Welcome everyone.
As we gather together for this meditation,
We honour Imolc,
A sacred time of transition and renewal.
The ancient Celtic festival of Imolc marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox,
A time when the light is slowly returning to the earth.
It's a celebration of the stirring of life beneath the surface.
The first signs of spring are beginning to show,
And with them comes the promise of new beginnings.
Symbols of Imolc include early spring flowers such as snowdrops,
Milk,
Especially ewes milk,
And fire,
Representing nourishment,
Warmth and light.
Rituals at this time often focus on cleansing,
Intention setting and inviting growth into our lives.
Let's hold these themes in our heart as we journey through this meditation together.
Take some time to get yourself into a comfortable position.
Feel free to pause this recording if you need to go and get any additional blankets.
Turn mobile phones on to silent.
Take landlines off the hook.
Tell your loved ones that you're taking half an hour just to be with yourself.
And when you feel ready,
Allow your body to relax.
You can be sitting upright with your feet firmly planted on the ground,
Or lying down in your preferred resting position.
Close your eyes and gently take a deep breath in.
Take a long breath out.
Let your attention drift to the ground beneath you,
The earth supporting you,
Steady and strong.
Feel the connection between your body and the earth as it roots as if roots were extending from your feet,
Or your base reaching down into the soil.
With every breath feel yourself becoming more anchored.
Imagine drawing in the strength and stability of the earth,
Letting it fill you with a sense of calm,
And balance.
Take a few more breaths here,
Grounding yourself in this moment,
Grounding yourself in the here and now.
Now bring your awareness to your body.
Gently scan from the top of your head down to the tips of your toes,
Noticing any areas of tension or tightness.
Start with your face.
Soften your forehead and unclench your jaw.
Move to your neck and shoulders,
Letting them drop and loosen,
Releasing tension onto the ground beneath you.
Let this wave of relaxation continue down your arms,
Your chest,
Your back,
Your legs,
All the way to your feet and into the tips of each toe.
With each breath out,
Imagine releasing tension.
With each breath in,
Invite ease and softness into the whole of your body.
Allow yourself to feel light,
Open,
And at peace.
Feel your body becoming more relaxed,
Heavier and heavier sinking down onto the earth.
With every breath,
Releasing residual tension,
Reaching deeper and deeper states of profound relaxation.
You are now at your most relaxed,
Resting tension free on the ground or in the chair.
Peaceful and open to the possibilities that this practice will bring.
Now that you're grounded and relaxed,
I invite you to imagine yourself standing at the edge of a quiet winter landscape.
The air is cool and crisp,
Carrying with it a faint promise of warmth to come.
You're wrapped in a comforting sense of peace as you take a moment to simply stand and breathe.
The land around you is resting under winter's gentle embrace.
The earth appears bare,
Perhaps covered in frost or patches of snow.
But as you look closer,
You begin to sense something stirring.
Life,
In all its forms,
Is waiting beneath the surface,
Preparing to awaken.
Begin walking through this landscape,
Your footsteps soft against the earth.
The pale light of the sun spills over the horizon,
Casting a golden glow on all across the land.
You notice the first signs of spring.
Tiny green shoots breaking through the frozen ground.
A hint of colour from the buds on the trees.
Snowdrops are blooming nearby in small groups,
Their white petals delicate yet resilient as they reach towards the emerging light.
Pause here for a moment.
Kneel down if you like.
Take in the details of these flowers.
Notice how fragile they appear,
Yet how strong they are,
Emerging even in the cold.
Feel a sense of wonder at their courage and their quiet determination to grow despite all the odds.
Let their presence remind you of your own strength,
Of the small but powerful ways you're beginning to grow too.
As you continue walking,
You come across a small stream.
The ice along its edges is beginning to melt and the water flows gently,
Whispering of renewal.
You dip your fingers into the cool,
Clear water and feel its vitality,
Its promise of nourishment for all that is yet to come.
You might reflect on how you're nourishing yourself and your own intentions right now.
The air is slowly coming alive with new sounds.
Birds begin to sing their tentative songs of the season.
Listen to their melodies,
The calls that seem to herald the return of joy and connection.
Perhaps these sounds stir something in your heart.
Hope,
Inspiration or simply the comfort of knowing that the cycle of life continues.
The warmth of the sun touches your face now,
Gentle but growing stronger.
As you stand here surrounded by the earliest signs of spring,
Take a moment to reflect on your own life.
What is beginning to emerge for you?
What are the first shoots of your growth?
Picture these budding intentions or dreams as tiny seeds planted deep within you.
They have been resting,
Gathering strength and now they're preparing to push through the surface.
Trust in this process,
Knowing that even if the changes feel small or unseen,
They are meaningful and real.
Spend a few moments here,
Taking in the sights,
Sounds and sensations of this awakening landscape.
Notice the harmony between the stillness of winter and the quiet energy of spring beginning to stir.
Allow yourself to feel connected to this cycle of renewal,
As if the same energy that stirs in the earth is also awakening within you.
The festival of Imulk reminds us that even in the cold and darkness there is life.
Beneath the surface,
Growth is happening,
Just as it is with us.
Sometimes our progress feels invisible,
But it's always there waiting to bloom when the time is right.
Consider what you are nurturing within yourself this season,
A new project,
Habit or simply a renewed sense of hope.
Trust in your own rhythm,
Just as nature trusts in hers.
Now slowly begin to bring your awareness back to the present moment.
Wiggle your fingers and toes and feel the solid ground beneath you once again.
Take a deep breath in,
Filling yourself with light and energy and exhale,
Releasing any final tensions that may remain.
Begin to wake the body up any way that feels natural,
Taking whatever movements you need and when you're really ready,
Slowly and gently open your eyes.
Carry the spirit of Imulk with you,
The promise of growth,
The beauty of beginnings and the warmth of the light returning.
Thank you for joining me.
