Imlobc, on February 1 or 2 depending on one’s practice, is a fire festival. But here in Southern California, it is the middle of the rainy season. It is the rain that will bring the Spring, and this has been a very dry season. Unless we get more rain, and I mean a lot more, the canyon fires will be especially dangerous. Trees will explode like matchsticks, forests will be ablaze and people and animals will be homeless. The rains of Imbolc can ameliorate this.
So we see Imbolc as a promise of Spring, of new growth and new possibilties. And like other religions, we borrow from those who came before us.
Liturgy for Imbolc
North: What is this Night?
South: It is the night of Imbolc.
East: What is the meaning of this night?
West: It is the Festival of Promise.
North: What do we honor on this night?
South: We honor the hidden growth of new life, the unquenchable spirit
beneath the Earth.
East: After this Festival of Promise, what shall we do?
West: We shall tend the soil, both within and without.
North: How shall we recognize ourselves on this night?
South: We embrace the rain. We feel the stirrings of new life and call upon
the Mother who brings us Spring.
East: Who helps us?
West: Our Goddess helps us.
North: What is our Goddess?
South: She is the eternal promise, the fire in the flesh, the undying spirit of
blood and breath, rain and sunshine.
East: Who is our Goddess?
West: She is the Virgin of Light, the Crone of Darkness, and the Mother of Time.
North: Where is our Goddess?
South: She is in our hearts in all seasons of the turning year.
East: Who is our Goddess?
West: Behold! She is ourselves!