BRAIDED BREAD

Braided bread is found in many forms, in many cultures. This recipe is a simple one, and is perfect for serving at your Imbolc feast. The braid symbolizes Brighid in her aspect as the bride, representative of her fertility and position as a hearth goddess. Serve this tasty braided bread with warm butter for dipping.

INGREDIENTS

1 batch of your favorite homemade dough, or a loaf of frozen bread dough, thawed (this is in the frozen foods section at the grocery store), or a

1 egg

Water

Sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS

If you’re using frozen dough, allow it to defrost at room temperature. If you’re using your own homemade recipe, start working with it after you’ve kneaded it out into a ball.

Before it begins to rise, cut your dough into thirds with a large pizza cutter or a knife. Roll each piece out until it’s about 18″ long, and about an inch thick. You’ll end up with three of these long strips.

Take the strips, and braid them together, trying not to stretch them out too much.

When you’ve reached the end of the braid, tuck the ends underneath themselves. If you want to make a really big braided loaf, use two batches of dough, which will yield six strips – then simply continue the braiding until it’s the size you want.

Place the braid either on a baking stone, or on a pan that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.

Beat the egg in a small bowl, and add 2 Tbsp. water. Lightly brush the egg and water mixture over the braid, and then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let it rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size.

Bake at 375 for 30 minutes, or until a light golden brown color. Remove from baking sheet, and allow to cool for 15 minutes or more before serving.

** Note: if you want to really jazz this up, use different types of bread, such as white and wheat. The end result is visually very appealing, with the different colors braided together.

Imbolc Prayers

Brighid’s Fire Meal Blessing

The goddess Brighid is well known as a keeper of the hearth fires in the home. As such, she is often associated with matters of domesticity, including cooking and kitchen magic. If you’re prepped a meal and you’re getting ready to dig in, take a moment to bless your food in Brighid’s name.

Brighid is the lady of flame,

the fire that cooks our food!

Hail to her and to the hearth,

and may our meal be good!

THANKS TO BRIGHID MEAL BLESSING

In some modern Pagan traditions, it is customary to offer a blessing before a meal, particularly if it’s being held in a ritual context. At Imbolc, it’s a season to honor Brighid, the goddess of hearth, home and domesticity. Celebrate her role as a goddess of the homefires, and offer this simple blessing of gratitude before your Imbolc feast.

This is the season of Brighid,

She who protects our hearth and home.

We honor her and thank her,

for keeping us warm as we eat this meal.

Great Lady, bless us and this food,

and protect us in your name.

Prayer to Brighid, Bride of Earth

In many modern Pagan traditions, the Imbolc sabbat is a time to celebrate Brighid, the Celtic hearth goddess. Among her many other aspects, she is known as the Bride of Earth, and is the patroness of domesticity and home. This simple prayer honors her in that role.

Bride of the earth,

sister of the faeries,

daughter of the Tuatha de Danaan,

keeper of the eternal flame.

In autumn, the nights began to lengthen,

and the days grew shorter,

as the earth went to sleep.

Now, Brighid stokes her fire,

burning flames in the hearth,

bringing light back to us once more.

Winter is brief, but life is forever.

Brighid makes it so.

SMOORING THE FIRE – A PRAYER TO BRIGHID

Alexander Carmichael was a folklorist and author who spent nearly five decades traveling around the highlands of Scotland collecting stories, prayers and songs. His most noteworthy work, the Carmina Gadelica, is an interesting blend of early Pagan tradition mixed with the influences of Christianity. Smooring the Fire is from Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica, published 1900, and is a Gaelic hymn to Brighid, honoring the tradition of smooring, or dampening, the hearth fire at night, and particularly on the night before Imbolc.

An Tri numh (The sacred Three)

A chumhnadh, (To save,)

A chomhnadh, (To shield,)

A chomraig (To surround)

An tula, (the hearth)

An taighe, (The house,)

An teaghlaich, (The household,)

An oidhche, (This eve,)

An nochd, (This night,)

O! an oidhche, (Oh! this eve,)

An nochd, (This night,)

Agus gach oidhche, (And every night,)

Gach aon oidhche. (Each single night.)

Amen.

End of Winter Meal Blessing

Although Imbolc isn’t truly the end of winter–and depending on where you live, you might be right smack in the middle of the worst weather of the season–in many traditions, it is a time to look forward towards the spring. It’s a good time to honor the idea that the days are starting to grow a little bit longer and that soon, the harsh cold winter will be coming to an end. Feel free to hold off on this prayer until it’s a little more seasonally appropriate for your area.

The winter is coming to an end

The stores of food are dwindling,

And yet we eat, and stay warm

In the chilled winter months.

We are grateful for our good fortune,

And for the food before us.

PRAYER TO BRIGANTIA, KEEPER OF THE FORGE

The goddess Brighid was known by many names. In parts of northern Britain, she was called Brigantia, and was seen as a keeper of the forge. In this aspect, she is associated with smithcraft and cauldrons. She was connected to the Roman goddess Victoria, a deity who was the personification of victory in battle, as well as loyalty. In some legends she is invoked as Minerva, the warrior goddess. Although as Brigantia she is not nearly as famous as her Brighid aspect, she is seen as the goddess who bestowed the title of Brigantes upon a pan-Celtic tribe in England’s border region.

Hail, Brigantia! Keeper of the forge,

she who shapes the world itself with fire,

she who ignites the spark of passion in the poets,

she who leads the clans with a warrior’s cry,

she who is the bride of the islands,

and who leads the fight of freedom.

