Imbolc this year begins on Feb 3, just before 8 AM, MST. In many traditions the mid winter is observed as a waiting time, a time of promised spring which has not fully arrived yet but we trust it will. Days are getting longer now, those warmer winter days are more frequent. Snow receding is happening and a flower or two may be popping up soon now!
The astrological climate is, on the one hand, showing that promise and, on the other hand, there is a coming energy which we hope will be magnificent! The Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are all in Aquarius, and this is right after the Jupiter Saturn conjunction at the beginning of Aquarius at Yule! It is a promise of better days ahead. Our individual fortunes may be blessed, more or less, as it always is. Where and how we focus our energy makes a big difference there.
The current political unrest in our country goes on. As of this writing, it looks dicey. The new administration will have its struggles to bring peace throughout the land, if only because some do not want peace. Some seem to think that division and strife is worth more than peace and equality for all. There are forces of darkness afoot. I personally fear for my country. We must be strong and resolute in our focus and pursuit of the highest good for all. Celia’s song We’ll Always Sing is an anthem we pagans can use to keep our resolve. She wrote it after 9/11, and the sentiment applies to the shocks of these times as well.
Today has been an eerie day, an empty day for truth.
from We’ll Always Sing by Celia, from the album Red, Alabaster and Blue
And though it’s ending in confusion, I feel much closer to you.
I do not know your name. I don’t know where you’re from.
But I’ve seen this city take its toll.
But it’s no matter what they take from me
They’ll not infect my soul.
I’ll Always Sing My Highest
I’ll always Dance the night away
I’ll Always Fly To freedom
My heart beats on as long as there are drums to play.
I will stomp my anger I will sob my grief
But I’ll not crumble in fear
Come all you healers sing it out with me until It’s only peace that we can hear.
We no longer have the living luxury of revelling in the fight.
For now we understand our purpose here lies in holding the light.
This backdrop of unrest affects us all. We can meditate, do ritual, raise our energies, work towards the best outcome we can see. Music has always been a wonderful way of raising energy. I know you may have a favorite. A line that keeps coming back to me is from Jackson Browne’s song, Before the Deluge
Let our music keep our spirits high.
from Before the Deluge by Jackson Browne
Let the buildings keep our children dry.
Let creation reveal its secrets by and by.
As usual, my readings are for the couple of weeks leading up to our next Sabbat, and for about a month afterward. So, the following readings are good starting now and through until the weeks leading into Spring Equinox.
Astrology for Imbolc, 2021: readings
Aries
Your role as healer and concert master has become a pretty big thing! You feel like you are holding a lot together? I mean, A LOT?!? Your circle is teeming with energy now and it is amazing. And I would guess that it goes beyond just close friends, too. Creation is happening.
Taurus
Now with the craziness behind us (a little) hopefully that spark you have been flashing will be more appreciated. You may have a lot in mind regarding where you want to go. I mean ambition, what sort of role you see yourself playing in the future. I would say, what is stopping you? Go for it!
Gemini
Aspirational. Very much so now! Which is what we need before we go anywhere. You must be in tune with all that amazing energy brewing in you. It is intellectual and innovative, far reaching and has the seeds of structure built in. The bit of time until it becomes fact is not all that short. Grab it.
Cancer
You do have your deep side, don’t you? A lot is brewing inside, and it would be amazing for anyone to not notice the depth and quality of your feelings. What may be a more hidden pain is the emotional turmoil within, possibly from a child (daughter?) or a parent (mother?). This will resolve. Love them.
Leo
Is a lot happening regarding partnerships lately? Not so much bad but certainly intense! Could be a huge break up or a huge coming together. That big Leo energy attracts a LOT! There is a LOT coming at you. That is going to be a theme for a while and the emotional context at home will be a bit tough. I will cool down a bit but will not go away for a while.
Virgo
Work energy is crazy right now! Is there some connection to a sibling here? Is that feeling tense; perhaps it is more a creative push which is not comfortable. But you know that creativity is often like that. The urge to do, to make, to imagine that will not go away. That is not a bad thing at all. See how you will feel at the end!
Libra
Children and art are seen in the same houses in astrology. Not just physical children either and art is sometimes wild, crazy, chaotic, unmanageable, maddening; you know, like children. Also deeply satisfying, encouraging, your connection into the future. Like art! Yours is keeping you active and up at night.
Scorpio
Homelife looks to be up in the air now. Perhaps moving to someplace else? Or is that more a matter of that which feels like home is in turmoil now? People see you as much more emotionally sensitive, even though you are that way already. Something is in turmoil inside you. Meditate on that and resolve it.
Sagittarius
The juices must be flowing with you! That niggling doubt in your head is pushing on the creative stuff but let it be more a spur to get past it and get on with it. There is now transforming energy to make money now. It will be there for the next couple of years. Use it! Could be fun!
Capricorn
The waves that washed over you the past few years has mostly passed except for the BIG ONE! There is still the urge to create and make something others may recognize as “pretty good!” You will see it as a crowning achievement, not necessarily because of it is worth to the world, but it is worth to you.
Aquarius
Happy birthday, friend! You are deep in it now. The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn at the beginning of Aquarius has started a revolution inside you. Yours is the time to make a mark on the world. Please make sure it is a positive one. There are enough crazies out there already. Be a sane prophet of the coming age.
Pisces
The Energies coming in are positive yet hidden with you. So much is hidden away in your 12th house! All that outgoing energy sometimes seems a bit Awkward for you. You may feel pushed inward, and discounted. Please do not let it do that to you. Your gifts are amazing, and we all need them and you!
photo of clouds over the Sandia Mountains by Jon Deer
remaining photos, including lead picture of the moon, by Alane Crowomyn
Thank you for this! I feel a ray of hope.