Image by Aaron Burden for UNSPLASH
Contemplation
We are alive right now inside the Quiet Moon cycle, also known as the Wolf or Cold Moon. This season, she is waning toward the end of her cycle at this cross quarter point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Seasonally and ancestrally this time of year begins to share reminders that spring is near through signs; lambing, early flowers such as snowdrops or hellebores popping up, and the slow creep of the sun’s return. All are offerings of a spark of the light of Spring in the heart of mid Winter.
So often February brings a weariness with it as the cold and dark seem to prevail even as the light slowly waxes its way back to the coming balance of March’s equinox, marking the official return of spring, at least here in the Northern hemisphere, especially in my home in the Southeastern United States. And so it must have been for my Celtic ancestors who honored this cross quarter day, February 1st into the 2nd and called it Imbolc and later after Christianity overlaid itself upon the more ancient ways in order to transition the people into a new culture and belief system through their syncretism of Imbolc into Candlemas. It must have been so comforting to light many candles on this auspicious night in the in between, making tiny dents of light in the great shadow of winter.
As a way to honor the circles we create in our lives today that mirror ancient circles of connective community, let us appreciate the darkness which is still permeating our lives even as we welcome the growing light of spring, by lighting our own candles. find a candle that feels correct to use in the ritual to follow. If you have a community to do this with all the better so that we can see our light reflected in and one another’s. If you are alone, you can do this in front of a mirror.
Imbolc Ritual
Hold your unlit candle in front of you.
Close your eyes and take a couple of deep breaths.
As you inhale, acknowledge all the hard and complicated energies swirling in your life at the moment.
In the exhale release them in order to be fully present in this moment.
Take three breaths as you contemplate the significance of Imbolc, the cross point between two seasons and the inkling of a rebirth cycle about to unfold for the earth and for us.
Open your eyes.
Light your candles.
Keep your candle held in front of you.
Think of the night sky with its shiny dots poking holes in the darkness. Think of our most ancient ancestors, across thousands upon thousands of years ago, staring up at the same moon, stars and planets we do today. Imagine closer ancestors who stood on this planet creating rituals around this night and folks across the world right now who are lighting candles tonight in honor of Imbolc, bound to one another by creative forces beyond our understanding and yet so intrinsically connecting us in community. Feel your connection to one another and to all of humanity through time.
Set your candle down but keep the flame burning for a while tonight (safely of course) as a symbol that we are joined to support the thriving of our collective community of humanity. You can use it to re-center throughout whatever you chose to do to honor Imbolc.
Make sure to keep breathing y’all, releasing with every out-breath!
Thank you for taking part in this contemplation and ritual. Also many people around the world are about to begin the 15 day festival that marks the lunar new year - the yang year of the wood dragon - and energetically February always feels more like new years than in the deep hibernation time of January!
Let’s set an intention for some personal, community, societal, and global manifestations to come to fruition in this year upon us.
In keeping with the Celtic honoring of Imbolc, we will close with a poem by the beloved Irish poet and mystic, John O’Donohue.
FOR A NEW BEGINNING by John O’Donohue
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you are ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety,
And the grey promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled.
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is one with your life’s desires.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
#rootdown #riseup #totherevolutions #alldefinitionsapply
Cheers!
Sonia