Imbolc is the ancient Celtic festival that honors the goddess Brigid that takes place between the first and second day of February. This holiday is known by many names such as Brigid’s Day and Oimelc. Oimlec means milk of ewes since it is also the traditional lambing season in the old world, animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year are soon to give birth.  Imbolc is the second Sabbat of the Wiccan year and it celebrates the coming end of winter. After Imbolc we start seeing the first signs of spring, days are becoming longer and the sun shines bright again.  Imbolc is a time of new beginnings and of purification, which is perfectly symbolized by the transition from winter to spring.

     There are many different ways you can celebrate Imbolc. Some people focus on the Celtic goddess Brigid, as a deity of fire and fertility. Celtic Fire Goddess, Brigid, is a patron of smithcraft, healing, midwifery, and poetry. Others focus their rituals more towards the cycles of the season, and nature.

Imbolc Candle lighting ritual

     One of many names for Imbolc is Candlemas. Hundreds of years ago it was believed that our ancestors relied upon the sun as their only source of light, candles represent the sun and the guiding path. This ritual is often used as a way to call back the lights, and it is practiced today with the seven candles ritual. One candle represents the thin line between good and evil, some of them stand for the cleansing that fire brings, and the rest of them symbolize the light that comes with the end of winter.
     To perform this ritual you will need seven candles, in red and white colors, something to light your candles with, a large bowl or cauldron that can hold the candles, and or salt to fill the bottom of the bowl or whatever you choose using. Pour the sand or salt into the bowl or cauldron. Place the seven candles into the sand so they don’t fall. Once you light the first candle you should say:

 “Although it is now dark, I come seeking light. In the chill of winter, I come seeking life.”

Then light the second candle and say:

“I call upon fire that melts the snow and warms the hearth. I call upon fire that brings the light and makes new life. I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.”

Light the third candle and say:

“This light is a boundary, between positive and negative. That which is outside, shall stay without. That which is inside, shall stay within.”

After lighting the fourth candle repeat the same as for the second candle:

“I call upon fire that melts the snow and warms the hearth. I call upon fire that brings the light and makes new life. I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.”

Light the fifth candle and say:

“Like fire, light and love will always grow. Like fire, wisdom and inspiration will always grow.”

After sixth candle you should repeat:

“I call upon fire that melts the snow and warms the hearth. I call upon fire that brings the light and makes new life. I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.”

And finally after lighting the last candle, imagine all the flames coming as one, a union, and say:

“Fire of the hearth, blaze of the sun, cover me in your shining light. I am awash in your glow, and tonight I am made pure.”

     This ritual perfectly represents Imbolc, the time of healing and purification. It can help you deal with your problems in a healthy way and start fresh in the spring. That would be the whole point of Imbolc, throwing out the old and breathing in the new just like the snow melts allowing plants to bloom so shall you.
     If you are not really up to do the seven candles ritual, an easier way is to just light up all your house lights. That will symbolize the sun and fire of Imbolc.

 

Searching for Signs of Spring

      The first thing that comes to mind is the groundhog coming out of his cave to greet spring, but this can be a lot of things. You can go for a walk and find a flower that started to bloom or a leaf that started growing. Watch for the birds that started returning like little beacons of hope that spring is coming!

     Wicca is a religion of mysteries and veneration of nature based on the beliefs the concepts of Paganism.

     The broad and general term known today as Paganism has its origin in pantheistic, animistic, totemic forms of spirituality, with shamanistic and most often polytheistic bases centered on the forces of nature.

     Paganism can't be considered a religion, but rather the central pillar that encompasses the way of life, the spiritual and philosophical concepts in which all religious expressions focused on nature support and develop their foundations. Thus we might say that any earth-centered religion that does not believe in the Holy as a transcendent and non-monotheistic form is Pagan.

     Scholars subdivide Paganism as follows: Paleopaganism, Mesopaganism, and Neopaganism.

Paleopaganism

     It's the general term used for the intact, nature-centered tribal faiths found in ancient Europe, Africa, Asia, and polytheistic Americas. Paleopaganism is practically non-existent in modern urban societies and is only found, perhaps, in regions distant and untouched by the presence and influence of contemporary man.

Cernunnos, Lord of Beasts

Mesopaganism

     It is used to refer to a series of organized and unorganized movements that arose in order to recreate and/or revive what would be Paleopaganism. It can be considered an intermediate paganism, which includes the pagan elements that remained alive until the Middle Ages and influenced Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and Theosophy, for example. However, such attempts can not be considered Paganism per se, for they were strongly influenced by the concepts, values and practices of many Judeo-Christian monotheistic religions.

Neopaganism

     It is the current modern terminology used for a variety of movements, usually unorganized, initiated since the 1960s, with ancient roots or not. In this classification of Paganism are included all those who tried to create, recreate, revive or continue the practices of Paganism of different cultures. This category of Paganism includes ideas and attempts to eliminate inappropriate concepts, as well as attitudes and practices, of monotheistic, dualistic and atheistic religions and worldviews.

     It can be considered a movement initiated by contemporary society to reestablish the worship of nature. This definition may include any attempt, ranging from reconstructionist movements to nonreconstructionist groups such as Neodruidism and Wicca.

Thus, Wicca is a Neopagan religion, an alternative name given to Modern Witchcraft, which is inspired by the Paganism of the Ancient Peoples of Europe and which proposes to re-celebrate the Mother Goddess and the Ancient Gods of nature, creating and recreating the rituals of ancient cultures where these Deities were once celebrated.

     Wicca is the revival and modern survival of this Ancient Religion based on Earth and its manifestations. Its spiritual roots lie in the Neolithic and Paleolithic Europe, at a time when primitive peoples worshiped the Mother Goddess as the great creator, nurturer and sustainer of life.

Check our Wicca and Spell Books!

Hello, beautiful one!

Hope you have had a wonderful Yuletide and New Year. And I wish your 2016 is filled with peace, happiness, health, love and prosperity!

     January is the month of the Full Wolf Moon.
 It first appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. It is also known as the Old Moon.
     To some Native American tribes, this was the Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next full Moon, in February.

It will be on January, 23rd

Moon Folklore:

It is said that a bright first Moon promises rain and a bountiful harvest.

Here's the spell I'll be casting on this full moon and a great suggestion!

Do you struggle with anxiety, impatience, a little bit of stress growing in you? Do you find yourself too often easily losing your nerve with people and life situations?

If so, try this spell to help you increase your patience and relieve all of those unhealthy bad stuff out of you.

      I find this one a big tool dealing with all of that, plus telling my social anxiety to shut up!

What better way to bless this year?

You will need: 

-A cup or bowl filled with water;
-A blue candle;
-Essential oil – lavender, palmarosa or jasmine.

1.  Cast your circle and light the candle. 

2.  Take ten deep breaths while gazing at the candle flame.  For each in-breath, imagine that you are inhaling the peaceful blue colour of the candle as it was smoke, and for each out-breath, imagine all your frustrations leaving your body. 

3.  Now take the bowl of water, and put three drops of your chosen essential oil in it.  Dip your fingers in the water, stirring slightly, and recite the following:

Blessed waters cool my spirit, 

Fill me with your soothing peace.

Like the river I shall flow Patiently,

with joy and ease Now 

4.  Blow out the candle and close your circle. 

If you like, you can keep a bowl of water with the essential oil in it on your altar – if you feel impatient again, inhale the scent of the essential oil while repeating the incantation.

Hope you found this useful!

Hugs and Kisses!

Reny