Nature’s rest, halfway through winter.

Imbolc, the Celtic celebration of spring

Work in Progress

Venus of the waters, collage, watercolor on watercolor paper, with rice paper. I’m exploring new possibilities to bring you nature, creativity, and magic.

Today is Imbolc, the Celtic holiday that celebrates the half-way point between winter solstice and the spring equinox. 

The goddess (or saint) tied to Imbolc is Brigid. An ancient symbol of womanhood, she wears many faces: Creativity, healing, fertility, and protection. She’s often associated with fire and water. 

According to the Beltaine Cottage website, Brigid walks the earth on Imbolc eve. Last night before bed, I left a strip of cloth outside; according to legend, if she passed by, she blessed them with healing and protection. You can also leave out milk, honey, oats and flowers for her, if you are of a mind to.

Today I’m going to honor her by cleaning my home, baking some cookies, and spending some time just looking out the window.

I am not a superstitious person, but these days I feel the need to ponder a goddess walking the earth, blessing us for the coming year. 

Despite the gloominess I’ve been feeling about the world, nature continues to astound me in her beauty and wonder. I feel spring in my bones. Our mountains grow green. Daffodil’s emerge, strappy leaves reaching tender from the soil. I’ve seen a few bright flitting chips of gold finch in the trees.  

This year we seem to have large families of California quail. They rattle around in the underbrush and explode in thrumming clouds of gray and blue when I pass their hiding places. In the evenings I hear the elder quail calling chi-ca-go to bring the flock together. It’s a homey sound to me. I know that soon, puffy quail babies will float across the ground cheeping in their baby quail voices. I’m looking forward to it.

Has spring begun where you live? What are your earliest signs of the changing of the season?