II. IMBOLC (FEB 2)
A. HISTORY
Imbolg is the Celtic name for the first Sabbat of the Wiccan faith, as well as some others who fall under the generic name of "witches". Imbolg is often known by other names, such as Candlemas, Brigid's Day, and a host of others. "Imbolg (pronounced `immol'g', with a slight un-stressed vowel between the `l' and the `g') which means `in the belly'. It is the quickening of the year, the first fetal stirrings of Spring in the womb of Mother Earth. Like all the Celtic Greater Sabbats, it is a fire festival-but here the emphasis is on light rather than heat, the strengthening spark of light beginning to pierce the gloom of Winter." (The Witches Bible Complete, hereafter abbreviated to WBC, pg.61-62)
Brigid is a classic example of a pagan deity Christianized with little attempt to hide the fact- or, as Frazer put in the Golden Bough (p.177, approx.), she is "an old heathen goddess of fertility, disguised in a threadbare Christian cloak". The historical St. Brigid lived from about AD 453-523; but her legends, characteristics, and holy places are those of the Goddess Bride, and many folk customs surrounding her Day are decidedly pre-Christian. Most are definitely fertility rituals, including the Brigid's (pronounced Breed's) Bed. This ritual includes dressing up grain, usually three ears of corn (symbolizing the three aspects of the Goddess) or the last harvested sheaf of wheat (supposed to contain the spirit of the grain Goddess) as a bride and putting her in a basket representing a bed with some symbol of the God, in hopes of promoting fertility.
In ancient Rome, February was cleansing time- Februarius mensis, the month of ritual purification. At its beginning came the Lupercalia, when the Luperci (the priests of Pan, who was a fertility god) ran through the streets of Rome naked except for a goatskin girdle and carrying goatskin thongs. With these they struck everybody who passed, and in particular married women, in hopes of making them fertile. This holiday survived until about 600 AD. The tradition of February cleansing is still strong even today. Who has not heard of the concept of spring cleaning? There are even traditions still present that it must be completed by the Spring Equinox or bad luck will follow. The evergreens of the Yuletide season {which traditionally must not be removed before Candlemas or hobgoblins/witches/bad luck (pick your tradition) will haunt you} are burned at this time. This is symbolic of a getting rid of the past year and preparing for the new. See "Magical Household" for notes on spring cleaning. ( My foster mother owns a cleaning service and has an extensive list of a full home spring clean. Call up any cleaning service of good repute and see if you can get them to part with a list of all they do for a Spring Clean.)
B. THE ALTAR
1. SYMBOLS OF THE SEASON, SUCH AS REPRESENTATIONS OF SNOWFLAKES, WHITE FLOWERS, OR SNOW IN A CRYSTAL CONTAINER CAN BE ON THE ALTAR. SNOW CAN BE MELTED AND USED FOR THE WATER. Solar wheel on the altar asks for the wheel of the year to continue to turn.
2. CAULDRON SHOULD BE IN THE NORTH QUADRANT OF THE CIRCLE WITH FIREWOOD LAID WITHIN. THE BESOM (WITCHES' BROOM) SHOULD BE BESIDE IT. Alternately, cauldron can be filled with earth. Unlit candles, one for each covener and guest are piled beside it. One candle stands upright at the center of the cauldron.
3. ALTAR CLOTH AND CANDLES SHOULD BE BROWN, SYMBOLIZING THE EARTH. ALTERNATELY, THERE CAN BE AN ORANGE CANDLE, SYMBOLIZING THE RENEWING VITALITY OF THE SUN AND ANOINTED WITH MUSK, CINNAMON, FRANKINCENSE OR ROSEMARY OIL ON THE ALTAR. Alternate colors: white, green and white, or blue.
5. CROWN OF LIGHT (CROWN OF CANDLES OR LIGHTS) ON ALTAR. See "Sabbats"by Eddain McCoy p.89 for how to make a Candle Wheel.
6. Have ready grain dollies. There are several techniques for making them. See "Spell Crafts", "Sabbats", "Ancient Ways" p. 8. Remember that they should be "dressed" as brides. Have a priapic wand (or the dominant male's wand suitably decorated) ready.
C. RITUALS
1. PURIFICATION OF HOMES AFTER SHUT-IN WINTER. Also, sweeping out of circle using besom. Each of the members are also invited to "sweep out" that which they do not need in their lives. The besom may be passed from covener to covener to help them fulfill this task.
2. FIRES OF ILLUMINATION, WARMTH, INSPIRATION, AND LIGHT. See "Spiral Dance" p. 174 for a fire ritual using candles and cauldron filled with earth. Each covener takes a candle and visualizes what inspiration and creativity they wish in the coming season. Then one by one, they put their candle in the cauldron. Circle power is grounded into the cauldron to fuel the visualizations into reality.
3. CROWNS OF LIT CANDLES ON FEMALE WICCANS
4. TRADITIONAL TIME OF INITITATION
5. IT IS TRADITIONAL AT SUNSET OR AFTER RITUAL, TO LIGHT EVERY LAMP IN THE HOUSE IF ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. ALTERNATELY, LIGHT A KEROSENE LAMP OR OIL LAMP WITH A RED CHIMNEY AND PLACE THIS IN A PROMINENT PART OF THE HOME OR IN A WINDOW. We have a fun thing we do with the kids. We darken the house entirely for a few minutes, then have every child running about turning on all the lights. This allows them to dissipate all the energy they built up during ritual.
