Imbolc
In a small, northern hamlet a childe plays outdoors.
The community is up and about their day. The cooking fires are lit.
The sheep and lambs are milling about in their pens waiting for their
morning feeding.
The men of the hamlet gather their bows and spears. They gather and
pause at the cookfire of the Shaman. Snow still covers the ground.
The Shaman emerges from the hut. Preparations for the ritual blessing
of the hunters begins but is quickly interrupted by the shouts of the children.
Quickly the adults of the hamlet hurry to where the children are clustered about.
The Shaman eases all aside and looks to where one of the children is pointing.
Out of a hillside, in the warming sun, seveal tall green shoots struggle
upwards into the light. Excitedly the adults chatter amoungst themselves.
The Shaman steps back away to make room for others to gaze upon the first new green
growth of Spring. The Shaman glances over at the sheep and lamps. There too signs
of life are to be seen. The first signs of Spring. Spring is not yet here - but
it is coming.
There is hope again…..
Here in the Northern Hemisphere Spring is coming. The deadly grip of Winter
is slowly giving way to Springs healing warmth. In the Southern Hamisphere
Imbolc is celebrated and observed August 1st and 2nd. In the Southern
Hamisphere the seasons are reversed - so we here in thr Northern Hamisphere are
celebrating and observing Imbolc on Feb. 1st and 2nd., int he Southern Hemisphere it’s
Lughnasadh. (1)
By the time of imbolc Winter’s deadly icy grip is slowly loosening. The
days are slowly growing longer and warmer. The annual re-birth and re-growth of the
plants can slowly start to be seen and noticed. Imbolc symbolicly hearalds the first lambs
birth and the ewes (mother lambs) begin to lactate (make milk). This is part of the
ancient connection to the first milking of ther season and year.
This also connects to the Celtic Goddess Brighid. Brighid is the Celtic
version and variant of the ancient Pagan and pre-’Christian’ Triple Goddess. She is the
Maiden, Mother and Crone. She is the Goddess of poetry, Smithcraft and healing. She is even seen by some as a protector and preserver of knowledge. (2)
Farm animals and their milk were exspecially sacred to not only Brighid
but to her Celtic, Irish and Northern Lands peoples. This was the time of the year when new
life and new hope for life was vital to the endurance and survival of the peoples and
cultures. It is for this reason that Brighid ’survived’ the ‘Christian Conversion’. In
Ireland she was made over by the ‘Christians’ into St. Brigid and became the “Foster Mother”
of the young Christos and Mary’s midwife. In many ways it may be thought that Brighid
is the protector, preserver and midwife of Spring. (1)(3)
Here in the U.S. Groundhog Day has come to be celebrated and observed on
the ancient Pagan Sabbat. While much of the original ancient pre-’Christian’ Pagan message
and meaning has been stripped away and ‘lost’ we still do celebrate and observe the
warming of the lands and the coming of the Springs re-birth and renewal.
Other Names:
Feast of Torches, Oimelc, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Snowdrop Festival,
Feastof the Waxing Light,
Brighid’s Day.
Dates Celebrated & Observed:
Feb. 1st and 2nd {Northern Hemisphere}
Aug. 1st and 2nd {Southern Hemisphere}
AltarCloth Colour:
White
Candles:
White, Yellow, Blue
Stones:
Amber, Amazonite {feldspar}, Clear Quartz, Rose Quarts, Citrine
Herbs & Plants for Magickal Workings:
Cedar, Chamomile, Evergreen branches, Rose hips, Sage, Sunflowers
Other Decorations:
A small bowl of seeds for the Altar along with a smal bowl of potting soil.
A Brief Imbolc ‘Working’:
An Acorn or a small collection of seeds.
A planting pot.
Potting Soil.
Water.
Candle or battery-’candle’.
Light candle or battery-’candle’.
Aspect Brighid - We thank You for the Spring.
Place acorn/seeds into planting pot with potting soil.
From this Acorn {these seeds} great growth will come.
From this tiny seed {seeds} will come the future.
Cover acorn/seeds with potting soil.
Out of Winter’s white frozen ground comes Spring’s green growing life.
Water the newly planted acord/seeds.
Aspect Brighid - You watched over, protected and preserved not only the
Plants of Spring but also the new Lambs, Foals and Babies. Spring may
not yet be here -
but it is coming. Hope and promise of Spring’s rebirth and regrowth is
coming.
Place plant pot - with planted and watered acord/seeds - in a wondow
with sunlight.
Thanks Brighid.
Use candle snuffer to extinguish the candle or turn off battery-’candle’.
SOURCES:
(1) Wicca Bible
Ann-Marie Gallagher
Sterling Puiblishing Co., Inc.
New York, N.Y.
© 2005
ISBN: I-4027-3008-X
(2) Wicca & Witchcraft for Dummies
Diane Smith
Wiley Publishing Co., Inc.
