel sleepy at 5PM when the sun goes down. So how can we ground ourselves in the bitter cold of winter?

We love to create our own incense blends to begin meditating, for this blend we choose our favourite de-stressing and calming herbs; rose, lemon balm, lavender and lemongrass. Something about the light floral and citrus scent reminds us of that first day of spring; when the sun shines brighter, the wind feels warmer and we suddenly have a boost of energy because of the weather.

Next we light a candle with the intention of grounding. We chose a red candle to align with our root chakra, which sets the foundation of the rest of our energy points to be balanced. A black candle is also a great alternative as well. 

Our incense is now burning, our candle now lit and already a sense of a calming safe space has been created. Next, our personal favourite part (because we love anything pretty and sparkly), we choose our preferred grounding crystals. We had a hard time choosing between three crystals with amazing grounding properties: black tourmaline, obsidian and smokey quartz. All three work in their own ways and are just as magical! 

Place both feet on the ground, sitting up straight and hold your preferred grounding crystal in your lap. Take a few moments to get comfortable; feel the essence of the stone, the smell of the incense, the flickering candle flame. Choose a breathing exercise that best suits you, we love square breathing so we’ll always recommend that. 

Imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet, imagine them twisting and twirling all the way down to the center of the earth, anchoring you to Mother Nature. Once your roots have reached the center, now visualize divine white light flowing up, up, up into your feet and then reaching each chakra all the way to your crown (the top of your head). 

Once the white light reaches your crown, picture it engulfing and dispeling any negative energy, thoughts and feelings until you simply feel indifferent. Able to look in from a bird’s eye view, a way that thoughts are no longer jumbled but linear and cohesive instead. You are filled with light and grounded to the earth in perfect harmony.

You can continue to meditate as long as you wish or you also have the option to take advantage of the sacred space you created to do things such as journaling, shadow work or some tarot/oracle. 

How to Celebrate Imbloc

In Llewellyn’s Witchs’ Datebook 2024, it suggests to us to honour the signs of nature’s changes. One activity suggested is to place a package of seeds on your altar and to then meditate on how something as small as a seed will bring forth the sign of a changing season and the power the life course renewed. The author also suggests meditating and being extra attentive to any house plants you may have. We like this idea of spending time with plant spirits and thanking them for the life they bring. But there are so many ways besides tending to gardening and plants to celebrate this lovely day, because let’s face it, not all of us can identify as a “green thumb” or “green witch”.

A Brigid Cross

Traditionally a Bridgid Cross is made during the celebration of the goddess/saint by weaving together a cross in her honour. Arts and crafts are an amazing way to celebrate these new beginnings because the act symbolizes making something out of nothing, putting in your time and energy to be rewarded with something beautiful you can be proud of! After you are done making your Brigid Cross, you can hang it at your front door to prevent any misfortunes from coming into your home. We found this tutorial in case you would like to follow along and make your own!

Spring Cleaning

Yes, yes, yes! It is that time of the year again when we must begin the intimidating task of spring cleaning. Even though the task always seems daunting, when we are done with it, it can be the biggest relief. 

Some witchy cleaning tips:

-add Orange Blossom Cologne or Florida Water in your mop bucket to bring in happiness, prosperity and success (and also an amazing fresh spring smell as well).

-wash your front door down with diluted Cinnamon Cologne on the first day of any month but being Imbolc makes it extra special!

-wrap some bluing balls in a cloth and add it to your laundry to whiten and purify clothing while also bringing luck, success and also cleansing and driving away evil spirits.

-spray some Van Van in your home, on your fresh linen and your couches for a wonderfully fresh citrus scent and also to bring in all that love, luck and prosperity!

Home Blessing

Imbolc is the perfect time to bless your new beginnings. Blessing your home, your loved ones and yourself allows an open gate of success to come with all of your hard work. There are so many ways to bless your life!

-Bless yourself or loved ones with bath salts, blessing oils or soap.

-Bless your home by burning herbs and/or resins such as sweetgrass, rose, frankincense and myrrh.

-Bless your home also by washing the floors and walls down with Florida Water, Rose Water or Holy Water.

-Burn a white candle with Home Blessing Oil.

Send prayers out to the universe and call in your spirits as you do so. Wording does not have to be perfect as long as the intent is there. An example we chose: “Mother Mary, please bless our home so only prosperity, happiness and love is welcome to come through our door.”

Onto Better Things!

Overall, it is the perfect time to start a new chapter in life in whatever way that looks like to you. It is time to have the confidence to change the things we are unhappy with and to grow as individuals. We all have the might power of a lion to do so! Once we are equipped with the toolbelt of healthy habits, we have a perfect solid foundation to allow everything else to fall into place. It is never too late in life to start a project, finish a project and change our ways. 

As they say, "Out with the old, in with the new."

Happy Imbolc witches!