(Editor’s note: The following is a submission to The Recorder’s weekly column, “Faith Matters.” Each Saturday, a different faith leader in Franklin County offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com or call 413-772-0261, ext. 265.)
Many Pagans celebrate what, for us, are religious holidays loosely based on a Northern European agrarian calendar. The Wheel of the Year is a cyclical, seasonal series of eight celebrations that follow the yearly dance of what’s called “the turning of the wheel.”
You’ve all probably heard of the Solstices and the Equinoxes — Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox and Fall Equinox. Many Pagans know these as MidSumer, Yule, Ostara and Mabon. Then, there are what are referred to as the Cross Quarter Days — Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine and Lughnasa. Perhaps you’ve heard of them as Halloween, Candlemas, May Day and Harvest Festival.
Most likely, Imbolc is not all that familiar a term; but, it is the holiday coming up soon for many Pagans. This time of the Wheel Year is a great time to think about what the season has to offer us — to teach us. We are in the deep of Winter with our eyes to the horizon for the coming of Spring. But Spring is a ways off. Some days, the early darkness and the cold and wind and snow and ice can feel like they’re here to stay. There is also much going on in the world today that feels, and has felt, cold and dark and with no end in sight to many people. What could this possibly be offering us?
Spark.
The earth is too hard for seeds to be planted — but the seeds exist. This is the time of year for the Spark of the coming of Spring to be nourished. This is its birth time. This is the time of the quickening of the womb of the earth. This is where life begins and is then nourished to grow and then be brought forth into the visible, living world … this Spark.
We can feel this on many levels. In the physical world … the warming, melting Chinook winds that come through; the early, early tree buds that start beginning to show; the lengthening light; the shedding cats. But there can also be the Divine Spark inside of us … What can we nourish within that can come forth with the Spring?
After we’ve had the long winter to lie dormant, go inward and rest like the fallow fields (well … hopefully … maybe a little), what Spark has come to life in us from that Divine place of rest and gestating dark within? What is our Spirit birthing? What seeds will we bless and prepare to plant?
The Christian tradition calls this the time of Candlemas — the time to bring the candles in for blessing. This too is like blessing the Sparks that are springing to life, lighting the Spark in the nourishing, restful darkness to create holy flame and light.
Some Pagan Celtic traditions call this time the Feast of Brigid. Brigid is honored, at this time, as the Goddess of Smithcraft, Poetry and Childbirth — all things that begin with a spark. We can also look at these attributes as Manifestation, Creativity and Healing. What can Brigid help you craft or manifest? What poetry or creativeness can she inspire you to? What can she assist you in birthing or healing?
This time is also what many Pagans call the celebration of Imbolc, which — roughly translated — means ‘in or with milk” or “in the belly.” The time of pregnant ewes beginning to lactate was heralded as a sign of Spring — a hopeful sign of birth to come in the frigidness of Winter, still seemingly tight around us.
Yes, the light is lengthening. The sun is becoming closer and brighter. And, out of the womb of darkness, the beginning of any creativity is a Divine Spark. One of the most well known pieces of Pagan sacred literature is “The Charge of the Goddess.” There is a stanza at the closing of this beloved piece which says: “If that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.”
Now is the time to seek your Spark — or Sparks! — within. What will you be nourishing and then birthing come this Spring time? The world desperately needs your Divine Spark.