Imbolc/Welcome Spring

This year is decidedly different from last year. The energy feels different. And the way I'm viewing certain aspects of my life is different. Rather than focusing on a single idea, I find that my mind is stretching farther - out of it's limits you could say. I'm expanding, growing and learning things about myself I didn't know before. And part of that growth and change includes my beliefs and spirituality.

While I was clearing away my Yule altar and thinking on what I wanted my altar to represent for Imbolc, I decided that while I respect and admire Brigit, setting up an altar to her this year didn't seem to fit for me. I was quite perplexed and at one point thought that setting up an altar for this Sabbat was going to go the way of the Dodo. And as usually happens in these moments of uncertainty, when I clear my mind of any thought on a thing, is when Divine inspiration hits. 'Spring' said inspiration - set up an altar for spring.

And while it seemed a little early to be celebrating spring in my neck of the woods, I heeded inspiration's voice and started setting up an altar for spring. And as usually happens when I start working on an altar, I am led by Divine guidance. I never know how an altar is going to turn out until it is done and I'm lighting the incense and candles. I stand back and look in awe and amazement and what has been created. Not of me, but by me.

I had originally thought that I'd be placing one of my Goddess figurines on the altar, but as happened last year at Ostara, Mary called saying that she wanted and needed to be on the altar. And as I always do, I listened to Mary's gentle urgings and placed her on the altar.

And so whether you're celebrating Imbolc, Candlemas or Spring, tune out, listen for Divine inspiration and get ready to set up your own altar in whatever way inspiration leads you. You can't make a mistake . . . Inspiration won't let you.

If you're looking for more information on this Sabbat, I came across a wonderful website by Mara Freeman. She elaborates deliciously on Brigit, Imbolc and Candlemas.

Happy Imbolc! Happy Candlemas! Happy Spring!

The Goddess Brigit

With January fast approaching it's end, it's time to look forward to the month of February and all that it brings. There's Candlemas/Imbolg on February 2nd (which is also my dad's birthday), Valentine's Day (I'll post a separate post for that) there's Lupercalia, The Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece, Brigit's Eve, The Feast Day of Saint Brigid, festivals of the British Isles and the Norse, and so many others.

February 1st is the feast day of Brigit (pronounced 'Bree-id). She is a singular goddess made up of contradictions; a goddess of fire and water, of will and compassion, intensely focused on her mission of protection and care for her people, a healer who is also a warrior, a humble milkmaid who commands miracles, and a goddess of fertility.

Brigit is one of the great goddesses (along with Isis, Ishtar, Hera and Freya) who has been with us for hundreds of thousands of years. Her legends were handed down through the generations in an oral tradition that was eroded and then assimilated into the new faith of Christianity. Despite the fact that she was a diety so high and sacred, hardly any of her mythology was recorded.

Brigit is often depicted as a triple goddess. In her solitary form she carries a spear and an orb or globe. Sometimes she is seen wearing a green mantle, which may be a sign of her connection with Faery Folk. In folklore, Brigit means 'fiery arrow', 'bright arrow', or 'the bright one'. 'Fiery arrow' has become a fitting image for Brigit since it conveys the idea of the bright flame that has come to be associated with her, along with a sense of her directness, her ability to get straight to the point and the force of her energy.

As a healer, Brigit taught leechcraft and the properties of healing herbs, and was patroness of dozens of sacred springs and wells said to have healing properties. Many of these springs and wells are still visited today. Sunlight and water were considered to be especially effective in curing ailments of the eyes, which was one of the goddess' specialities. Along with her mantle, any fabric blessed by her was said to have healing effects. She was the first goddess to master the art of weaving, and into the cloth she placed healing threads that still exercise their healing powers centuries later.

Brigit is also seen as a fire goddess, a fertility and birth goddess, a smith, a poet and a warrior. She is one of the Great Goddesses of Life and Death. She was goddess of agriculture and household arts such as weaving, dyeing and making beer. She is also credited with inventing whistling as a way to signal to her friends in the darkness.

Red and white are the colors most commonly used for this holiday. White representing the snow of the departing winter and red for the hearthfire or Brigit's eternal flame. White also represents the Maiden goddess and red symbolizes the Mother. You might like to use white tablecloths for your altar with red candles, or like I have done, use a red tablecloth with candles in both red and white.

