01/02/2026
I like reading and learning about our ancient ancestor ways and beliefs before the early Christian hierarchy came in and made them ‘bad’. They were ways of living and working with nature when people were closer to the earth and changing of the seasons. They understood the time to slow down and rest over winter to build up the energy for the speed and growth over spring and summer.
Tomorrow is the ancient Gaelic / Celtic festival Imbolc (also known as Candlemas and St Brigid’s Day). It starts at sunset today 1st February and continues until sundown on 2nd February. It is a quarter festival which marks the midpoint between the darkest night of Winter and the point of perfect balance of night and day at the Spring Equinox. It holds a magical energy of hope, renewal, growth and inspiration (yes please, I’ll have a bit of that!).
Imbolc is derived from old Irish Imbolg ‘in the womb’ referring to the pregnancy of ewes and the start of the lambing season. It is the start of getting ready for the stirrings of spring – have you noticed the snowdrops and crocuses starting to show their flowers to the sky? And the sunrise is getting slightly earlier.
Many of the ancient practices can support our modern day world. It can be a great time to lay seeds of growth and set our intentions for the year ahead. To take those ideas and insights we received and incubated over winter and prepare to activate them. However, while we may feel more inspired, we are still in winter and it is still an important time to rest too.
Now is the time to start thinking about clearing things out and letting go. Clearing both physically and clearing those negative energies. Clearing will leave space for the new.
Look within to shine a light on yourself, heal yourself. It is a powerful time to go within for some shadow work (shadow is nothing sinister. It just means all those parts of us that we don’t like and try to hide, for example, with me it is my short temper and some might say moodiness and stubbornness – I know it’s hard to believe) and release what no longer serves you.
However, while we may feel more inspired, we are still in winter and it is still an important time to rest too. The earth awakens slowly and we must do too. So take your time, have a metaphorical stretch and start awakening for Spring.
Love Victoria x