Hail, Brigantia! Defender of kin and hearth,

she who inspires the bards to sing,

she who drives the smith to raise his hammer,

she who is a fire sweeping across the land.

PRAYER TO BRIGHID, KEEPER OF THE FLAME

Among her many other aspects, Brighid is the keeper of the flame, and this simple prayer honors her in that role.

Mighty Brighid, keeper of the flame,

blazing in the darkness of winter.

O goddess, we honor you, bringer of light,

healer, exalted one.

Bless us now, hearth mother,

that we may be as fruitful as the soil itself,

and our lives abundant and fertile.

DEITIES OF IMBOLC

Although traditionally Imbolc is associated with Brighid, the Irish goddess of hearth and home, there are a number of other deities who are represented at this time of year. Thanks to Valentine’s Day, many gods and goddesses of love and fertility are honored at this time.

ARADIA (ITALIAN)

Popularized by Charles Godfrey Leland in Gospel of the Witches, she is the virginal daughter of Diana. There is some question about Leland’s scholarship, and Aradia may be a corruption of Herodias from the Old Testament, according to Ronald Hutton and other academics.

AENGHUS OG (CELTIC)

This young god was most likely a god of love, youthful beauty and poetic inspiration. At one time, Aenghus went to a magical lake and found 150 girls chained together — one of them was the girl he loved, Caer Ibormeith. All the other girls were magically turned into swans every second Samhain, and Aenghus was told he could marry Caer if he was able to identify her as a swan. Aengus succeeded, and turned himself into a swan so he could join her. They flew away together, singing exquisite music that lulled its listeners to sleep.

APHRODITE (GREEK)

A goddess of love, Aphrodite was known for her sexual escapades, and took a number of lovers. She was also seen as a goddess of love between men and women, and her annual festival was called the Aphrodisiac. Like many of the other Greek gods, she spent a lot of time meddling in the affairs of mortals, mostly for her own amusement.

She was instrumental in the cause of the Trojan War; Aphrodite offered Helen of Sparta to Paris, the prince of Troy, and then when he saw Helen for the first time, Aphrodite made sure he was inflamed with lust, thus leading to Helen’s abduction and a decade of war. Despite her image as a goddess of love and beautiful things, Aphrodite also has a vengeful side.

At her temple in Corinth, revelers often paid tribute to Aphrodite by having rambunctious sex with her priestesses. The temple was later destroyed by the Romans, and not rebuilt, but fertility rites appear to have continued in the area.

BAST (EGYPTIAN)

This cat goddess was known throughout Egypt as a fierce protector. Later on, during the Classical period, she emerged as Bastet, a slightly softer, more gentle incarnation. As Bastet, she was regarded more as a domestic cat than a lioness. However, because of her position as a guardian, she often was seen as a protector of mothers — as a cat to her kittens — and childbirth. Thus, she evolved into the identity of hearth goddess, much like Brighid in the Celtic lands.

CERES (ROMAN)

This Roman agricultural goddess was a benefactor of farmers. Crops planted in her name flourished, particularly grains — in fact, the word “cereal” comes from her name. Virgil cites Ceres as part of a trinity, along with Liber and Libera, two other agricultural gods. Rituals were performed in her honor prior to spring, so that fields could be fertile and crops would grow. Cato recommends sacrificing a sow to Ceres before the harvest actually begins, as a gesture of appreciation.

CERRIDWEN (CELTIC)

Cerridwen represents powers of prophecy, and is the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge and inspiration in the Underworld. In one part of the Mabinogion, Cerridwen pursues Gwion through a cycle of seasons — beginning in the spring — when in the form of a hen, she swallows Gwion, disguised as an ear of corn. Nine months later, she gives birth to Taliesen, the greatest of the Welsh poets. Because of her wisdom, Cerridwen is often granted the status of Crone, which in turn equates her with the darker aspect of the Triple Goddess. She is both the Mother and the Crone; many modern Pagans honor Cerridwen for her close association to the full moon.

EROS (GREEK)

This lusty god was worshipped as a fertility deity. In some myths, he appears as the son of Aphrodite by Ares — the god of war having conquered the goddess of love.

His Roman contemporary was Cupid. In early Greece, no one paid much attention to Eros, but eventually he earned a cult of his own in Thespiae. He also was part of a cult along with Aphrodite in Athens.

FAUNUS (ROMAN)

This agricultural god was honored by the ancient Romans as part of the festival of Lupercalia, held every year in the middle of February. Faunus is very similar to the Greek god Pan.

GAIA (GREEK)

Gaia is the mother of all things in Greek legend. She is the earth and sea, the mountains and forests. During the weeks leading up to spring, she is becoming warmer each day as the soil grows more fertile. Gaia herself caused life to spring forth from the earth, and is also the name given to the magical energy that makes certain locations sacred. The Oracle at Delphi was believed to be the most powerful prophetic site on earth, and was considered the center of the world, due to Gaia’s energy.

HESTIA (GREEK)

This goddess watched over domesticity and the family. She was given the first offering at any sacrifice made in the home. On a public level, the local town hall served as a shrine for her — any time a new settlement was formed, a flame from the public hearth was taken to the new village from the old one.

PAN (GREEK)

This studly Greek fertility god is well known for his sexual prowess, and is typically portrayed with an impressively erect phallus. Pan learned about self-gratification via masturbation from Hermes, and passed the lessons along to shepherds. His Roman counterpart is Faunus.

Pan is a distinctly sexual god, often described in legends regarding his lusty adventures.

VENUS (ROMAN)

This Roman goddess is associated with not only beauty, but fertility as well. In the early spring, offerings were left in her honor. As Venus Genetrix, she was honored for her role as the ancestress of the Roman people – Julius Caesar claimed to be her direct descendant — and celebrated as a goddess of motherhood and domesticity.

