Can you feel the quickening? The fiery fertility goddess is awakening from her winter slumber, preparing to bless the earth with her beauty, life, and light.
Indeed, the ancient holiday of Imbolc (February 1-2 in the Northern Hemisphere, August 1-2 in the Southern) is all but synonymous with the red-haired Gaelic goddess Brighid, who is the matron of poetry, healing, water, sacred wells, fire, sunlight, and divination.
Naturally, it’s an excellent moment to invoke Brighid’s wisdom with this simple, yet delightful Imbolc divination spell:
Before you go to bed tonight (or some night within a week of Imbolc), create an altar to Brighid in your home. This can be as basic or as elaborate as you choose, but ideally will include an image of Brighid (even a postcard or something you print out) and a bright red candle. Light the candle and call to her with a prayer such as, “Great Goddess Brighid, I honor you. Great Goddess Brighid, I invoke you. Please be here now.” Sense her presence as a blindingly bright, positive, healing, protective light filling and surrounding your home. Then say, “I thank you for your presence, and for all the abundant blessings you bring.”
Next, bring to mind something you’d like guidance on. Speak from your heart as you explain to Brighid exactly what is going on, what you’d like to know, the energetic support you’d like to receive, and ultimately how you’d like to feel when the situation or issue is resolved. Then thank her again. Extinguish the candle and go to bed.
First thing in the morning, ideally before anyone else in your house is awake, re-light the candle. Bundle up as necessary and step outside. Be very present with the outside world as you relax and tune in. Now simply be attentive and wait for the first animal you see. It’s likely to be a bird, but it could also be a rabbit, a squirrel, an insect, a neighborhood cat, or something else entirely. This is a messenger from Brighid. Continue to gaze at the animal for as long as it feels right. What is he or she doing? What emotions or thoughts come through to you along with this animal’s presence? How might this visitation be a response to your question? How might it guide you in your life?
Once this feels complete, return to your altar and thank Brighid from the bottom of your heart. If you’ll be around, you can let the candle continue to burn throughout the day. Otherwise, extinguish it and re-light it again at intervals until it safely burns all the way down.
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