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"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."
18th Day of the 2nd Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Demeter
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Luis/Rowan
12th Day of the Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Luis/Rowan
Moon Phase: waning Gibbous
Moon sets: 8:38AM EST
Moon rises: 9:04PM EST
Moon in the Mutable Earth Sign of Virgo
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The promise of horizons.
Sun in Aquarius
Sunrise: 7:29AM EST
Sunset: 5:37PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What is being
initiated in your life at this time?"
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Quarter of the Year
February 1st., 2010
IMBOLC
Imbolc is the time when things stir beneath the surface. It is the time of infinite possibilities for the new cycle of life and creativity, when energies are still gathering in the astral, preparing to manifest. The celebration is sacred to Brigid, goddess of smithcraft, poetry, and healing. Take time to concentrate on what you wish to manifest in the coming year. What needs craftwork applied to it, on any level? Can you sing or write it into existence? Does any healing need to happen in your life?
Decorate your altar in red and white. Place a bowl of white roses in the center, flanked by red candles. Write a poem dedicated to Brigid. Don't worry, it doesn't need to rhyme - it only needs to to be from the heart! Take a specially painted and prepared pot of earth and place several seeds in it. Let each seed represent something you wish to manifest. Honor and nurture these seedlings. Take a glass bowl filled with clean water and a handful of small, clear crystals. Name each crystal for something in your life that needs to be healed and drop them one by one into the bowl. As each healing occurs, remove that crystal. When the bowl is empty, pour away the water.
[From: written by Cerridwen Iris Shea for "Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook 2010]
IMBOLC
"Feast of the waxing light, "restore our hope!"
Imbolc - celebrated between February Eve and February 3rd depending upon tradition, most commonly February 2nd in North America. Also known as: Imbolc, Candlemas, Brigantia, Lupercus, or Disting. Certain Western European traditions celebrated festivals from sundown to sundown. If you choose to observe Imbolc according to that model, your festival would begin at sundown on February 1st. This is one of the cross-quarter holy days, halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.
Imbolc has always been a fire festival so far as we know. The old ones did not have the advantages of astronomical understanding and were beset by a sincere concern that the longer, warmer days might not return. The bonfires were intended to encourage the return of summer. LIke all good pagan festivals, Imbolc was adopted and adapted by Christian missionary monks. It was brought indoors, reduced to candles and renaemd Candlemas (Candle Mass). The Roman version of this goddess festival, Juno Februata, was adapted as the Virgin Purification feast. [From: 2010 Seaon's of the Witch datebook]
There are minor magickal energies today to aid spells/rites done to release unwanted emotions.
"Sweet, sweet Serenity "Calm and Peace wash over me"Send away unwanted fear, "fill the hole with health and cheer."
Another Imbolc Altar:
by Patti Wigington - 2008
This is my household Imbolc altar. I've laid out altar cloths in red and white, to symbolize both the melting snow of the season (at least, we HOPE it's going to melt) and the fire of the sun. There's a Brighid's cross at the center, that my kids and I made out of chenille stems. A bouquet of early spring flowers sits above some winter greenery, left over from Yule. My Celtic cross candleholder is one of my favorite ritual items, and I also have a cauldron sitting there which I've toted around with me for years. I have a few other little goodies on there, including a set of prayer beads I made, and an Imbolc greeting card from my High Priestess and mentor. Finally, the two red candles on either side are the ones I use during my Imbolc rite to celebrate the ongoing return of the sun.
Tags: banishment spell buffy the vampire slayer review the brotherhood secret society hymns for seventeenth sunday after pentecost apply for special compensation sought find pronouncing the divine name
image found here
Friday is Full Moon and next week is Imbolc, dedicated to the goddess Brigid (Bride). I think we need a Full Moon Ritual dedicated to Brigid. I will work on this today and tomorrow, any input is welcome. The calendar date for Imbolc is February 2, the astrological date this year is February 4. Either day is fine to celebrate this festival.
We are all sick of this winter, in many places the weather has been unusually harsh and Imbolc is the traditional day to celebrate the return of spring. But this can depend on the whims of Brigid who breathes warm spring breath back into the frozen earth, so I will be doing something to honor this goddess.
More later.
ps
All the thoughtful comments and emails have been much appreciated. We have a nice blogger community here, I am glad to be part of it.
Source: http://mysteryvoodoo.blogspot.com
Imbolc, celebrated on February 1st or 2nd, is (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth.
The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is place by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun.
Another traditional symbol of Imbolc is the plough. In some areas, this is the first day of ploughing in preparation of the first planting of crops. A decorated plough is dragged from door to door, with costumed children following asking for food, drinks, or money. Should they be refused, the household is paid back by having its front garden ploughed up. In other areas, the plough is decorated and then Whiskey, the "water of life" is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the plough and in the newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.
Various other names for this Greater Sabbat are Imbolgc Brigantia (Caledonni), Imbolic (Celtic), Disting (Teutonic, Feb 14th), Lupercus (Strega), St. Bridget's Day (Christian), Candlemas, Candlelaria (Mexican), the Snowdrop Festival. The Festival of Lights, or the Feast of the Virgin. All Virgin and Maiden Goddesses are honored at this time.
Deities of Imbolc:
All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.
Symbolism of Imbolc:
Purity, Growth and Re-Newal, The Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and dispensing of the old and making way for the new.
Symbols of Imbolc:
Brideo'gas, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brighid's Crosses, Priapic Wands (acorn-tipped), and Ploughs.
