Imbolc Ritual 2004

Notes: Imbolc is traditionally a festival sacred to the Celtic triple Goddess Brighid, the Goddess of fire.  Brighid's fire comes in three forms: the fire of healing and purification, the fires of inspiration, and the fire of smithcraft and the forge.  Brighid has long been a patron Goddess of all these, but her time spent as a Christian Saint (Saint Bride, Midwife to Mother Mary) also attributed to her midwifery, childbirth, cattle, milk, and new life.  These days, she is the Goddess of the Soring and the first spark of new life underneath the Winter ice. 

One tradition associated with Imbolc is that this is the day that snakes begin to venture out of their nests once more.  (It must be remembered that snakes were quite common in the British Isles when Brighid was still a Goddess, especially in , Her homeland.)  Some people see the snakes as a symbol for kundalini energy: sexual energy, life, and passion creating life. 

When Christianity became the dominant religion of the British Isles, the festival of Imbolc became known as Candlemas, a feast day celebrating Spring and the light beginning to appear once more from the darkness of Winter.  Candles, as is suggested by the name, played a large part in the celebrations, and maidens would wear crowns of candles on this day. 

The word 'Imbolc' is said by many to have come from the Gaelic word, oimelc, and some say this means either "ewe's milk" or "in the belly".  This suggests that Imbolc is a time when the first seeds of life are being planted once more. 

At this time, the Sun is getting stronger, and so the God in his form as young man is sacred to this festival.  Many people see Imbolc rituals not only as welcoming in the Spring Maiden (Brighid) but also as encouraging the Young God back to Earth from the Underworld that he descended into at Samhain. 

Colours for this festival include white, yellow, and green

Practical Notes, what you will need: This ritual uses quite a lot of candles, so it would be best if each person bring a few candles, ones that mean something to them involving healing and regeneration.  Most importantly, these candles must be able to stand up on their own, without the need for candle holders.  If you have any jars or similar candle-holders however, please feel free to bring them as they will prevent wax spillages and accidents.  (At some point during this ritual we will be meditating, so it is important we make sure we are not going to cause any fires!)  If you wish, you can dress in ritual garb, or in the colours of Imbolc (we have spare rooms and a bathroom you can get changed in if you wish), but this is not necessary.  Wear whatever you like, as long as you are wearing something!  (Whilst skyclad - naked - is the traditional way for many groups, the Pagan Society is not a working coven itself, and we are not close enough to be able to do skyclad workings.) 

After the ritual we will have a feast, so it would be nice if everybody could bring a contribution of food and/or drink to this.  During the feast we will also have time for discussion of the ritual and meditation.

What the Ritual Will Need:

Athame
Candles
Altar
Candle holders/jars
Paper
Pens
Cauldron
Matches/Lighter
Food
Altar cakes
Drink
Altar drink
Chalice
Plate
Bowl of consecrated water
Bowl of Sea salt
Incense
Silver Goddess candle
Gold God candle
Offering for Goddess and God
Personal small offerings

Participants needed:

Female speaker
Male speaker
North caller
South caller
East caller
West caller
Goddess invoker
God invoker

The Ritual (Finally!):

The room is dark, except for the few candles that glimmer in the darkness.  As participants enter, each holding a candle with meaning to them that can stand up independently, they are smudged and annointed.

1) Circle Casting

To cast the circle, all walk clockwise (deosil) around the perimeters of the circle, index fingers tracing the circle as they go, (or athames may be used if you have them), thrice around, all visualizing the circle being formed around them, above them, and below them.  The callers of the Quarters carry with them as they walk a symbol of their element: a candle for South, incense for East, a bowl of salt for North, and a bowl of water for West.

Female speaker: (Steps into centre of circle, raises hand to sky)  "As above," (Places hands on floor) "So below!  The Circle is cast!  Let no evil enter herein!  May the boundaries of the circle protect us, unite us in our working, and focus our intent!  So mote it be!"

All: "So mote it be!"

2) Quarter Calling

Following tradition, East is called first.  As each Quarter is called, participants should visualize the element of that Quarter rising up, and surrounding the Circle, enforcing it.

East: (Person calling East says what they like here: the Quarter Callings are not pre-set for this ritual, as words from the heart are often more effective than memorized words.  Participants should visualize the element of Air rising up to protect and enforce the Circle.  Repeat after the caller: "Hail, and welcome!") 

