Exploring the energy of Imbolc
We stand on the threshold of another turn…the threshold to the Northeast through the Gateway of Imbolc.
Feel into the energies of this time of a stirring deep below the frozen, cold, hard ground. This time is a gestation, an anticipation as we start to feel into the energy of emergence and the subtle undercurrents of the spring energy that’s beginning in the unseen.
In the time of our ancestors, the storehouse was dwindling. This time brought hope. We’re viscerally experiencing the waxing light. The threshold of the Light time of the year.
Notice what this activates and initiates for you. What is evoked? What’s stirring in the womb of the creative cauldron of your being? What seeds are beginning to quiver and shake and crack open? What fire can we feel in this anticipation, in this pregnant pause before birth?
We hang out here in the liminal, the non-physical, the in-between, the all, the void, the yes.
In this article, you can find the Herbs of Imbolc, a seasonal recipe, and a ritual to deepen the medicine of this crossquarter holiday. To learn more about this holy day, and walk the wheel with me, access my instant download course, Wheel Walkers.
May these rhythms, recipes and rituals craft a doorway for deep reclamation and remembrance of who you truly are. Blessings.
The Herbs of Imbolc
Coltsfoot
Iris
Myrrh
Heather
Angelica
Ginger
Basil
Bay Laurel
Blackberry
Learn more about the herbs of Imbolc in Wheel Walkers!
Imbolc Ritual
Working with Candlelight
When working with Candlelight, we weave the space from darkness to light in a subtle, ancestral way while acknowledging that darkness always precedes light. As we attune to this season, candlelight invites us into a soft unfoldment towards spring, honors the inner creative light and acknowledges the return of light in the lengthening sunlit days.
This meditation is a type of open-eye meditation that involves focusing on a candle flame for a period of time.
Create a peaceful, dimly lit environment
Position your meditation candle in front of you at a comfortable distance (and in a safe space for burning a candle)
Settle into a comfortable seat and softly cast your gaze upon the candlelight
Allow long deep breathing to deepen your experience
If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to the flame. If your eyes water, it’s fine to blink, but with practice, you’ll find that you won’t even need to blink
If you need a break, close the eyes down and gaze through your 3rd eye until you open your eyes again
Start with 3-5 mins and build up to 20.
Recipe:
Imbolc Ritual Cake
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs. poppy seeds
1 tbs. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
powdered sugar
This is all done in one pan, so clean up is a breeze! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking soda, and salt with a fork in an ungreased 9"x9"x2" baking pan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the powdered sugar. Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, and the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 8 servings. Source