The Maiden and the Imbolc Lamb

At winter’s height, its cold white teeth seem sharpest — the morning bleak and frosted over, the evening dark though solstice has passed. But into this stillest of times, Bone Mother begins to tire of walking the land, harvesting souls with her scythe. At the precise moment Bone Mother wearies, the Maiden of Fire and Flowers begins to awaken in her bed beneath the earth. And as she opens her eyes, the stone-hard land begins to soften with the promise of spring. The light and life are returning, and their warmth cannot be denied or resisted. Day by day, the sun will call forth the first flowers of spring, lambs will be born, and the bright green of new grass will begin to show through the receding snow.

Into this time walks a young witch, alone. She has cleansed her home with her witch's broom, washed floors and windows, and broken and restored and repaired until her little cottage sings with pleasure and wellbeing. It is time to honour Goddess Brigid, so she seeks the rushes with which she will make a Brigid's Cross to hang across her doorway. She lights candles in circles amidst the drifts of snow, calling forth more and more warmth from the sacred sun.

The earth no longer slumbers — she is awakening. And so are you, solitary witch. Light the candles to Brigid. Care for your home. Repair the broken parts of yourself as best you can, and cleanse your soul, so it is free to walk into the warming light of fresh new beginnings.

Late winter, early spring. Renewal. Fresh, youthful, tender. Maiden energy. Open eyes and heart. Fresh perspectives. Replenishment. Looking forward with optimism. New life. Beginnings. Falling freshly in love with life.

Introversion. Stillness. Potential stagnation. Drowsiness. Lack of movement. A sense of looking back, obsessing about the past. Feeling that life has lost its allure. A sense that there will be no reawakening, that spring may never come to your heart. Feeling cold towards yourself and others. Being a little jaded with life.