Also known as Oimelc, Brigantia, Bride's Day, Lupercus, Candlemas, Candelaria.
Deities: Brigid, Persephone, Demeter, Hagia, Sophia, Juno Februata.
Colours: Red, white, pink, silver.
Incense: Red sandalwood, frankincense, lemon, lavender, birch, willow.
Traditional Motifs: Candles, bread, corn dollies, spring flowers, seeds, poetry.

Imbolg is Irish-Gaelic translated as "in the belly" (of the Mother) or Oimelc which means "ewe's milk", for it is lambing season. It represents the quickening of light and life and around us we can see the first stirrings of Spring as the first flowers, such as snowdrops, begin to appear. These seeds have lain dormant within the Earth over the cold Winter months now begin to stir with life. All around us there is evidence of the Earth's slow awakening to the growing power of the sun, and Pagans may find in themselves this awakening as they venture more and more outdoors.

As Pagans celebrate the waking of the soul, their spirits begin to quicken as they anticipate the rebirth of Nature. It is the time for the banishing of Winter and welcoming Spring. Pagans welcome the Goddess, who is renewed, reborn as the Flower Maiden. She has passed through Her phase as the Hag, Crone or Wise One, and is a Maiden again. She is aware of Her powers of potential. She is unrestrained and full of the energy of youth. She is the huntress and the athlete and can be identified with Diana or Artemis. The young God too is beginning to understand His sacred purpose and is initiated into the mysteries of His sex.

Probably the most common Goddess to be celebrated at this time of the year is Bride (pronounced Bree) or Brighid, the three-fold Celtic Goddess who has been Christianised into St Brighid. At Her shrine, the ancient Irish capital of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses kept a perpetual flame burning in Her honour. She is considered the patron of smithcraft, poetry, healing, childbirth and creativity of all kinds. Her name literally means "fiery dart", making Her a Fire Goddess or Goddess of the Heath.

In Ireland, crosses of St Brighid's are made of rushes and straw, an image believed to pre-date Christian times, representing the Sun Wheel or Fire Wheel. It may also be linked to an ancient ceremony connected with the preparation of the grain for sowing in the spring. It was believed that the Spirit of the Grain of the Goddess Herself, resided in the last grain harvested, and the last grain from the Harvest Festival was ritually brought into the house at Imbolg, blessed and planted as the first seed of the next harvest.

Another tradition at this time of year is to acknowledge in the healing powers of the sacred waters of the Goddess. In many parts of the world, and in particular Britain and Ireland, there are wells and springs which are believed to have special healing powers, notably Chalice Well and Glastonbury, St Non's Well in West Wales, as well as the many wells dedicated to St Bridget in Ireland. These wells are often decorated with spring flowers or people having left pieces of cloth tied to nearby trees in honour of the Goddess.

The above information has come from a number of sources including "Magick without Peers" by Ariadne Rainbird and David Rankine, as well as articles written by Mike Nichols.