VESTA (ROMAN)

This hearth goddess of Rome was the one who watched over home and family. As a hearth goddess, she was the keeper of the fire and sacred flame. Offerings were thrown into the household fires to seek omens from the future. Vesta is similar in many aspects to Brighid, particularly in her position as a goddess of both home/family and of divination.

IMBOLC LOVE MAGICK

Wondering what the deal is with love magic? Well, it’s something that comes up a lot, so why not read more about magic and matters of the heart? We’ll talk about the ethics of love magic, the basics of casting a love spell, love magic in folklore, gods and goddesses of love and marriage. We’ll even assume you’re going to find love and live happily ever after, because there’s plenty of information about Pagan weddings as well!
Love Magic Folklore
Love and its pursuit have driven us for millennia. It should come as no real surprise that most modern-day magical practitioners will tell you that hands down, they get more requests for love spells than anything else. And why not? Love magic has been the staple of the wise-woman, the cunning man, and the village herbalist for ages. Read through any account of rural folklore, and you’ll find frequent references to charms, talismans, potions, and amulets that people have used to draw love their way. Here is a look at some of the best-known, and most popular, forms of love magic from around the world.
Ethics of Love Magic
Love spells. They’re one of the things that often draws new folks to Wicca and other Pagan religions. However, there’s a lot of discussion within the Pagan community about the ethics of casting a love spell on someone else. After all, if you’re performing magic on someone without their knowledge, aren’t you messing with their free will?
Many Pagans, particularly those in Neowiccan traditions, will tell you that the best way to approach love magic is to avoid focusing on a specific individual as a target.
Instead, use your energy and skills to focus on yourself — to draw love your way, or to help you present yourself as a person worthy of love. You could use your magical abilities to feel more confident and attractive, much like a magical makeover. In other words, fix yourself, not someone else.
Bear in mind that plenty of Pagan traditions have no restrictions on the use of magic to change someone else. If you’re part of such a tradition, the use of love magic may well be within the boundaries of your ethical guidelines. In some traditions of folk magic, love magic is perfectly acceptable. It’s something that’s done as a matter of course, and is no more unethical than wearing a sexy perfume or a cute push-up bra. Magic is viewed as a tool, and can be used in tandem with the mundane to bring you what you want — after all, if you didn’t want to change things, you wouldn’t be doing magic in the first place, right?
Before casting any sort of working that affects another person, though, be sure to think about consequences. How will your actions affect not only you, but other people? Will it ultimately cause harm? Will it cause someone to be hurt, either directly or indirectly? These are all things that should be evaluated before performing any working at all, whether it’s a love spell or some other type of magic.
If your tradition or belief system prohibits you from performing magic on someone without their consent or knowledge, then you’d be better of skipping the love magic, and focusing instead on self-improvement and self-empowerment.
Rather than aiming a love spell at someone and expecting them to become your devoted servant and doormat, consider looking at love spells as a method of (a) getting someone to notice you AND (b) getting the person to, once they’ve noticed you, find all the things about you that they like. If you maintain this perspective, you should be able to work love magic and still keep within your ethical boundaries.

IMBOLC. DIVINATION WITH STONES

Lithomancy is the practice of performing divination by reading stones. In some cultures, the casting of stones was believed to be fairly common – a bit like checking one’s daily horoscope in the morning paper. However, because our ancient ancestors didn’t leave us a lot of information about how to read the stones, many of the specific aspects of the practice have been lost forever.

It is generally believed by scholars that early forms of lithomancy included stones which were polished and inscribed with symbols — perhaps these were the precursors to the rune stones we see in some of the Scandinavian religions.

In modern forms of lithomancy, stones are typically assigned symbols connected to the planets, as well as to aspects of personal events, such as luck, love, happiness, etc.

In her Guide to Gemstone Sorcery: Using Stones for Spells, Amulets, Rituals and Divination, author Gerina Dunwitch says, “For maximum effectiveness, the stones used in a reading should be gathered from nature during favorable astrological configurations and by using one’s intuitive powers as a guide.”

By creating a set of stones with symbols that are significant to you, you can make your own divinatory tool to use for guidance and inspiration. The instructions below are for a simple set using a group of thirteen stones. You can change any of them you like to make the set more readable for you, or you can add to or subtract any of the symbols you wish — it’s your set, so make it as personal as you like.

You’ll need the following:

Thirteen stones of similar shapes and sizes

Paint

A square of cloth about a foot square

We’re going to designate each stone as being representative of the following:

1. The Sun – power, energy and life

2. The Moon – inspiration, psychic ability and intuition

3. Saturn – longevity, protection, purification

4.

Venus – love, fidelity, happiness

5. Mercury – intelligence, self-improvement, overcoming bad habits

6. Mars – courage, defensive magic, battle, conflict

7. Jupiter – money, justice, prosperity

8. Earth – security of home, family and friends

9. Air – Wishes, hopes, dreams and inspiration

10. Fire – Passion, willpower, outside influences

11. Water – Compassion, reconciliation, healing and cleansing

12. Spirit – Needs of the self, communication with the Divine

13. The Universe – our place in the grand scheme of things, on a cosmic level

Mark each stone with a symbol that indicates to you what the stone will represent. You can use astrological symbols for the planetary stones, and other symbols to signify the four elements.