Hoboken, NJ
© 2005
ISBN-10: 978-0-7645-7834-2
ISBN-13: 0-7645-7834-0
etips.dummies.com
www.dummies.com
(3) The Complete Idiot’s Guide to: Paganism
Carl McColman
Alpha - A member of Penguin Group
Indianapolis, IN
© 2002
ISBN: 0-02-864266-X
www.idiotsguides.com
(4) The Complete Idiot’s Guide to: Wicca & Witchcraft
Denise Zimmerman & Katherine A. Gleason
Alpha.
© 2003 by Ameranth
ISBN: 1-59257-5
www.idiotsguides.com
(5) Wicca - A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Scott Cunningham
© 1988
Llewellyn Publications
ISBN: 0-87542-118-0
www.llewellyn.com
(6) Living Wicca
Scott Cunningham
© 1993
Llewellyn Publications
ISBN: 0-87542-184-9
www.llewellyn.com
(7) Wicca For one - The Path of Solitary Witchcraft
Raymond Buckland
© 2004
Citadel Press/ kensington Publishing Corp.
N.Y./N.Y.
ISBN: 0-8065-2554-1
www.kensingtonbooks.com
Imbolc
Imbolc
Also known as: Candlemass, Imbolg, Bride’s Day, Oimelc, and Brid’s Day Date: February 1st or 2nd
Symbols: Candles, Brides, Grain Dolly, Burrowing Animals, Ewes
Colors: White, Silver, and Pale Yellow
Deities: Virgin or Child Goddesses, Gods as Young Men or Boys
Herbs: Basil, Bay, Benzoin, and celandine may be burned; Angelica, myrrh, yellow and white flowers may be used as altar decorations.
*Imbolc is THE Sabbat which honors the Goddess as the waiting bride of the returning sun God. Before the Nordic influence, it was also the Sabbat in which the Celts saw the sun as being born anew. In Ireland it was, and still is, a special day to honor the Goddess Brid in her guise of bride. The modern Irish know this as St. Briget’s Day, St. Briget being a vaguely disguise and Christianized version of the Pagan Goddess.
Celts would often dress grain dollies, representations made from dried sheaves from the previous harvest, as brides, and set them in a place of honor within their homes. They were usually placed in cradles called Bride’s Beds, and nuts, symbols of male fertility, were tossed in with them.
This is also a Sabbat where candles are lit in profusion, often within a wreath, another symbol of the Wheel of the Year. These are symbolic of the heat and light of the returning sun.
At Imbolc the deities are still youthful and not yet joined as one through sacred marriage. They are innocent and fun-loving, and are waiting just as anxiously for spring as we are.
*from: “Celtic Myth and Magick"- Edain McCoy
Activities: Here are a few suggestions for Imbolc activities, some of which can be incorporated into the Sabbat celebration or simply as someting to make the day more special, especially for children.
Burn the Yule greens to send winter on its way.
Make the Bride’s Bed using the Corn or Wheat Doll made the previous Lughnassadh. Dress the doll in white or blue with a necklace that represents the seasons. Lay it in a long basket adorned with ribbons; light white candles on either side of the basket, and say:
“Welcome the bride both maiden and mother;
rest and prepare for the time of the seed;
cleansed and refreshed from labors behind her;
with the promise of spring she lays before me.”
Next morning, remove the dress and scatter the wheat outdoors (or if you use corn, hang it up in a tree for the squirrels and birds). this can be seen in terms of the Lady’s recovery from the birthing bed and readiness to begin the turning of the seasons anew.
The Imbolc Corn Doll represents the mother nurturing her son, who will grow and become her husband. This is the earth and the sun, which is still weak but gaining in strength.
On Imbolc Eve, leave buttered bread in a bowl indoors for the faeries who travel with the Lady of Greenwood. Next day, dispose of it as the “essence” will have been removed.
Place three ears of corn on the door as a symbol of the Triple GOddess and leave until Ostara.
Light a white candle and burn sandalwood incense.
Cleanse the area where you do card readings or scrying with a censor burning rosemary or vervain, and say:
“By the power of this smoke I wash away the negative influences that this place be cleansed for the Lady and her babe.”
Cleanse the altar and equipment, do a self-purification rite with the elemental tools representing earth (salt) for body, air (incense) for thoughts; fire (candle flame) for will; and water (water) for emotions.
Make dream pillows for everyone in the family.
Create a Solar Cross from palm fronds, make enough to place one in each room of the house. Place a red pillar-style candle center to the front door; with palm crosses in hand, light the candle and open the door and say:
“We welcome in the Goddess and seek the turning
of the wheel away from winter and into spring.”
Close door; take up the candle and go to each room of the house and say:
“Great Lady enter with the sun and watch over this room!”
Leave a Solar Cross in the room and proceed thusly throughout the house. This is great for the kids as you can divide up the tasks for each to do - one can hold the palms, another can open doors, another can carry the candle, and so forth. The last room should be the kitchen and here you say:
“Mother of the earth and sun,
Keep us safe and keep us warm,
As over our home you extend your blessings.”
Staff Writer: Asuan Avoris