Imbolc - Feb 4th, 2012

Spring is coming!!! Though your modern calendar may not indicate it, Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring to those of us in the Northern Hemisphere and it occurs this year 2012 on Feb 4th at 5:13 am EST/Indiana Time

http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/2012.html 

The Cross Quarter of Imbolc is a time to acknowledge the "First Spark" of embedded energies that have been sleeping over the winter. The seeds that are underground acknowledge the returning energy and will begin to convert it to life deep within the seeds, underground and unseen by man. Even though it is still the dead of winter and feels like winter in most places, the Sun's energy has been returning ever since the Winter Solstice (longest night of the year) on Dec 21st.   On this day we are 1/2 way between the Winter Solstice (longest night of the year) and the Spring Equinox (equal night and day).  


February is also the month in which snowdrops and crocuses begin to appear, things become very spring-like with daffodils and hyacinths coming early as well. Most of us are sick of Winter by this time of year and we all look forward to seeing early flowers, slightly longer evenings, and slightly brighter days around Imbolc. This is the time to reflect upon this cycle and appreciate the unseen gifts that exist in your everyday life.

The old pagan festival of Imbolc,  in ancient Celtic times,  celebrated the pagan goddess named Brigid and marked the end of winter and birth of spring.   On some modern calendars, February 1st is noted as St. Brigid’s Day/Candlemas ; and is celebrated symbolically with the weaving of reeds into crosses. 

Groundhog Day is also celebrated at the very beginning of February in the USA and Canada, when the groundhog emerges from his burrow and decides whether spring has begun or not.    Ground Hog Day on Feb 2nd is tradition created to replace the original holy day of Imbolc; and thus the true meaning of this time of the wheel of the year is missed by many. 

Help bring Imbolc back into the mainstream media by reposting! THANKS! :)


Firehawk