Place the stones within the cloth and tie it shut, forming a bag. To interpret messages from the stones, the simplest way is to draw three stones at random. Place them in front of you, and see what messages they send. Some people prefer to use a pre-marked board, such as a spirit board or even a Ouija board. The stones are then cast onto the board, and their meanings are determined not only by where they land, but their proximity to other stones. For beginners, it may be easier to simply draw your stones from a bag.

Like reading Tarot cards, and other forms of divination, much of lithomancy is intuitive, rather than specific. Use the stones as a meditation tool, and focus on them as a guide. As you become more familiar with your stones, and their meanings, you’ll find yourself better able to interpret their messages.

IMBOLC FIRE SCRYING CEREMONY

WHAT IS SCRYING?

Scrying is the act of staring into something – often a shiny surface, but not always – for the purpose of divination. Visions and images are then interpreted intuitively by the individual doing the scrying. Many people prefer to scry using shiny surfaces – mirror, a crystal ball, even water – but another popular method is that of fire scrying. This ritual uses the element of fire, which is associated with change, destruction and renewal.

SETTING THE STAGE

The best way to perform this ritual is outside, but realistically, that’s not always practical or safe. So, find a place, indoors or out, where you can light a large fire that will burn for a while. If you really can’t light a large fire, you can always do this ritual with candle flames. Some people prefer to use a single candle, while others may use several — use whichever you prefer.

Make sure you’ll be undisturbed during this ritual – turn off the cell phone, send the kids and spouse to a movie, and eliminate other distractions. You may want to have a notepad handy so you can write down what you see, and some people find it helpful to play meditative music in the background as they are scrying.

Some people even do a bit of yoga before scrying. Benjamin Rowe suggests, “Four of the traditional practices of yoga are intended to reduce and eliminate such distractions. Asana and (to a small extent) pranayama deal with physical distractions; pratyahara with external distractions, and dharana with mental distractions.

These high-discipline practices are more than most people will need;… perfection isn’t necessary, just something “good enough”.

If you normally wear a ritual robe, you may wish to do so, but it’s not required. Likewise, if your tradition requires you to cast a circle, feel free to do so before you begin.

BEGIN YOUR SCRYING

Light your fire (or candle, if that’s what you’re using) and take some time to watch it. Let the flames grow taller and bolder and brighter, as each bit of kindling catches fire. Breathe deeply and evenly, allowing yourself to relax and become comfortable as the fire blazes. When you have a good strong fire going, focus your vision on the center of the dancing flames. Don’t worry about staring too hard, just rest your eyesight wherever is the most comfortable.

Draw the energy of the flames toward you, allowing yourself to feel their power. It can heal or harm, create or destroy. Fire is associated with strong will and power.

Watch as the fire flickers and flashes. Do you see images in the flames? Some people see clear images, while others see shapes in the shadows, mere hints of what is within. Look for images that seem familiar or for those that may repeat in a pattern.

Do you hear sounds as you watch the fire? You may hear the crackling of wood, the roar of larger flames, the snapping of embers. Some people report hearing faint voices singing or speaking in the fire.

Thoughts and ideas may pop into your head, seemingly unrelated to anything you see or hear. Be sure to use your notepad or journal so you can write these things down for future exploration.

Spend as much time as you like watching the fire — once you start to get uncomfortable or fidgety, it’s time to wrap things up.

Messages often come to us from other realms and yet we frequently don’t recognize them. If a bit of information doesn’t make sense, don’t worry — sit on it for a few days and let your unconscious mind process it. Chances are, it will make sense eventually. It’s also possible that you could receive a message that’s meant for someone else — if something doesn’t seem to apply to you, think about your circle of friends, and who it might be meant for.

WRAPPING THINGS UP

When you’re ready to end your scrying session, take a few moments to just relax, looking away from the fire. You may feel a high sense of energy, or an unusual sensation of clarity — if you do, don’t worry, that’s not uncommon.

You can either leave the fire burning, if it will be safe to do so, or you can extinguish it yourself.

Be sure to review your notes later, so you can reflect on the things you’ve seen. If you scry regularly, get in the habit of comparing notes from one session to the next, to see if there are messages or images that appear often.

IMBOLC HOUSE CLEANSING CEREMONY

No one really likes to clean, but we all know we feel better when our physical space is tidy. It’s one of life’s necessary chores. Start your spring off with a good thorough cleaning, and then follow that up with a spiritual cleansing. This is a great ritual to perform at Imbolc — remember that for many of our ancestors, washing came only a few times a year, so by February, a house was probably smelling pretty ripe.

Pick a bright sunny day to do a clean sweep, and then invite friends and family to join you in a blessing of your home.

First, do a complete physical cleaning of your house. Put on some music and thoroughly clean every room, top to bottom. Strip sheets off the beds, turn the mattresses, dust every surface, and vacuum every floor. Sort through those piles of paper on your desk, and get rid of things you don’t need to keep; file everything else. Gather up the kids’ toys and put them in baskets for easy storage. If you need to get rid of things, do it now — set aside a box for charity and put gently used items in it. Set aside another box for trash, and see if you can fill it up!

Once your house is clean — and this assumes you did the kitchen as well — it’s time to have some fun. Call up some friends and invite them over for a potluck. Cook up some Imbolc-themed comfort foods, such as Braided Bread or Beer Battered Fish & Chips, and have a small potluck celebration.

Ask each guest to bring a small token to bless your house — pebbles, shells, interesting bits of wood, beads, etc.

You’ll also need the following:

A bowl of water

Some sea salt

A smudging bundle of sage or sweetgrass

A blue candle

Some Blessing Oil

A bowl or bag

Begin at the front door — it is, after all, where you welcome guests into your home — and go through the house in a sunwise direction (clockwise).

