Imbolc and the Beauty of New Beginnings: What Might You Begin Again?
Artist: HolgaJen
New Moon Reflections for January 2025 + Celebrating Imbolc
The New Moon is a powerful moment to pause and reflect. It’s a time to plant seeds of possibility, asking ourselves the timeless question: What might I begin again?
This question isn’t about overhauling everything or chasing perfection. It’s about allowing space for curiosity and intuition, trusting that the answers we seek often emerge in their own time.
This month’s New Moon also coincides with Imbolc, a Celtic festival that marks the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It’s a celebration of the returning light and an opportunity to honor the growth that is already stirring beneath the surface. While winter still holds us in its quiet embrace, Imbolc reminds us to look ahead to brighter days, to the growing season to come.
Just as the New Moon invites introspection, Imbolc invites us to celebrate the possibilities of renewal. Both teach us that even in the quiet and the dark, life is moving forward, and transformation is always within reach.
The Subconscious and the Power of Inquiry
A fascinating insight I recently heard on the Hidden Brain podcast, hosted by Shankar Vedantam, ties beautifully into this practice of inquiry. The guest shared how our subconscious mind works on personal questions in the background, long after we’ve asked them. When we pose a clear and thoughtful question, our brain begins searching for an answer—even when we’re not actively thinking about it.
This process reminds me of how Albert Einstein and other great thinkers emphasized the importance of finding the right question to ask. After posing the question, they’d release it—letting their subconscious work on it while they engaged in something else entirely.
As yogis, movers, and seekers, this resonates deeply. It’s often in moments of flow—on the mat, during a walk, or even while washing the dishes—that clarity finds us.
Imbolc: Celebrating the Returning Light and New Beginnings
As we step into this New Moon and the energy of Imbolc, let’s ask ourselves:
What plans or paths might I surrender to make room for new possibilities? Can I welcome the idea that joy and pain can coexist, that even in difficult times, there is room to breathe, grow, and begin again?
The practice of yoga mirrors this wisdom beautifully. Every time we step onto the mat, we are invited to begin again. Each pose is an opportunity to notice how we feel today, in this body, in this moment. There’s no need for judgment or striving, only curiosity and self-compassion.
“To truly embrace the beginner’s mind, we need resilience—the kind that allows us to stay curious and scan for new possibilities even in hard seasons. ”
Cultivating Resilience: Flexibility, Core Strength, and Hope
Resilience, I believe, is built on three key qualities:
Flexibility
Flexibility isn’t just physical—it’s the ability to soften around life’s edges and adapt to change. When plans crumble or seasons shift, flexibility invites us to stretch into new possibilities without breaking.Deep Core Strength
True strength comes from our core—not just the muscles that support our posture but the inner stability that helps us navigate life’s challenges. Deep core strength grounds us in uncertainty, giving us the courage to hold space for both joy and pain.Hope (in Good Supply)
Hope is the quiet fuel that keeps us moving forward. It reminds us that, even in difficult times, there is room for growth, connection, and joy.
Aligning with the Moon’s Cycle: Setting Intentions for Growth
As you’re reading this, the New Moon has already begun its waxing phase, gathering light and momentum. The first two weeks of the moon cycle—and the energy of Imbolc—are a potent time to ask: What might I begin again?
Even if the answer isn’t immediate, trust that your brain is working on it in the background. By the time the Full Moon in February—aptly called the Snow Moon—arrives, you may find yourself circling back to something you left behind or discovering a renewed sense of clarity about what’s next.
Here’s an example from my own life: Some time ago, I started an online beginner’s poetry course and absolutely loved it. But life got busy, and I let it slip away. This past weekend, while cross-country skiing with a friend, she read me a poem. In that moment, it hit me: I really want to return to that poetry course. It felt like an answer rising to the surface, one I had unknowingly been working on all along.
Welcoming Change: What Might You Begin Again?
Imbolc and the New Moon both remind us that growth begins in the unseen. As the light slowly returns, and the moon waxes toward fullness, let us carry the question: What might I begin again?
Ask it gently, without pressure or expectation. Let it simmer as you go about your day, whether you’re practicing yoga, walking the dog, or folding laundry. Trust that clarity will come in its own time, just as the days lengthen and the earth begins to stir with life once more.
When the answer comes—whether it’s a nudge to revisit a hobby, reconnect with a loved one, or take a bold leap forward—embrace it. Let this season of returning light be one of curiosity, growth, and joyful possibility.
So mote it be. 🌙
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