Imbolc Sattva & lots of candles

In last week’s Slow Sunday I said I would pop up a letter in time for Imbolc, which is today, because, along with Candlemas which is tomorrow, both traditions are celebrating the return of the light, and as Ayurveda talks about the importance of nourishing ourselves with the sattvic qualities of light; I thought it was a good time to mention a few ways of doing this.

Imbolc and Candlemas

Imbolc is a festival marking the beginning of spring and the return of the light, that has been celebrated since ancient times in the Celtic tradition. It falls exactly halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox—February 1st and lasts until sundown on February 2nd.

The celebration of Imbolc dates back to the pre-Christian era in the British Isles, and celebrations involved a festival in honor of the pagan goddess Brigid, who I believe was taken into Christianity as St. Brigid. The Christian calendar celebrates Candlemas on 2nd February, and has similarities to Imbolc—celebrating the return of the light—recognising Spring is on it’s way.

This is a great time for filling your home with candles, and reflecting and thinking about how you want your life to look in the coming months; planting seeds. Historically, Imbolc marked a time of preparation for the agricultural season.

I went out for a walk in search of snowdrops, usually the first flower to return. They symbolise hope and the promise of new beginnings as they pop up their little flower heads through the frosted ground.

Photo by Seidenperle—Pixabay

The air was cool and there was a gentle breeze. Also, stillness. As if the world was on the brink of something new. I could feel it in the air. The sun shone all day and even though I had my hearing aids in, when I went out; the still, silent, softness of the day came with me, all the way up the main road and back. And although cold, I could feel spring in the air. Soon the wild garlic will start to grow.

Photo by Hans—pixabay

When I got back I saw my first bumble bee. It came to my window, hovered above one of the window boxes, then flew off. I decided it was a sign, on this day of light returning, Spring celebration, that new beginnings and good things were on there way.

As the sun went down, the sky painted itself with blues and pinks and mauve. It kept changing. Spring, is definitely not far away.

Tonight I have candles burning to keep me company, their flickering flames in lanterns. Warm glows and lovely smells fill the room, and music fills my ears. All these things are a sattvic—bring light, peace and balance to the mind.

Cultivating Sattva

Ayurveda explains that when we feed ourselves sattvic food and experiences, over time this brings the sattvic qualities of peace, light, balance, harmony, intelligence and clarity into our mind. Nourishing yourself with sattvic qualities brings calm and steadiness to your mind, and is one if the foundation stones for wellbeing.

Here are some sattvic things you can do, to bring the light in through your senses:

• Eat sattvic foods—most legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds (I will do a fuller letter on this but lots already out there online; dairy (but not when intensively reared), wholegrains; some oils and spices; ghee; raw honey; maple syrup; raw milk; fresh coconut water.

• Rise before dawn, ideally one and a half hours before the sun rises—sleep early to rise early!

• Meditate

• Help others

• Yoga and yoga nidra

• Spend time in nature

• Listen to relaxing music

• Rest your senses

• Tell the truth and avoid hurting anyone’s feelings

• Be compassionate

• Be kind

• Have a good work/life balance

• Turn off electronics including TV an hour before bed

• Have an electronics free day or weekend

• Laugh

• Walk away from stress

• Live in tune with nature

• Have a kitchari digestive reset day

I hope you have a light-filled couple of days, plant lots of nourishing seeds and, I look forward to sharing some of mine with you in the future when they start to bloom.

Meanwhile, tonight, I am going to look out of the window, breath in the air full of night scents, and then go to bed and dream of woodland walks and unexpected meetings.

Photo by TorstenDorran—Pixabay

Wishing you the warmest,

Lucy x