Imbolc to go? is it happening?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rhiannon	21 Jan 2003
I know we would be starting late... but will we be starting at all? R :)

tarotbear	22 Jan 2003
I doubt it. Based on how long it took to get the Yule ritual finished, the Imbolc ritual would have had to start New Years Day - and this is 3 weeks later. How about "Vernal Equinox-to-go ?"

Kiama	22 Jan 2003
Well, IRL I am acting priestess in an Imbolc ritual, and thus have already written out the ritual plan and got it all sorted. If you like, I could quickly get this one going, using the ritual I wrote...? Or would it still not finish in time for the Vernal Equinox? I could however, simply post my Imbolc ritual anyway, which I'm very proud of, instead of doing the ritual here aswell. Then you guys could read it. Kiama

Rhiannon	22 Jan 2003
I would love to read it, Kiama! I figured we were too late, but I wanted to check anyway. R :)

Marion	22 Jan 2003
Yes indeed Kiama, please post it.

Natalya	22 Jan 2003
sounds interesting...you've caught my curiosity

Kiama	23 Jan 2003
[/u] Imbolc (Pronounced either im-bolg or im-molc) is a Celtic festival dedicated to the Goddess Brighid, otherwise known as Bridget, Bride, Bri'id, Bridey. (First and fourth names pronounced 'breed') After the dark of Winter, the first signs of Spring are beginning to show through, and the light is getting significantly stronger. The Sun God that was born at Yule/Winter Solstice is still young, but getting stronger with the light, and the Goddess is in Her Maiden aspect, virginal once more. The Imbolc celebration is a festival of light, celebrated by Christians as 'Candlemas'. It celebrates the new life of the Earth, and rejoices at the hope in the darkness that is the Winter season. A candle shining in the dark is metaphorical of the meaning of this festival. Brighid is a Triune Goddess, often represented by three sisters all named Brighid. She is the Goddess of healing, smithcraft, and poetry mainly, but a fire Goddess ultimately. She rules the fires of healing: The fires which purifies and drives out fevers. She rules the fires of inspiration and poetry, the fires which burn in the bard's mind and heart when he creates or recites a poem. And she rules the fires of the forge, the fires which melt and shape... Brighid is also revered as a Goddess of the hearth and of milk, as at Imbolc, which is the festival dedicated solely to Brighid, the animals are 'in milk', ready to give birth to their young. As such, midwifery is also give to Brighid to rule over, and this is recounted in the 'Book of Invasions', the Irish text which tells of the Tuatha De Danaan, the Irish Gods, and how they came to Ireland. Due to the fact that Imbolc is Brighid's festival, I have designed this ritual to keep to that tradition. So, we will not be using a general 'Triple Goddess' or Horned God as we did back at the Yule ritual at my house. Instead we will invoke the Triple Brighid. Brighid was also seen as symbolic of Spring, so in this ritual whenever the term 'return of Brighid' is used, it refers to the return of the light. At a certain point in the ritual, participants will all be asked to light their three candles, green first, then white, then red. This is the time for the individual 'spellwork', but when the time comes in the ritual, it will be self-explanatory. There will be, due to the nature of the ritual and the festival, an acting priestess, who is representative of the Goddess Brighid, who will lead the ritual and give everybody their 'cues'. In the centre if the altar there will be a triple candle for the invocation of the Tiple Brighid. To the right of the candle will be the bread, and to teh left, the milk. The bread and milk are for the 'communion' part of the ritual (The bit where everybody shares the milk and bread). Usually, the milk is wine, but for this festival it seemed more in-keeping to have it as milk. We understand that vegans who may attend the ritual cannot partake of milk physically, but in their hearts they can share the communion still. Scattered around the bread, milk, and candles, are fresh flowers. The incense, salt, water, and lantern plus candle, will all start out on the altar, each in their respective quarter, but they will be used during the ritual. All participants walk the edge of the Circle, whilst the people acting as Quarter Callers create it with their elements. All walk round three times, the East Caller with incense, the South Caller with a lantern with a candle in it, the West Caller asperging with water, and the North Caller sprinkling with salt. During the walking, all should be visualising the Circle being created in whatever way they wish. When everybody has walked thrice round, the priestess steps into the centre of the Circle and makes the Circle into a sphere, by the 'As above, So below' action and affirmation. All callers face the edge if the Circle and call to the elements: East: "Spirits of the warming winds, blowing ever stronger from the South, Join us in greeting our Lady bright!" South: Spirits of the shining flame, burning in the infant Sun, Join is in greeting our Lady bright!" West: "Spirits of the forest streams, breaking free from your prison of ice, Join us in greeting our Lady bright!" North: "Spirits of the empty fields, waiting silently under a blanket of snow, Join is in greeting our Lady bright!" During the calls, participants are invited to visualise guardians at each quarter, and the elements themselves forming a protective barrier around the Circle. 3) Invocation of Brighid The priestess steps forward to the altar, and lights the red candle. "Bridget, Lady of Fire, of hearth and forge, we welcome your return." The priestess lights the white candle. "Bride, Lady of Healing, of peace and joy, we welcome your return." The priestess lights the green candle. "Bri'id, Lady of Inspiration, of vision and poetry, we welcome your return." Priestess steps a few steps away from altar, but still faces it. "Daughter of the Dagda, wife of Bres, mother of Ruadan, Yours were the first cries to be heard in Ireland, When your beloved son died in battle. On this day we gather to honour You, And renew our pact with fire, Which rules healing, and creativity, and the forge." 4) Statement of Purpose Priestess returns to her place in the Circle, and all close their eyes and reflect upon the words being spoken. "This is the feast of the waxing light. What was born at the Solstice begins to manifest, and we who were midwives to the infant year now see the Child Sun grow strong as the days grow visibly longer. This is the time of individuation: Within the measures of the spiral, we each light our own light, and become uniquely ourselves. It is the time of initiation, or beginning, when seeds that will later sprout and grow begin to stur from their dark sleep. We meet to share the light of inspiration which will grow with the growing year. We mark the beginning of Spring by welcoming Goddess Brighid, Goddess of the fires of healing, inspiration, the hearth and forge." Each participant follow the priestess' instructions. If the weather permits, lighting of the candles will happen, but if not, they will not be lit. "Take up the green candle of smithcraft. Decide now what you would have manifest in your physical world this coming year. Hold the candle and envision what you want to build. When you have done so, throw it into the fire." There is no rush for this exercise, and participants may take as long as they wish. When all have thrown their candles into the fire, the next part begins. "Now, take up your white candle of healing, and decide of what you want to heal or cleanse yourself. Hold the candle and envision what you want to purify. When you have done so, throw it into the fire." Everything happens the same as before, and when all candles have been thrown into fire, the final part begins. "Finally, take up your red candle of poetry and art, and decide what beauty or art you wish to create during this coming year. Hold the candle and envision what you want to create. When you have done so, throw it into the fire." Priestess walks to the altar, and takes the bread. "As the Sun is sacred to the God, So the wheat that grows from the Sun's rays is sacred, So the bread is also sacred to Him." Priestess passes bread round, each participant breaking a piece off and eating. Priestess takes up chalice of milk. "As the Earth is sacred to the Goddess, So the milk of the animals that feed off the Earth is also sacred to Her." Priestess passes milk round, each participant drinking from the chalice. When the bread and milk have gone round the Circle, they are placed back on the altar, 7) Dismissal Priestess puts out the triple candle representing Brighid. "Brighid, Lady of the hearth, forge, inspiration, and healing, we thank you and look forward to the growth you bring back to the Earth." Quarter Callers take up their stances once more at their quarter.

