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While virtually any magickal working can be attempted at any time of year, spellwork is often enhanced when performed during the special times, such as sabbats, that are most closely related to the work being done. The spells and divinations in this chapter should be adjusted to fit your own needs and the symbols of your particular path. Although Imbolc is strongly influenced by its Celtic roots, there are also workings that come from modern traditions built on beliefs from around the world.

Brigid Candle Divination

Here is a very simple exercise in divination using the emblem of Imbolc: the candle. If you have no experience with divination, this simple technique is a great introduction to this art. You can think of it as being the divination equivalent of a multiple choice question, or almost as a simplified Ouija board.

You will need:

As is often the case with divination, the most difficult part is creating the perfect question. Make certain your question is specific and clearly defined. A question like “What’s the weather going to be like tomorrow?” is not as clearly defined as “Will it rain tomorrow?” Creating the answers to the first question would be difficult because there are so many possibilities.

Write the possible answers to your question on your card stock or paper and mark off a section of the paper for each answer. Observing how the wax melts onto the card will determine which answer is indicated. It is easiest if you plan to ask a “yes” or “no” question, although you could provide many more possible answers. Try to have no more than four possible answers to make interpretation easier.

Using the marker, create one section on your paper for each possible answer. You want each section to be equal in size and all connected in the center. If you are asking a “yes” or “no” question, this could be a simple as marking a single line down the center of the paper and writing “yes” on one side of the line and “no” on the other. If you have four possible answers, divide the paper by marking a cross in the center and writing one answer in each of the quarters created by your marks. The question does not need to be written on the paper, so you can reuse those papers if the same answers will apply to other questions as well.

When selecting possible answers, keep in mind that the answer to your question might not be one of the choices you have listed. If that’s a possibility then make one of the possible answers “something else” or “other” to allow for those answers you didn’t consider. When you have all of the answers marked in equally sized areas you should attach the candle to the paper or card. The simplest way to do that is to put one or two drops of melted wax (from the bottom of your divination candle or from a different candle) onto the exact center and quickly push the base of the candle into the melted wax. Wait a few moments for the wax to cool, and it will have “glued” your candle to the card.

Your divination candle is ready to use. Place it on a fireproof surface and sit or stand facing it. Make certain that the space you are using has no drafts that might blow the flame around and change the results of the divination. Relax and clear your mind, then very clearly offer your carefully worded question. Begin by calling to Brigid:

Goddess Brigid, Goddess of Flame, Healer, and Keeper of the Sacred Well, I ask that you honor me with your presence today and show me the answer to my question.

Read or state your question aloud, then light the candle. Use matches or a lighter rather than a second candle (which might drip wax and skew the results).

As the candle burns, focus your attention on the candle’s flame, watching as it dances and jumps. As you watch the flame, think about your question. Try to visualize it in your mind’s eye. Slowly drop your gaze to the candle. Watch as the wax begins to drip down the sides of the candle. Sometimes the wax runs down one side of the candle and continues on that line the entire time it burns but at other times it can take unexpected turns. Because of this, you should allow the candle to completely burn out. Until the candle has burned out, the results from the wax may not be accurate. If you absolutely must extinguish the candle before it burns out, leave it in place and relight it as soon as possible. Never leave a candle burning unattended.

Take care not to let it burn the card stock or paper. If the paper starts to scorch you should extinguish the candle immediately. Otherwise allow it to go out on its own. Once the candle is out, allow it to rest for a bit to cool. If there is a “nub” of candle left on the card, gently rotate and remove it if you can do so without disturbing any of the rest of the wax.

With the wax cooled and “nub” removed (if possible), you can read and interpret the results. Most of the time you will be able to clearly see which one of the answers on your card is covered with the most wax, indicating that answer is the correct one. At other times the wax may flow and pool onto many different parts of the card. The answer with the most wax is the one you should go with. If it is too difficult to determine which has the most wax, you can use a sharp knife to divide the melted wax along the lines between the possible answers. Then peel the wax from the card and compare it (or even weigh it). When it is difficult to decide between two answers with similar amounts of wax, it could be an indicator that there is truth in both of those answers.

