2023 Imbolc Newsletter
Embrace Hope my friends,
Imbolc is the time of hope for new life and the return of the light.
In the US, most people think of February 2nd as Groundhog Day, the portent of how many more weeks of winter are in store. However, for thousands of years, Imbolc, meaning “in the belly” was a sign of hope as there would be lambs born in the spring. In addition, the people saw the noticeable signs that the days were lengthening.
Hope is one of the most important emotions that allow us to feel alive and attract the possibilities that lead to feeling we have agency. When hope is purposely destroyed, we lose the will to live meaningful lives. In the last three years, most of us have experienced moments of doubt, discouragement or even hopelessness.
What I want to address is the way we’ve been taught not to trust hope in this culture. How many times have you heard someone say “Don’t get your hopes up.” When hope is taken away, we sicken, we strike out in anger or immerse ourselves in pain relieving substances that can ultimately destroy our lives. Sadly, so much unnecessary fear has been evoked in the world, causing so much trauma to so many people.
The people celebrated the signs that there would be new lambs in the spring because they trusted nature’s intelligence: that renewal comes as an inevitable part of the process of life. They knew life flows in Cycles, not linear checklists or “the news” or anything that deliberately evokes fear of the future unless we buy something or elect someone or set up barriers against our neighbors. The message of our current culture is to compare, to not trust “others” and to compete as though there’s only one pie and we much fight for our share.
Check in with your internal messages that discourage hope and tap into the beauty of the natural world and hang out with those who want to embrace hope. On this first weekend of February, I invite you to create your own gatherings for hope; include friends that will bring others, or join with a community that is dear to you. Promoting hope and love raises our consciousness.
May you renew your feeling of hope with the power of love, Linda