Celebrating Your Inner Flame on Imbolc

Imbolc or Imbolg is a traditional Gaelic festival, also known as St. Brigid’s Day. This holiday predates Christianity, back to when Brigid was viewed as a goddess, instead of a saint. She hails from the sacred Tuatha De Danann, and is the daughter of Dagda.

The Sabbat of Imbolc is observed as the half-way marker between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox and is usually celebrated around February 1-2nd. Imbolc was, and still is the light in the dark for many, as it marks the herald of warmer days and the coming of spring.

Brigid is mostly widely viewed as a fire goddess as she is the Keeper of the Sacred Flame. She is also a healing goddess and the patron deity of blacksmithing, poetry, wisdom, fertility and childbirth. Many will often write poetry and dedicate it to her as an offering. Other symbols that are associated with her are white and red candles, lambs, cows, snowdrops, sacred wells, and the Brigid’s Cross. Offerings that can be given to the goddess are oats, milk, honey, blackberries, heather, and blessed spring water or snowmelt.

As the Keeper of the Sacred Flame, it was Brigid’s responsibility to ensure that the flame never went out; that it continued to burn as a symbol of life, vitality, warmth, creativity, and hope.  Brigid shows us how we can honor our own sacred flame and this working will guide you in doing just that.

You will first need to do some journaling work, asking yourself,

1. What does my own inner sacred flame represent to me?

2. Has my sacred flame been dulled or gone out completely?

If so- how or why?

3. How does it serve me and my life to ensure that my sacred flame is ignited and that it continues to burn brightly?

4. What promises will I make to myself to guarantee that my sacred inner flame is never dowsed?

Once you have completed the journal work, you are ready to begin the working for celebrating your inner sacred flame on Imbolc and honoring it throughout the year.

You will need:

• At least 8 crystals to create a grid that have fire energy.

Some are: carnelian, red agate, dragon’s blood jasper, red jasper, sunstone, garnet, ruby, yooperlite, pyrite, amber, and citrine (choose what you have available to you or what calls to you to work with).

• Herbs/ plants aligned with Brigid/ Imbolc.

These include: Oak leaves, nettles, chamomile, heather, blackberry leaves, cinnamon, basil, rosemary, snowdrops, and crocus (choose what you have available to you or what calls to you to work with).

• (2) red candles with one holder (chime candle will be best)

• Lighter

• Bowl

• Oat milk

Set up:

• Place the bowl in the center of your altar.

• Create a crystal grid around the bowl, making sure they are symmetrical in their alignment. 

• Place one of the candles in its holder in the center of the bowl.

• Pour the oat milk into the bowl, leaving room to add the herbs/ plants. You only really need to cover the bottom.

• Place the herbs, the second red candle, lighter, and your journaling work on or near your altar.

Working:

1. Cast the circle.

2. Call upon Brigid

“Blessed Goddess of Burning Light

 Healer and Keeper of the Sacred Flame,

 I ask that you come to me now

 To join me for this ritual.

 Hail! Bright Goddess Brigid” 

(Creative Property of Rieka Moonsong 2022)

3. Sprinkle the herbs into the bowl of oat milk.

4. Light the candle.

5. Read your journaling work, questions and then your answers out loud, speaking them into the flame on your altar with intention.

6. Once you are done reading, state the following while gazing at the flame:

“Today, I honor my own inner sacred flame,

  With the Goddess by my side, 

  The power of the fire she wields, 

  And the intentions I set now, 

  I ensure that my inner flame ignites!

  I keep the promises I make to myself

  Ensuring that my sacred inner flame 

  Burns brightly, never to be dowsed!”

(Creative Property of Rieka Moonsong 2025)

7. Using the lit candle, light the second candle but snuff it after 9 seconds (Do not blow it out! Simply snuff it. You can use the oat milk to snuff if you feel called to do so). Set it aside for now.

8. As the candle burns down inside the oat milk, the crystal grid around it absorbs the energy of the working.

9. Let the candle burn down completely.

10. Once the candle has burned completely, thank Bridgid for her assistance and bid her farewell.

11. Open the circle.

12. Remove the candle holder from the bowl of oat milk and take it outside to pour onto the ground as an offering to Brigid. 

13. Returning inside, place your journal work and the second red candle inside your crystal grid. Leave it until you feel the working take hold. 

The second red candle can be lit and used any time you need to remember the work you have done here today and the promises that you made to yourself, guaranteeing that your sacred inner flame burns brightly. You can also continue to light other red candles from the previous one so that you always have one to honor your inner flame.