Empowerment of the Milk Moon

Sometimes called the Nursing Moon, the Milk Moon is usually the second moon cycle of the Gregorian year and is almost always the moon in the sky during Imbolc. It is the solar calendar that gives us our sabbats but it is the lunar calendar that gives us celebrations based on the cycles of the moon. While these two different calendar systems have no mathematical relationship to each other, both systems recognize the realities of life at any given time. As a result, the workings of the two calendars often complement one another., which is definitely the case with the Milk Moon and Imbolc.

The Milk Moon cycle can start as early as December 25 (at the new moon) and end as late as February 22 (dark of the moon). This moon is very applicable to Imbolc, and while there are many wonderful ways to apply the lessons of this lunar cycle, the following spell focuses on self-empowerment. For more ways to apply the moon cycles to your life, I suggest reading a copy of Annette Hinshaw’s wonderful book, Earth Time, Moon Time (Llewellyn, 1999). Although this spell is best done under the power of the full Milk Moon, it can be performed at any time during this moon cycle.

This working is really for the “givers” in the Wiccan and Neopagan communities, those people we know who are ready to help anyone at a moment’s notice. They’re the kind of people
who will pull over to help a stranger with a broken-down car or offer to help someone move without being asked. They have very generous hearts but often forget this critical bit of logic: if you don’t care for yourself, you can’t possibly help others. It is one of the first things students learn in any kind of life saving training. Many of the giving types in our communities sometimes are so focused on others that they forget to look inside and care for themselves to ensure they have the strength to help. At times, the giving nature of some people also leads them to be victims of those who would exploit it.

This spell is intended to help with the problem by giving permission to the caster—for you— to look within and start healing the hidden wounds of your inner self. Balancing the desire to help others while giving yourself the attention and energy you need to have a fulfilling life is difficult. It is not only okay to worry about yourself at times, it is critical for a good, balanced, life.

All you need for this spell is a white candle dedicated to this work and nothing else in a holder, a safe place to set the candle while it is burning, and a view of the moon (looking through a window is fine). As with many spells, it is best to do this working at night, as the moon is not bound by the solar cycles of night and day. Sometimes you’ll see a beautiful moon hanging on one horizon and the sun on the other, so the spell might have to be performed in the day. If you are working indoors in that case, try to darken the room as much as possible and cover the window except for an opening where you can clearly see the moon.

Optimally, you should place the candle somewhere it can safely burn and where you can sit with a view of the candle and the moon at the same time. If that isn’t possible, try to position the candle so it can be easily reached while seated and the moon and candle are visible without having to turn your head too far. Before lighting the candle, sit down and observe the moon. Just look at the surface and allow her energy to penetrate you. The closer the moon is to full, the more energy you will likely feel, but even a crescent moon is powerful. Let your gaze drift over the surface of the moon and quiet your mind. Reflect for a few moments on the intense tranquility you can feel from the moon’s energy.

Once you feel settled and quieted, raise your arms to the moon and say:

Beautiful Sister Moon—during this cycle of
the Milk Moon, I ask you to nourish me
and help me replenish my own energy.

Help me have the things I need in order to help others,
and show me when it would be better to not help.

Give me the wisdom to know when to say “no”
and the courage to stand by that decision.

As I light this candle, I ask that you send me your nourishment that even my invisible wounds will heal.

Bring your energy to this candle, lit in your honor.

Light the candle. If you can safely hold the candle, take it with both hands and align it so that the flame appears in the center of the moon as you look at it. Bow in respect to the moon and then place your candle back on a safe surface. Sit quietly and watch the candle burn. As you watch it, think of the things you do for others. Don’t think just about the times you did something spectacular, like changing a tire for someone, but also all the little things you do, like holding doors for people, allowing someone to go ahead of you in line at the bank, holding back traffic with your car while a mother duck waddled across the road with her ducklings behind her, and all the ways you give your energy to others; these are all things you have done which are worthy of remembering.

