How To Imbolc : On Less Than A Shoestring!

2/1/2019

My Imbolc observance is going to be very different this year. I’m back to being a solitary practitioner again. I've definitely been feeling the pre-Imbolc winter vibe. I've been in a state of stuck at home, hibernation under snow drifts of depression, one of the worst bouts I've experienced. It has not helped that I’ve had absolutely no work this year. I have less than $4 in my bank account and my car is not driveable so I have no way to get supplies even if I had some scratch. Most of my magical supplies are still boxed up and stored in another city for the last couple of years so, I haven't had an official altar dedicated to Brigid in some time.

So, no fresh flowers and none of the things I used to put out for Imbolc, but I am soooo ready in my soul. What to do?

How To Imbolc On Less Than A Shoestring?

Well, the good news is, Brigid understands intent. She sees what’s in your heart. While a fancy traditional altar is great, you can always find a way to be creative with what you have around the house or what you might find outdoors. Once I got to work, I was surprised how well it all came together. The best thing is that it feels so good to have a dedicated space to Brigid. Even though I’m not going to keep the altar in this location, it works for now and the energy in my entire room has changed. Blessed Be!

*A side note: I'm having some trouble transferring some photos, but I will add photos of my altar, hopefully tomorrow, or possibly this evening.

I wrote a piece on Thought Of The Deity, about Brigid, and how I formed a relationship with The Great Goddess if you want to find out more. Imbolc is her day. Imbolc is a midwinter festival when we start to focus signs of the coming spring. New growth is in sight. We set intentions for transformation. We light candles to brighten up the dark of winter. The flames spark new beginnings, creativity, fertility and positive change!

If you are making your own Imbolc altar, here are some commonly used items you can use for inspiration:

Whites and Reds. White is the melting snow. Red, the returning sun.
A Brigid’s Cross. Corn Dollies.
Fresh flowers are lovely, flower crowns (A Brigid’s Crown), etc. Daffodils or other bulb flowers would be my go to if I could.
Traditional Imbolc stones and crystals include: Bloodstone, Garnet, Amethyst, Quartz, Moonstone, Peridot, Onyx, Turquoise and Ruby. I have most of these boxed up in storage but, luckily I have a few here that will do nicely.
Candles are a big element since Imbolc is a Festival of Light! It’s lovely to have white, green and red. I have a few that will work so I am good there. 5 white candles in a wheel shape representing the 5 points of the pentacle (earth, air, water, fire spirit) are traditional to place in the center of an altar.
Floral scents are great at Imbolc, cream and honey scents, sandalwood and myrrh resin are all good candle or incense scents to have on your altar. I’ll definitely be burning some rose, lavender and sandalwood incense.
Herbs: If you can put herbs, especially healing herbs on the imbolc altar, that is a lovely touch.
Caldrons and/or Chalices: Caldrons for burning, for offerings and chalices with spring water to represent her healing water. (Yes tap water is ok)
A small anvil or hammer. Sometimes an iron nail is used.
A willow wand or a wand that hints at *cough* “fertility”
Animals: Swan, Cow, sheep.
A goddess statue. Fairies.
Poetry: Yours or poetry books.
Offerings of cheese, milk, bread, blackberries, honey, apples

When doing an Imbolc working it is good to spend some time in reflection and gratitude for the winter time when things, AND YOU, have been resting, gathering energy to burst forth and put your new goals into action. As you light your candles, you can imagine all the things that have been holding you back melting away like the snow. As light returns, what goals do you want to focus on? What changes do you want to make? What negative influences is it time to let go? What new thing do you want to kindle?

Imbolc is a joyous celebration, but it is also a good time to dig deep and come to terms with things you have been avoiding

Today, will be the time that I sit down and focus on new goals for 2019. I’m not a resolution person, but goals, I can do. One of the things I have started to focus on which seems perfect for Imbolc, in particular, is to ask Brigid for assistance with doing some deep evaluation and letting go of some of the people and things I’m still connected to from C.A.Y.A. Coven. Last year, when things blew apart, I actually had the urge to reconnect, but now I think that only a few of these people are going to be good connections in my life moving forward. There was a lot of toxic crap and I am going to be healing for a long time.

