Valerie Biel and the Feast of Imbolc

Valerie Biel is one of my fellow Blackbird Writers, and the author of the Circle of Nine series of Celtic adventures in two time periods.

It’s nearly Imbolc, the pagan holiday celebrated from sunset on February 1 through sunset on February 2. It’s the cross-quarter day midway between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). It’s the celebration of Brigid, the Celtic goddess of fire, spring, fertility, poetry, healing, and smithcraft. She’s one of the key deities of the Tuatha de Danann (the people of the goddess Danu) from Irish mythology and was the daughter of the Dagda, their chief. (In the Christian tradition, the festival day is also known as St. Brigid’s Day, one of Ireland’s patron saints who similarly controlled the weather, increased farmers’ herds, cured infertility and more.)

The celebration of Imbolc dates back to the Neolithic times. Evidence of this can be found on the Hill of Tara where the Mound of the Hostages was built around 3200 BC so that the sun lit up its chambers on the dates of Imbolc and Samhain (October 31.) Many of Ireland’s wells and springs are devoted to Brigid and people still make pilgrimages to them to pray for healing, fertility, and the protection of children.

The characters in my Circle of Nine series are descendants of the Tuatha de Danann and celebrate Imbolc as one of the eight holidays in the Celtic Wheel of the Year. It was delightful to incorporate these celebrations into my fiction in different ways through the centuries in these stories.

Celebrating Imbolc in the Year 1322

(Excerpt from my novella Bressa’s Banishment)

Bressa slowed her pace as she approached the copse of trees and shrubbery that hid the Brigid’s Well from the sight of anyone who did not already know it was there.

Today was Imbolc, the day for honoring the Fire Goddess Brigid, and Bressa always began with an early morning blessing at the well. Dipping her head as she swept the branches aside in front of her, Bressa entered the shaded, magical glade. The water bubbled up from the spring and created a clear pool, edged in mossy rocks and ringed with miniature white flowers and clover. The soothing quiet was only broken by the morning song of the birds in the trees above her. Bressa knelt to pull items from her satchel but froze when she heard an unnatural rustling behind her. Before she could retreat farther into the grove and hide herself, a figure stepped out of the trees.

“Ach, Maureen. It is thee. Blessed be, but you gave me a fright,” Bressa chuckled. “I wasna’ sure you would be joining me.”

“And miss the Brigid Blessing? Never.”

“I am glad for the company as always. Onora is not with you this morn?”

“Nay, I did not wake her. She has hardly slept since her birthday a week ago. She’s taking her eventual place in the Circle very seriously and studying the grimoires night and day now that she’s fifteen.”

“Well, a good girl she is. You are fortunate to have that one by your side, Maureen.”

“Both of us are fortunate. You’re like a gran to her. She loves you dearly.”

“As I do her.” Bressa squeezed Maureen’s hand before settling back on her knees and reaching for her bag. She pulled out a small jar of milk, a crock of honey, and a beautiful shining red apple.

Maureen gasped. “Where did you get such a fine apple at this time of year?”

“I have saved it in my cellar since last fall’s harvest. It makes a proper tribute to our blessed Fire Goddess, does it not?”

“Aye, it does,” Maureen agreed.

Bressa carefully placed the apple, honey, and milk on one of the flat rocks by the pool. The women joined hands, and Bressa spoke loud and clear.

“Goddess Brigid, our guiding power,

We greet you in your blessed bower

And offer these special gifts of home;

Honey from your sacred comb,

Milk of life, first nourishment,

Orchard fruit so succulent.

We honor thee as you honor us

With your sacred maiden’s trust.

Gift of healing, gift of sight,

Most thankful for our birthright.

We join you at your hallowed water

In this blessed day’s first hour.

And solemnly we vow anew

To be your servant in all we do.”

The women cupped their hands into the cool, clear water and let it trickle into their mouths, sitting silently in peacefulness for a few moments.

Valeries says that you can find the Circle of Nine series wherever you like to buy books. (The ebooks are also available to read for free via your Kindle Unlimited subscription, Learn more here.)