As you watch the moon’s power surrounded by your candle’s flame, visualize tiny drops of water streaming out of the candle’s flame and penetrating deep within you. Each drop helps heal and re-energize you from the inside out, giving you the strength you need to continue helping others.

You shouldn’t use this spell as an excuse to sing your own praises to the world. This is a very private undertaking to help your energy reserves grow, not your ego. You may have wounds from helping others and not even realize how past events may be keeping you from doing what you want to do, even if the two are completely unrelated. As you watch the candle burn you should also listen carefully to see if you are given any insight into a particular situation or person.

When you are finished, you should extinguish the flame appropriately. Any time you feel that your energy is depleted by your work for others, light the candle and reflect on your own needs. And remember: don’t stop at reflection! When this spell helps you realize a need you have, don’t ignore it. Instead, act to address your need so you will be ready to help the next person who needs you.

Blessing of the Candles

With the deep connection between Imbolc and candles, this is also a traditional time to bless candles that will be used throughout the year. If you make your own, you can empower them throughout the candle making process, and it is quite powerful to perform a blessing over all of the candles once they are completed. While the magickal energies of a candle should be aligned as the candle is made, a blessing won’t have any effect on those alignments. As a result, you can bless many different types of candles created for any variety of purposes. Healing candles, prosperity candles, and protection candles (or any other variety) can all be blessed together. It is no harm to bless a candle more than once, so if you blessed a candle last year, it is fine to bless it again if it is still unused.

Start by draping your altar or a small table with a white cloth. The colors of the candles won’t matter, but you can think of the white altar cloth as being a “blank” color that won’t influence the specific energies of the candles you’re blessing. For this spell you will not need to walk behind the altar, so you can even use a table against a wall. Place a single white candle in an appropriate holder in the center of the altar. The candle need not be a new one; it is the only candle that will actually be lit as part of the spell and would typically be the only candle on the table that has been previously used.

All styles of candles can be blessed in this way, so gather all the candles you wish to bless. Arrange all of your tapers, pillars, tea lights, votives, candles in containers, and floating candles on your altar in a way that is pleasing to your eye. If any are boxed or wrapped, remove the candles from the wrapping so they can be clearly seen. If you have candles wrapped in clear plastic you can leave it in place. The important thing is that you be able to see each candle.

Stand before your altar and take several deep breaths. Clear your mind as you ground and center. If you are not familiar with grounding, just place your feet on the floor at shoulder width. Raise your arms and breathe slowly and deeply. Visualize roots growing out of your feet and into the floor. The roots rapidly grow into the earth no matter how many floors above the ground you stand. Next, visualize your outstretched arms growing branches extending toward the sky until you are absolutely connected to the air itself. When you can clearly see these things in your mind’s eye, you are ready to begin. The deities listed in this spell are all associated with the season of Imbolc but you can (and should) adjust the list to include any patron deities you may have. Also take this spell as an opportunity to reflect on your own practices and pantheon. If you wish to include Ganesha in the list of god aspects you should offer that invocation before the goddess invocation.

Begin with an invocation to the female divine:

Gracious Goddess, I come before you on this
night/day to ask that your blessings be bestowed upon these tools of fire and light that I have gathered here.

Brigid, Diana, Aphrodite, Danu, and Innana: I call to you, Goddess, in all your forms to bestow your blessings on these candles that they always provide the pure and true energy of the universe while never causing harm or ill to anyone.

May these candles always please you
and call you back to their tiny flames.

Light the white candle you placed in the center of the altar, then offer an invocation to the male divine:

Great God, I stand before this altar and ask that your blessings also be given to the candles gathered here tonight/today.

Pan, Februus, Bragi, and Cupid, I call to you
in all of your forms to bestow your blessings on
these tools of fire and air that they may always
provide energy that is steady, true, and positive.

I ask that you guard these candles from
outside energies that might taint them.

May these candles always please you
and call you back to their tiny flames.

