You can adapt many of the group activities for Imbolc into solitary activities. I especially like the idea of making (at least) one nice pillar candle for your rituals. Add herbs or make it a particular color to suit your needs. All you need is the hot pot you cook your Ramen noodles in, a metal can (you know those Spaghetti-O's you had for dinner the other night? Wash it out and use it!) to melt the wax, wicking (can be found in hobby shops and candle stores), wax (paraffin from grocery stores--look in the canning/homegoods section, crayons for color, wax from old candles, etc.), essential oils or herbs if you wish, and a large cylinder like an empty frozen orange juice can. Follow the instructions on the group activities page, and use this candle in your rituals, meditation, or for special occasions. It is infused with your energy!

Do some research on fire deities or myths that are relevant to this time period. Brigit, Vulcan, and the story of the Phoenix are all good starts. (See the Encyclopedia Mythica for further possibilities.) Consider reorganizing your altar or sacred space to reflect and honor one deity/being for this holiday. Ask that deity/being for any wisdom it can bring you. You never know, you may find that the deity has chosen you to be your partron god/dess!

Think about getting a little window garden to grow a few herbs. You can find kits for simple, incredibly useful herbs like basil in nature stores, hobby stores, and even in museum gift shops. (Don't forget Wal-Mart, Target, or K-Mart near their garden sections!) You should have a good set of sprouts by Spring that will liven up your dorm or apartment room.

For a personal ritual, scratch your desires that you wish to come about by Spring into a votive candle. For example, more self-confidence, stronger willpower, and better work ethic are possibilities that will also help you in your college life. Hold a ritual, light the candle, and meditate on it. Visualize the heat warming your goal and letting it germinate and grow within you. Continue the visualization and see your goal coming to pass. At the end of your meditation, hold up the candle and shine it around your body so that the light can infuse itself into your being. Let the candle burn all the way out.