South: (Same as above.  Participants should visualize the element of Fire rising up to protect and enforce the Circle.  Repeat after the caller: "Hail and welcome!") 

West: (Same as a above.  Participants should vizualize the element of Water rising up to protect and enforce the Circle.  Repeat after the caller: "Hail and welcome!") 

North: (Same as above.  Participants should visualize the element of Earth rising up to protect and enforce the Circle.  Repeat after the caller: "Hail and welcome!") 

Male Speaker: "This is a time that is not a time, in a place that is not a place.  We stand between the worlds, with the Four elements guarding the perimeters of our Circle.  We now invite the Goddess and God into our rite."

3) Invocation of the Goddess

The participant invoking the Goddess (in Her aspect as Brighid, Spring Maiden) steps forward, and lights the Silver Goddess candle on the altar, placing an offering before it, then raises arms and stands with feet slightly apart - in the Goddess position.)

Goddess Invoker: (Similar to the Quarter Callers, this invocation should be written by the invoker him/herself, from the heart. Alternatively, the invoker could say the invocation unprepared, there and then, depending on what they prefer.  All repeat after invoker: "Hail, and welcome!")

4) Invocation of the God

The participant invoking the God (in His aspect as Young Sun God) steps foward, and lights the Gold God candle on the altar, placing an offering before it, then crosses arms over chest and stands with feet together - in the God position.)

God invoker: (The same as the Goddess invoker, with the invocation to be written by the person doing the invoking.  Alternatively, the invoker could say the invocation unprepared there and then, spontaneously.  All repeat after the invoker: "Hail, and welcome!")

5) Statement of Intent

Female speaker: "Tonight is the night of Imbolc, and we celebrate the return of life to the earth.  The first sparks of life are stirring beneath the cold ice of winter, and the Earth, the Goddess, grows riper and more fertile each day.  Soon, She will be ready to receive the seed of life, and birth the bountiful harvest."

Male speaker: "The young Sun, the God, grows stronger and brighter each day and His growing light shines upon the Goddess, warming Her, making Her ready to receive life.  The Sun's rays encourage the seeds to sprout, the ice to melt, and the Earth to be released from the darkness.  Soon, He will be at His peak as Life-giver."

Female speaker: "Tonight then, let us give welcome to the regenerated Earth Goddess!"

Male: "And let us encourage the Sun God to grow warmer and brighter on the Earth!" 

6) First Working: Welcoming the Spring

Two candles are lit by the speaker as she speaks, so the room grows gradually brighter.

Female speaker: "Barren and lifeless the trees,
                                 The ground still frozen and cold,
                                 The Sun God's light has done little
                                 To weaken strong Winter's hold.
                                 At Imbolc we gather together and hold forth candles of light,
                                 To add our aid in moving back the night.
                                  And also to brighten the path of the Goddess' return from below-
                                  A shining underworld- a flicker, a glimmer, a glow!
                                  And the Wheel turns on..." 

Another candle is lit, so the room becomes brighter, by the male speaker as he speaks.

Male speaker: "From now until the Equinox our path grows lighter as each day the God shiners longer and brighter!  Let us welcome the Spring, the growth of the Sun, and the ripening body of the Earth!"

Another candle is lit, as all say:

All: "Hail and welcome to the Spring!"

7) Second Working: Encouraging the Sun

Male speaker: "As is above, so is below!  We light our candles now in the darkness to guide and encourage the young Sun back to the waiting Earth."

At this point, the Male Speaker lights his candle, and begins to pass the flame around the Circle, so that each participant lights their candle from the neighbour's candle, the room growing brighter and brighter.

Male speaker: "Let the light return bold and bright and life-giving, that the Earth may be released from the grips of Winter! So mote it be!"

All repeat after the speaker, "So mote it be!"  When all the candles are lit, each participant places their candle safely on the altar, along with a small offering: this should be something that has meaning for the participant, and something they do not mind being buried in the ground afterwards.  It must also be biodegradable or entirely natural. 

8) Third Working: Spring Meditation

All now return to the Circle, and sit comfortably on the floor.  A guided meditation that will focus on regeneration and new life will be read.

9) Fourth Working: Triple-Flame Spellwork

When all have awoken sufficiently from the meditation, each participant takes up the pen and three slips of paper they were given at the start of the ritual.  And the cauldron is placed in the centre of the Circle.