Turn your eyes toward the burning white candle. Feel all the energy you have gathered in the space around your altar. As you watch the flame dancing around the candle’s wick, visualize that energy coalescing around the flame of the candle. Once the energy is gathered, it will begin to spread out from the candle flame to the other candles on your altar. Visualize the energy reaching out from the candle flame to the wicks of all of the other candles on the altar. The energy may appear as sparks of light that float to the other candles, flashes like tiny lightning bolts, streaks of light that stretch all the way from the flame to the other candles, or in any variety of ways. Just ensure that your visualization includes every single candle (preferably at the wick). That is why it is so important for you to be able to see every candle.

When each candle has been touched by the energy, thank the powers you called:

Great Goddess, in all of your forms you bring blessings
to me every day of my life so I thank you for coming here
to offer the additional blessings upon these candles.

Great God, all of your facets protect me just as you
have given protection to the candles gathered here.

Thank you for bringing your energy to me today/tonight.

You should thank any patron deities by name if you called them by name in the first invocation. Your candles can be stowed away until needed. Once candles have been blessed, most people prefer to place them where they are unlikely to be handled by others, especially strangers in your home. This could be accomplished by putting them out of sight in a cabinet or closet but you could even put them on display as long as they are unlikely to be touched, such as inside a china cabinet, on a high shelf, or similar.

Goddess in the Air Divination

Divination is often an art requiring us to interpret symbols. Possible futures aren’t usually clearly revealed. Instead we are given signs and symbols that need to be recognized and then interpreted. That is why those who perform divination for others often spend decades learning their craft. Sometimes, however, there are divination techniques that are essentially intuitive to humans. Some forms of divination take advantage of our inborn ability to make symbols more understandable. This is one approach to divination completely tied to personal interpretations and our deepest intuition.

This divination is best performed on Imbolc as we look into the coming warm season, but it could be done on other days as well. It can be done indoors or out. If you decide to do it outdoors you will use clouds as a divination tool, so you need favorable weather. Clear skies won’t reveal much to you, nor will a sky completely filled with clouds. Any significant rain or snow will also make it essentially impossible to see any clouds open to interpretation. An alternative and more dependable option is to do this divination indoors using smoke from incense rather than clouds. Interpretation of clouds in the sky or indoors smoke streams are practically the same; the choice of indoors or out is up to you and the weather.

Whatever version of this divination you decide to do, find paper and a pen or pencil.

If doing this divination indoors you will need:

This divination requires you to be able to see signs in smoke, so it is easy to get carried away and use more incense than needed. It is best done in a room with at least one window. Regardless of the weather, you should open the windows in the room at least a tiny bit. This exercise should only be performed in rooms with good ventilation anyway, and the smoke needs to have access to the outside air so that its energies can escape the room and move out into the universe. And because you need to be able to see the smoke, you will need to create a bit more of it than is normally desired in a spell. If you are using stick or cone incense, you will need two pieces of incense separated by at least four inches to create proper smoke. If you have a censer large enough to accommodate both pieces of incense while keeping them far enough apart you can use it. Otherwise you will need two different censers spaced apart. You could use one stick and one cone if you like. If using charcoal, be certain to light it ten minutes before beginning the divination. Incense blends with a lot of resins will generate the most smoke from the charcoal. Also, the self-lighting variety of incense charcoal burns very hot so it is best to locate higher quality, scentless incense charcoal. If you have to use the self-lighting variety, the high temperature will mean that you have to add more incense to the charcoal frequently. Keep that in mind before you start and make certain you have plenty of incense on hand to feed the hot charcoal.

Indoors or out, you need to be comfortably seated or reclined. With that in mind, if you are working indoors, spread the black cloth on a table or other location that is easy to reach from your comfortable seat. Some people are fine sitting on the floor for this divination, but for most of us a chair and table are the best approach. Also make sure your writing instrument and paper are nearby. Place the censer(s) in the center of the cloth and then place the candleholder three to four inches in front of the censer. If you are using two censers, ensure that they are four inches apart. You can put the candle between the two censers if you would like. Begin by offering an invocation as you light the candle:

Goddess of the Flame, I call upon you and ask that you help reveal to me the Goddess in the Smoke and illuminate the signs she sends to me so that I will see them all.

