But its GROUNDHOGS Day you say? Yes it is. But there is much more to this holiday then you realize. Today the little groundhog seeing his shadow (or not) is the last of what is left of Pagan early divination on this day.

So what is special about Feb 2nd? Alot. Its actually a very cool holiday.

I wont go into the many names of holidays that were once celebrated at the beginning of February becuase it would take an entire book. The greeks, the Romans, the early stone age peoples, the Norse and the Celts, even Christians all celebrated a similar theme by different names and to different Gods. But the day essentially is about celebrating the stirring of the earth beneath the snowy slumber and seeking the fires and blessings to continue on and find hope for spring. Winter solstice is 6 weeks past...the light is higher in the sky and the days are growing longer. The hope promised to us during Yule is more evident each day.

Think back to way long ago in an agriarian society and this time of year the cellar and pantry begins to grow barren. Food is more scarce. The cold of winter fills your bones. Will we make it to spring? Will I have enough to feed and provide for my family? There must be some hope...some way to have faith we will make it. And underneath the snow and the bitter cold, the early people found hope. They knew that beneath the snow were stirrings of the mother earth. For she is only dormant for so long and then she will begin to stretch and yawn and begin to slowly wake up to spring. And at Imbolg this is the time she begins to stir. She slowly awakens and if anything, this is her yawn to the people that she will wake up come spring.

In addition to the stirrings of the earth, Imbolg is a day in which I honor the Goddess Brigit. She hails from Ireland and is one of the great Triple Goddess of the Celts known for Inspiration, Smithcraft, and of Healing. As the Maiden Goddess of Inspiration, she bestows her blessing upon personal creativity, art and prophesy- doing something with your hands and creating things from your heart and manifesting them to be. It is also a great time for divination of the future. As the Mother Goddess of Healing and keeper of the sacred well, she blesses physical and spiritual healing, fertility of crop and livestock and mid-wifery. It is a great time to do self dedications to deity of your choice, seek spiritual healing, cleansing of tools or sacred objects or to even "spring clean" the house of those nasty energies and more. As the Crone Goddess of Smithcraft, she blesses blacksmiths, goldsmiths, and other crafters of the household. Becuase of this association with fire and creativity, it is often customary that we make candles at Imbolg. We melt the wax over an open fire (double boiler) and spend the afternoon creating candles for the coming year. We rub oils on them and pour our intent so they may be used for purpose through the coming year.

My plans this imbolc are to rededicate myself to my spiritual path. To seek out Brigits blessing and do a very deep personal cleansing at the same time. I'm going to open all the doors and windows in my home with my children and start ringing bells and banging pans and get all that negative energy out of there. Along with my daughter I"ll walk around the house with a smudge stick and clean and cleanse it all and then close those windows, light some candles, and maybe do some arts and crafts. With Yarrw Coven, we are getting together tomorrow and were going to make candles. But its just way too cold this year for outside! As a result, we will stay inside and have some meditations and activities going on inside. It will all be good. We will have a wonderful time drumming and singing and just keeping warm and finding Brigit’s light together.

Holy Water
Sacred Flame
Brigit we evoke your name
Bless my hands, my head, my heart
Source of healing, song and art.

~ From Circle Round.

Happy Imbolg to all.
~Oscianna~