Imbolc Incense

Imbolc is the Wiccan Sabbat at the half way point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox and is celebrated from sundown on February 1 through February 2. Imbolc is a Gaelic term meaning "in the belly" referring to a new upcoming livestock breeding season and when the seedlings look for the warmth of the sun to begin to sprout again. This holiday centers around the home and hearth, so organizing, cleaning and any purification rituals are appropriate. Imbolc is a festival of light, warmth, fire and fertility. Celebrate Imbolc by lighting a fire (or candle) to celebrate the return of the sun, engaging in cleansing and purification rituals and preparing for the return of Spring.

Imbolc is closely associated with the Goddess Brigid, the Celtic Goddess of fertility, blacksmithing, wells, healing, poetry, inspiration and druidic knowledge who is associated with cattle, livestock, sacred wells, serpents and Spring.  Rather than being associated with the Moon, this Goddess is associated with the Sun, fire, the forge, and hearth and home. Christianity adopted and modified many Pagan Deities, stories, and places, and Brigid is no exception - being transformed into St. Brigid (a Catholic nun who lived in Kildare) although Brigid was said to have originally been a member of the magical race of beings known as the Tuatha De Danann. 

One important and meaningful way to connect with Brigid is to join a Cill as a member of a group (of which there are many) who are Keepers of Brigid's Flame.  Both Google and Facebook are good places to search for these groups.  

This incense is hand-crafted with herbs, woods, resins and essential oils associated with the Imbolc Sabbat including frankincense, white willow bark, chamomile flowers, heather, jasmine essential oil, lilac essential oil and neroli essential oil. Burn this incense during your Imbolc celebrations and rituals to celebrate the coming of Spring, fertility, purification, cleansing, rebirth and renewal. 

Incense is sold in packs of 6 cones and all incense is hand-crafted with organic ingredients, including cedarwood sawdust and makko powder (also known as Tabu no ki) from the bark of the Machilus thunbergii tree. This all-natural organic powder acts as a binder which holds the cones together and helps to regulate how they burn. There are no fillers, additives or artificial fragrances in any incense that I make, except for musk oil which is only available as a synthetic fragrance for ethical reasons.  

Each cone is weighed to between 3 to 3.5 grams before being dried to ensure uniformity in size and end up being about 1" tall.  Given that they are hand made, there may be some variation in shape.   

Each cone burns for approximately 20 minutes.