Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring in the Celtic tradition. It is a time of rebirth and new hope. The earth stirs from its winter slumber, the hard frosts thaw, the first green buds and shoots appear, bringing with them the promise of transformation.

Brigid the ancient triple Goddess, is celebrated on Lá Bríde -Brigid’s Day at Imbolc. She stands on the threshold of Spring invoking the archetypal energies of healing, creativity, imagination and poetry, as well as symbolizing the alchemical fires of the forge and of transformation. She is said to breathe life into the mouth of the dead winter. In the Celtic tradition, in Samhain, the Cailleach, the old hag of winter, makes her descent into the underworld to incubate the seeds of the new life. These are the seeds that will emerge at Imbolc, (meaning ‘in the belly’) in the Celtic spring.

In this workshop we will look at the Self Abandonment wound and the importance of creating sanctuary in the inner world, as well as the world around us. Where we have experienced trauma in childhood, it can affect our relationship with ourselves and others. Our inner dialogue has a lot to do with our sense of self-worth and confidence. When we have a self-abandonment wound, we often ignore our inner voice, are highly self-critical, find it difficult to set boundaries and say ‘no’. We self-abandon when we minimize our feelings and avoid asking for what we need. We are hyper-vigilant of others, watching for any change in mood, feeling that another person’s moods are our fault and our job to fix. We are frequently in states of anxiety, not at ease.

We can also feel shame too for having needs, feeling that we are often ‘too much’ and ‘not enough’. This erodes relationships and basic self-trust.