Welcome to Imbolc,
The ancient Celtic festival of early spring fire.
Falling around February 1st and 2nd,
It is a cross-quarter day,
The midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
The word Imbolc means in the belly and likely refers to lambing season,
When sheep's milk first became available after the long winter without a lot of sources of food.
This festival has also come to be associated with the goddess Brigid,
Who holds the sacred fire,
Who protects women and domesticated animals.
This is the moment in the wheel of the year when the energy of new life finally begins to return after the season of death around the winter solstice.
The first signs and signals of spring begin to become available,
The days become longer,
And hope starts to feel possible again.
On this sacred day,
We will invite our own inner fire to return to the world and bring life and energy back to our bodies,
Our hearts,
And our spirits.
If you haven't already,
Take a moment to get comfortable.
You can do this meditation in any position,
But I recommend sitting up in a tall,
Comfortable seat.
Gently close your eyes,
And if you like,
Place your hands over your solar plexus,
Around your stomach,
Above your belly button.
Take a moment to consider the earth and the land that you are on.
Consider your relationship to this land.
Depending on where you live,
There may or may not be any signals of spring coming through.
Imagine you could feel the energy of the earth around you,
That fire,
That spark beneath the dirt that will inevitably turn to spring and summer.
Take a few deep breaths,
Imagining a circle of protection around yourself.
Clarify that only energies that are in alignment with the highest good are welcome here,
And anything else will be filtered out.
Now imagine a spark beneath your hands,
In the center of your body,
At your core.
Breathe as if your lungs were bellows,
Able to fan the flame of this little ember.
Let your breath invite the heat and the hope of a new season.
What dreams,
Wishes,
Or intentions have you been sitting with over the dark season?
Is there something that you'd like to be growing or cultivating as the light of the spring grows longer?
Consider those desires and intentions as you breathe this little spark into your belly.
You may still be working with dreams and desires,
Or you may be able to consider some actions now.
Think about what steps might feel right to take around these dreams or desires now or in the next couple of months,
Trusting that your energy to move toward these things will only grow as the world warms up again.
Now return your attention to the earth,
To the magic of the spring,
Which always returns.
To the capacity that the land has to move through seasons,
To grow,
To live,
To offer forth,
To die,
And to be reborn again.
Offer your honor and gratitude to the land that you're on right now.
Offer gratitude to yourself,
To that spark in your belly,
Your breath,
And anyone or anything else you'd like to thank right now.
When you feel ready,
Take the last few breaths.
You may like to shake your hands out as well.
Eventually,
Open your eyes and enjoy the rest of your day.
Happy in bulk.
