02/01/2026
Imbolc and the Sacred Fire of Goddess Brigid
As we move into the heart of winter’s cold embrace, a powerful and sacred shift occurs on February 1st and 2nd Imbolc, the ancient Celtic festival that marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. This day is dedicated to the goddess Brigid, whose energy brings the first stirrings of new life, healing, and transformation.
Imbolc, meaning “in the belly,” signifies the beginning of rebirth. It is a time when the Earth, still cloaked in winter's cold, stirs from her slumber, and the first signs of spring start to make themselves known. The days begin to lengthen, the darkness loosens its grip, and the promise of new life can be felt just beneath the surface. It is the time when the dreams and visions planted during the Winter Solstice begin to take root and stir to life. While winter still holds its reign over the land, the subtle warmth of spring can be felt in the lengthening daylight and the thawing earth. Imbolc is a time for reflection, for planting seeds both literal and metaphorical and for stepping into the energy of renewal.
At the heart of Imbolc lies the presence of the goddess Brigid, a powerful figure in Celtic mythology. Brigid is known as “the exalted one,” a goddess whose sacred fire symbolizes transformation, purification, and creative energy. She is the goddess of healers, she embodies the powers of the hearth, the forge, and the womb bringing forth life, creativity, and healing in her wake.
Brigid is closely associated with fire both the physical flames that burn brightly and the metaphorical fire that fuels transformation within us. Her fire represents the transformative power that burns away the old, creating space for the new. Just as a blacksmith uses the forge to shape metal, Brigid’s fire forges transformation in our lives, whether it be physical healing, emotional release, or spiritual renewal.
During Imbolc, fire becomes a central symbol of both physical and spiritual healing. Fires lit in her honor serve to purify the body, mind, and spirit, allowing us to release what no longer serves us and to make space for new beginnings. Brigid's sacred flame is the guiding light that leads us through the darkness of winter and into the warmth and possibility of spring. Brigid also represents the transformative power of creativity. As the goddess of poets and artisans, she inspires us to awaken our creative potential and use our gifts to heal and manifest. Imbolc, under Brigid’s influence, is an excellent time to ignite our creative fires, whether through writing, art, or other forms of self-expression. It is a time to begin new projects, set intentions, and allow the creative energy of the season to flow through us.
Imbolc is a sacred time for personal rebirth and renewal. It’s a time to honor the cycles of life, death, and rebirth within ourselves. As the Earth begins to stir beneath the ice, we too are called to stir from our own slumbers—both physical and spiritual. We can reflect on what needs to be healed, what parts of ourselves need to be reborn, and what new creations we are ready to bring into the world. Brigid’s energy calls us to tend to our inner fire, to stoke the flames of self-love, creativity, and healing. Whether it’s a physical ailment that needs attention, an emotional wound that calls for release, or a creative project that needs to be birthed, Imbolc and Brigid offer us the sacred space to honor those processes and begin anew.
Embracing the New Life of Imbolc
Imbolc is the season of awakening and renewal, a time to honor the sacred fires of transformation within us all. As we look ahead to the coming spring, we are reminded that even in the coldest, darkest months, new life is always stirring beneath the surface.