Happy Imbolc! The Midpoint Between Winter and Spring

This week we celebrate a natural Sabbath Holiday called Imbolc.  Winter Solstice was the last natural Sabbath Holiday and now on Thursday, February 1st, is Imbolc. This is known to be the midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. This is also known as St. Bridig’s Day. Brigid was an Irish Goddess representing spring, fertility and life.  

Let's talk about Winter Season & Optimising Its Energy

Winter is a time to slow down, trust our own wisdom, and find the faith in and acceptance of our place in the world and the wider Universe. During winter, our life progresses through it like the world progresses during this season. Winter is meant to feel slower - that is winter’s power. We are not meant to go fast, even though January energy can often feel like everyone goes so hardcore.

I actually think that is why people’s new year’s resolutions often fall off because they go at them with such intense energy that is impossible to maintain in this season. Nature simply doesn’t support it.Here’s a quote that adds beautifully to this: 

“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Winter is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximising scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency and vanishing from sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but it’s crucible.”

— Katherine May  

So, do not force to go about life from the energy of zestful, intense summer, but know this is perfect time to prepare, adapt, and take time for inner transformation and laying strong foundations. 

Imbolc - The Time of Wisdom and Initiation 

As we are slowly getting on the other side of winter, we slowly ease back in and come out of hibernation, reflection to use our wisdom to initiate things. Now we are in the Aquarius season, which is an air sign. Air element is all about the third eye, the mind’s eye, the intellect, the vision and what you wish to initiate from this vision.

WORDS FOR IMBOLC

Dreams, inspiration, destiny, imagination, music, magic, wisdom, truth, trust, experience, dignity, virtue, spiritual mastery, maturity 

JOURNAL PROMPTS

• What vision are you wanting to initiate in your life now that we move toward spring?

• What preparation can you do toward this vision now to lay foundations strong?

• What are you dreaming about?

• What are you seeing in your imagination and in your dreams?

• How can you live more from your inner dignity?

• How is your trust toward your inner wisdom and experiences? 

RITUALS

Imbolc comes from Ireland and Celtic traditions and it has been celebrated by having bonfires. So, I would encourage on Feb. 1st to have a fire centered time to connect. Do your own bonfire, sit next to a fireplace or just light up candles and journal on the questions above. 

How did this resonate with your soul?

We are natural beings and thus meant to be flowing with the rhythms of nature. I hope this email inspired you how you can tap into the energy of winter and Imbolc a bit for you to thrive in this season.

The days of winter can feel bleak at times, but if you align with its bleak energy, you will emerge from your metamorphosis to spring feeling grounded and rejuvenated. 

Did you find this interesting? Please email me back, if so, I love to hear your feedback what resonates with your soul.Essi xx

EVENTS COMING UP

Connected You Community Walk & Talk Club: Galentine's Day EditionSaturday Feb 17th, 1-3:30pmColicci Serpentine Lido Cafe at S Carriage Dr, London W2 2UHFree event

Join Connected You Community's monthly Walk & Talk Club where every month we meet at one of London's Royal Parks for a walk or nearby forest for a walk to connect and meet with other women. This month we will walk in Hyde Park.

For our February walk, we will have a special Galentine's Day edition and we will connect about the power of sisterhood and friendships in our lives.

7 Ways to Get Back on Track With Your Wellbeing Habits in 2024

Tuesday Feb 22nd - 7pm UK timePrice: £12Tamara Judge from Keystone Coaching and I are facilitating one more workshop linking to our Connected 2024 planner on wellbeing habits. By February, majority of people falls off track with their resolutions and goals, and we wanted to create space for you to learn some strategies to back on track.

Connected You Coffee ClubSunday Feb 25th - 1-3pm GMTGreen Room Cafe & Flower Store113 Stoke Newington Church Street London N16 0UD 

Tickets: Freebie tickets while they last, then £7

Join Connected You Community's monthly Coffee Club where every month we gather with a group of women at one lovely cafe in London to share a cup of your fav hot drink, connect on specific theme, get group mentoring from me and make new friends.

We all need to be seen and heard. This is a space for that, connect on heart-to-heart with other women and make friends and sisters in this city where making new friends can be difficult.

Every club has a theme that we connect over.Theme for February is "Connecting with the wisdom of what winter season has taught us."

Let's keep connecting.

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