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Celebrate the spark of life,
February 2nd is one of the cross quarter days of the great Celtic Wheel of the Year. It is an ancient Celtic festival of light that was celebrated for millennia and known as Imbolc, which means “in the belly.” Signs of the ewe’s pregnancy meant lambs would be born in the spring. In the northern latitudes, people began to feel hope for new life even with winter going strong. This year, the Chinese New Year will be February 10th, the year of the snake. In the Goddess traditions, this is the time of the Maiden, or sometimes called the Bride.
In Stone and Bronze Age cultures, the Goddess was honored as the Great Creatrix and women were seen as sacred vessels. In these times, girls at menses would be sent to the temple to be initiated as a part of their coming of age. Through breath, movement and story, they would learn to build the inner vessel in order to support the awakening life streams. Once a girl had opened to and tamed the natural currents that flowed through her body as her own… only then would she be ready to love and experience sexuality with a partner. The initiation would have been her path to empowerment.
At Imbolc I am thrilled to be offering a woman’s weekend that is the culmination of my years of teaching and writing about sexuality as life force energy. In Shamanic terms, Western women have been referred to as ‘broken vessels’ because of the repression of this powerful life force in women’s bodies for millennia. The continuing effect blocks women of all ages from this deep connection to their sacred source. At this time of the return of the Divine Feminine, it is my privilege to assist women in reconnecting to their pure energy.
Another meaning for Imbolc is the new spark of life. As the light begins to return, you may sense a glimmer of an idea. Allow yourself to play with this creatively, perhaps by making a dream board or dancing, singing and drawing. Feel the energy begin to stir. As you activate this (think of blowing on an ember and seeing it spark into flame), it can lead you towards initiating plans to manifest your idea in the following months. Even as you may cuddle up by a fireplace in the evening, let this image unfold as you watch the flames dance.
This is a wonderful new year, the number 13 being sacred to the Goddess, partly because there are 13 moon cycles in the solar calendar. Enjoy this beautiful energy.
Blessings, Linda
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