6. IF SNOW LIES ON THE GROUND OUTSIDE, WALK IN IT FOR A MOMENT, RECALLING THE WARMTH OF SUMMER. WITH YOUR PROJECTIVE HAND, TRACE AN IMAGE OF THE SUN IN THE SNOW.
7. FOODS- DAIRY PRODUCTS SUCH AS SOUR CREAM SHOULD BE PROMINENT SINCE THIS IS THE FESTIVAL OF CALVING. SPICY AND FULL-BODIED FOODS IN HONOR OF THE GOD. CURRIES AND ALL DISHES MADE WITH PEPPERS, ONIONS, LEEKS, SHALLOTS, GARLIC, CHIVES, RAISINS
8. DRINKS- SPICED WINES, spiced dessert coffees especially Irish coffee
9. BURN ALL EVERGREENS WHICH HAVE ADORNED THE HOUSE, INCLUDING A BRANCH OF THE FIR TREE (IF YOU USED A REAL TREE). BE CAREFUL, THEY ARE VERY DRY. If you are lucky enough to have a place where you can burn the whole thing, feel free. I gather all my evergreen decorations in a large laundry tub and feed the fire slowly. Resinous trees like pine burn very hot. Warning: It will flare up!! Do not wear trailing sleeves!
10. MAKE A BRIDE'S BED WITH ONE OF THE CORN DOLLIES YOU MADE LAST FALL. DRESS THE DOLL IN BRIDAL ATTIRE, THEN PLACE HER IN A BASKET OR ON A SQUARE OF WHITE LINEN. LAY THE PRIAPIC WAND ACOSS HER TO FORM AN "X". LIGHT CANDLES, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE BRIDE'S BED. AFTER RITUAL, EXTINGUISH THE CANDLES. LEAVE ALL THIS SET UP OVERNIGHT. IN THE MORNING, HANG THE BRIDE UP ON or near THE FRONT DOOR, WHERE IT MAY REMAIN UNTIL SAMHIAN. RETURN THE DOLL TO THE EARTH AT THAT TIME.
D. SYMBOLISM
1. MARKS THE RECOVERY OF THE GODDESS AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO THE GOD. THE SUN (THE GOD) WARMS THE EARTH (THE GODDESS) AND THE STRENGTHENING PERIODS OF LIGHT AWAKEN HER AND SEEDS BEGIN TO SPROUT. See story of "Snow White" and "Rapunzel" told in "Ancient Ways" p.12
2. SABBAT OF PURIFICATION AFTER THE SHUT-IN LIFE OF WINTER
3. FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AND FERTILITY
RECIPES
1. See recipes p.97 in "Sabbats". Leek Soup, or Chili is best choice to feed a crowd. I have found a Mexican festival works really well here.
Notes:
1. for February 14, see "Magical Household" p.138. Good stuff!
Especially note it is time to plant lettuce and peas in many areas of the country. .
Subject: Drawing Down The Sun
This ritual is normally done on the Imbolg, Spring Equinox, Midsummer, Autumn Equinox, Samhain and Yule. No real preparation is needed (except for the usual). Except that maybe you have something representing the God aspect, such as a High Priest Crown.
The Priest picks up his Athame from the altar and holds it in his right hands over his left breast, point upwards. The Priestess gives him the Fivefold Kiss, as follows:
'Blessed be thy feet, that have brought thee in these ways' - Kissing his right foot and than his left foot.
'Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar' - kissing his right knee and than his left.
'Blessed be thy phallus, without which we would not be' - kissing him just below the navel.
The Priest spreads his arms to the Blessed Position, still holding his athame in his right hand, point upwards.
The Priestess continues:
'Blessed be thy breast, formed in strength' - kissing his right breast and than his left breast.
'Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter sacred names.' They embrace, length for length and with feet touching, and kiss each other on the mouth.
The Priestess steps back a pace and kneels. She invokes:
'Deep calls on height, the Goddess on the God,
On him is the flame that quickens her:
That he and she shall seize the silver reins
And ride as on the twin horsed chariot.
Let the hammer strike the anvil,
Let the lightning touch the Earth,
Let the lance ensoul the Grail,
Let the magic come to birth.'
She touches, with her right fore finger, his throat, left hip, right breast, left breast, right hip, and throat again (thus forming the Invoking Pentagram of Fire). She then spreads her hands outwards, palms forward. Meanwhile she continues to invoke:
'In her name do I invoke thee,
Mighty father of us all-
Lugh, Pan, Belin, Herne, Cernunnos-
Come in answer to my call!
Descend, I pray thee, in thy servent and priest.'
The Priestess stands and takes a step backwards. The Priest makes the Invoking Pentagram of Fire towards her with his Athame, saying:
'Let there be light!'
(Copied from the Witches Bible Compleat, by Janet & Stewart Farrar, Published by Magickal Childe; 1984. Actualy two books combined - Eight Sabbats for Witches & The Witches Way.)
