Tarot for Imbolc

In which I share some thoughts about Brigids

The bottle in the photo above contains water from one of Brigid’s wells in County Limerick. The bottle is made of clay hardened in the intense heat of a kiln. The clay is earth and water, and fire needs both earth and air. The wand is made of wood, which feeds fire, but it’s been carved from bog oak: wood submerged in water for thousands of years. Embedded in the wand are mistletoe seeds from a plant that never touched the ground, a plant nurtured by sun and air and the living oak. Here, we see all the elements, their interrelationship, and their shared powers of transformation.

Some processes I just described—shaping clay, carving wood—require a human hand and a human mind. Both the goddess Brigid and St. Brigid of Kildare are patrons of art and ingenuity. In Sanas Cormac, a glossary of the Irish language dated to the 10th century, Brigid is described as a daughter of the Dagda, a poet, and the goddess of poets. She has two sisters, one a healer and the other a smith. St. Brigid of Kildare is connected with domesticated animals, butter, and beer, in addition to learning and healing.

At the same time, natural wells are sacred places for both saint and goddess. And Imbolc and the feast of St. Brigid occur as the first signs of Spring are appearing. Both Brigids have one foot in culture and another in nature.

This is what I’m thinking about as I put the finishing touches on my guide to Imbolc. I’m also thinking about how to use the energy of this moment as an opportunity for personal transformation, guided by Tarot. Some of the themes I’m thinking about are renewal, growth, healing, and creativity. These would be excellent concepts to explore in your own Tarot practice right now. Paid subscribers should continue for more about Tarot and Imbolc and a helpful (I hope) download.