Imbalc

Imbalc (pronounced Im-molc) is the Celtic Sabbat that falls between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. At this time we celebrate the beginning of the end of winter. Imbalc means surrounding belly- the Earth Mother’s womb; it’s a time of quiet expectation. Soon the seeds in the womb of the earth will begin to swell and creative forces will begin to come alive in the world.

Imbalc is sacred to Brigid, the European and Celtic goddess of healing, crops, poetry, and creativity. As a sun goddess her powers are light, fire, inspiration, and vital energy: Wow! She’s one of my favorite images of the Spirit.

Agenda for today:

1. Altar: 
Brigid is the maiden aspect of the Great Goddess and so her color is white, for purity; her symbols are a sun-wheel, snake, and cock (herald of the new day). 

Today I add to my altar:

• a white candle for Brigid
• a beaded snake- for healing and regeneration
• a small bowl- for openness and inspiration 
• and some of my garden seeds

2. Journal: 
Write about my seeds of inspiration- those thoughts, dreams and ideas that are inside me waiting to grow into wise actions, sweet words, or beautiful things made by my hands. 

What is waiting to bloom in me this year?

Write each germ of inspiration on a tiny slip of paper, and roll it into a seed. Put these in the bowl on my altar.

3. Seed blessing ceremony:
Light the candles, and ask the Spirit to bless the garden seeds. 

May they all grow well when the time is right.

Ask the Spirit to bless also my seeds of inspiration. 

May my seeds of inspiration grow well when the time is right.

4. Be creative
Brigid is the Goddess of creativity and poetry, so be creative. This year I had a "group art" project in mind: I asked my guests to draw their seeds of inpiration. This collage is the result.

"Seeds of Inspiration" by Cynthia, Jasper, Austin, Becky, Jennifer, Tami, Phil, and Georgia

5. Make a Brigid's Cross:

My cross has 40 pieces of straw.

The Bridget’s cross is an ancient symbol of the sun and the seasons. It's hung by the door or in the rafters to protect the house from fire, which is always a threat in Irish houses with thatch roofs. 

Making a Brigid’s cross is one of the traditional rituals in Ireland to celebrate Imbalc and the beginning of early spring. At Imbalc or Imbalc Eve a new Brigid’s Cross is hung above the door, and the old one is burned in the hearth.

Supplies: The crosses are usually made of rushes, which are abundant in Ireland, but I use straw. Collect 12 to 40 pieces of straw, 15 inches long. Also gather scissors and something for tying the ends: String, thread, yarn, or ribbons.

Soaked straws.

1. You need to clip each straw at the joints and pull off the leaf shafts, then soak them in a sink full of warm water- 15 minutes for straw, longer for reed. 

2. Lay the wet straws on a towel. They need to bend without cracking, so test one to see if it’s ready. I find it easiest to pre-fold the straws: Save out one straight straw. Pinch all the others with your fingernail in the center and fold a little bit so they are ready to use.

3. When you are ready, settle into a quiet and centered state. 

The making of the cross is a prayer.

Straw #1 (straight) and straw #2 (bent to the right).

Think about the seeds of inspiration you are holding this spring, and pick up the straight straw (#1). Hold it upright- this is the only straw you don’t fold.

4. Take a second straw and fold it in the middle; wrap it around straw #1 at the center (pointing to the right) and pull it tight. 

Straw #1(straight on the bottom),
2 (pointing up), and 3 (pointing right).

5. Holding the straws in the center, turn the cross counter-clockwise, so the first bent straw (straw #2) points up. Pick up the next straw. Fold it in the middle, wrap it around straw #2 (pointing right and laying above the top of the first straw) and pull it tight.

Close-up of the center with first 5 straws.

6. Turn the cross again; add the fourth straw in the same way.

7. Keep adding straws until the cross is the size you want it to be.

This is a small cross with 11 straws.

8. Now you only need to tie the four quarters at the ends to hold them together, and trim the ends even (or leave the grain heads if you like).

Hang your Brigid's cross in the kitchen or over a door to protect from fire and evil.

5. Make Irish Seed Cake:

Celtic deities are not abstract but are a part of daily life; the fires of inspiration and the fires of the home and the forge are the same. This seems like a good day to turn the oven on, and seed cake just seems to go well with the theme of Imbalc! 

This traditional Irish cake usually has caraway seeds, but I used poppy, sunflower, and flax. We served it at our Imbalc party last year- it was delicious!

Ingredients: 

• 2-3 tsp. seeds
• 1/8-c. milk 
• 1 c. butter 
• 4 eggs 
• 2 c. all purpose flour 
• 1 tsp. baking powder 
• 1/4 tsp. salt 
• 1 c. sugar 
• powdered sugar 

Yield: 1 loaf cake- 

1- Crush or partially grind the seeds and soak them in the milk. Bring butter and eggs to room temperature. Grease and flour a loaf pan. Preheat oven to 325ºF.

2- Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

3- Beat butter and sugar for a couple of minutes with a mixer. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each. Add seeds and milk.

4- Gradually add dry ingredients. Beat on low until well combined. Turn batter into pan. Bake 60 to 70 minutes. Cool ten minutes on rack. Remove from pan. Decorate with a sprinkling of powdered sugar just before serving.

This is what we collected last year.

6. Have a fire: 
On Imbalc evening we seek out bits of winter around the house and burn them in a fire. When our kids were young we hid things around the house- old Christmas wrapping paper, some leftover wreath greens, last year's calendar... and had a search.

Now we invite frends to "bring winter things to burn". We had lots of greens this year- and they made a big blaze.

Me- adding greens to the fire.

As we threw these bits on the fire we shouted "goodbye winter!"