Ask your guests to help you by smudging the perimeter of each room with the salt, sage, candle flame and water. You may wish to say some sort of incantation as they do this, something like:

With the purifying power of water,

with the clean breath of air,

with the passionate heat of fire,

with the grounding energy of earth

we cleanse this space.

As you pass from room to room, anoint each door and windowsill with the Blessing Oil by tracing the shape of a pentagram or other symbol of your tradition. This prevents anything negative from crossing into the home. If you like, you can offer a small incantation as you do this, something like:

May the goddess bless this home,

making it sacred and pure,

so that nothing but love and joy

shall enter through this door.

Finally, once you’ve gone through the house, ask each of your guests to deposit their blessing token in your bowl or bag. Keep it in a place of honor in your home — on the mantel or in your kitchen is a good idea. Gather around the dinner table, break out the goodies, and enjoy a feast with your friends and family!

Tips:

* If you don’t have Blessing Oil, you can use rosemary oil instead. Make your own by infusing fresh rosemary in grapeseed or flaxseed oil.

IMBOLC MAGICK

Imbolc is a time of magical energy related to the feminine aspect of the goddess, of new beginnings, and of fire. It’s also a good time to focus on divination and increasing your own magical gifts and abilities. Take advantage of these concepts, and plan your workings accordingly. Because of its proximity to Valentine’s Day, Imbolc also tends to be a time when people start exploring love magic–if you do, be sure to read up on it first!

Imbolc Cleansing Ritual Bath: To perform a ritual cleansing bath, you’ll first want to set the mood. Try to do this with some semblance of privacy, so you can have peace and quiet. This is supposed to be restful and empowering–and it’s hard to achieve those if you’re yelling at the kids to keep the noise down. If other people live in your home, either send them away while you’re taking your bath, or ask that you not be disturbed for a while.

You may wish to light some candles. Bathroom lighting tends to be harsh, and there’s something very soothing about bathing by candlelight. Some people prefer to turn off the overhead lighting and just use natural light instead, which is easily done if you have a window in your bathroom. You may also want to light some incense, if there’s a particular scent you find soothing or inspiring.

Finally, some people like to add music. Put in a CD of your favourite instrumental music, or of natural sounds. Noises like whale songs, waterfalls, rainfall or ocean waves are all appropriate. If you prefer not to have any music, that’s fine too–it’s really a matter of what relaxes you best.

As you run the bath, you’ll want to incorporate herbs that are associated with cleansing. The best way to do this is to tie herbs into a muslin cloth or bag, and hang it on the faucet so that the warm bathwater runs through it into the tub. Herbs associated with cleansing and purification include, but are not limited to:

Sage

Chamomile

Cinnamon

Lemon Balm

Sandalwood

Lavender

Rosemary

Hyssop

Sweetgrass

Peppermint

Once you’ve filled the bath with warm water, running through the herbal mix, immerse yourself in the tub. Make sure you’re completely relaxed–for some people, this may take a few minutes, but that’s okay. Try to clear your mind completely. Focus on the warmth enveloping your body. Breathe deeply, taking in the scents of the herbal oils in the water. If you’ve got music playing, allow your mind to wander wherever the music may take you–a sandy beach, a forest glade, wherever.

Close your eyes, and become attuned to the rhythms of your own body.

Visualise, for a moment, all the negative energy in your body. As you focus on this, imagine it being swept out of your body, bit by bit, one particle at a time, through the pores of your skin. See it being released from your body, and diluted into the water. While the negative energy is leaving your body, think about how rejuvenating the bath is. See your body, your spirit, your soul being cleansed and purified by the herbs and the water.

When you feel ready, stand up and get out of the tub. After you’ve gotten out of the water, release the plug so that all the negativity absorbed by the water can be drained away.

Talaj is a Pagan practitioner in Florida. She says, “Where I live, it’s not too chilly at Imbolc–we don’t have snow or anything–but it’s still cooler than normal.

A hot bath full of herbs helps me get grounded, reminds me that winter is going to end eventually, and is a really good way for me to relax and reconnected to my gods.”

Important note: if you only have a shower stall, and not a bathtub–or if you just don’t have time for a long bath–you can do this cleansing rite as a shower. Hang the cloth bag of herbs over the shower-head, so that the herbal water runs over your body while you shower.

ALL ABOUT IMBOLC

Imbolc is a holiday with a variety of names, depending on which culture and location you’re looking at. In the Irish Gaelic, it’s called Oimelc, which translates to “ewe’s milk.” It’s a precursor to the end of winter when the ewes are nursing their newly born lambs. Spring and the planting season are right around the corner.

THE ROMANS CELEBRATE

To the Romans, this time of year halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox was the season of the Lupercalia.

For them, it was a purification ritual held on February 15, in which a goat was sacrificed and a scourge made of its hide. Thong-clad men ran through the city, whacking people with bits of goat hide. Those who were struck considered themselves fortunate indeed. This is one of the few Roman celebrations that is not associated with a particular temple or deity. Instead, it focuses on the founding of the city of Rome, by twins Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf in a cave known as the “Lupercale”.

THE FEAST OF NUT

The ancient Egyptians celebrated this time of year as the Feast of Nut, whose birthday falls on February 2 on the Gregorian calendar. According to the Book of the Dead, Nut was seen as a mother-figure to the sun god Ra, who at sunrise was known as Khepera and took the form of a scarab beetle. She is typically portrayed as a nude woman covered in stars, and is positioned above her husband Geb, the earth god.

When she comes down to meet him each night, darkness falls.