If you are using incense sticks or cones, light the incense from the candle and place it into the censer(s). Remember that the two pieces of incense should be about four inches apart. If you are using incense on charcoal, add several pinches of incense directly on top of the charcoal. Offer an invocation:

I offer this incense to the Goddess in the Smoke
that she might reveal to me the things
I need to know about what is to be.

If you are using clouds for your divination, it would be more appropriate to say something a little different. If you are performing the divination during the day:

Great God in the Sky, as your light reflects from
the clouds I see, I ask that you reveal to me the
things that I need to know about what is to be.

Under ideal conditions this divination can be performed outside at night as well; it would require a night with a full or nearly full moon and partly cloudy skies. The moon can shine intensely on clouds and illuminate them in ways they don’t in daylight. In that case, change the invocation:

Great Goddess, I come to you in your guise as the moon, daughter of the earth and sister to humankind.

As your light reflects from the clouds I see, I ask that you reveal to me the things that I need to know about the future.

If indoors, wait a few moments as the smoke begins to develop. From this point, the indoor and outdoor versions of the divination work essentially the same way. If there are specific questions you would like answered, you need to ask them aloud. It is usually less confusing to ask a question and then watch the smoke or clouds for a sign in response before asking the next question. That being said, it is possible to ask a series of questions and then watch for signs for them all. That can be a more conservative use of your time but can make things a bit less clear, especially if some of your questions are completely unrelated.

Even if you don’t have specific questions, the divination is still likely to reveal some things to you. This is where our innate ability to interpret shapes and forms, especially ephemeral ones (fleeting shapes that form and dissolve quickly) becomes a powerful tool to understand divination symbols. Best of all, it is so simple. Most of us have watched clouds drift overhead and seen many different shapes that we can easily interpret as animals, plants, and even people. Virtually any object can appear in the smoke or the clouds. Clouds tend to keep their form a lot longer than shapes in incense smoke, so you will need to be especially observant when performing this divination indoors. Where you position the candle is also important. You want the candlelight to illuminate the smoke from below because this tends to give the highest contrast to the smoke.

As you watch the smoke or clouds, take note of any shapes you can identify. If you are pausing between asking questions, write down your question first and then any symbols you might see. If you have asked a group of questions at the same time or if you have asked no questions at all, then simply record anything you see. Whenever you see a shape transform into another recognizable shape, underline or highlight the shapes you see. Those transformations can be the most valuable insights.

If you use incense sticks or cones, your divination will end when the first piece of incense goes out. It’s best not to change the smoke source during the divination, so don’t try to light an additional stick or cone. Once the divination is complete you can always repeat the entire process if you don’t think you received enough information or if something requires additional clarification. Allow the incense or charcoal to burn out before extinguishing the candle.

Once the divination session itself is over you should review the notes you took of what you saw. If your notes include the questions asked, with the symbols you saw before asking the next question, it is a bit easier to identify which symbols are related to which question. Regardless of which approach you prefer, interpretation is a very personal part of this divination. Even if you are asking questions on behalf of other people, it is your interpretation that is critical. Look at your notes and the shapes you saw. How do they relate to you? Are they deeply symbolic, as dreams often are, or do they strike you as literal?

For example, if you asked, “Will there be any major changes in my life in the coming months?” and saw the shape of a horse in the smoke or cloud, it could mean many things. Generally, horses symbolize a wild spirit and freedom. They also represent mobility or travel. It is possible that the symbol you have seen means that you are going to travel or even move. If you grew up with horses, seeing one could represent that part of your childhood or another pastime. It’s also possible that the horse isn’t as symbolic; it could literally mean that you are going to acquire a horse! How can you tell which of these very different interpretations applies to you? It truly comes back to your perceptions and intuition. Look inside of yourself for the answers. Another person could sit with you throughout the divination and listen to the same questions and away with completely different interpretations. And consider that even if two people sat very close together, they would see the smoke or clouds from different angles; everyone’s perspective is different. Always listen to your own instincts when it comes to interpreting the things that are revealed to you through the smoke or clouds. Keep your notes and review them at next year’s Imbolc to see how accurate your divination truly was.

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