Herbs of Imbolc:
Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.
Foods of Imbolc:
Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.
Incense of Imbolc:
Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh.
Colors of Imbolc:
White, Pink, Red, Yellow, lt. Green, Brown.
Stones of Imbolc:
Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise.
Activities of Imbolc:
Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Making of Brideo'gas and Bride's Beds, Making Priapic Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires maybe lit.
"Candlemas" is the Christianized name for the holiday. The holiday is also called "Brigit's Day", in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine, the ancient Irish capitol of Kildare, a group of nineteen priestesses (no men allowed) kept a perpetual flame burning in her honor. She was considered a Goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry, and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery). This tripartite symbolism was occasionally expressed by saying that Brigit had two sisters, also named Brigit. (Incidentally, another form of the name Brigit is Bride, and it is thus she bestows her special patronage on any woman about to be married or handfasted, the woman being called "bride" in her honor.)
The Roman Catholic Church could not very easily call the Great Goddess of Ireland a demon, so they canonized her instead. Henceforth, she would be 'Saint' Brigit, patron saint of smithcraft, poetry, and healing. They 'explained' this by telling the Irish peasants that Brigit was 'really' an early Christian missionary sent to the Emerald Isle, and that the miracles she performed there 'misled' the common people into believing that she was a Goddess. For some reason, the Irish swallowed this.
Brigit's holiday was chiefly marked by the kindling of sacred fires, since she symbolized the fire of birth and healing, the fire of the forge, and the fire of poetic inspiration. Bonfires were lighted on the beacon tors, and chandlers celebrated their special holiday. The Roman Church was quick to confiscate this symbolism as well, using "Candlemas" as the day to bless all the church candles that would be used for the coming liturgical year. (Catholics will be reminded that the following day, St. Blaise's Day, is remembered for using the newly blessed candles to bless the throats of parishioners, keeping them from colds, flu, sore throats, etc.)
The Catholic Church, never one to refrain from piling holiday upon holiday, also called it the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (It is surprising how many of the old Pagan holidays were converted to Maryan feasts.) The symbol of the purification may seem a little obscure to modern readers, but it has to do with the old custom of "churching women". It was believed that women were impure for six weeks after giving birth. And since Mary gave birth at the winter solstice, she wouldn't be purified until February 2. In Pagan symbolism, this might be retranslated as when the Great Mother once again becomes the young Maiden Goddess.
Today, this holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore. Even our American folk calendar keeps the tradition of "Groundhog Day", a day to predict the coming weather, telling us that if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be "six more weeks" of bad weather (i.e., until the next Old Holiday, Lady Day). This custom is ancient. An old British rhyme tells us that "if Candlemas Day be bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year". Actually, all of the cross-quarter days can be used as inverse weather predictors, whereas the quarter days are used as direct weather predictors.
Like the other High Holidays or Great Sabbats of the Witches' year, Candlemas is sometimes celebrated on its alternate date, astrologically determined by the sun reaching fifteen degrees Aquarius, or Candlemas Old Style.
One of the nicest folk customs still practiced in many countries, and especially by Witches in the British Isles and parts of the U.S., is to place a lighted candle in each and every window of the house (or at least the windows that face the street), beginning at sundown on Candlemas Eve (February 1), allowing them to continue burning until sunrise. Make sure that such candles are well seated against tipping and guarded from nearby curtains, etc. What a cheery sight it is on this cold, bleak, and dreary night to see house after house with candlelit windows! And, of course, if you are your coven's chandler, or if you just happen to like making candles, Candlemas Day is the day for doing it. Some covens hold candle-making parties and try to make and bless all the candles they'll be using for the whole year on this day.
Other customs of the holiday include weaving "Brigit's crosses" from straw or wheat to hang around the house for protection, performing rites of spiritual cleansing and purification, making "Brigit's beds" to ensure fertility of mind and spirit (and body, if desired), and making "crowns of light" (i.e., of candles) for the high priestess to wear for the Candlemas Circle, similar to those worn on St. Lucy's Day in Scandinavian countries. All in all, this Pagan Festival of Lights, sacred to the young Maiden Goddess, is one of the most beautiful and poetic of the year.
Credit: http://pagan-wiccan.blogspot.com
PAGANS TONIGHT RADIO NETWORK PRESENTS: 8 PM CST-CIRCLE CRAFT STUDY with Selena Fox Creating Imbolc Rituals & Celebrations: Explore ways to incorporate ancient and contemporary customs, chants, symbols, and ceremonies into personal, household and community celebrations of Imbolc, festival of the Waxing Light and the Celtic Goddess Brigid. 9 PM CST-PAGAN PRIEST: Renewal of Faith Your beliefs dont make you better, your Behavior does~What behaviors do you see in yourself that are unproductive or no longer serve you & What are you willing to Change? Panelists~Terry, Rick & Torcyr Pagan Priest is a panel disccusion with priests from around the nation featuring- Mark Brown aka the Marque, River Higginbotham, Rev. Richard Keen, Rev. Michael Neal, Rev. Ed the Pagan Hubbard, Dr. Scott Marshall (Foo), Raven Digitalis, Raven Kaldera, David Sassman, and Terry Power. Tune in and join us as we discuss topics of interest and male spirituality.
Pagans Tonight Pagan Priest Circle Sanctuary pagan spirituality Selena Fox
Origin: http://wiccalessons.blogspot.com