CHRISTIAN CONVERSION OF A PAGAN CELEBRATION

When Ireland converted to Christianity, it was hard to convince people to get rid of their old gods, so the church allowed them to worship the goddess Brighid as a saint–thus the creation of St. Brigid’s Day.

Today, there are many churches around the world which bear her name. St. Brighid of Kildare is one of Ireland’s patron saints, and she is associated with an early Christian nun and abbess, although historians are divided on whether or not she was a real person.

For many Christians, February 2nd continues to be celebrated as Candelmas, the feast of purification of the Virgin. By Jewish law, it took forty days after a birth for a woman to be cleansed following the birth of a son. Forty days after Christmas–the birth of Jesus–is February 2nd. Candles were blessed, there was much feasting to be had, and the drab days of February suddenly seemed a little brighter. In Catholic churches, the focus of this celebration is St. Brighid.

LOVE & COURTSHIP

February is known as a month when love begins anew, in part to to the widespread celebration of Valentine’s Day. In some parts of Europe, there was a belief that February 14th was the day that birds and animals began their annual hunt for a mate. Valentine’s Day is named for the Christian priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s edict banning young soldiers from marrying. In secret, Valentine “tied the knot” for many young couples. Eventually, he was captured and executed on Feb.

14, 269 C.E. Before his death, he smuggled a message to a girl he had befriended while imprisoned–the first Valentine’s Day card.

SERPENTS IN THE SPRING

Although Imbolc isn’t even mentioned in non-Gaelic Celtic traditions, it’s still a time rich in folklore and history. According to the , the Celts celebrated an early version of Groundhog Day on Imbolc too–only with a serpent, singing this poem:

Thig an nathair as an toll

(The serpent will come from the hole)

la donn Bride

(on the brown day of Bride (Brighid)

Ged robh tri traighean dh’an

(though there may be three feet of snow)

Air leachd an lair

(On the surface of the ground.)

Among agricultural societies, this time of year was marked by the preparation for the spring lambing, after which the ewes would lactate–hence the term “ewe’s milk” as “Oimelc.” At Neolithic sites in Ireland, underground chambers align perfectly with the rising sun on Imbolc.

THE GODDESS BRIGHID

Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection as well, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The Irish goddess Brighid is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. To honor her, purification and cleaning are a wonderful way to get ready for the coming of Spring. In addition to fire, she is a goddess connected to inspiration and creativity.

Brighid is known as one of the Celtic “triune” goddesses–meaning that she is one and three simultaneously. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid, or Brid, whose name meant “bright one.” In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed in her aspect as crone as Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. Brighid was also a warlike figure, Brigantia, in the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. The Christian St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare, Ireland.

In modern Paganism, Brighid is viewed as part of the maiden/mother/crone cycle. She walks the earth on the eve of her day, and before going to bed each member of the household should leave a piece of clothing outside for Brighid to bless. Smoor your fire as the last thing you do that night, and rake the ashes smooth. When you get up in the morning, look for a mark on the ashes, a sign that Brighid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes are brought inside, and now have powers of healing and protection thanks to Brighid.

Imbolc 1.1

Imbolc is one of the four Greater Sabbats of the witch’s calendar, a cross-quarter fire festival that falls between “Yule” – the Winter Solstice, and “Ostara” – the Spring Equinox.

Imbolc is celebrated on the 2nd February in the Northern Hemisphere, with Lammas being the equivalent Sabbat in the Southern Hemisphere.

Imbolc is a celebration of light after the dark. As the returning Sun grows stronger lengthening day time and reducing night times, the main feature of this festival is the lighting of fires and candles in sympathy of the Sun’s growing strength.

Imbolc 1.2

Imbolc of old was traditionally a time of purification, both physically and mentally.

After the dark winter months when the home was shutdown to guard against the cold, it was a welcome relief for many people to re-open the shutters and welcome in the sunlight.

While still in the grip of the last ravages of winter, plant life begins to revive as the first new buds of Spring appear.

As the Sun grows in strength animals begin to mate and a new cycle of life returns to the earth.

Imbolc 1.3

In the mythology of the Sabbats, Imbolc marks the recovery of the Goddess as she sleeps on after the birth of the Sun God.

Although he is still young his light purifies the earth and his growing power can be felt in the lengthening of the days.

As his power grows and warms the earth, so too do the early beginnings of spring appear as nature rebirths itself again.

Imbolc 1.4

Fire is one of the most important aspects of this celebration, for it was also a day dedicated to the pagan
Goddess Brighid (also known as, Bríde, Bridget, Brigit or Brìd).

Brighid is a triple aspect Goddess (revered as Maiden, Mother and Crone).

As Maiden she ruled over Poetry, Writing, Inspiration and Music, as Mother over Healing, Midwifery and Herbalism, and as Crone over Fire and the working Arts of the Smithy.

When Christianity arrived, instead of doing away with Brighid as a pagan Goddess, they canonized her as “St. Bridget” the patron Saint of Ireland, in which guise she founded a church and monastery at Kildare.

It was here according to legend that the Priestesses of the Goddess constantly tended a Sacred Flame in her honour.

Imbolc 1.5

In Western Europe, Imbolc was time to start preparing the fields for the first plantings, and to bless the crop seeds saved and stored from the last harvest.

It was also a time to consecrate and bless all their agricultural tools.

The success of the new farming season was of great importance to our ancestors, and as most their winter stores of food were beginning to run out, rituals were performed to ensure a steady supply of food until the first new harvest at Lammas (the Autumn Equinox).

One old tradition was to drag decorated ploughs around the fields followed by villagers dropping pieces of cheese and bread mixed with seeds into the newly turned furrows as offerings to the spirits of nature.

