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Imbolc

Imbolc is a holiday with myriad meanings; it is celebrated on or about February 2nd.

Some of the holiday's origins are agricultural, as in so many Pagan celebrations.....the Gaelic word for Imbolc means "Ewe's milk". As such, it is a time of lambs being born and is celebrated as a precursor to spring. Another aspect of the day is related to Groundhog Day---winter is halfway over and often a fair Imbolc (and the groundhog's shadow) meant 6 more weeks of winter weather. Christians call this day Candlemas and it is a holdover of more ancient post-childbirth purifications. Many societies had a "lying-in", a time when new mothers were coddled and cared for; a darker aspect of this was in some places, women in post-childbirth bleeding time(like menses) were considered unclean and thus had to be purified for return to "normal" society! Yet another aspect is to honor Brighid, Lady of Fire on this day.....fire purifies and makes way for new growth.

The solution of which way to celebrate for many pagans is to recognize Imbolc as Brighid's Day, and use a theme of purification, fire, and pre-spring combined. There are so many traditions to choose from......this holiday especially tends to be a blend. Other gods of this day include Eros, Lugh, Isis, and Bel; focus on any sun/fire deity

Foods of Imbolc are, of course, milk/dairy products, and very tender vegetables such as baby veggies or sprouts. Non-vegetarians often eat lamb on this day. Milk and cakes are suitable offerings to the deities. Herbs include Angelica, basil, heather, and early violets. Use these to decorate your table and altar. Use white and pale greens/pastels to decorate as well.

One craft that is appropriate is the Brighid's Cross, which can be woven from straw or found in some craft stores. The Brighid's Cross is traditionally made on February 1-2 (Brighid's Day, Candlemas, Imbolc), and it is a symbol of protection and prosperity for the coming year. It is traditional to keep the crosses all year, and burn the old before blessing the new. Scatter the ashes over your yard or garden.



How to Make a Brighid's Cross
A Brighid's Cross can be made with wheat stalks, grasses, reeds or rushes. Gather a few dozen reeds of the same length. If they tend to break when you bend them, soak them in water to soften them, so that they will bend easily.
Hold one reed vertically, and fold another in half around the middle of the first.
Fold next reed over the last one.(It will be parallel to the first reed)
Fold next reed over the reeds one and three.(It will be parallel to the 2nd reed)
Continue to work in a circular fashion, until you have used up your reeds, or created enough of a "woven" center to the cross. Hold the reeds together carefully, and tie each end together with string, so that the cross won't fall apart.

Imbolc Priapic Wand

Materials:
  • Small Tree Branch
  • Acorn
  • Thin Brown String or Thread
  • Yellow, Green, and Gold 1/4" Ribbon
  • Small Gold/Silver Jingle Bells
Children will love the sound of this magical wand as they walk about pointing and shaking it at plants and trees, invoking them to wake up from Winter's sleep to witness the union of the Bride and the Lord of the Forest.

Select a small branch about 1/2" to 3/4" in diameter. Cut top end flat.
Approx. 1/2" below top score a groove (parents only) with a sharp knife.
Take 1' long piece of string/thread and tie in groove.
Take another 1' piece of thread and tie in groove on opposite side of branch.
Place acorn at top of branch (flat end) and adhere with some glue.
Now pull the string up over the cap and wind once around acorn.
Repeat with all 3 other pieces of string.
Pull strings back down to the groove in the branch and tie off. This will hold the acorn in place.

Decorate the branch by wrapping it with the ribbons, leaving enough length at top for streamers. Tie gold/silver jingle bells to the ends of the ribbons.
For smaller children, thread the bells onto the ribbon while wrapping the branch.

Tell the children about how the acorn-wand is a symbol of the Lord of the Forest, and how this magical wand helps the sleeping plants and animals wake up and prepare for Spring.

From: Shadoe Rose on the 13Witches eGroup


Heart Shaped Spicy Rose Sachets

Trace a heart pattern and cut out two of them in felt. On one piece embroider a line of running or decorative stiching about 1/4" from the edge.

With a contrasting color of thread, embroider another line next to the first. Sew on any decorations you may want up in the corners of the heart. Stitch the two hearts together, leaving an opening for stuffing: 2 ounces of cornstarch, 1 ounce talc, 1/2 ounce powdered orris root, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 3 drops rose oil. After stuffing, sew up the opening, sew a ribbon in half and stitch to the top center to make a loop.


Rituals for Brighid's Day might include seed and candle blessings, spring cleaning as purification (especially of your altars, shrines, and sacred spaces in the home), and early preparation of growing/garden spaces. If you live on a farm, you'd want more focus on spring fertility of animals and preparation for the growing season ahead.


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