Kiama	23 Jan 2003
North: "Spirits of the waiting fields, your Lady has returned and breathes new life into you! We thank you for being with us this night! Stay if you will, go if you must. Blessings." West: "Spirits of the forest streams, your Lady has returned and warmed through your icy prison, freeing you! We thank you for being with us this night! Stay if you will, go if you must. Blessings." South: "Spirits of the shining flame, your Lady has returned and fuelled you, strengthening you! We thank you for being with us this night! Stay if you will, go if you must. Blessings." East: "Spirits of the galing winds, your Lady has returned and given you warmth, softening you! We thank you for being with us this night! Stay if you will, go if you must. Blessings." All participants walk anti-clockwise thrice around the Circle, visualising the Circle being unwoven. When all have returned to their original places in the Circle after the third walk round, all say: "The Circle is open but never broken!" Priestess takes the chalice of milk, male participant takes the bread, and all walk to a spot where the libation will take place. The priestess pours the remaining milk onto the soil. "For the Spirits of this place, For the Ancestors, For the Earth, And for the Little People." Male participant buries or places on the soil the remaining bread. "For the Spirits of this place, For the Ancestors, For the Earth, And for the Little People." Rest of the evening is informal, eating and drinking etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This ritual is based on the usual workings of the Pagan Society, so if any of it seems a little strange, I apologise. Also, this ritual is very feminine focussed, due to the fact that I wanted this Imbolc to be solely focussed on Brighid. The fact that she is my patron Goddess helped me with this decision! Hope you enjoyed it! Kiama Books I got some of the ritual from: 'Seasonal Dance' by... I wish I could remember names! and 'Trancing the Witch's Wheel' by Yasmine Galenorn. PS- I had to post this in two separate posts cuz it was too long to fit in just one.

tarotbear	23 Jan 2003
Thank you, Kiama! Although this is not the group-participatory ritual we have done in the past, time was working against us - too strongly! Suggestion- With March 21 ( Vernal Equinox) coming faster than the Comet Kohoutec, it might behoove us to get started on that ritual-to-go by February 10th or so. Anyone willing to lead the Equinox ritual- please start a 'preliminary' thread and let the discussions begin! Once again, thank you, Kiama!

Rhiannon	23 Jan 2003
Kiama, This was truly lovely. I really enjoyed reading it, and I loved that Brighid was the focus, since I have a special affinity for her as well. Thank you so much for sharing. Good idea, tarotbear! I don't think I'm ready to lead anything yet, but I'd be more than happy to participate and help with the next ritual. R :)

genna	02 Feb 2003
That was a beautiful ritual,and I liked the fact that it was focused on Brighid.Today,when I made a very small Brighid knot I felt such strong energy from it,and that got me more interested in this goddess. Genna

Kiama	03 Feb 2003
On Saturday night the Imbolc ritual actually happened, and went really well. There were about 17 of us in a forest clearing, with a lovely big fire, lots of food, and lots of chants and songs... The ritual itself was fine. It was simple, but effective. Afterwards was teh best bit though, because another Pagan group from the area joined us and they are far more experienced than my group, and they taught us lots of beautiful and touching Pagan songs. I haven't sung in front of anybody for years, but Saturday night I did. I woke up the next morning smelling quite strongly of campfires and grass, but I felt great. SPRING IS HERE!!!!! :D Kiama

The Imbolc to go? is it happening? thread was originally posted on 21 Jan 2003 in the Spirituality board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Spirituality, or read more archived threads.