Imbolc, February 3, 2001
Church of the Spiral Tree
by skippy, Linda, and Marsha

BEFORE RITUAL, TELL PEOPLE:

Your Mission:

Create something or give impetus, a push, to something you've already started.

There are several ways to do this:

You can go to the Ritual Area and meditate with the candle, and write or draw something on paper

You can dance

You can sing

You can drum

You can sit on the front porch and just think

You can type something on the computer and print it out

You can melt a candle and create something out of the wax

You can create something from sticks or rocks

Whatever you choose to do, a representation of it needs to fit into your egg. If this is simply a creative thought or a dance or a song, you can fill the egg with a thought form, or you can draw a note or stick figure on a piece of paper. Write your name on the label on the egg, and then just keep the egg with you.

DO EARLY AT RITUAL AREA

"We call upon Brigid to join us in this sacred place.
We honor the lady Brigid at her time of prominence.
Brid, exalted one,
Triple goddess of smithcraft, bardic lore, and healing,
goddess of inspiration, guardian of childbirth,
bright lady of the eternal fire,
patroness of the family hearth,
hear our praise for you on this day"

(Light the Brigit candle)

(Everyone goes to the quiet area over the next hour or so, individually or together, writes or draws, or does something creative. They then put this thing in their egg. They then come back to the house, hang out till ritual starts.)

(After everyone is done, we will go to quiet area and clean it all up except for ritual stuff. Leave the Brigit candle burning at the entrance to the quiet area.)

(We come back to the house, get everyone together, give them a candle and candle holder, and take them to the ritual area. Make sure they bring their egg.)

RITUAL AT QUIET AREA

"As you come into the circle, pause for a half-minute at the Brigit candle. Meditate or pray, then light your candle from the Brigit candle."

(Get them all in a circle)

"The rune that is on the egg is Raidho. This is both the vehicle for and the pathway along the journey of becoming. This path is hard and difficult at times, and a strong vehicle is needed in order to be successful."

"The egg contains the seed of your creativity. This will be birthed at Alder, the time of the Spring Equinox. Keep this egg, put it on your altar, carry it with you. Bring it with you to the Spring Equinox ritual next month, at which point the seed may burst forth from within."

(Tell everyone to sit down.)

"Settle yourself. Place your candle on the ground in front of you. Close your eyes. Feel your body relax. Feel as the tensions drain away from your face, your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your torso, your legs. Sense the whole of your body, calm, heavy in its relaxation."

"Center yourself. Feel for that calm, comfortable center in which you are whole. Ground yourself. Extend yourself into the Earth, your mother. Feel as your roots grow into the ground, as you find your connectedness with her again."

"This time is the time of Imbolc, the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The sun has begun his journey back to full strength. He was born at Yule, and progresses through his transformation from infant to young man. He is potential, waiting to be realized. The days are lengthening as the nights shorten. Each day the sun brings a little more warmth, foretelling the spring to come. For now, however, the Earth remains in slumber, Spring still only a faint whisper."

"The seeds yet sleep in the earth. This is the time of quickening, the time to nurture the creative seed within yourself. The next moon, ash, will bring impatience, but it will not yet be the time of birth. This will be at the Spring Equinox. Keep this egg with you - it contains the seed of your creativity. Nurture this within yourself, be patient in the upcoming month, and know that the true time of birthing is yet to come."

"Take a moment and hold your egg - feel what is within, meditate for a moment and channel the creative energies within and surrounding you towards reaching your goal."

PAUSE

"This is the time of metamorphosis, of the promise of fruition of seeds sown in seasons past. Brigid stokes these fires, inspiring the bard, the smith, the healer. Fertility and creativity begin to flow in this dormant season, as small things born at the solstice begin to manifest, heralding the full flowering to arrive when the sun reconquers his throne."

"We honor the scholars in all realms. We make offerings by returning some of the best of what we have learned and ask that you guide us as we seek wisdom and truth."

"We honor the warriors in all realms. We make offerings of examples of our efforts of will. We ask that you grant us courage and strength as we travel upon our chosen paths."

"We honor the producers in all realms. We make offerings of the products of our labors. We ask that you grant us the strength and skill to produce our sustenance."

"This is a festival of fire. The fires in our hearths. Feel the warmth, smell the food cooking. The fires in our smithies. The clang of hammer striking anvil, shaping raw metal into tools. The fire of desire. The climax which joins cell with cell in the creation of life. The fires of creativity. Music rings and voices flow as living beauty is sculpted from idle words and actions. The fire of transformation. The season of transformation from the depths of Winter into the rebirth of Spring."

"Now, slowly, gradually, come back to yourself. Come back to us. Begin to sense the world around you. Prepare yourself to celebrate this season of Brigid, this season of fire, this season of changes and quickening. Rouse yourself. Be ready to grab the spoke and turn the wheel past the numbing cold of winter to the seductive promise of Spring, as we join together in the celebration of Imbolc!"

"Hold your candle, still lit, and we will go to the backyard and put our candles into the fire."

(Bring candles back to fire in backyard, toss candles in)

Now do Brigit healings

After Brigit healings, share beer and read Chain Letter, then party