For those of us here in the Northern Hemisphere, February usually brings us a little hope of relief from the cold dark nights. The days are warmer and the nights are not so long. In some places buds are appearing on the trees. I know here in Vermont it's when our maple producers start cleaning the dust off their evaporators.
Also known as Candlemas, Oimelc, and Lady Day, Imbolc is the celebration of light. Oimelc, translated means something close to ewe's milk. It's lambing season! The time which life returns to the land. It is also a time of "sweeping out the old". The time of infamous spring cleaning, but in more of a spiritual sense and less of a physical one.
The Goddess is moving from her Crone phase into that of the Maiden. Some traditions represent the Goddess with a young woman, a member of the Coven or Clan, wearing a wreath of evergreen boughs and candles on her head.
The Earth is being reborn. After the death and silence of the winter months she is waking up.
Traditional colors: white, red, pink, brown
Traditional herbs: angelica, basil, bay, benzoin, celandine, heather, myrrh, and all yellow flowers
Traditional incense: basil, myrrh, and wisteria
Traditional gemstones: amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise
Traditional foods: those that represent growth such as seeds (breads and cakes), herbal teas