I made a corn dolly, which I posted previously, and have now laid her in the Bride's bed, thus the Crone who guarded the house during the winter is now transformed into the Maiden who awaits the God so that together they may initiate spring. I used a dowel (wand) wrapped in blue and white ribbon to represent the God, who is changing from the babe of Yule into the Youth of Ostara.

Bride's Bed Ritual

On Imbolc eve set the Bride's bed on the fireplace hearth or on your altar. Set incense in front and a white taper candle at either end of the bed. Have the wand nearby. Light the incense and the candles and say:

"Welcome the Bride turned from Mother to Maiden;
to rest and prepare for the time of the seed.
Cleansed and refreshed from the labors behind her;
with the promise of spring she lays before me."

Lay the decorated wand in the basket beside the corn dolly and say:

"How soon comes the Lord; how quickly he grows!
The season will turn; before we know."

Let the candles burn for a while, then snuff them before going to bed. In the morning, check for any marks in the hearth ash or other disturbance around the dolly as indication that the God has been there, thus signaling an early spring! The dolly may be removed from the bed and kept until replaced at Lughnassadh by a new dolly, then the wheat may be scattered as an offering outdoors.

Brigit's Cross is another familiar symbol and was most likely a sun emblem. It may also have represented the four quarters of the year. I made one using white pipe cleaners and tied the ends together with white ribbon. You can also make them in red or a combination of both. Traditionally, Brigit's crosses are made out of reeds, but being I live in the frozen north, pipe cleaners are the way to go. I may harvest some reeds this summer and make the crosses up ahead of time, so that they're ready and available next year.

Now is a good time to start thinking about spring house cleaning and also performing a house cleansing and blessing ceremony. It's also a good time to get rid of all the old stuff that has been cluttering your home and creating negativity. Now would also be a good time to create sacred space (if you haven't done so already), create or recreate your altar and cleanse and consecrate your ritual tools.

Keep your hope alive . . . spring is just around the corner!

Making a Corn Dolly

Traditionally, the corn dolly was made at Lughnasadh from the last sheaf of wheat (called corn in Europe) that was harvested and then paraded through town for all to see. The sheaf, called the Old Woman, was then placed in the home to protect the spirit of the grain and to represent the Goddess in her Crone aspect. In this aspect she is thought to protect the home and family until winter is over. She was placed high in the rafters near the hearth.

Being a relatively new Wiccan, and just getting used to the idea of all the Sabbats and what each one entails, I didn't manage to get my corn dolly made at Lughnasadh. With Imbolc right around the corner, I decided better late than never, and went about making my dolly. At Imbolc the corn dolly is dressed as the Bride to await the God in his youth aspect. The dolly was then traditionally plowed back in the field at Ostara.

I started with two bundles of wheat I purchased from Michael's and soaked the bottom portions for about an hour.

I took some of the wheat (about 2 inches in diameter) and tied it with white ribbon just below the bushy parts. I cut the stalks to about 10 inches measuring from the bottom of the bushy parts. This makes the body and head.

I then took some of the stalks (about 1/2 inch in diameter), cut the bushy parts off and tied them together about 1/2 an inch from the ends to make the arms and hands.

I then took the remainder of the wheat and divided it into two bunches. With one bunch I bent it over the arm on one side, holding tightly to the whole thing. Then I took the other bunch and bent it over the other side. I then cut the stalks in the back to the same length. I then took my white ribbon and wrapped it around, tied it off and made a bow.

And there you have it! A corn dolly all ready to become the Goddess Bride at Imbolc.

Charging Your Corn Dolly
(from Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac)

Lay the dolly on a table with a green candle and sandalwood incense. Create your sacred space. Light the incense and the candle saying:

"Green for Nature's abundance, and aroma of abundance, luck, and protection."

Pass the dolly through the incense smoke, saying:

"Made of the grain that there is always food in this house;
Tied with white ribbon for protection and peace;
She represents the spirit of abundance;
Kept through the winter to ward illness and want."

Set the dolly on the table and place both hands, palms down over her, saying:

"Through the Earth Mother and the Sun God, with the power of the Elementals, this dolly is charged to protect my home from adversity and illness! So mote it be!

Envision energy being released through your palms into the dolly. Snuff the candle, open the sacred space, and place the dolly in a secure place at home, such as on a kitchen wall or in the rafters.