It's time to burn some things away!

I keep getting signs of needing to let go: I've watched friends who said they were victims and denounced, “Yeshe” Rabbit Matthews, her transphobia and outrageous behavior, yet there's been little or no acknowledgement of harm they caused others (at her behest or not), Some have started new groups that retain names and practices connected to her, and despite insisting they don't feel this way, retain associations with infamous T.E.R.F.s and bigots. I’ve had a hard time with confronting or just dumping these people. Knowing that cutting connections means less involvement in the pagan community as a whole and also difficulty when it comes to networking as a content creator, hasn't helped.

Besides this emotional waffling, I've received messages that are much more blunt; finding things that I either made or received during my time in C.A.Y.A. or purchased from the store Rabbit managed, that are damaged or ruined. I recently pulled a box worth about $50 full of seven - day candles from storage only to discover mice had invaded the box, chewed on and shit in all the candles. I had been holding onto these items because I knew they would be hard to replace with my limited income. The truth is, they were also in storage because deep down I knew they were tainted and I didn't want to use them.

Yes, it’s time to let go. I’ll still process. I’ll still write about my experience and I will still warn people about this narcissistic, con-artist and predator.

So, that is going to be my healing intention for Imbolc. BIG stuff.

The moon is a waning crescent tonight, which is perfect for banishing and clearing negativity so this is perfect. Since the moon is in Capricorn, I can also use this to help clear any negative junk I have clinging to ideas about money or creative projects. And since it's Friday, I can work on issues I'm having that are interfering with love; self love!

What I will do tonight:

I'm not going to share my entire Imbolc ritual with you, but here are my plans:

I’ll meditate on winter and on the return of light and warmth before I start working on all the big stuff
I’ll light my candles!
I'll make a small food and libation offering.
Set my healing intention. Also, forgiveness and gratitude.
I’m also going to set some intentions for my creative work this year.
I may write a poem
I’ll do some petitions for healing for others as well.
I’ll do a reading for Imbolc.
I won’t have much in the way of a “feast” but I’ll drink some wine.

What about my altar?

Well sadly, I have never gotten the knack of making a Brigid’s Cross. I did have one someone made for me but that had to be disposed of in the ongoing purge. I also have no way to go get stuff for crafts so that is out for now. If I have a chance to be industrious this afternoon, I may root around for pipe cleaners or go outside to see if there are any long pine needles I could try with.

I also didn’t have any flowers so I improvised by draping a floral scarf with a white background across the front of the dresser that I'm using as the altar. I also used a little unicorn headband that has flowers on it to add a feeling of spring. Also since the unicorn represents Scotland another area where Brigid is sacred Oh, I thought it worked. I also hung a image of a tea set covered with flowers that also works because it includes a crystal ball and some tarot cards.

I've put up two of my favorite images of Brigid and also a Sulamith Wulfing image of a child carrying a large candle illuminating the night. I included a stack of poetry books and the Wildwood Tarot deck. I pulled the two cards that represent Imbolc: The Ancestor and the Pole Star.

I couldn't find my cauldron but I do have an incense brazier. I placed a small basket which is kind of a cauldron shape that I will be putting messages and requests for Brigid into. I have a blue and white tray holding some of the items that I can also put offerings on and there is a green glass chalice filled with fresh water.

There are five candles although they're not in the the wheel pattern; a red candle in the center of the altar, a really yummy smelling green pillar candle, two white votives and a gorgeous Imbolc candle that I got from Midnight By Verbena on Etsy! Thanks Clarissa! Just look at how beautifully it is dressed, and it smells amazing!

For crystals and such: a silver bracelet with turquoise, serpentine, a clear quartz point, tangerine quartz, a garnet and picture window quartz which is wonderful for scrying. I might put some chamomile flowers o the altar if I have them or some chamomile tea.