‘Notes from the Heart’
~A modern twist on ancient mama wisdom~
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I posted this entry a year ago – an oldie but a goodie! ~ Delia
Imbolc/Candlemas: February 2nd~ The first of the springtime festivals, Imbolc is a festival of light and a celebration to welcome the first stirrings of spring and the lengthening of days. It is a cross quarter day halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The word Imbolc (pronounced im’-olk) is a Gaelic word that means “in the belly”. In Latin America, it is called “Candelaria”, the time of the lighting of the candles. Our modern culture only dimly remembers the festival of Imbolc.
It was once a celebration of the longer days which we notice at this time of year. We know it now as “Groundhog Day.”
So what’s the deeper meaning?
If we take a moment to step outside, though the ground is still snow-covered, we feel a new vitality around us, a sense of new possibilities, a soft humming in the earth. We feel the dark heaviness of winter finally lifting.
Just like the earth is pregnant with life energy unseen to the naked eye, Imbolc celebrates a time of becoming and the invisible process of manifestation. It is a period of inner awakening, and preparation for new life; a clearing away of the old to make way for the new, for what is to come, for the spring, and for what is yet to be born.
You don’t want a hokey kind of ceremony, yet you wanna make it special.
You want to go beyond the usual St. Valentine’s Day ‘heart-shaped/cut n’ paste/doiley crafts’ with your kids. You’ve tapped your ancient self and want to celebrate the first light of spring with your children and friends. You want to make it meaningful, without all the waffle…A way to honour the earth’s rhythms that’s fun & memorable.
Maybe you’ve read articles like this and not clear on where to begin.
Oh hey, I know the rush of dreaming up a party, but then panicking over the details. I myself have had one fizzle out before it even came together. It only takes you ~ or just a few ~ to make it magical. It’s soooo simple, really…and you don’t need to mimic other traditions. Just dive into your authentic self and create your own.
Still not sure?
Try these ideas:
1. Clear out the old. By getting rid of the old, we make way for new things to sprout and grow. If you have a special table in your home, Imbolc is a great time to dust and clean it. Get your kids some cloths and sponges and let them have fun. They love responsibilities and will probably beam with pride once they’re done. Time to clean old beeswax-dripped candleholders. Toss out the greenery left over from Christmas/Yule.
Now, scoop up a bowl of snow to bring inside and set it on your new seasonal table. Watching it melt through the day becomes a happy reminder that the big thaw is upon us.
2. Light candles. Light a candle or two to celebrate this feeling of potential in the air. Make this connection between our own tiny lights and the larger picture of seasonal light. This is one of Imbolc’s gifts, adding a special glow to your family’s atmosphere.
3. Bring out the sprouts. Include on your table a small bowl of seeds and sprouts to nibble on. A yellow or pale green scarf on your alter reflects the first hint of spring, reminding us that under the cold earth, seeds are stirring and will soon sprout into life.
4. Build a fire. This is a simple ritual activity for the whole family. Make a fire inside if you have a woodstove or fireplace – or an outside bonfire if possible. After tossing in some old dusty greenery into the fire, encourage your children to privately write or draw something they wish they had done differently – a hurtful word said to someone in anger, or a half-finished project. Then, crumple the papers and throw them into the fire, releasing all regret. Toss in a few grains of salt for a good cleansing. The past is behind us! Invite everyone to visualize shining new potentials for the seasons ahead.
5. Bake an earthen cake. For dessert you may want a rich pan of black brownies and “plant” them with a few surprises ~ ginger candy, goji berries, caramel, candied almonds, even gems or crystals ~ just don’t chip a tooth on that lucky find! The cake’s colour represents the dark rich earth, containing the living seeds below. Then, plant some candles in the cake. Have each person light a candle to ‘plant’ their personal wishes, changes, or projects they wish to manifest in the months ahead. Do you want to learn guitar, try an Aikido class, ride a bike?
6. Have fun. Some of the least planned gatherings turn out to be the best kind.
As with any sacred ceremony, there is no need to take yourself too seriously.
Remember the simplicity of 
sharing stories, as well as the medicinal power of laughter and song to keep the conduit moving.
When we all fall into our nightly slumbers, the seeds are stirring in their dark beds. Soon the light of dawn will reveal their brave green shoots rising from the last traces of snow.
Till next time,
Delia
Blog Entry #1: January 27, 2011
Source for this Article: Celebrating the Great Mother: A Handbook of Earth-Honoring Activities for Parents and Children.