Celebrate the pagan holiday of Imbolc with one of these energy cleansing rituals.
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the ancient Gaelic holiday known as Imbolc begins at sunset on February 1 and continues throughout the next day.
About halfway between Yule and Ostara (the spring equinox), it is celebrated as the earliest dawn of spring, when the days begin to lengthen noticeably and the snow begins to melt.
A fire festival tailored to the fiery-haired Celtic goddess Brigid (and dedicated a day later to her Catholic incarnation Saint Brigid), Imbolc lends itself to magical work associated with purification, as well as protection, creativity, fertility, healing, and miracles.
To attune to the powerful energy of this magical time, here are five ways you can clear your energy this Imbolc.
1. Meditate in front of a fire or flame.
For a simple Imbolc fire cleansing, light a fire in your fireplace, build an outdoor fire, or simply light a red pillar candle on your altar. Then meditate.
As you gaze at the flame, merge your consciousness with that of the fire.
Take a deep breath and let the fire burn away any negativity or stuck energy as you awaken your mind and enliven your soul.
2. Light your half-burned candles at sunset.
Imbolc is an excellent opportunity to put your half-burned candles to good use.
Place them in your home and then light them all safely at sunset on February 1.
Then take a moment to ritually welcome Goddess Brigid into your space, along with her Imbolc blessings of purification, miracles, and healing.
Let your Imbolc candles burn for as long as you can safely care for them, then extinguish.
When convenient and desirable, repeat this process periodically until the Equinox, or until the candles are completely burned out.
3. Add Epsom salt, sea salt, and baking soda to your bath water and burn a candle while you bathe.
The ancient shrine of the goddess Bridgid in Kildare, Ireland, had a constantly burning flame.
When it was transformed into a fire temple dedicated to St. Brigidnuns continued to care for that flame for a while.
The goddess/saint has that too a holy well nearby, which is believed to have healing properties.
This Imbolc uses Brigid’s water allies And fire: invoke it with sincere prayer before lighting it a white candle and soak in a purifying salt bath.
4. Hang a Brigid’s Cross above or on your front door.
This classic Imbolc craft purifies and protects your home.
Use dried rushes or a similar dried plant material to make a Brigid cross (here’s how)and hang it above or on your front door.
At next year’s Imbolc, throw the cross (safely) into the fire and make a new cross to refresh its power.
5. Tie small bells to your broom and sweep the floor.
When used deliberately, a broom is a powerful, magical thing.
Simply sweeping can be a wonderful way to clear old energy and make room for the new.
Tie little bubbles to your broom at Imbolc, and you can simultaneously spread the magical blessings of early spring throughout your space.
Do you have any other favorite cleansing rituals for Imbolc? Share it in the comments below!
You might also like these 5 types of magic to work on Imbolc.
