The Wisdom of the Crone, the Cailleach

Happy Imbolc! Imbolc is a Celtic festival that honours the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The goddess of winter is a crone goddess, the Cailleach. She is the one who blankets the earth in snow, or here on the Pacific west coast, dark skies and cold rain. Her cool weather calls us to cozy afternoons and evenings, nourishing warm foods, and rest. Nature signaling to us the importance of taking it slow, replenishing before the thaw and emergence of spring. She also whispers that light, potential, and possibility is here in the seeds that haven’t yet sprouted. Two seemingly opposing energies at the same time, the desire to grow, and the need to rest. We might find ourselves in that tension, we might feel stuck or unmotivated. The busy-ness around us might not match the energy we feel inside. Instead of comparing ourselves to others we might be curious how the need to rest is showing up and at the same time, how we feel potential and life force inside. Is it a tiny spark? Or maybe it’s hidden from view, and we might be tricked into believing it isn’t there at all? Possibly it’s a raging fire.

It is said that if the weather on Imbolc is cloudy, dark and stormy, that the Cailleach is sleeping, there is no need for her to be out and about as spring is just around the corner. But if the weather is cold and bright, she is out gathering firewood because there’s still a significant amount of winter to come. It seems that Imbolc is the predecessor to Groundhog Day.

If you would like to explore more about natures rhythms specifically around the autumn and winter energies of Menopause through the lens of mythology and seasons please join me February 24^th for: Women's Wisdom Circle Witches, Sages, Queens & Crones - Navigating Peri-menopause, Menopause, Aging & Eldering