Imbolc (Imbolg) Sabbat Solitary Activities

The new year has begun and a month into our resolutions (or lack thereof), we find Imbolc. Also known as Imbolg, Oimelc, Candlemas or Brigid's Day, this Cross Quarter Sabbat honors the first harbingers of spring. To celebrate this holiday is to celebrate the return of light over darkness. There are any number of activities can be done to fete the day whether you are a solitary practitioner or a member of a coven.

The most popular item associated with Imbolc is fire. Fire represents not only the Sun but life itself for, without fire, there was no way to cook food or keep warm in the long winter months. Welcome back the Sun by turning on every light in your home for a few minutes. Another option is to light candles in each room of your house or apartment instead of using electric lights. The principle is the same, however.

On the subject of fire/light, lighting a white candle and burning sandlewood in conjunction with it is another excellent activity to welcome Imbolc and banish the cold winter.

Food is oft used to celebrate the Sabbats and Imbolc is no exception. As we begin to banish the winter for the year, eating dairy, foods that are colored white or are quite spicy fit the holiday well. Additionally, drinking spiced wine or eating raisins, which are both symbolic of the sun, are excellent ideas.

In the realm of sympathetic magics, here are a couple of other thoughts. Burning the Yule greens. Making paper snowflakes and then burning them.

Other miscellaneous ideas are:
* Offering milk to the Gods during your ritual and then pouring it on the ground outside or leaving it in a bowl for the animals.
* Placing 3 ears of corn on your door until Ostara as a symbol of the Triple Goddess.
* On Imbolc Eve, place a dish of bread and butter as an offering to the faeries who travel with the Goddess.
* Plant seeds with slips of paper detailing questions you have or unresolved issues that are plaguing you, trusting that as the plants grow and blossom, the answers will come and things that need to be banished will be banished. You can put requests to the Gods in with the seeds instead. The sky's the limit.

As this is a time of renewal, its traditional to not only cleanse one's tools and altar but to also perform a self-dedication and/or re-dedication if one is so inclined. There are many resources from which you can pull for your ritual whether they are books, articles on the Internet, or a ritual that you have written yourself. Its entirely your call. The main point is that its something that harmonizes with your heart and soul.

In closing, let me say to all reading this: Merry Meet, Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!