Imbolc
Imbolc, celebrated around February 1st. This mid-Winter feast day symbolized the first stirring of the Earth from its icy sleep and was the time for caring of the sheep in ancient Ireland, also known as the Brigid's feast. Brigid was an incarnation of the Great Mother--reborn each spring at the navel of the earth, the sacred Oimelc, or Well--she was patroness of poetry, healing and metal smithing: she rekindled the fire in the Earth, preparing it for new life, which was manifested by the first milk of the ewes, a few weeks before the lambing season. Brigid was seen as a young Virgin, and Celts came to associate her with the Virgin Mary, leading to such names for the feast as Gwyl Mair Dechrau'r, "The Feast of Mary of the Beginning of Spring", also known in the Church as Candlemas, when candles-in ancient connection with the fire goddess-were brought to Church to be blessed.
The first stirrings of the coming of Spring can be seen, as the first flowers (snowdrops and winter aconite) begin to appear. Seeds which have lain dormant within the Earth over the cold Winter months begin to stir with life, as yet unseen. At Imbolc we celebrate the Waking Light of the soul. Our spirits begin to quicken as we anticipate the rebirth of Nature. In Wicca it is the traditional time for initiation. Now is the time for the banishing of Winter and the welcoming of Spring. We welcome the Goddess Who is renewed, reborn as the Flower Maiden. She has passed through Her phase as the Hag, Crone or Wise One, and is a Maiden again. Bride or Brigid is a three-fold Celtic Goddess who has been christianized into St. Brigid, whose day is celebrated on 1st February.
History : In Ireland, St. Brigid's cross is made of rushes and straw, and goes back to pre-Christian times, representing the Sun Wheel or Fire Wheel. It may also be linked to an ancient ceremony connected with the preparation of the grain for sowing in the Spring. It was believed that the Spirit of the Grain, or the Goddess Herself, resided in the last grain harvested, and the last grain from the Harvest Festival was ritually brought into the house at Imbolc, blessed and planted as the first seed of the next harvest.
What was born at the Solstice begins to manifest, and this is the time for individuation, as we each light our own light, and set ourselves tasks and challenges. We nurture and kindle our resolutions and begin to look outwards again, do outer activity, although first we look deep within to discover what potential lies there waiting to be fulfilled. Through the weeks ahead the days grow gradually longer, but we are still in the dark half of the year (until Beltaine) and this is the time to develop non-physical skills, such as psychometry, clairvoyance and precognition.
On this night, it is also said that
the spirits of the dead walk among the living.
Decoration: white flowers, besoms, suinflowers and candles.
Food: sunflower seeds, poppyseed cakes, breads, dairy products, peppers, onions, wine and tea.
Herbs: basil, violets, white flowers, blackberry, myrrh, angelica, cinnamon, bay and wisteria.
Colors: white, pink, green, brown and red.
Stones: turquoise and amethyst.
Taboos: cutting or picking plants.
Activities: candle lighting, gathering stones.
Other things to try: Add a circle of white candles to your altar for each of your goals and light during ritual. Banish winter by burning paper snowflakes. Do a vision quest on the wolf.
Recipes:
Honey cake
2 1/2c flour 1/2tsp baking soda
2 1/2tsp baking powder 1 heaping tsp allspice
3/4tsp cinnamon 1/8tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ginger 4 eggs, beaten
1 1/4c granulated sugar 1/2 tsp safflower oil
1c raw honey
Grease and flour 9x13 baking pan. Combine all ingredients and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
