Imbolc Ritual
Imbolc is an ideal ritual to hold indoors. The Festival celebrates the first stirrings of spring at a time when winter has really got hold and will not let go and the chances are that the weather now will be at its very worst. It is an intensely feminine time, celebrating the emergence of new life and so needs to be celebrated with more than a little sincerity, which is not best achieved when you are battling out of doors in the rain with a force eight gale blowing and your teeth chattering with the cold.
So, if you can, bag yourself an evening, turn off the phone and the lights, and gather round a candle or two with the sound of the rain lashing against the windows and the wind howling in the chimney.
You will need a little milk, some white flowers for your altar (snowdrops are very appropriate) and a candle or two (preferably white). A white cloth for your altar would also be good if you have one. This is quite an intimate ritual and is best worked with just a few chosen friends or even just on your own.
Ideally you will need a small, stable, circular table for your altar. Arrange it with your candles and some white flowers and some milk in whatever you usually use for ritual purposes and something appropriate to eat - just a biscuit will do, but if you can find something that continues the White theme then so much the better. You may also need your knife for consecrating the milk and biscuits.
Cast a circle if you feel you would like to, but if your room is your holy ground anyway then there is no absolute need.
Light your candles and allow yourself time to settle before beginning.
When you are ready, begin by acknowledging the Four Quarters, starting in the East.
'Spirits of Air, welcome. We are at a time of new beginnings, when life is stirring from its winter sleep. We welcome the start of the new season just as we welcome the dawn each day.
Turn to the South and address the Spirits of Fire - 'Spirits of Fire, welcome. May the strength of the sun continue to grow, bringing light, warmth and new life.
Turn to the West and address the Spirits of Water - 'Spirits of Water, welcome. We look forward to the spring rain, waking the sleeping Earth.
And finally turn to the North and address the Spirits of Earth - 'Spirits of Earth, welcome. We feel the energy of the new season building in strength.
And finally 'We acknowledge the presence of the Spirit of Place and thank that Spirit for making us welcome.
Kneel before your altar so that you are close to all the items you have placed there. This is especially good if you can all gather round it, round the candles, forming an oasis of light in the darkness. Ask everyone to join hands to form a circle around the candles, gaze into the flames and think carefully about this point in the year. We are about six weeks from the Winter Solstice, the hours of daylight are increasing, yet there is usually very little else to indicate that spring is on the way. The Earth still seems to be sleeping, but it is a sleep of preparation and slowly now the signs will start to appear.
'We are gathered here to celebrate the Festival of Imbolc. It is a time of new beginnings, of the first stirrings of spring in the darkness of winter. Tonight we are surrounded by the darkness, just as seeds lie surrounded by the darkness of the earth before they send out their shoots and just as new life grows in the darkness of the womb. We acknowledge the earth Goddess as our mother and ourselves as her children and our dependency on her for our very survival.'
Take some time to kneel or stand in silence and allow your thoughts to flow through you. Feel the darkness around you and be aware that as the year progresses you are moving towards the light. Focus your thoughts on the light and be aware that you are a part of that movement and it is part of you.
It would be good here to perhaps read a poem or piece of writing which is associated with this time of year. Do some research if you can and see what you can come up with. Or better still have a go at writing your own.
It might also be an idea to think now about how you can give something back to the earth, how you can help our mother by perhaps reducing your carbon footprint or planning to make space in your garden for wildlife in the coming spring. Have a think of what you could reasonably do.
When you are ready, take your cup or chalice of milk. If you are alone then you can just speak some words of blessing, but if you have a partner then the drink can be consecrated using your knife. Hold the chalice in both hands and your partner holds the knife in both of his, dipping the tip of the knife into the milk.
'I ask for the blessing of the Lord and Lady on this our ritual drink. By the dipping of the knife into the cup I acknowledge the union of man and woman, the perfect balance of life and ask that that perfection be present in our thoughts in this our ritual.'
The cup is then passed clockwise around the circle, each taking a sip. Any milk remaining at the end would normally be poured out onto the earth as a libation, but maybe this could be done afterwards as you are indoors.
Next take your cakes or biscuits and holding the plate in your hands ask for the blessing of the Lord and Lady on this the product of the earth. Then pass the plate around the circle so that everyone can partake.
To close your circle, begin in the north and thank the spirits of the earth for their presence at your ritual, then turn to the west and thank the Spirits of the West, followed by the south and the east. Thank the Spirit of Place for making you feel welcome and allowing you to be there and finally uncast your circle by walking anti-clockwise around it, holding your hand out before you, consciously dispelling the energy that has accumulated and returning the space once more to the realm of man.
As a final ending join hands around the circle, thank everyone for having been there and ask that the spirit of friendship that has been felt remains with you all as you leave this place..
(C) Freda