An Imbolc/Candlemas Tour through My Icy Garden

Fire and Ice is the theme this time of year.
One third of the U.S. was hit with severe winter storms for Imbolc this year, Bridgets festival Feb. 2 is often a cold and icy event here in Missouri, and this year will be no exception. The branches of my pin oak tree in the yard are covered in heavy ice as they bow towards the ground. Though the oak may seem frozen under the ice, on closer inspection tiny buds can be seen on every branch preparing to burst forth with new life after the last of the ice has melted.

This is the magical lesson that nature has to offer us during the season of Imbolc; when all seems at a stand still in life, there are always little miracles working behind the scenes, we just need to look a little closer.

As I walked around the garden, my feet crunched through the layer of ice to the snow beneath, the crunchy coating seemed like a thin layer of glass covering everything. I was moved to take off a glove and run my fingers over the smooth cold ice, facinated by the transparent glossy covering on the cockleburs.

Everything man-made seemed in a hush, as the world around had come to a standstill, but mother nature replaced the sounds of cars traveling by with the everlasting clicks and ticks of sleet tapping every surface around me as it fell. The occasional breeze brought an unusual creaking sound from the branches of all the trees around me as the wind pushed them slightly cracking the coating of ice surrounding them as the chinked together like gigantic rattling wind chimes.

A solar light coated in ice.

This is the time of the year that we can work towards removing obstacles in our lives, using Bridgets power of inspiration to melt away whatever is keeping us from achieving our dreams. She is the Celtic patron Goddess of hearth and home, poets, blacksmiths, fire, childbirth and healing.

Meanwhile, inside my suburban cottage art studio, candles burn brightly in the base of my Bridget statue that I designed for Sacred Source. The candle light ushers in the impending return of spring, bread and milk as an offering, a crystal cup full of snow bears a single white candle, may it melt away obstacles in my path and swift forth blooms of spring!

Bright Blessings and stay warm!