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OK, I'm a slacker, this is a week late. Anyway, to continue with the new tradition of discussing the Sabbats..Let's talk Imbolc
Imbolc was celebrated in the early days as the first sign of spring. Imbolc means ewe's milk and was celebrated when the ewes began lactating. If they were producing milk, it was likely that the spring lambs would be born healthy. It is a Sabbat specifically focusing on Brigid, a Celtic goddess of healing, fertility, smithcraft, and poetry.
As a daughter of Brigid, I have a special affinity for this Sabbat. My long standing tradition has been to clean my healing bowl (basically a pottery cauldron fired hot enough to withstand fire) between Yule and Imbolc. At Imbolc, I reconsecrate it and begin pooling energy in it to use for the annual Bran Slanaighear ritual. My healing rituals involve herbs and all 5 elements. I utilize the bowl throughout the year for other healing rituals and then clean and clear it again the following Yule. Purification is a big theme with Imbolc and it's where the concept of spring cleaning originates. Clean out the home both physically and spiritually making way for spring.
Check out Wikipedia's info on Imbolc. There's a lot of info on the origin of Groundhog Day which is also connected to the first sign of spring. What do you do for Imbolc?
Imbolc was celebrated in the early days as the first sign of spring. Imbolc means ewe's milk and was celebrated when the ewes began lactating. If they were producing milk, it was likely that the spring lambs would be born healthy. It is a Sabbat specifically focusing on Brigid, a Celtic goddess of healing, fertility, smithcraft, and poetry.
As a daughter of Brigid, I have a special affinity for this Sabbat. My long standing tradition has been to clean my healing bowl (basically a pottery cauldron fired hot enough to withstand fire) between Yule and Imbolc. At Imbolc, I reconsecrate it and begin pooling energy in it to use for the annual Bran Slanaighear ritual. My healing rituals involve herbs and all 5 elements. I utilize the bowl throughout the year for other healing rituals and then clean and clear it again the following Yule. Purification is a big theme with Imbolc and it's where the concept of spring cleaning originates. Clean out the home both physically and spiritually making way for spring.
Check out Wikipedia's info on Imbolc. There's a lot of info on the origin of Groundhog Day which is also connected to the first sign of spring. What do you do for Imbolc?
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Re: Imbolc
Sat, February 23, 2008 - 1:06 AMThis year, our circle had a candle-making party in preparation for our Imbolc Day Yankee Altar Swap. As I was putting together the candle-making party and researching Imbolc roots, I found out that Candlemas, the x-tian/catholic name for the same day was in fact called that because it is at this time of year that the folks generally got around to making next winter's candles. So candle-making, much like spring cleaning, is a way to melt down the past, literally, and prepare for the future.
And thanks for this topic. As my circle goes through its own first year, we are creating annual traditions for the Big 8 sabbats. So far we've got the bog walk for Samhain, the show for Winter Solstice, candle-making and altar swap for Imbolc. We're going to have a family/children centered May Day but there may be more adult Beltane ritual at dawn (we'll see) and Lammas will probably be very special - possibly a Radical Fairies meet up in mid maine or something.
