Throughout the year, we undergo a number of seasonal changes and shifts that impact our energies and what we can do here on the farm.
Pagans and followers of nature-based faiths mark these seasonal changes through the Wheel of the Year. The sabbats along the Wheel correspond to festivals and celebrations at key astrological and seasonal moments.
Even if you’re not following one of these faiths, being in touch with what’s happening in nature throughout the year can bring you closer to the land. Believe it or not, the weather and seasonal changes impact us even though we can retreat to the temperature-controlled indoors. Being mindful of this can have huge benefits for your wellbeing.
As we journey through the Wheel of the Year, I’ll post some information about each of these seasonal celebrations.
Keep in mind that Good Dirt Farm is located in the Northern Hemisphere, so we follow the Wheel of the Year in that direction. The dates of these celebrations will differ in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are flipped.
First up: Imbolc, the first sabbath on the Wheel of the Year.
What is Imbolc? Origins and History
Historians believe Imbolc has its roots as a Celtic festival celebrating the start of spring. Traditionally, Imbolc falls on February 1st. If you live somewhere with weather like we have here in Latrobe, PA, you might be thinking… um, that’s not spring.
February 1st is roughly the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. That means that we’re slowly coming out of the cold of winter, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
Below ground, deep beneath the dirt, things are starting to wake up. This is also a time where sheep becomme pregnant, and it’s likely a word meaning “in the belly” that gave Imbolc its name.
Imbolc also honors the Goddess Brigid, who rules over fertility, poetry, and crafts. Once Christianity became widespread, Imbolc was re-imagined as St. Brigid’s Day, a feast day honoring the saint. If you caught the name similarity, that’s not a coincidence–St. Brigid is in fact the Pagan goddess reclaimed as a Christian Saint.
How Can We Honor / Celebrate Imbolc?
At Imbolc, we prepare for the returning light, the fertile awakening of spring. It’s a time to welcome the return of our creative spark. This applies both to preparing to create new life by planting seeds and to new ideas and projects.
Traditionally, Imbolc is honored by lighting candles or bonfires in honor of Brigid.
People also honor Brigid and Imbolc by creating St. Brigid’s Cross out of corn, or creating a effigy of the goddess. If you’re looking for something hands-on to do to celebrate the slow return of spring, this is a fairly easy craft that even kids can enjoy.
If nothing else, you can pause and take a moment to reflect on the winter season’s end. Consider how you spent your hibernation period and what you’d like to do as the outside world reawakens. If you set New Year’s Intentions or Goals, you can revisit and recommit to them (or change them if they’re not working for you).
Imbolc at the Farm
The Wheel of the Year generally aligns with what we’re doing on the farm, and Imbolc is no different. Our main task in late January and early February is starting our first seeds of the year for spring harvest, and starting seeds for plants that take a long time to mature, like peppers and leeks. It is truly a time of birth – seeing a tiny seedling push up through the soil in late winter is one of the joys of being a farmer!