Bride day Celebrate Wiccan ritual Imbolc

Happy, Imbolc, Candlemas, St. Brigid’s day

Saint_Brigid’s_cross Culnacreann, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Culnacreann, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons

“I am older than Brighid of the Mantle*…

“I put songs and music on the wind before ever the bells of the chapels
were rung in the West or heard in the East. …

“And I have been a breath in your heart.

“And the day has its feet to it that will see me coming
into the hearts of men and women like a flame upon dry grass,
like a flame of wind in a great wood…”

~ Winged Destiny by Fiona MacLeod (William Sharp: 1855 –1905)

Feb 1 is the celebration of Celtic Goddess BRIDE or Brigit. She is a Triple Goddess a SUN GODDESS Goddess of midwives, smithcraft, poetry, agriculture, fertility and she has a sacred well. This is a very powerful cross-quarter day in the wheel of the Year. Celebrated since the dawn of time by our ancestors and still observed by Pagans, Wiccans and Catholics as The Feast of the Purification of Mary.

It is a holiday of the element of Fire celebration.  Clean out your old hearth or wood stove. LIGHT tons of candles. Think about your passions. What are you passionate about?  Light a new fire, signifying a new action, inspiration, passion.

She is like the Red Dakini in Tibetan Buddhism.

It is a day of Quickening and sexuality. Make love. call in a new lover.

PLANTING SEEDS, GERMINATING NEW INTENTIONS

It is good to plant real seeds, or a bulb, a spring flower perhaps, as a symbol of your new life emerging at the Spring Equinox. Really imagine your intent for whatever it is you wish into your seed, put it in potting soil and water it and put it in a dark place,keep an eye on it, keep it moist but dont let it rot, Keep praying, blessings and mediating with your seed. Watch it slowly sprout and emerge as Spring draws nearer and nearer.

BRIGID GODDESS OF CREATIVITY

Brigid is the Goddess of poetry smithcraft and healing. Do something creative, read poetry, write Sing, dance, appreciate fine art and crafts. Dedicate a future work to Her.

Make new commitments on this day.

As a Purification Day

Use water and salt to purify yourself. Wash your hands and face in salt water. Sprinkle salt water which you have blessed making it charged, sprinkle it in every corner of your home. 

SPRING CLEANING!

Time to clean up your act in all ways. A bit early to start an actual spring tonic cleanse for your liver. Clean and renew your mind, scrub out the old ideas that have gotten cobwebs. This is actually a better time to commit to a new exercise routine than Jan 1st.  Days are visibly longer, you will have more energy.

 WATER

Brigid governed wells, there is a holy well in Ireland where she is worshipped. Water is the most important element. Water transmutes all hardness, breaks down anything over time. The waters of the earth these days needs our help and intentions.  Send your intention to see the earth waters running clear pure, cleansed.

FOOD

Traditional grains were eaten to celebrate the growth of future grains. Serve crepes pancakes, cakes,breads. Put out a loaf of bread on your windowsill like they did in Ireland traditionally on Brigid’s day. An ear of corn was also set out. Wheat stalks are woven into X shaped crosses to serve as charms to protect the home from fires and lightning.

Traditionally a corn dolly or last sheaf of wheat or grain from Lammas or Autumn Equinox was dressed in a bridal gown is put in a basket made for her, called the Bride’s bed. A wand,candle or other phallic object was laid across her, and Bride or Birgitta was invited to come. It is a fertility time. Ewes are birthing their young and lactating. Milk would be flowing and the people had food to get them through before plants would appear.

This would be the day of the first plowing of the earth. What are you going to fertilize? What practical things will you nurture? Plant seeds.

CANDLES, as a festival of light

Light up your Life  as the days grow longer. Light candles everywhere or a bonfire. Traditionally candles are brought to a church to be blessed, which is then brought home to be used as talismans for protection.

In HUNGARY

this day is called the Blessing of the candle of the Happy Woman. In Poland Feb 2 is called the Mother of God who saves us from thunder.

The lesson of the brilliant movie Groundhog Day was not to be stuck in a karmic rut of repeating the same patterns over and over and over and nauseum. Character traits and old habits like being stubborn callous, cranky, selfish, blaming, addictions, stuckness, giving up,  lower self-routines over and over and over, but make of your life something amazing help others, grow and learn as much as you can. Give love and find love.

Blessings, TARA

please share widely all writing is copyright of Tara Greene

more about Bridgid  https://www.druidry.org/library/gods-goddesses/brigid-survival-goddess

Get a reading with me http://www.taratarot.com

Midsummer Rituals, fairies and witches

Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes Watercolor & gouache on paper 1908

June 20/21st is the Peak of the Sun’s Light, the Masculine FIRE in the Northern Hemisphere. At the day of the longest light and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. we turn with the Wheel of Time and the Natural Year. The shift begins now to the shortest Days of Light. the FEMININE force ascendS until winter solstice. And round and round the seasons go. 

