Tapping into this midwinter festival 

“The Snow Queen” by Thomas Bromley Blacklock

Imbolc (also known as Oimelc, Imbolc and Candlemas) is a midwinter festival marking the cross quarter day midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.  It is also one of the eight Sabbats on the modern Pagan’s Wheel of the Year. 

Imbolc means “in the belly” and Oimelc means “ewe’s milk” which both signify the significance of sheep to this holiday: agrarian society in Europe practiced animal husbandry methods year round, and early February was the time for lambs to be born. And of course, February 2 is also Groundhog Day, a time when we try to divine the remaining length of winter.

The holiday is also associated with festivals for Saint Brigid, thought to be named for the Irish goddess Brigid, and so many pagans honor the goddess Brigid on this day. She is associated with healing, childbirth, smithcraft, and poetry.

Some pagans and witches also observe this as the “Feast of Februa” which honors forest god Pan, and shares some some similarities with Lupercalia, which occurs a few days later. For those who follow a more eclectic expression of Wicca and other pagan paths, it’s fine to combine various elements for your observance of Imbolc.

Real life experience from celebrating this holiday has revealed how suitable it is to follow one’s instincts when choosing a focus:

(Image: The Guardian, by Jeanie Tomanek)

For those who refer to the holiday as Imbolc or Oimelc (literally “in the belly” or “ewe’s milk” depending on your source), it makes perfect sense to forge (no pun intended) a connection to the female goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft. But I like the idea of a focus on a male god figure, especially one associated with sexuality and the forest. 

The former is more of an indoor archetype, the latter outdoors…The threshold, the door allowing us to shut the cold out or brave the biting winds, is a liminal place. This feeling of being on the brink is a powerful catalyst for many of us, urging engagement with new projects, or a return to old ones…Mercury’s retrograde periods in winter allow a perfect opportunity to return to unfinished work. We dig in, hibernate, reflect, craft, repair. Brigid approves, this stoking of fires as intellectual as it is visceral. But so does Pan, his jollity a balm on grey days, wafting Arcadian breezes into our winter dreams.

So, how to celebrate Imbolc as a solitary pagan?

With fire, poetry and healing

Fire

A candle is of course a fine representation of fire; but if you have a fireplace or woodstove, or if weather permits, you may have a small fire in your outdoor fire-dish or firepit (please observe standard safety precautions, your local laws and never leave an unattended candle burning!).

Spend some time looking at the flames, considering the gifts fire brings: warmth, food preparation, industry, social gatherings. Consider the symbolic power of fire: emotion, passion, creativity and inspiration, strength. Consider the healing power of fire: its literal power to cauterize, to cleanse, and to comfort. You may want to move or dance, or play a drum to build up some energy.

Poetry

Choose a piece of poetry you love suitable to the season, or write your own piece of poetry. Read it aloud, or listen to it (Loreena McKennitt’s “Snow” is a musical adaptation of a poem by Canadian poet Archibald Lampman, which I love for this time of year). Maybe you can copy your chosen poem into your journal, or post your chosen poem in a place where you will see it every day. Resolve to enjoy or create more poetry in your life in the coming months. Poetry is a respite from the prosaic everyday world, but it is also a source of focus, insight and inspiration.

Healing Power of Ritual

(Image: “Woman with a Burning Candle” by Alphonse Mucha)

Lastly, bring healing into this ritual. Consider the ways you would like to bring healing to your life, or to the world. Maybe you want to work on your health, prosperity or a personal relationship. Perhaps you want to get involved in a local effort to help the homeless, or shelter animals, or an environmental cause. Consider these possibilities for focus in your winter work, and let this focus on healing carry you through to the rejuvenating season of spring, and beyond.

Extinguish the fire or candle flame carefully when your ritual is finished. Look inward to rekindle its warmth any time you need to, and know that the fire of will and creativity is always inside you.