Corn dollies made and saved from the last harvest would also be planted to encourage new growth

Imbolc 1.6

Imbolc is all about new beginnings. On the eve of Imbolc all the home fires would have been put out, cleaned out
and re-lit symbolic of the returning light of the Sun.

In keeping with this symbolism, a broom made from three sacred woods (the handle from Ash, the brush from Birch twigs and the binding cord from Willow) acting as symbolic of the three-fold aspects of the Goddess, would
be placed by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming in the new.

During the evening, an especially large candle would be lit as the family gathered around it for a feast, and as the feast progressed, plans and promises would be made to sustain them through the new season.

It was also customary at Sunset to ritually light a candle in each room of the home in honour of the Sun’s return.

Imbolc 1.7

After the rise of Christianity in Britain, the custom of lighting candles at Imbolc was taken up by the Roman Catholic Church and renamed Candlemas.

On the eve of Candlemas, candles would be lit all around the church in a Festival of Light.

After a service to honour the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, all candles to be used in the church during the following year would then be blessed and consecrated by the priest.

This practice of celebrating Candlemas continued in England until the 16th century, at which time during the Reformation it was discontinued, being too closely allied to pagan practices and the veneration of magical accessories.

Imbolc 1.8

The use of candles in a Festival of Light never died out however and has returned to pagan practice.

Today in contemporary witchcraft, one of the main features of many traditional covens is the initiation ritual.

At Imbolc, members of traditional covens will form a procession of candlelight leading initiates into a circle, and from this circle, their new beginnings as Witches will take place.

Imbolc 1.9

Imbolc then is the time to spring clean both your mental and physical abilities, to take stock of your life and make a fresh start.

By planning ahead and planting new seeds (ideas) for the future, who knows what new opportunities will grow from them.

As the Sun grows stronger in the sky and the new buds of Spring appear, so too should you
look forward with optimism, and as your seeds (ideas) mature, may you realise your hopes and dreams.

Brighid’s Crosses

The making a Brighid’s crosses was a tradition started in Ireland to honour one of pagan Ireland’s most important
Goddesses Brighid. Brighid who is associated with fire, healing and holy wells, is celebrated during the pagan sabbat
festival of Imbolc marking the earliest stirrings of Spring. Traditionally the crosses were made from rushes, but today
wheat stalks, straw or other synthetic materials are used. Typically they are woven into a square centre with four
extending radial arms tied at the ends. Once made they are hung by doors or in the rafters of the home and other outbuildings to protect a families property from fire and evil.

All About Imbolc

By February, most of us are tired of the cold, snowy season. Imbolc
reminds us that spring is coming soon, and that we only have a few more
weeks of winter to go. The sun gets a little brighter, the earth gets a little
warmer, and we know that life is quickening within the soil. There are a
number of different ways to celebrate this Sabbat.
Rituals and Ceremonies
Depending on your particular tradition, there are many different ways
you can celebrate Imbolc. Some people focus on the Celticgoddess
Brighid, in her many aspects as a deity of fire and fertility. Others aim
their rituals more towards the cycles of the season, and agricultural
markers. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying —
and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary
practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.
Hundreds of years ago, when our ancestors relied upon the sun as their
only source of light, the end of winter was met with much celebration.
Although it is still cold in February, often the sun shines brightly above
us, and the skies are often crisp and clear. As a festival of light, Imbolc
came to be called Candlemas. On this evening, when the sun has set once
more, call it back by lighting the seven candles of this ritual.
The seven candles in this ritual represent various aspects of both the
seasons and the human existence. Several symbolize the light that
emerges as winter finally comes to an end, and another represents the
purifying warmth of the hearth fires. One candle is symbolic of the
barrier between the positive and negative in your life; a boundary of sorts
between our world and the next. Another stands in for the magic of
wisdom and inspiration, and for the light that comes into our lives when
we experience love.
If you’re a solitary practitioner, don’t worry! This is a ritual you can
perform all by yourself. Although this ceremony is written for one, it can
easily be adapted for a small group by assigning each participant their
own candle, or candles, to light and take charge of.
First, set up your altar in a way that makes you happy, and brings to
mind the themes of Imbolc – rebirth and renewal, purification and
cleansing.
Prior to beginning your ritual, take a warm, cleansing bath. While
soaking, meditate on the concept of purification. Once you’re done, dress
in your ritual attire, if you normally wear it, and begin the rite. You’ll
need:
• Seven candles, in red and white (tealights are perfect for this)
• Something to light your candles with
• A large bowl or cauldron big enough to hold the candles
• Sand or salt to fill the bottom of the bowl/cauldron
If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now. Pour the sand or
salt into the bowl or cauldron. Place the seven candles into the sand so
they won’t slide around. Light the first candle. As you do so, say:
Although it is now dark, I come seeking light.
In the chill of winter, I come seeking life.
Light the second candle, saying:
I call upon fire, that melts the snow and warms the hearth.
I call upon fire, that brings the light and makes new life.
I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.
Light the third candle. Say:
This light is a boundary, between positive and negative.
That which is outside, shall stay without.
That which is inside, shall stay within.
Light the fourth candle. Say:
I call upon fire, that melts the snow and warms the hearth.
I call upon fire, that brings the light and makes new life.
I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.
Light the fifth candle, saying:
Like fire, light and love will always grow.
Like fire, wisdom and inspiration will always grow.
Light the sixth candle, and say:
I call upon fire, that melts the snow and warms the hearth.
I call upon fire, that brings the light and makes new life.
I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.
Finally, light the last candle. As you do so, visualize the seven flames
coming together as one. As the light builds, see the energy growing in a
purifying glow.
Fire of the hearth, blaze of the sun,
cover me in your shining light.
I am awash in your glow,and tonight I am
made pure.
Take a few moments and meditate on the light of your candles. Think
about this Sabbat, a time of healing and inspiration and purification. Do
you have something damaged that needs to be healed? Are you feeling
stagnant, for lack of inspiration? Is there some part of your life that feels
toxic or tainted? Visualize the light as a warm, enveloping energy that
wraps itself around you, healing your ailments, igniting the spark of
creativity, and purifying that which is damaged.
When you are ready, end the ritual. You may choose to follow up with
healing magic, or with a Cakes and Ale ceremony.
If you’re looking for prayers or blessings to celebrate the sabbat of Imbolc,
here’s where you’ll find a selection of original devotionals that bid farewell
to the winter months and honor the goddess Brighid, as well as seasonal
blessings for your meals, hearth, and home. Feel free to adjust or modify
these prayers as you need to, in order to fit the themes of your own
magical tradition and beliefs.
Prayers for Imbolc
Brighid’s Fire Meal Blessing
Thegoddess Brighid is well known as a keeper of the hearth fires in the
home. As such, she is often associated with matters of domesticity,
includingcooking and kitchen magic. If you’re prepped a meal and you’re
getting ready to dig in, take a moment to bless your food in Brighid’s
name.
Brighid is the lady of flame,
the fire that cooks our food!
Hail to her and to the hearth,
and may our meal be good!
Thanks to Brighid Meal Blessing
In some modern Pagan traditions, it is customary to offer a blessing
before a meal, particularly if it’s being held in a ritual context. At Imbolc,
it’s a season to honor Brighid, the goddess of hearth, home and
domesticity. Celebrate her role as a goddessof the homefires, and offer
this simpleblessing of gratitudebefore your Imbolc feast.
This is the season of Brighid,
She who protects our hearth and home.
We honor her and thank her,
for keeping us warm as we eat this meal.
Great Lady, bless us and this food,
and protect us in your name.