Litha: St. John’s Day, Summer Solstice  begins at 12:24 am EDT/ 4:24 a GMT

The SUN enters CANCER, the 4th sign, cardinal water. In the Tarot, it is associated with Major Arcana #7 THE CHARIOT> 

The Fire Festival of Litha

Midsummer’s Eve was believed to be a time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest and when fairies were thought to be at their most powerful. Shakespeare’s famous play is based on ancient pagan beliefs. Party in the woods with some magic mushrooms round the Holly Tree. 

Midsummer/ Summer Solstice is the most powerful day of the year for the Sun Gods. Fire is the predominant element in the celebration. Fire is spirit, action, and passion. Balefires have always been lit on hilltops since very ancient times and still are to provide magical aid to the dying Sun and also used to drive out evil and to bring fertility and prosperity to the people, crops, and herds.  Stonehenge is the most widely known of these ancient calendrical markers. The heel stone marks the midsummer sunrise as seen from the center of the great stone circle.

Magical Aspects

A candle should be lit for the entire day, especially if it is cloudy or raining. The fire represents the Sun and is a constant daily reminder of the power of the Source. Rituals should be performed at noon when the sun is highest and strongest. Many pagans initiate protective amulets which become empowered over the Midsummer balefire. 

MIDSUMMER MANIFESTATION RITUALS

From Hearth and Home Witchery

“Make a list of everything you wish to manifest during the next six months. Be complete — include things related to career, personal issues, and other factors like clarity, confidence, and fun. After sunset, light a candle of your choice. Place a vase of flowers you like next to the candle.

Say aloud:

“I gather in the power of this day of greatest light and call in the guardians of fire, earth, air, and water to bring the last grace of power in light to manifest my desires in the coming harvest. I ask that this be

Read aloud your list

“I affirm that I am able and willing to allow these wishes to manifest and I participate in the miracle of
creation and with faith. So mote it be.”

Allow the candle to burn until you go to sleep. Celebrate the energy of the evening in some way –play music, raise a glass, allow yourself some indulgence. ” -From Hearth and Home Witchery

I found this next one on ravenandcrone.com

Ring of Fire Spell 
 “This spell is based on a little-known solar ritual from the Aegean islands. Long ago on the night before the Summer Solstice, hoops were set ablaze, and the villagers would guide the Sun’s return by jumping through rings of fire. You can create your own ring of fire with this spell. At dusk, outdoors if possible, light four candles of the appropriate color, one for each season, in a circle. In the center place a gold or yellow candle for the Sun. Light the seasonal candles and say:

“Seasons must turn,
Let the Sun return.”

Light the Sun candle and say:

“Shining One,
Charge me with passion,
Turn my words into action.
It must be!”

Jump over your lit candles if you dare. Meditate on each Season and Thank the Sun for its return as you put out the candles.”

Coupling or handfasting

Midsummer is the time to formalize any relationship. Couples that have been together a year and a day since the previous Beltane can make their marriage final. This Sabbat is also an excellent time to renew wedding vows.

Midsummer Incense

Sage, mint, basil, Saint John’s Wort, sunflower, mistletoe (specifically the berries which represent semen), oak, rowan, and fir.

 Litha foods

The Midsummer Moon is also known as the HONEYMOON, where this term originated. Mead is made, a drink considered to be a magical life enhancing drink. Magical baking and charms are created on this special day. Traditionally this festival spans three days. This year it is June 20-23rd.

Elderflowers

Elderflowers peak at Midsummer. Pick them in the fullness of a sunny day, ideally on Midsummer’s Day. The Elder is sacred to the Mother Goddess and is often called the Witch’s Tree, the Elder Mother, or Queen of the Trees. It is protective with wonderful healing properties. It aids transformation, change, and renewal, this drink will aid in transforming your life. You could also drink elderberry juice. 

 Eat Honey Cake

A celebration of a sweet life. If you can source locally produced honey its the best. Wherever it comes from always thank the precious Bees.

 Have a Happy Summer or Winter. 

The planets are active June 21st.

Sun and Mercury both enter Cancer, governed by the Moon. 

The Moon inconjuncts SATURN in SAGITTARIUS early in the morning

The Mood may be very grumpy and testy and perhaps difficult to feel lit up. 

The SUN and Mercury conjunct @ 7:14 am PDT/ 10:14 am EDT/ 2:14 pm GMT our minds ur emotions are now one. Expect to feel sentimental, nurturing, homey, needing to be in

Our emotions are now one. Expect to feel sentimental, nurturing, needing to be at home and near water, or to help conserve water. We are governed by our tummies. We will be want to take care of others. Mars is also in Cancer all actions are directed to the Feminine. This is a very fertile time if you want to get pregnant or initiate anything to do with food, women, children, pregnancy, nursing, or the home.

Moon enters GEMINI @ 3:44 pm PDT/6:44 pm EDT/ 10:44 pm GMT

Please share widely, all writing is copyright of Tara Greene unless otherwise indicated.

Get a reading with Tara http://www.taratarot.com