
"It's February, one can taste the full joy of anticipation, Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch" (Patience Strong)
As well as it being the start of the month on 1st February also marks Imbolc which is the doorway to Spring.
Looking to nature is a good guide for how we can live our lives. Everything happens in cycles and so do we.
Imbolc signals that we're midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It's a time to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of the sun.
Read on for your guide to Imbolc, including what nature is encouraging you to do, reflections, rituals and ways to celebrate. Doing so will give you a feel good boost, help you reconnect to yourself and remember what you already know inside.
What's the significance of Imbolc?
Nature is starting to stir and get ready for change, growth and transformation. Energy starts to shift, there's more light and we start to look forward.
The literal meaning of the word is "in the belly" as the earth is full of new life waiting to spring to life, and lots of animals are pregnant now.
You might have noticed:
new ideas forming
you're ready for Spring
a shift in your energy
a feeling of get up and go
you're feeling hopeful
your intuition is stronger
you want to clear out the old, clean and declutter
Imbolc is a time of opposites - it's where we change from the slow, cool, dark, gentle, inward Yin energy of Autumn and Winter, to the outward, active, warm, bright and vibrant Yang energy of Spring and Summer.
At Imbolc we're slowly transitioning between seasons and energies. This means it's still winter and therefore still time for us to rest, nourish and conserve our energy where we can, whilst slowly tuning into the shifting energy and the quickening pace you may be feeling.
If you imagine the seasons as a 24 hour cycle, Imbolc starts around 3am. Typically we've finished our deep sleep cycle, we might be starting to stir, dream and gradually wake.
Ways to Celebrate Imbolc
Look out for signs of Spring all around you - what's already here, what's starting to appear? Look out for snowdrops, crocuses, primroses, greater periwinkles and leaf buds
Listen out for birdsong - the birds are starting to increase their dawn chorus around now. The robins and blackbirds that have been here all winter are joined by other birds starting in February with more migrating birds joining each month till Summer
Enjoy the morning sunrise and the colours it creates, it won't be long until sunrise is much earlier and therefore takes more effort to see
Go for a walk in the evening light, we're getting more minutes of daylight every day now. Soon evening walks will be back!
Use herbs and scents of the season in your cooking, home and bathing - sage, thyme, rosemary, lavender, bergamot & lemon balm are fantastic for Feb. Having a soak in a warm bath with epsom salts and your favourite essential oils is a nice way to cleanse and reset
Nourish yourself from within (take a look at my Winter recipes here and Spring recipes here). I'm really into slow cooking at the moment.
Journal around the themes of change, growth, transformation, moving forward and returning light. What do these words stir and conjure up within you? Explore what they mean in terms of your life, work, wellbeing and relationships. Download my free 14 day Self-Connection Journal here.
Bake (food and drinks with cinnamon are good at this time) and blood oranges are just coming into season
Start a clear out at home (one cupboard/draw per day if you need to work up to it) or start to plan DIY projects. My house needs some TLC. We've been pottering at the jobs that needed doing, but I'm looking forward to getting stuck in more over the coming weeks as the light returns. I'm planning what flowers, fruit and veg I want to plant.
Plant seeds - real and metaphorical; what do you want to plant, nurture and bring to life?
I love listening to this podcast, As the Season Turns which comes out on the 1st each month, such a lovely listen
Ways to honour rest:
I don't just mean sleep (which is inactive rest). I also mean active rest which is so important but so under used. What am I talking about?
Short breaks through the day for things like unplugging from screens, quiet time, nature breaks, hobbies, play, letting your mind wander, staring out of the window, daydreaming, reflection, relaxation, reading, writing, stretching, deep breathing and meditation.
Our bodies and brains are always being productive, especially when we're not. Giving ourselves these types of breaks means we help ourselves move into a more relaxed state (i.e. it activates our parasympathetic nervous system if you want the fancy word ) so that our bodies and minds can recover and replenish.
I know from experience and talking to lots of you in coaching and workshops, this one can feel hard to do. It actually takes conscious effort as it goes against our modern conditioning. I saw a quote recently which I loved that said "work hard but don't forget to rest with the same intensity". I've booked myself some Reflexology and an Indian Head Massage for this week, a nice example of booking in time for active rest.
Thanks so much for reading.
Happy Imbolc to you and yours!
Lots of love
Lisa xxx
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