Description
This blend is the first light in 2024 – an offering to the goddesses of spring and vegetation, such as Brigid and Gertrud (patron saint of gardeners).
It contains herbs, woods and resins that vibrate with the rising of the sun and give first glimpses of flowers and sprouts in nature. These first flowers and buds are an important food source for bumblebees (which already fly at low temperatures) and other pollinating insects that just begin to wake up from hibernation. Such flowers are the cornel cherry’s blossoms, fragrant witch hazel and of course the colorful catkins of hazel trees. Buds and tree juice alsos provide sugar to various other animals.
As the juices begin to rise again under the bark of trees it was custom to gather the healing sap of the birch. Besoms made from birch twigs would sweep the house clean during the great February cleansings. Hence birch bark is also an important part of this incense blend.
Contains: birch bark, hazel catkins, cornel cherry and fragrant witch hazel blossoms, dammar, frankincense and sandarac resin, vetiver root, sweet violet, fragrant white rose petals.
Scent: floral, fresh, warm
Imbolc meanings: different meanings have been attributed to this term, such as “in the belly” or “ewe’s milk”. Traditionally Imbolc marks the first of the spring festivals and is strongly associated with Brigid as Maiden. In Christian faith the point in time became known as Candlemass (Mariä Lichtmess), when altar candles were blessed in the name of the Maiden Mary.
Brigid’s symbols are straw crosses, ribons, birch besoms, wells and spring flowers such as snowbells and violets.
Typical rituals performed during Imbolc are blessing and lighting white and green candles, burning straw figures made in the previous year, crafting straw crosses for Brigid and pronouncing wishes, asking for prophetic dreams, weather forecasts and big house cleansings.
Imbolc also markes the big celebrations of the carneval season, which is ending in February and beginning of Lent. In the Alps so-called Perchtenläufe are also custom. During Roman times it would be the Lupercalia.
Uses: burn for during February cleansing and purification rituals, add to water in ablution rituals (e.g. of images or crystals), wear for protection, healing, strengthening, fertility, honoring and connecting with the goddess in her Maiden aspect
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