Imbolc Lore, Rituals and Traditions

[Flar's Freyja]

The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is place by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun.

http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolclore.htm

Here are some suggestions on how to make a corn dollie from lavender or corn husks:

http://www.wiccantradition.org.uk/projects.doll.html

We made corn dollies out of raffia at our Women's Circle last year and dressed them with scraps of fabric and ribbon. The source we used suggested that we bury them later - and something dug mine up!

[WynterWynd]

That the same thing I used for my corn dollie a few years ago!!!

Great links Freyja!

[Flar's Freyja]

More information on Imbolc lore that includes some chants:

The Four Celtic Festivals/High Days (http://www.sophiagroup.org/imbolc.html)

[WynterWynd]

Great!!! Thanks :thumbsup:

[Danustouch]

This is an Imbolg Ritual that I have used in a group setting.

http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?postid=384066#post384066

[Flar's Freyja]

:lol: I was just about to cross-post that thread here and you beat me to it! Thanks!

I'm also currently working on the Milk Moon thread, which corresponds to this sabbat:

Milk Moon (http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22927)

The moon cycle threads are taken from Annette Hinshaw's Earth Time, Moon Time and have some excellent self-reflection and meditation exercises that are very powerful when used in accordance with the Wheel of the Year.

[Danustouch]

Heheh..Freyja. Your welcome :)

Yes..I always use Milk in my Imbolg rituals. Interesting :)

[Flar's Freyja]

Originally posted by Danustouch
Heheh..Freyja. Your welcome :)

Yes..I always use Milk in my Imbolg rituals. Interesting :)

:rotfl:

This one's about nurturing ourselves, Wise Woman ;)

[WynterWynd]

Danustouch, Ilike your seed planting ceremony. I think I would use that for my family this year....if you dont mind;)

[Danustouch]

Heheh, Freyja. I didn't read the ritual. I just was noting a connection. I'd always been taught that a traditional drink at Imbolg, was milk, because of the "rebirth" aspect, being that it's supposedly the time that the first lambs are born, and the seeds are being "nurtured" etc. And when I think nurturing, I think of a mother feeding a baby.etc :)

[Danustouch]

You are welcome to use the ritual, VroomBroom :) It's why I posted it :) It was a very moving ceremony to me, when I conducted it with my friends. I hope it is as moving for you, and yours :)

[WynterWynd]

Why thank you Danustouch!:)

[Flar's Freyja]

Cross post from Divination forum. This is a nice article about why the energies of Imbolc support self-reflection and divination:

http://www.widdershins.org/vol7iss7/02.htm

[WynterWynd]

I book marked that for later reading........when my head doesn't hurt!!:(

[Flar's Freyja]

((((VB)))) Sending a little Reiki if you don't mind.

This proposed working for Imbolc came from one of the e-lists that I own:

Read and forward or delete, as you prefer. I am not the original author; I am just passing it along in case anyone is interested in participating.

This message is designed to be forwarded on to anyone who might find
it valuable.

Feb 2 is Worldwide Witches Working for Peace Day. All witches,
pagans, covens, and others are invited to join us in a magical
working for peace. We invite you to design your own meaningfull
ritual, but here are some thoughts to keep in mind.

It is our job to hold peace in our hearts everyday. Our thoughts,
feelings, and intentions hold power.

A ritual itself can be done at any time on February 2, 2003, to join
with all witches around the world working for peace.

Gods and Goddesses to invoke include, but are not limited to, Athena,
Airmid, Aphrodite, Pax, Gaia, Baldur, Forseti, Frey, Irene, Themus,
Zypherus,Ba-neb Tetet, Nephthys, Thoth, and more.

For a listing of dieties, see
http://www.scns.com/earthen/other/seanachaidh/godgoddess.html

Follow your heart and your own path. You can also simply invoke the God and Goddess.

Place a blue cloth, for peace and healing, on your altar. Place on
your altar candles of all colors to represent the peoples of the
world and the blessed Earth herself.

Anoint your candles and yourself with oils of carnation, cypress,
frankincense, gardenia, lilac, magnolia, myrrh, patchouli, and/or
peppermint.

Include items that represent peace, love, respect, and all-people. Stones that invoke peace include amethyst, green jade, hematite, rose quartz, and turquoise.

You might include the following chant:

LET THERE BE PEACE AMONG ALL LANDS.
LET THERE BE HARMONY AMONG ALL PEOPLES.
COSMIC LOVE ENTERS EVERY HEART AND MIND.
ALL STRIFE IS REPLACED BY PEACE.
BY THE POWER OF THE SUPREME CREATOR WITHIN ME,
IT IS SO!

Taken from the book _Moon Magick_ by D.J. Conway

Take a moment to meditate on all-beings radiating love and
understanding, dance and sing to raise power, and send the power shooting off into the world. Fall to the earth and ground yourself.
Give thanks.

You may also choose to do a binding on those in power making
decisions for war and destruction. We are not seeking to harm anyone, simply bind those beings who are acting out in fear from bringing destruction and war to our blessed planet. (Phyllis Currot's Book of Shadows has a good description of a binding.)

[A note from Mareth: I was taught that, when you bind something, you bind it
to you, so I would recommend doing something other than a binding. If I decide to participate, I would probably be focusing on banishing the
negative energy from positions of power and potential power....]

We are living in a very powerful time. We are facing a crossroads,
and those of power-within can help turn the world towards peace and love. Your efforts, magical and mundane, do count. Live a life of honor, respect, and understanding. Honor your dark side and your fears, rather than projecting them onto an "enemy." May your life be a life of power, and may all witches worldwide work together to create the world of love we envision.

[WynterWynd]

Dont mind a little Reiki at all!! Thanks Freyja!;)


I will be sending that around to the others that I know!:)

[Flar's Freyja]

:) You've got it.

This site has a ton of good info on Imbolc lore and ritual, and is a very well-done site in general:

http://www.maxpages.com/eclecticwicca/Imbolc

[Sgeir]

I've been working on creating a ritual for Imbolc (not going very well at the moment though) but I found an illustration for how to make a Brigid's cross which someone might like to see :) Its at www.iol.ie/~scphadr/makecross.html

Hope that URL works.

[Flar's Freyja]

It works just fine, Sgier :) Thanks for your contribution and welcome to MW!

Hmmm....I'll have to do some hunting around. Last year I received instructions for making an Imbolc pentagram candleholder. The instructions were more complicated than necessary, and it looked like a very nice finished project.

[WynterWynd]

I hope you can find those instructions without too much trouble, I would like to see that!:)

[Mnemosyne]

This site has some good info and links on Imbolc. Enjoy!http://mythinglinks.org/Imbolc.html

[WynterWynd]

Great site! :thumbsup:

[BrigitCayenne]

precisely what is a Brihgid's Cross?

[Mnemosyne]

Originally posted by BrigitCayenne
precisely what is a Brihgid's Cross?

It's for the crafty people. Here's how to make one, Brigit.
http://www.witchaven.co.nz/Craft_info/BrighidX.htm

[WynterWynd]

Another loverly link!

[Arzhela]

From one of my favorite sites:

http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/1956/imbolg.html

Correspondances, suggested activities, crafts, recipies, etc...

[Rani Drummond]

Just wanted to say...
Happy Imbolc everybody!!