Tag: pagan

Spirituality, wheel of the year, witchcraft

Celebrating Imbolc: Three Simple Rituals for Rebirth and Renewal

Cosmic Kat

Imbolc (1st Feb) is a “wheel of the year” event. Not a solstice or an equinox, but it marks a liminal time; the midpoint between Winter and Spring, between darkness and light, between death and rebirth.

The 1st of February is also the feast say of St. Bridget who is considered to be the Christian counterpart to the earlier Pagan Goddess Brigid who was associated with poetry, healing and fertility in addition to fire and healing wells.

Here are three simple rituals to support you to work with the energy of Imbolc.

1. Write Poetry

Poems don’t have to rhyme (or even make any sense at all.)

You could write a poem as an offering for Goddess Brigid and burn it before burying the ashes or scattering them in a stream.

You could write a poem inspired by Spring or rebirth.

You could even write a poem to yourself, your own inner child or inner loving mother.

2. Make art / Create

You could paint or draw something inspired by Imbolc (half Winter / half Spring) or play a song inspired by Imbolc (like this one by Lisa Thiel) and dance freely.

Using dry twigs from the Oak, Rowan, Birch or Willow tree you could also create your own charcoal and use this. (Make a fire safely and place the twigs in a tin with a hole in the top on the fire until the steam stops coming out.)

Imbolc means “In the belly”, a reference to pregnant ewes, so it’s a good time to think about what you’re birthing in the world and to nurture your creative spirit.

3. Make a St. Brigid’s cross

The Christian story of the St. Brigid’s cross is that she made it to convert a dying chieftan. But the symbol has pagan roots and is also considered to be a symbol of protection and connected to the four seasons and elements (fire, earth, air water).

It’s easy to make one using either rushes, straw or paper.

You could set an intention for healing or protection as you make it and then place it on your altar, above your bed or by the entrance to your home.

Here is a simple tutorial I found on YouTube that explains the process.

Do you have any rituals you do for Imbolc? Let me know in the comments.

If you’d like to receive some spiritual guidance and support at this liminal time, please consider booking a free taster spiritual life coaching session or check out my other offerings.

Spirituality

Embracing Abundance: The Spirit of Lammas

Cosmic Kat

The 1st of August marks the festival of Lammas; a Christian celebration or “loaf mass” likely derived from the Gaelic festival of Lughnasadh (loo-nu-suh) which marks the mid point between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox.

This is the beginning of the harvest, a moment to express gratitude for nature’s abundance and a time alive with the vibrant and playful energy of summer.

When I was growing up in N.Ireland I would go to the famous Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle at this time of year; a bustling affair with market stalls, fairground rides and a yellow sticky sweet foodstuff called “Yellow man” that would definitely make your teeth rot if eaten in copious amounts (but what traditional fair would be complete without such a thing?)

As much as I enjoyed it, when I was younger I never took the time to properly learn about the history of Lammas or understand its interesting Christian / neopagan connections.

But I didn’t need to know this to access the playful, abundant energy that abounded.

Recently I was asked if growing up in Ireland had anything to do with my connection to the Fae and Celtic folklore.

Honestly, I’m not sure.

Although I was surrounded by the echoes of tales of giants, the old Gods and children being turned into swans etc. my religion was Catholicism and so anything pagan wasn’t something I was encouraged to explore.

However, not long ago, during a breathwork journey, I had an emotional awakening.

The tree spirits and river sprites that inhabited my favourite natural place to explore and go for walks, told me that they’d always been with me and were always guiding me, even though I was unaware of their presence.

My experience of my own spiritual journey has been that I don’t always have to understand everything and in fact my beliefs are rooted in the humility that comes from accepting that some things will always remain a divine mystery.

These days, Lammas feels like a time to pause and ask:

What is already ripe in my life?

What deserves to be celebrated, honoured, or shared?

What does abundance truly mean to me right now?

Not everything makes itself known through obvious milestones or achievements. Sometimes abundance shows up as a subtle shift, an inner harvest, a quiet moment of clarity.

Whether it’s a spiritual breakthrough, a creative spark, or simply the return of a sense of belonging—this season reminds me to trust that the seeds I’ve planted are bearing fruit, even when I can’t yet see the full picture.

In the same way that I was supported by the fairies and sprites that I couldn’t see whilst growing up, I believe that we are all held by invisible forces;

The wisdom of our ancestors

The stories and sacred vibrations of the land

The unconditional love of the Divine.

Tell me in the comments – what does abundance mean to you right now?

If you’re feeling lost, unbalanced, or uncertain this month, I have some spaces available for 1:1 tarot readings and sound / crystal healing sessions via Zoom.

If you have any questions don’t be afraid to get in touch. Just drop me an email at hello@cosmickatspirit.com