The new moon on January 29th signals the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc (pronounced im’olc). The calendar date for this festival is February 1st, so we can celebrate for several days if we wish to.
Imbolc marks the mid-point between the Winter solstice and the Spring equinox, and this time of transition is sacred in the Celtic calendar. It’s a time of new beginnings, a time to plant seeds, to make intentions for what we wish to nurture as light becomes stronger each day. Imbolc, which mean ‘in the belly’ symbolises the burgeoning life cradled within the earth, the green shoots that are surging up toward the light, the sap that is stirring in the roots of trees. It is the very beginning of Spring.
Spring is the time of the Maiden, while Winter is firmly in the grasp of the Crone, the Cailleach, and Summer is the playground of the Mother. I have always resonated with these three identities of the goddess, these three graces, as they are also the three stages in a woman’s life. Even if a woman does not birth children, she still often takes on the role of mother to the people, plants or creatures in her life. I am firmly in the Crone stage now, however both Maiden and Mother are still part of my being. We are simultaneously all things in one, while we turn one face to the world, depending on our stage of life.
Imbolc is the time when the Cailleach begins to give ground, ever so slightly, to the Maiden. I am a great fan of the Cailleach. She is primal, strong, fearless, and annealed to nature. She makes her home in the untamed places of our islands—on craggy mountain tops, in whirlpools. These are some of the places named after her:
Hag’s Head, at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland;
Chair atop Slieve na Calliagh in County Meath, Ireland;
Ben Cruachan, the largest mountain in Argyll and Bute, Scotland;
The whirlpool of the Gulf of Corryvreckan, off Argyll and Bute, Scotland;
Tigh nan Cailleach ritual site, near Glen Cailleach and Glen Lyon, in Perthshire, Scotland;
Beinn na Caillich, on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Let us take a moment to honour her, while she still has a strong grip on the land.
Here is a poem I wrote about her on Imbolc 2023:
Cailleach Bheara
Gnarled fingers grasp the frozen staff
cold eyes speak power beneath the veil
bleak cries the raven on the wing
shrill shrieks the wind across the vale
stark looms the crag – the Cailleach’s seat
iron hard her rule upon the land
deep in the earth the maiden stirs
dreaming green she wakes the sap
and with each heart beat warms the flow
the swell of bud, the thrust of growth
life reaches out to greet the light
once more the Cailleach pounds her staff
unleashing storms and silver frosts
scything flowers that bloom too soon
until her power is spent at last
and she must take her turn to sleep
The festival of Imbolc is dedicated to Brigid, (Brighe, Brid, Brigantia,) who is the Celtic goddess of poetry, healing and fire, which includes both the hearth and the forge. Brighe is also the goddess of springs and wells. At this time of year Brigid is the Maiden, and symbolises purity, inspiration and youth. In both Ireland and Scotland, a representation of Brigid, the Brideog, would be paraded around the community by girls and young women, all dressed in white with their hair flowing free.
In India, the festival of Vasant Panchami takes place on February 2nd 2025. This is the day when Saraswati, the goddess of poetry, wisdom, art and music is honoured. In some places images of the goddess are paraded through the streets, then taken to water and submerged in a ritual cleansing. Saraswati wears white, and the white swan is her symbol. The white swan is also a symbol of Imbolc, and represents purity, wisdom and transformation.
I have often reflected on the congruence of these festivals, and the similarity between Brigid and Saraswati. For me the understanding is that this new moon in late January/early February is a time sacred to writers, artists and musicians, and to all women. It is a time to be still, to turn inwards, to visit our own wellspring and to nurture the seeds of our creativity, a time to connect to the flame of inspiration, to honour and welcome it into our hearts and lives.
Brigid is Persephone is Saraswati. The Cailleach is Kali is Baba Yaga. We are Maiden, Mother and Crone in all our glory.
I believe that the forms of the goddesses, and the gods, are energy frequencies that we can connect to within ourselves. We are one with the universe after all.
Before I write I always light a candle, and chant an invocation to Saraswati, my chosen deity of inspiration. I feel this opens me to the creative pulse, aligns me with the flow. Ritual is vital in our lives; it is our way of opening the channels and connecting with the light that is the source of all.
When I lived in India, I sometimes walked in the early morning to the nearby temple of the goddess. On my way, I saw a man in his garden worshipping each tree in his garden. His daily reverence of nature moved me deeply, and the image of him waving a flame to every tree and bush remains with me.
The Chinese New Year also falls on this new moon, on January 29th we transition from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake. Another indication of new beginnings, and a good time to consult oracle cards or simply explore the landscape of our dreams.
As the crescent of the new moon sails across the heavens may the flame of inspiration burn brightly within you, may your art flow, your words bring solace and your heart be at peace.
Here are two poems about Brigid, the first I found online two years ago, and now cannot find its source, the second I wrote.
Brigid
For I am the child of Poetry
Poetry, the child of Reflection
Reflection, child of Meditation,
Meditation, child of Lore,
Lore, child of Research,
Research, child of Great Knowledge,
Great knowledge, child of Intelligence,
Intelligence the child of Wisdom,
Wisdom, child of Brigid.
(Source unknown)
Imbolc
O Goddess Brighid
as the new moon rises
we honour you
keeper of the sacred flame
that heals and inspires
mistress of all wells and springs
mother of our blessed earth
sower of seeds
life-giver
guardian of the air we breathe
spirit-dancer
dream-weaver
May your light burn brightly
In each heart and hearth
See also my post about Samhain
I fly from India to London on the full moon so transformational one continent to another with the knowledge that the goddess goes with me. I have some English sites I can visit, the sun arises between 2 hills at long barrow representing the mother but I am not clear about the crone so maybe Rashmi knows my local site for Her. Love reading your posts Rashmi.
Fabulous stuff. I do much comparing of various ‘myths’ and share those views. I learned much reading this. Been to India a few times too:)
The more I learn of prechristian times, the more mellow I feel. Thank you