LGBTQIA+ pagans and practitioners of Celtic spirituality, are preparing to celebrate a very special weekend festival. It is Imbolc, and also the lunar month of Snow Moon coincides with the 1st February. February's full moon, traditionally known as the Snow Moon, also carries the ancient name of the Quickening Moon. This title speaks to a time of subtle, powerful change, as the latent energy of spring begins to stir deep within the sleeping earth.
As the last full moon before the Spring Equinox in March, it symbolises a final lunar cycle of winter's dominion. It is a period of hopeful anticipation, where the promise of thawing ground and preparing gardens for new life feels tangibly close. This celestial event offers a potent moment for reflection, to honour personal progress and to consciously consider what seeds—both literal and metaphorical—one wishes to plant for the future.
In many spiritual traditions, the full moon is viewed as a peak of cosmic power, a night abundant with energy ideal for ritual and meditation. It represents the divine feminine in her Mother aspect: fertile, abundant, and ripe with wisdom. This energy encourages a conscious examination of any lingering shadows or unresolved matters, ensuring they do not hinder forward momentum on one's path.
Imbolc: The Festival of Brigid and Awakening Earth
This lunar phase is deeply intertwined with the pagan festival of Imbolc, celebrated on 1 February. This day honours the goddess Brigid and the first undeniable whispers of spring. The earth itself is seen as awakening from its winter slumber, preparing to burst forth with renewed vitality.
It is considered an ideal time to attune oneself to the shifting energy of the natural world and to the spirit of new beginnings moving in parallel within one's own life. The combined energy of the Quickening Moon and Imbolc is designed to support celebration, renewal, and a harmonious alignment with the burgeoning life force returning to the land.
