It has taken some concerted psychological and emotional digging to connect with the energies of Imbolc this year. Little wonder given all that has happened in the world over the last twelve months. I associate Imbolc with the envisioning of dreams; all those seeds that we want to plant and nurture germinating in the dark soil, feeling the quickening of growing warmth and light. And yet, with all the uncertainty, the restrictions, the sadness and loss, our dreams and plans may feel very distant, rather frozen in winter ice, for now.
However, I also know deep down, that our dreams are even more important during these challenging times. The forming of dreams and visions in our imagination is the first key step in Magic; without this, there is nothing to act upon, nothing to materialize. Not all our dreams and visions will come into form, but without this vital starting point, we don’t get to flex our materializing muscles and the world will miss out on so much potential and many beautiful creations.
At Imbolc, the Goddess Brighid/Bridie reminds us of that wonderful Maiden energy. I have been thinking a lot about my own maiden self; the dreams she had, so many of which failed to materialize. I recall her desire to venture out into the world, her anticipation and her sense of adventure and discovery, her passion and excitement about life and its potential. Of course, we come to discover that each life will bring moments that make us feel deeply sad or grief-stricken, our dreams crumbling, our spirits and bodies too weary and beaten down to even imagine we might express that Maiden energy again…but, we also learn – over time – that we can and do.
This is the beautiful message of Imbolc. Even if we are deep in a place where we feel utterly hopeless and lost, Imbolc gently reassures us that new life is paradoxically both fragile and strong, vulnerable and resilient – just as we are. It says that life will always renew in its right and proper season and all it asks of us is that we remain patience and have faith, that we keep the flame lit, even if it is the dimmest glow hidden beneath ash.
Despite it all, keep dreaming your dreams, even if you currently have little belief that they will ever manifest because one day, maybe now, maybe soon, maybe far in the future, the opportunity, and the energy and focus you need to work towards those dreams will return and bolster your spirit.
During such difficult and uncertain times, dreaming is a radical act. Maybe for most of us, our current dreams have become more simple and poignant: the dream to hold and kiss the ones we love; to move freely in the world without having to think of distancing; to have security and certaintly. Maybe also, this time demands of us that we dream new dreams and visions about how we function as societies, how we care for the vulnerable and our increasingly threatened planet. Imbolc is also traditionally associated with purification; there is much in our world that no longer serves us and needs to be released into the cleansing waters of the melt.
Dream your dreams; hold them close to the warmth of your heart and remember this planet needs our best and highest visions that we and our world might heal.
Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.
~ Langston Hughes