Female speaker: "The triple-flame of Goddess Brighid, Lady of the Spring and Spark of Life, represents the Fires of Healing, the Fires of Inspiration, and the Fires of the Forge."

Male speaker: "Each person who wishes to do so should write on their first piece of paper what they wish to heal: what pain, affliction, or limitation do you wish to be burned away and purified?  Place this in the cauldron."

All write down what they wish to be healed of, and place them in the cauldron.

Female speaker: "Now write what it is you need inspiration in: what aspect of your life needs the flame rekindled within it?  Place this in the cauldron."

All write down what they wish to rekindle in their lives, and place them in the cauldron.

Male speaker: "Finally, write what you wish to be forged from the flames: what aspect of your self or your life needs re-shaping?  Place this in the cauldron."

All write down what they wish to be re-shaped in their lives, and place them in the cauldron.  The Female Speaker takes a plain taper, lights it and adds the flame to the cauldron, burning the papers.

Female speaker: "As the papers burn, our pains, afflictions, and limitations are burned away.  The flame of creativity and passion in our lives is rekindled, and our lives have begun to re-shape themselves in the flames.  So mote it be!"

All: "So mote it be!"

10) Fifth Working: Raising Energy

All participants now raise energy for the spellworking using a Spiral Dance and Goddess Chant.  Female speaker leads the participants in the Spiral Dance, and the Goddess Chant goes like this:

"Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali Inanna."  It is repeated, (those who do not know the simple tune will pick it up very quickly) slowly at first, but then faster and louder, until the Spiral Dance is ended in the centre of the Circle.  Participants then place their hands on the cauldron to ground the raised energy into the spellworking, and any excess is released through stamping, clapping, etc.

11) Sixth Working: Communion and Thanksgiving

Female speaker stands over the bread/cakes and points athame at them, and blesses them:

Female speaker: "Goddess, bless these cakes that we may share them and thus share your love!  May your blessings be upon those who partake of your bounty."

The plate of bread/cakes is passed around the Circle and each participant eats a piece.  As the plate is passed from one person to the next, the person passing it says:

"May you never hunger."

When the plate has gone full circle and has been returned to the altar, the male speaker stands over the chalice with wine/juice in it, points the athame at it and blesses it:

Male speaker: "God, bless this drink that we may share it and thus share your love!  May your blessings be upon those who partake of your gifts to the earth."

The chalice is passed around, each person taking a sip (or not, if it is wine and they are tee-total).  As it is passed around, each person says to their neighbour:

"May you never thirst."  The chalice is returned to the altar, and everybody receives a cup of drink.  The Male and female speaker lead them in thanksgiving.

Female speaker: (Raises glass) "We give thanks for new beginnings!"

All repeat: "For new beginnings!" (All take sip from cup)

Male speaker: (Raises glass) "We give thanks for the returning Spring!"

All: "For the returning Spring!" (All take sip from cup)

Female speaker: "We give thanks to the Goddess!"

All: "To the Goddess!"  (All take sip from cup)

Male speaker: "We give thanks to the God!"

All: "To the God!"  (All take sip from cup)

Female speaker: "To all of us!"

All: "To all of us!"  (All drink rest of drink in their cup)

12) Dismissal of God

The participant who invoked the God at the beginning now takes his God position at the altar, and gives thanks to the God, bidding Him farewell and Blessed Be.  This dismissal is once more from the heart of the person, but all repeat after: "Hail, Farewell, and Blessed Be!"

13) Dismissal of Goddess

The participant who invoked the Goddess at the beginning now takes her Goddess position at the altar, and gives thanks to the Goddess, bidding her farewell and Blessed Be.  This dismissal is once more from the heart of the person, but all repeat after: "Hail, Farewell, and Blessed Be!"

14) Dismissal of Quarters

The Quarter Callers take up their positions at their Quarters, and beginning at North they give thanks to the elements and bid them farewell and Blessed Be.  Once again, this is from the person doing the dismissal, but all repeat afterwards: "Hail, farewell, and Blessed Be!"

15) Take Down Circle

To take down the Circle, all walk thrice widdershins (anti-clockwise) around the perimeters of the Circle, index fingers or athames pointed, drawing the Circle back in.  All should visualize the boundaries of the Circle being lifted.

Female Speaker: "The Circle is open, yet forever unbroken!"

All: "Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again!"

16) Feast!

Afterwards, the ashes of the burnt papers, the offerings, and a small amount of the altar cakes and wine will be buried as an offering.