Prayer to Brighid, Bride of Earth
In many modern Pagan traditions, the Imbolc sabbat is a time to
celebrate Brighid, the Celtic hearth goddess. Among her many other
aspects, she is known as the Bride of Earth, and is the patroness of
domesticity and home. This simple prayer honors her in that role.
Bride of the earth,
sister of the faeries,
daughter of the Tuatha de Danaan,
keeper of the eternal flame.
In autumn, the nights began to lengthen,
and the days grew shorter,
as the earth went to sleep.
Now, Brighid stokes her fire,
burning flames in the hearth,
bringing light back to us once more.
Winter is brief, but life is forever.
Brighid makes it so.
Smooring the Fire – A Prayer to Brighid
Alexander Carmichael was a folklorist and author who spent nearly five
decades traveling around the highlands of Scotland collecting stories,
prayers and songs. His most noteworthy work, the Carmina Gadelica, is
an interesting blend of early Pagan tradition .Smooring the Fire is from
Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica, published 1900, and is a Gaelic hymn to
Brighid, honoring the tradition of smooring, or dampening, the hearth
fire at night, and particularly on the night before Imbolc.
An Tri numh (The sacred Three)
A chumhnadh, (To save,)
A chomhnadh, (To shield,)
A chomraig (To surround)
An tula, (the hearth)
An taighe, (The house,)
An teaghlaich, (The household,)
An oidhche, (This eve,)
An nochd, (This night,)
O! an oidhche, (Oh! this eve,)
An nochd, (This night,)
Agus gach oidhche, (And every night,)
Gach aon oidhche. (Each single night.)

End of Winter Meal Blessing
Although Imbolc isn’t truly the end of winter–and depending on where
you live, you might be right smack in the middle of the worst weather of
the season–in many traditions, it is a time to look forward towards the
spring. It’s a good time to honor the idea that the days are starting to
grow a little bit longer and that soon, the harsh cold winter will be
coming to an end. Feel free to hold off on this prayer until it’s a little more
seasonally appropriate for your area.
The winter is coming to an end
The stores of food are dwindling,
And yet we eat, and stay warm
In the chilled winter months.
We are grateful for our good fortune,
And for the food before us.

Prayer to Brigantia, Keeper of the Forge
Thegoddess Brighid was known by many names. In parts of northern
Britain, she was called Brigantia, and was seen as a keeper of the forge. In
this aspect, she is associated with smithcraft and cauldrons. She was
connected to the Roman goddess Victoria, a deity who was the
personification of victory in battle, as well as loyalty. In some legends she
is invoked as Minerva, the warrior goddess. Although as Brigantia she is
not nearly as famous as her Brighid aspect, she is seen as the goddess who
bestowed the title of Brigantes upon a pan-Celtic tribe in England’s
border region.
Hail, Brigantia! Keeper of the forge,
she who shapes the world itself with fire,
she who ignites the spark of passion in the poets,
she who leads the clans with a warrior’s cry,
she who is the bride of the islands,
and who leads the fight of freedom.
Hail, Brigantia! Defender of kin and hearth,
she who inspires the bards to sing,
she who drives the smith to raise his hammer,
she who is a fire sweeping across the land.

Prayer to Brighid, Keeper of the Flame
Among her many other aspects, Brighid is the keeper of the flame, and
this simple prayer honors her in that role.
Mighty Brighid, keeper of the flame,
blazing in the darkness of winter.
O goddess, we honor you, bringer of light,
healer, exalted one.
Bless us now, hearth mother,
that we may be as fruitful as the soil itself,
and our lives abundant and fertile.