Imbolc Ceremony

Marks the start of the growing season. In February, it may not look as though anything is growing, but look around you. You will see buds beginning to swell, and perennial plants starting to bring forth their leaves. The birds are starting to sing - they know something is happening. This festival honours the Celtic goddess Brigid, whose symbol is the cauldron. At the end of the ceremony, Brigid is ceremonially put to bed with her husband the Club. Candles are left burning all night with the bridal pair. We also bless the crops for the coming season, and ask that none go hungry or thirsty

Materials needed 

drum or drums

sage,

smudge,

blanket,

chalice

cauldron

four corn cobs

the ‘Bride’ and her consort, the Club

seeds

corn bread

moon crystal 

 To represent the different elements through which the Moon travels, and the astrological elements we all belong to, each one should bring the symbol of their own element: these are:

     Earth moon - a crystal;  

     Fire moon - a candle;   

     Water moon - water; 

     Air moon - a feather.  (Do you know where your Moon is?  Ask me in time and I will tell you - tell me your date, time, place of birth.)

Each person should bring a token as offering. This will be placed in the cauldron and later buried in the circle. It can be an item the person has worn, a coin that has been carried in the pocket, or a piece of paper on which wishes are written. This links the celebrants to the sacred space.

Making the Circle Ready:

 Place the blanket on the ground at base of tree. On it put the cauldron and the other objects, the smudge stick and so on. Put the chalice in the tree, or on a small altar placed before the tree. Put a bottle of clear water on the blanket. On the blanket will be: chalice, water, cauldron, smudge stick, moon crystal, packs of seeds, sage, Brigid, the Club, four corn cobs, corn bread.

Beginning the Ceremony

 Begin with drumming and chanting as the celebrants walk to the circle.

Priestess Enters Circle

The Priestess chooses a gateway through which the participants will enter 

Priestess enters first and walks moonwise or counterclockwise, around the circle.  

Priestess takes up position in centre facing the gate and waits.

Celebrants enter

Other celebrants enter and take up their positions around the circle, moving anti-clockwise.

Priestess waits until the circle has formed.  

Opening Prayer:  

When the grandmothers and grandfathers speak, and we listen, the earth will be healed.

Great Spirit, Help me always to speak the Truth quietly

To listen with an open mind when others speak

and to remember the peace that may be found in silence

Let the Medicine of the Sacred Circle Prevail.
We gather to celebrate the start of the growing season

To give prayers for the honour and healing of Mother Earth.
Let the circle of the Medicine Wheel Prevail. 

Offerings

Priestess turns to face the Tree, offers the water to the moon and pours it into the chalice.

She offers the crystal to the moon, then sets it down next to the water.

She does the same with the corn.

She invites the other participants to come forward with the representation of their own moon which they place in the Cauldron.

They place the tokens they have brought on the blanket.

Smudging

The Priestess prepares the smudge and proceeds to smudge first herself, the items on the blanket, the Crystal, The Tree, four cardinal directions, and the other Celebrants.

Celebrants may chant and drum while smudging is happening.  

Blessing Brigid

The Priestess returns to the center of the circle, gets Brigid the Bride, offers her to the Moon, blesses her, offers her to the Tree, then passes her around the circle for everyone to add their prayer or blessing (which can be done silently or aloud). When Brigid returns, Priestess places her in the tree.

Blessing the Corn

The Priestess takes the corn cobs, offers them to Brigid, and then to the Tree. She speaks a prayer for the blessing of this year’s crops and for the fertility of the earth and then passes them round the circle for everyone to give blessing - this does not have to be out loud, it can be a silent wish.  

Lady Brigid, we honour you today at your festival

May you bring rain and wind and sun.
May you make our crops grow and wax.
Give us sustenance and food and drink.
Give us weal and wealth and glorious luck.
Give us might and power and main.
Give us shelter and protection and warmth

Not forgetting the hungry and the homeless

Empowering the Water

The Priestess is joined by the Priest at the Tree.

The Priestess picks up the crystal.

The Priest picks up the chalice of water.

Priestess raises the crystal above her head, point facing the moon, and asks the energy of the moon to come into it.

She then brings the point of the crystal over the chalice of water, firmly shaking the crystal over the water four times.

Moving together around the Tree, the Priest and Priestess repeat this four times, first facing East, then South, then West, then North.

This draws the energy of the four elements down into the water.

In the east:

We give thanks for the warmth of the sun and the coming new day. 

We ask for the power of knowledge.  

In the south:

We give thanks for the gift of life on this moist earth.

We ask for the power to grow and for peace in the world.

In the west:

We give thanks for the water of life.

We ask for purity, strength and self understanding.

In the north:

We give thanks to the Great Spirit, and ask for the wisdom of experience. 

Sharing the Water

Priestess offers the chalice of water to the moon.

She asks the moon to bless the water so that it brings clear, vivid dreams to everyone.

She pours the water into a cup, and takes a sip.

She offers the cup to the Priest, and he takes a sip, then pours the rest over the tree.

Priest goes round the circle, giving out plastic cups

Priestess follows pouring some water into each.

As the celebrant takes a sip, the Priestess says:

may this water help you receive, understand, and speak the truth of the moon.

Libation to the Tree

The Priestess returns to the centre and offers the water to the moon again, saying:

May the earth and her children have enough to drink in the cycle that is now beginning.

She pours the remainder of the water on the Tree.

We ask you to protect the people present and all their loved ones for the coming year.  

She motions to the celebrants, who all come and pour the contents of their cups over the Tree.

Priestess turns to face outward

Lord Pan, God of the Forests, King of Trees

Give us wisdom and eloquence,     skill in runes and reason,
Give us abundance and wisdom,     miraculous power and understanding,
Give us inspiration and glory,     hospitality and mirth,
Give us ecstasy and hope,     knowledge and the best of everything

Closing Prayers

We honour the Grandmothers and Grandfathers

When they speak and we listen, the earth will be healed.

If wished, a pipe ceremony may be done.

Priest distributes seeds.

Let the Medicine of the Sacred Circle Prevail.
We give thanks the start of the growing season

We give thanks for the honour and healing of Mother Earth.
Let the circle of the Medicine Wheel Prevail.    

Winding Down

The Priestess then wraps the tokens and other items in the blanket.

The Priest replaces the crystal on the altar where it will see the light of the moon during all of the moon's phases

Departing the Circle

The Priestess then leads the celebrants out of the circle in the same way they entered, moonwise. This allows everyone to complete their walk around the circle.

Putting Brigid to Bed

The Priest goes into the hut carrying the Club and now comes to the door where he calls three times 

‘Come in Brigid, Thy bed is ready’.

The Priestess brings Brigid to the hut, and lays her in the bride bed.

Male celebrant lays the Club alongside.

Other celebrants place candles round the bed. These are left burning all night.

Now the feasting can start, or if already begun, continue