Imbolc 2013 Ritual

FEB 2, 2013

This is a Ritual that I posted last year, but I had a lot of positive feedback from it, I thought I would bring it back out and share it again. May you all have a wonderful Imbolc and may your lives and the earth be illuminated!

Ritual:Imbolc is a time for celebration and ritual, but more importantly to honor Brighid, Goddess of the Hearth. Imbolc is also a time for new beginnings purification and cleansing. As long as you are taking the steps in celebration of winters end, you can't go wrong with your Imbolc celebration.

…she shall arise like a shining sun… — Lives of Saints, The Book of Lismore 

CELEBRATING IMBOLC. . . 

Imbolc is a great time of purification and cleansing as I previously stated. So, the first thing you will want to do is clean your house! Put away the entire holiday décor left around from yule/xmas, wipe the debris off the windows and allow the light in. As a matter of fact, let some fresh air in and open the windows if weather and temperature permits. Not trying to create a chore list, since we all have one that we already try to avoid as it is, but the cleaner and more organized your space, the more you will see the chaos that may be lingering around in your life disappear. Also this cleanse will allow a better flow of energy thru your home and energizing the hearth.

Things you will need:

-Brighid's crosses (can buy or make them, I have provided a link with instructions on 
the manufacture of the Brighid's cross http://fisheaters.com/stbrigidscross.html, you will also need something to hang the crosses with, both cord and tack)

-1 white devotion candle or

-Floral scented candle (optional)

-A bouquet of flowers (your choice, I personally like to stick to white flowers and mix
in some sunflowers, but what ever makes you feel the joy of spring and the happiness
of the returning warmth and the end to winter)

-Athame

-Sea Salt (iodized salt will also work fine)

-Water (tap is fine, if possible gather your own spring, lake, river, or ocean water) 

-Smudge wand (sage, cedar, or sweet grass, or a mix of all 3 - your choice)

-Quartz crystals/how ever many windows you have in your home (optional)

-an object you would like to have
  blessed by Brighid.

-Piece of cake

-Glass of milk

-A large pot or planting spot in garden or yard

-A potted flowering plant to be repotted. (Pot and plant are optional)

After your home is clean and organized, or at least tidy if you have time restraints, go ahead and start making or hanging your Brighid's crosses.

(I personally find that my rituals build more energy when I create the crosses on my own, but if you do find them for sale, make sure to purify and cleanse them, you will then want to charge them with your own energy. Hang them up around the house, one in each room and several in the hearth of the home. You can find directions on how to make the Brighid's crosses at http://fisheaters.com/stbrigidscross.html. Divine Spaces and The Divine Grove are not associated with this site, but found the instructions easy to follow, you can use what ever site or instructions you would like.

Once you have the crosses hung up, you will want to dress your altar with a bright colored altar cloth, (I will be using a bright, but pastel green). Use the bouquet of flowers to decorate your altar and if finances or garden permit, why not spread a floral welcome in every room of your whole home.

(With my altar I will be putting a vase of real flowers along with silk blossoms spread around the altar and home) The silk blossoms will probably stay around all month, or at least until St. Valentine's Day. 

Light the white candle and place it on the altar, take a bowl of water and put 3 pinches of salt into the bowl. Stir the bowl 3 times with your chalice and place your hands over the bowl. Meditate and feel the peace and warmth of the candle, imagine the warmth of the sun beaming down on you, grass sprouting all around you. The trees blooming with flowers and you can smell the floral scent in the air. (The floral candle helps bring this meditation to life.)

Meditate and focus on what you would like to have grown in this New Year. Do you want to grow financially, health, ect...? 

Once you feel the water is fully charged with positive happy energy, energy of growth and development, purification and cleansed of all negative energies you will want to smudge your home with sage, cedar or sweet grass. (Any is fine to preference, and if you have a smudge of all three that would be best). When you are smudging do this counter clockwise around the home while you are turning on every light. Make sure to get all the corners, cabinets, and closets.) 

