Imbolc Rituals

Apythia's Imbolc Ritual

Need: sage and salt water; vanilla and rose incense; White or red altar cloth; Roses and/or lilies for decoration; bowl of snow; silver or white goddess candle; 3 white or yellow candles: 9 white tea lights or small candles; Milk and cheese for feast; illuminator candle (The snow is optional. Can use an ice cube as well. The point is to notice the ice melt as winter slips away.)

Ground and center.

Purify self and space with sage and salt water

Cast Circle

Positions illuminator candle(s) in the bowl(s) of snow/ice and light

Call Quarters

Invoke deity:

Brigit, wise one, I call to you.
Lady Smithy, I invite you here.
Triple Goddess, I ask your presence.
Please be with me tonight
(light candle)
I welcome you, Brigit, on Candlemas,
And ask for your blessing as the old comes to pass
O Mother of Poetry, teach me your art,
That your inspiration many enter my heart.

O Mistress of Magic that stands by the fire,
And shapes the bright to the form you desire;
O Mother of Smithcraft, please teach me your art,
That the power of changing may enter my heart.

You kindle the springtime to quicken the earth,
From under your mantle the old has new birth.
O Mother of Healing, please teach me your art,
That peace and contentment may enter me heart.
(adapted from Brigit's House and Riders of the Crystal Wind Book of Shadows)


Ritual:
Annoint and bless the three candles in Brigit's name.

"Brigit they name me,
and three gifts of fire I bring:
first, the flame of inspiration,
frenzy of poet and anguish of artist,
and passion of lover for union with the beloved; (light one of the candles)
second, the fierce fire of smith-craft,
through whose testing all must pass; (light second candle)
and third, the most precious of all,
which eases the second's pain,
the undying warmth of healing,
the last and greatest gift
of the ever-returning Sun. (light third candle)
(Traditional Wiccan)


Infuse the 9 white candles with your goals for the coming year. (Do as many as you feel necessary but not so many that you become overwhelmed.) Dress as needed or desired. Arrange candles in a circle. Light one after reading each verse of the following poem.

"Mighty Brigit, goddess of the forge, flying sparks and light,
Mistress who commands the strength
of fire and healing sight.

Patroness of poets, healers, and smiths,
Bring thy blessings and gifts.
Holder who balances the delicate forces
of fire's birth and death.

Transformation come,
inspiration flow,
Brigit bless all you know.
Element of fire, may you with Brigit's sacred light always warmly glow.

Priestess of fire and light, open up the forge and let creativity flow.
Visions of magic, muse to bards,
Let the winds of
imagination blow.

Brigit dance in my life and dreams,
The ancient truths reveal.
Share your fires of healing and vibrant health,
And keep my spirit well.

Protectress of mothers and children be,
Always watch over me.
May your fires burn bright in my heart,
And bless each project that I start.

Deep in the earth your wells of inspiration
flow abundant and free.
Come share your overflowing bounty with others and with me.

Mighty Brigit, this I know.
Where your magic is,
So do the wise go.

May I be among your blessed,
Fill my heart and spirit
with all that is best." (By Abby Willowroot)

Take time to meditate and visualize your goals coming to fruition. Also note the transformation of snow/ice to water as the wheel changes.
Chant, dance, drum, sing, etc. to raise energy. Send it into the universe to work toward your goals.

Bless the milk and cheese and enjoy (leaving some for an offering).

Brigit I ask you to bestow your blessings upon this milk and cheese for it is the flow of milk from the ewe that heralds the return of the life-giving forces of spring. In the name of Brigit, I bless this drink and food.

Thank Brigit. Close the quarters and open the circle.


Imbolc and Dedication 2005

Written by Apythia (Dedication by Aeval and Wovoka)
(with the help of the authors credited)

Need: Goddess/God Candles, Brigit Candle, anointing oil, 19 white candles, one white/yellow/orange color for each participant

Circle cast
Call the quarters

Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the East, element of air and all ye in the realm of the fairy. We ask that you join us in our circle today and bless us with eloquent communication and may the winds whisper words of knowledge and creativity to us all the days. Hail and welcome.

Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the South, element of fire and all ye in the realm of the fairy. We ask that you join us in our circle today and bless us with the gift of creation and may your fiery passion burn ever strong in us. Hail and welcome.

Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the West, element of water, and all ye in the realm of the fairy. We ask that you join us here in our circle today and bless us with your depths of emotions and may your creativity flow from us in great rivers. Hail and welcome.

Hail guardians of the watchtowers of the North, element of Earth and all ye in the realm of the fairy. We ask that you join us here in our circle today and bless us with your stability, may your perseverance be with us on our journey. Hail and welcome.

Call in Goddess and God

Dedication of FRED Circle members
The FRED Circle was founded in May 2004. It is our goal to promote fellowship, respect, equality and dedication to each other and within our Pagan community. To each other, and in reverence to the Goddess and the God, we formally make our dedication to these tasks known.
(Clockwise around the circle starting with the person who called the North, anoint the person next to you with a pentagram using the consecrated oil and ask the Question below.)

Question: Blessed be that only truth is spoken and only truth is heard. Do you ______ come forth in perfect love and perfect trust, before the Goddess and the God, to join in this circle for the greater good and furthering of knowledge of all present and all the world?

Response: I, ______, freely and willingly make this oath. I shall treat all of my brothers and sisters in this circle with respect and love. [Here the dedicant may elect to elaborate what they hope to contribute to the group and what they hope to gain.]

All, after each response: So mote it be!

(Once everyone has been dedicated. There is to be a round of applause and embraces.)

Call Brigit
"Amid the darkness the Lady is stirring,
Gently awakening from frozen dreams,
All the world has awaited this moment
The return of the Maiden,
And Her promise of oncoming Spring"

Hail Lady Brigit, Goddess of creativity and heralder of the Spring. We ask that you enter our circle and join us as we honor you and thank you for the gifts you bestow upon your children as we tend to your eternal fire of creativity and cauldron of inspiration.

Statement of purpose:
The wheel once again turns and the days grow longer as the land once again comes to life. The sun grows brighter, chasing away the darkness and coldness of winter. We welcome Brigit back with her sacred flame.
As the 19 priestess tend to her flame, her priestesses and Priest here mark her return with our own sacred fires.

Light the 19 candles (one for each "sentence") saying (by Abby Willowroot):

1. Mighty Brigit, goddess of the forge, flying sparks and light,
2. Mistress who commands the strength of fire and healing sight.
3. Patroness of poets, healers, and smiths, Bring thy blessings and gifts.
4. Holder who balances the delicate forces of fire's birth and death.
5. Transformation come, inspiration flow,
6. Brigit bless all you know.
7. Element of fire, may you with Brigit's sacred light always warmly glow.
8. Priestess of fire and light, open up the forge and let creativity flow.
9. Visions of magic, muse to bards, Let the winds of Imagination blow.
10. Brigit dance in my life and dreams, The ancient truths reveal.
11. Share your fires of healing and vibrant health, And keep my spirit well.
12. Protectress of mothers and children be, Always watch over me.
13. May your fires burn bright in my heart,
14. And bless each project that I start
15. Deep in the earth your wells of inspiration flow abundant and free.
16. Come share your overflowing bounty with others and with me.
17. Mighty Brigit, this I know. Where your magic is, So do the wise go.
18. May I be among your blessed,
19. Fill my heart and spirit with all that is best.

The eternal flame within
(need candle, lighter and one item symbolizing goal for the spring/summer)
Set candle in front of you and meditate on your goal. Feel Brigit's fire rise in you. When ready light candle and say:

Blessed Brigit of the golden flame, listen as I call your name
I invoke your spirit to burn in me, as I will, so mote it be

Gaze into the yellow aura of the candle flame. Visualize the Brigit's power of inspiration and transformation flowing through you making your goal a reality.

Word games and general circle fun

When ready to end ritual extinguish goal candles. (wrap candle and redo meditation whenever you feel you need Brigit's power in inspiration toward this goal).

Close quarters
Thank Deities
Open Circle
(Let 19 candles burn self out)

Enjoy an after ritual feast!