Imbolc Ritual

Items Needed:

Ritual Broom
Magick Wand
Two White Taper Candles on the Altar one for the Goddess and one for the God
12 votives or tea lights arranged in a spiral on the Altar

Imbolc is the festival of the Maiden Goddess of the Dawn and the Inner Fire. It is a festival of light celebrating and encouraging the newly born Sun to grow ever stronger and brighter.
Begin this Ritual by cleansing your Circle with a Ritual Broom.
Begin sweeping widdershins (counterclockwise) and circle your space three times.

You may chant:
“I cleanse this space…I cleanse this space…I cleanse this space…”

Then turn and begin sweeping deosil (clockwise) with your broom and circle your space three times. 

You may chant
“I Bless this space…I Bless this space… I Bless this space…”

With your Athame pointing outwards begin Casting your Circle starting in the East and moving deosil (clockwise).

Envision a beam of light shooting from the tip of your Athame to the outer edge of your Magick Circle as you begin to walk around the Circle three times, imagine the beam of light drawing a boundary of light around the Circle's edge.

You may chant:

"Around, around, around about:
All good come in, all ill keep out!

 
The Circle is now cast.

Next invoke the Quarters beginning in the East.  With a Wand (or your finger) face the East, raise your wand up to the sky imagining a column of pure strong light filled with energy.  Say:
Spirits of the East, of new beginnings and inspiration, Spirits of Air, Sylphs, I invoke you, come, join us!

Next move to the South. Again, raise your wand and say:
Spirits of the South, of fertility and manifestation, Spirits of Fire, Salamanders, I invoke you, come, join us!

Next move to the West. Raise your wand and say:
Spirits of the West, of transformation and emotion, Spirits of Water, Nymphs, I invoke you, come, join us!

Next move to the North.  Raise your wand and say:
Spirits of the North, of healing and grounding, Spirits of Earth, Gnomes, I invoke you, come, join us!

Return to the Altar 

Light the Goddess Candle, say:
Maiden, mistress of new beginnings, of Lady of purity and youth. Your gentle hand will lead us into Spring. We welcome you into our Circle.


Light the God candle and say:
Gentle Lord of the Rising Sun, of love and beauty. Your reborn fire shall bring us warmth.  We welcome you into our Circle.

Imbolc is a Feast of Light, the celebration of the returning light of the waxing Sun. It's a time of growth and creativity, of rebirth and renewal.  Under the blanket of snow, new life has begun to stir. By ritually lighting the 12 candles on your Altar you will attune yourself to the increasing warmth and illumination of the Sun.  Each candle represents a month.  Begin lighting the candles one by one starting in the center of the spiral.  As you light each candle say aloud the name of the month, and consider it's attributes. Continue until all the spiral candles are lit. Take some time to meditate on the coming months, think about all you wish to accomplish, and all the blessings and lessons you may experience in the coming year.

When you are finished, begin to Open the Circle.

Move to the North and say:
Spirits of the North, Spirits of Earth, may there be peace between us now and always.  Blessed Be.

Using your Wand, pull down the tower of light which was erected when the North was called.


Move to the West and say:
Spirits of the West, Spirits of Water, may there be peace between us now and always. 

Blessed Be. Using your Wand, pull down the tower of light which was erected when the West was called.


Move to the South and say:
Spirits of the South, Spirits of Fire, may there be peace between us now and always.  Blessed Be.

Using your Wand, pull down the tower of light which was erected when the South was called.


Move to the East and say:
Spirits of the East, Spirits of Air, may there be peace between us now and always.  Blessed Be.

Using your Wand, pull down the tower of light which was erected when the East was called.

 
Open the Circle.  Begin in the East.  With your Athame pointing towards the Eastern Quarter begin walking Widdershins (counterclockwise) around the Circle three times, imagining the barrier of light disappearing, and returning back into the tip of your Athame.

Say: May the Circle be Open, but never Broken. 

Merry Meet and Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!   

Rowan Morgana

 
                          

SACRED HAVEN COVEN

Imbolc Blessings

 Come in, Brigit, you are a hundred times welcome!  

Imbolc or Candlemas  is celebrated on February 2 and is the Festival of the renewed life on earth after winter.  The earth awakens, the sun gains strength, lambs are born and the ewes are with milk.   Another name for Imbolc is Oimelc (pronounced EE-mell) which is Gaelic for ewes lactating.  Though Spring doesn't officially start until the Equinox of Ostara, Imbolc marks the first day of spring in the farmer's year. Snowdrops spring up in the places where the Goddess Brigit has been.

Because winter doesn’t always end at Imbolc the custom of Ground Hog Day was created as a form of divination.  At dawn on Imbolc a groundhog is released.  If the Ground Hog doesn’t see its’ shadow winter will end. If the Ground Hog does see its’ shadow it is believed that winter will last six more weeks - until Ostara, the next Sabbat. If you don’t have a groundhog handy (and many of us don’t) you may use a hamster, guinea pig or even your cat or dog.

At Imbolc it's traditional to light lots of candles to encourage the sun to shine brighter and for the Earth to awaken to the warmth of spring.   Many Covens make their supply of candles for the coming year on or around Candlemas and hold special rites to purify and bless them.

The Goddess of Imbolc is Brigit who is the Celtic Triple Goddess of Poetry, Healing and Crafts.  She is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. To honour her, purify and clean your home, your sacred space and your Tools of the Craft.  Dress corn or straw dolls as brides and put in a Bride's Bed or basket along with a priapic wand and some nuts to ensure fertility and healing in the coming year.

If you leave an article of clothing outside on Imbolc night, it may be blessed by Brigit and have powers of healing and protection.

Smoor your fire on Imbolc eve and rake the ashes smooth, in the morning look for a mark in the ashes, a sign that Brigit has blessed your hearth.

Brigit’s Symbols –Cauldron, Chalice, Anvil, Hammer, Wells, Springs, Book of Poetry, Spring flowers, Herbs, Candles, Blackberry,

Imbolc Colors –

Red for the hearth fire and/or the blood of life
White for the blanket of snow
Gold for the Sun
Green for the life growing beneath the snow.

ImbolcAltar Decorations –

Many Candles
White, Red or Gold Altar cloth
Green Candles
Potted Spring Bulbs
Spring Flowers
Brigit’s Crown
Brigit's Cross
Priapic Wand
Corn or Straw Doll

Imbolc Incense - Basil, Myrrh, Frankincense, Wisteria, Jasmine, Camphor, Cinnamon, and Lotus.