After you have smudged, you will then sprits the water into every corner of every room by dipping your fingers in the water and flicking them with intention into the spaces you are cleansing. You will want to do the water sprits in a clockwise manner as you continue the thoughts from your meditation spreading the joy of the end of winter. (I personally find Listening to inspiring and uplifting meditative music while you do this to be helpful.) Dip your fingers in the water and wipe every window seal and around every door way. 

Once this is all done, put a line of salt in the doorways and window seals. (Optional- you can also put a quartz crystal in every window for additional protection and balance of flowing energy.)

You will want to put out an offering of cake and milk outside your front door. Brighid will be walking through your area along with her cow and she will definitely appreciate the offering.

Some traditions leave a cord or ribbon on the door for Brighid to bless, I will be putting a bowl with all my crystals and ritual tools outside along side my offering dish. (Do not do this if you do not feel comfortable with the safety of your sacred tools)

The next day, get your offering cake and milk along with the pot and flowers you will be planting. Place your offering into the ground or pot, pour milk into the pot, place more dirt, and then plant your selected plant according to its specifications. Welcome Brighid and the coming spring, putting an end to winter, live life filled with love and light. Blessed be, and have a merry Imbolc.

Brooks Brown
Take a visit to Divine Spaces for spiritual inspiration http://www.divine-spaces.com

Imbolc - Feb 02, 2013

“Imbolc”

          February 02, 2013 is the day of Imbolc, which is pronounced as EE-Molc. This magical day is know by many names, commonly known as Candle-mass, and Brigid's Day. On this day we are marking the transition from the Crone to the Maiden and welcome the coming of Spring. As we say farewell to the Crone of Winter we welcome the fair Maiden Spring with open arms. Imbolc celebrates the return of the sun. New growth and agriculture. If you are Celtic you may be celebrating the Celtic Goddess Brigid who is the Goddess of Midwifery and Healing.

          While we celebrate Imbolc it is tradition to show the coming of Spring and the return of the Sun by the powers of illumination. This is done by lighting white candles by the masses. On you alter you can light a White Candle for the Goddess who has just given birth to the sun and a Yellow Candle for the God which is now rising and shining brighter with each day. If you like to burn incense, incense for Imbolc is used with the scent of Rosemary, Frankincense, Myrrh, or Cinnamon. Colors to wear during your rituals for Imbolc are usually White, Red or Orange. You can dress your alter with Corn Dolls, and fresh cut flowers. This is also a good time to take out your Besom (Magical Brooms) and sweep your altar space, and home to cleanse the space of the old stagnant energy.

          As tradition has it, when you are done with your ritual you will want to go through the home and turn on every light, lamp, and candle. The idea is in representation of the return of the sun and illumination. As you light up your home, you do so in respect and praise of the rising of the sun. This of course is optional and if performed only needs to be done for a short time. I have found this process to be very reflective of the ritual performed. A great way to connect to visualization of illumination. I also like to plant some seeds specifically saved for this day. Something special and that will last for a long time. I have been known to plant in a pot on the night of Imbolc an acorn to grown a might Oak Tree, or a Tangerine seed to grow a producing citrus tree. This too is optional. Take these ideas and create your own to work with. Just stay in concept of Spring, Birth, Healing, and Illumination.

          If you like the scent of florals, and can find a good sale on flowers, I like to put cut flowers in every room. I try to stay with white. I usually would provide you with a ritual or a spell for a magical holiday such as Imbolc, but I feel that this ritual should be personalized by you and can be done in many styles. To create your ritual think as though you are kneeling before the God and Goddess and you are thanking them and welcoming them. Thanking the God for bringing his warm rays to heat up the earth, providing warmth and light to all the new sprouts. Give thanks to the Goddess for giving birth to the Sun so he can perform the task stated above. This is not a ritual performed for intent, but more of a ritual to express gratitude and to welcome for future grown. You can however visualize while doing the ritual your life also being illuminated and blooming by the power of light. ( Just remember, Harm ye non & do what ye will)

May you all have a very blessed Imbolc and may your lives along with the earth be illuminated for rebirth and growth.

PS- Divine Spaces is having a HUGE SALE. The entire site is now marked down and you can save 15% on over 6000+ spiritual items. You may have missed Imbolc, but Beltane is just around the corner. Don't wait as this sale will not last.

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