Imbolc & the Wheel of the Year

As we approach Imbolc (here in the Northern Hemisphere), I’m reminded of all that the Wheel of the Year represents: the cycles of light and dark, and of the constant flow and unending cycle of all things from birth, growth, and death to rebirth.

One way that I like to connect with the seasons and cycles of the earth is by tuning into The Wheel of the Year.

The Wheel of the Year can help you tune into natural cycles (similar to the Lunar Phases - but on an annual scale rather than just monthly) and helps you internalize these outward changes in nature as reflections of the growth and evolution you experience in your own life. Living in harmony with the seasons and the ebb and flow of nature helps you to lead a more soulful life and to cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself on a soul level. The Wheel of the Year helps you recognize who you are and your role in the world around you.

So what is the Wheel of the Year?

Separated into 8 main holidays, the Wheel of the Year is a representation of seasonal cycles that focuses on the 4 Solar Holidays of the year (also known as the quarter days). This stems from the Anglo-Saxon cultural observations of the solstices and equinoxes, with the addition of the 4 Gaelic, agrarian, seasonal celebrations (the mid-points between the solar holidays known as the lunar cross-quarter days or fire festivals).

An Introduction to Imbolc:

February 1st is Imbolc (here in the Northern Hemisphere), the first of the cross-quarter days, which marks the beginning of spring (the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox). It’s origins are connected to the lambing season, or calving period when animals would begin giving milk, and the beginning of spring sowing of the ancient Celts. 

Though Imbolc is most widely celebrated on February 1st, it may also be celebrated on the true midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox (or on the evening of the Full Moon nearest this date - or on the evening of the Full Moon in Aquarius...though some dispute this and say it’s on the New Moon in Aquarius). You may also choose to adjust the date of your Imbolc celebration to coincide with your exact location, by celebrating when the first spring flowers (like Snowdrops, Crocuses, Daffodils, Dandelions, or Primroses) emerge and bloom.

Imbolc Crystals:

Red Garnet

Carnelian

Black Onyx

Bloodstone

Pyrite

Orange Calcite

Golden Calcite

Citrine

Amethyst

Azurite

Ruby

Golden Tiger’s Eye

Red Jasper

Malachite

Peridot

Turquoise

White Moonstone

Imbolc Signifies the Time for:

Renewal

Fertility & Midwifery

Coziness

Love

Purification & Cleansing

Birth & Rebirth

Transformation & Change

Emergence

Hope

Growth

Grief

Initiation

Gardening & Planting Seeds (Sprouting)

Late Winter

Anticipation

Release of What No Longer Serves You

Imagination & New Ideas

Inklings of Spring

Prosperity

Spring Cleaning

Protection

Communication

Planning & Preparation

New Beginnings

Awakening

Creativity

Warmth

Return of the Light

Why celebrate Imbolc?

Imbolc celebrates the first inkling of Spring and welcomes in new growth and the return of warmth to the ...