On February 2, between the winter solstice and the spring equinox

Imbolc is the «Dawn» party inside us. A new life cycle begins, after purification of everything that hindered our growth.

It is the time for the awakening of the seeds that, during the winter, sleep warmly under the earth. We celebrate the first outbreaks that announce the proximity of spring.

The goddess Brigid accompanies us. She is inspiration, healing, renewal. The triple goddess: maiden, mother and old. She protects, preserves and encourages fertility on earth. She represents the three fires: of inspiration (girl), home (mother) and healing (old woman).

Brigid approaches silently and collects everything that has been neglected in us. It shows us the way to ourselves, healthy wounds and tells us about our potential to live.
We also celebrate the Candelaria, a symbol of the purification of Mary. Within the Christian tradition, Mary has passed the quarantine after having given birth to Jesus in the winter solstice. With the light of the candle we light all the candles of the churches, with the candle we will light all the candles of the year … as a symbol of transformation.
It is a time to honor purity and innocence, to open ourselves to the spark of intuition and creative inspiration, to feel the vital force that resurfaces from the deepest in us.

Some ideas to celebrate Imbolc:

* Light candles to thank the light that returns and connects with the light inside you.

* Light candles for healing. Light candles for Earth.

* With every candle, feel your internal wisdom, the result of all the cycles you have lived and, from there, express your wishes and name your commitments for this new cycle that begins.

* Give yourself time to meditate, write poetry, draw, paint and create something with your hands.

* Look at the new outbreaks, feel the sap that goes back up and let yourself permeate by the vital force of nature.

* If you can turn on a fire, connect with what you want to leave behind and clean and its flames, giving space to how new you want to sprout in you.

* Take some seeds in your hands to represent what you want me to come to light and bloom from within. If you join with other people, you can pass the seeds through the circle and name them out loud.

* Sing and let your voice flow spontaneously, allow your inner beauty to arise through your song

* Commit to listen more and more the spark of your intuition, your internal voice, your deep wisdom. The world needs it.

Thanks to Núria Cortes for her great connection with this festival and for reminding me of its meaning with this compilation of words, and thanks to Glennie Kindred for the great inspiration contributed by his book «Sacred Celebrations: A Sourcebook»