Imbolc Ritual – Cross-Quarter Day occurs around February 1st to 4th
This Sabbat is historically known as the day of the “Feast of the Goddess Brigid”, which Christians later adopted as “St. Brigid Day”. It is also a traditional day of women’s celebration and a great time for initiations. In the Wheel of the Year, this is the halfway point between the Solstice and the Equinox or the Cross-Quarter Day. It is often celebrated outdoors with fires. In more ancient times young girls and unmarried women hand made “corn dollys” to represent Brigid, and held a gathering to share their celebration with like young men of the village.
Imbolc – Sabbat Altar
Preparation:
- Cleanse your body (Purification Bath Recipes)
It’s important to prepare yourself as well as your space. On the day of your ceremony take a shower or bath. For Imbolc, to a bath you will traditionally add Orange Oil or grated peel, Daffodil petals, or cinnamon essential oil- a few drops is plenty. Take time to align your energies by meditation, prepare yourself for the spiritual experience ahead. Light fragrant candles before you relax. You can hold your favorite crystals, burn soft incense, lightly coat a candle with fragrant oils, whatever feels right for you.
Tools:
In addition to your magick tools, you may want:
- A White or symbolic Altar Cloth for the Altar table
- 25 to 30′ cord or rope to outline a circle, or use chalk
- A small container of water (rain water if available)
- A small container of sea salt
- Light Green Taper Goddess Candle
- Light Yellow Taper God Candle
- 4 White small Candles representing the four corners E/A/F/W
- And candle holders to keep your space safe while burning
- Small container of White Flowers or petals
- Handful of dry Acorns
- Cauldron, steel or ceramic- no iron implements
- Snow or Crushed Ice
- Small White Pillar Candle (represents the spirit)
- Incense burner or censer (1/2″ bed of sand or pebbles)
- Charcoal disk to burn incense (common briquets are unsafe)
- Long Stick Matches, only use a lighter if without wood matches
IMBOLC INCENSE
Hand grind ingredients into powder with Mortar & Pestle
3 Parts Frankincense
2 parts Dragon’s Blood
1/2 Part Red Sandalwood
1 Part Cinnamon
few drops red wine
To this mixture, add a pinch of dried 1st bloom
flower petals that you find available in your area.
Preparation:
Determine North, to position your circle. Place your altar conveniently so it is easily reached from within your circle.
Sweep area, moving in the deosil (sun-wise) direction. Outline your circle with cord, rope, chalk or leaves. Place Pentacle Paten or plate- in the center of the altar. Place the green taper Goddess candle to the top left of the altar and the yellow taper God candle to the top right of the altar. Decorate with white flowers and basket or whatever you prefer. Lay some flowers in front of the Goddess candle. Place the acorns in front of the God candle, to the right of the Plate. Place the charcoal in the incense burner and light, place it at front center of the altar. Place your white pillar candle in the middle of the cauldron, fill cauldron about 1″-2″ with snow or crushed ice, and position on floor in front of the altar. Put the burner with incense where it can be reached easily, with your crushed incense mixture in a container also easily reached for sprinkling on the charcoal disc. Place the rest of your tools and props according to personal preference. Bathe or shower for purification. Ground and center. When ready, play some soothing music associated with this Sabbat and your ritual.
Casting the circle to begin ritual:
Cast circle by holding out your right hand and tracing over the circle you made in a clockwise direction, sprinkle a tiny amount of salt along the circle from your container. As you trace over the outline envision flames of pure white rising up along the perimeter. When the beginning and the end join the circle is complete. Step up to the cauldron and light the white pillar candle that is in your caldron container, saying:
“Amidst the darkness, the Lady is stirring,
Gently awakening from frozen dreams,
All the world has awaited this moment The return of the Maiden,
And Her promise of oncoming Spring.“
Call Quarters. This is a time to honor Mother Earth as she wakes from her winter’s recovery of giving rebirth to the Sun King at Yule, so start with North in your circle, the element Earth. Pick up the container of incense, step up to the altar and sprinkle some incense onto the burning coal, saying:
“Powers of Earth, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”
Put the burner back where it was. Light the white candle at the North point of the circle. Continue, by waving your hand over the incense as if to create a breeze on which to carry the scent, saying:
“Powers of Air, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”
Use the north candle to light a small white candle at the East point of the circle, saying:
“Powers of Fire, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”
Light a small white candle at the South point of the circle. Then dip fingers in water and sprinkle your altar plate, saying:
“Powers of Water, the Maiden awakens!
Come join the circle and share in the light.”
Light a small white candle at the West point of the circle. At this point, you invoke the Goddess and the God by lighting the green Goddess candle and the yellow God candle using the north small white candle, then say:
“Be with me now, oh Ancients, eternal,
Hear now my prayers, hopes, and dreams.
The Goddess has wakened, once more as the Maiden
By loving caresses from the strengthened Sun King.”
Place this last small white candle back at the north point of the circle, saying:
“The Earth now grows warmer, as the Wheel again turns
And as each passing day adds strength, To the Sun King’s rays
The Maiden, of his gift of life, now silently does yearn.”
Now you acknowledge the Goddess, she is the Triple Goddess appearing as the Maiden, pure, and renewed. Step back from the altar and contemplate the light that is brought about by the reunion of the God and the Goddess saying:
“Behold the God and Goddess,
Lord of the Forest and his Bride,
Once again the Earth is blessed
With life anew inside.
Seeds shall soon begin to sprout
And creatures shall young bear
For this is the Promise, the Cycle of Life
That is born of the love They share.”
Now is the time for meditation and any spell-workings you have planned. Spell-workings associated with Imbolc includes those for fertility, pregnancy, defining and focusing on goals for the future, health, blessing new tools, and protection. Perform your planned spells, you may call any spirit guides you like to assist with your rituals. They will be dismissed later when you close the circle.
Next, to finish, celebrate with Cakes and Drink (Ale, Wine, fresh juice, or Spiced Herbal Tea. Poppyseed muffins or other tea cakes). Save some for the wee Folks, to place outside. Thank the God and Goddess for Their presence and snuff, (don’t blow-out) their candles. Thank and release the Quarters, saying:
“Though you leave this circle, tonight,
Water, Fire, Air, and Earth
Your symbols shall linger on a while
Blessing my home and hearth.
The herbs that scent this room tonight,
Were chosen with loving care,
To bless me, my family and my friends,
And my sisters and brothers everywhere.”
Snuff each of the white candles at the directional points of Earth, Air, Fire and Water (N/W/S/E) starting with the candle at North, then the West point and working in a widdershins (counter-clockwise) direction. Finally, snuff the God and the Goddess candles, do not blow them out. Step back from the altar and face the cauldron with the white pillar candle still burning brightly saying:
“I honor Thee, Maiden, most blessed Bride
As your candle burns through this night
And thank you for the renewed life you offer us all
As you emerge from the dark to the light.”
“Thank you spirits for your assistance
to guide the success of this celebration.”
Release the circle.
The circle is now open
and remains unbroken.
“So mote it be.”
Clean up, place the cauldron from the floor onto the middle of the altar. Let the pillar candle burn out by itself in the cauldron. Place the incense in a spot where its scent and blessings fill the house. You can take some of the cakes and bury them beneath a young tree to acknowledge the spirits who participated in any spell-workings.
You are done.
MAGICKWYRD 