Weather Divination for Imbolc

Imbolc is the perfect time for working with weather divination!  Here are a few ideas to get you started!

• In Gaelic folklore, Imbolc is the time when The Cailleach gathers her firewood for the rest of the winter.  As she does not wish to stay out in bad weather gathering wood for a long winter, tradition says that good weather on Imbolc is a bad sign.  Bad weather, accordingly, is a sign that spring is on it's way.
• "Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky at morning, sailor take warning". This weather rhyme is a quick way to remember that dry particles in the air causes the sky to look red.  Dry air in the west (the night sky), the weather will be dry.  If the sky is red in the east (morning sky), wet weather is headed your way.
• "Circle round the moon, rain or snow soon."  A "circle" around the moon indicates moisture in the air, brining precipitation.
• Catch the cat cleaning it's ear's on Imbolc?  Tradition says that this means a storm is coming.
• Check out the pine cones.  If they are closed, it means wet weather is on it's way.  Open cones predict dry weather.
• Crickets have been shown to be very good indicators of air temperature. Count the number of chips a cricket makes for 14 seconds.  Add 40 and the sum of the two numbers will equal the temperature to within 1 degree 75% of the time.
• "When February give much snow, a fine summer dost foreshadow."
• "Of all the months in the year, curse a fair Februeer."
• If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight; If on Candlemas Day be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again."
• "If the sun shines bright on Candlemas Day, The half of the winter's not yet away."
• "If the groundhog sees its shadow on Candlemas Day, six more weeks of winter remain."
  
  

You may also enjoy reading:

• A Quick History of Imbolc
• Imbolc Recipe: Yogurt Chicken Salad
• Imbolc Correspondences
• Activities for Imbolc
• A Simple Candle Ritual for Imbolc

This is post copyright to the author. It may not be reposted, reprinted or distributed in it's entirety without express written permission of the author. Links to this article may be shared freely and are greatly appreciated.