Crafty Chick's Imbolc Prep Update

It is now the end of January...

the Fall and Winter Holiday festivities are officially over;

the Yule trees taken down

and the decorations packed away...

and most of us here in the Northern Hemisphere

are more than ready for the coming of Spring.

...And while she is still far off-

and much of the world is firmly entrenched in ice...

we do have one small reminder

of the inception of those warmer days ahead;

the seeds of Spring that are percolating in the 'belly' of the Mother Earth. The holiday of Imbolc/Imbolg/Oimlec

is our Ancient Northern European

Shamanic Pagan version of the holiday;

and has been adopted by us

Neo-Pagan and Witchy & Wiccan types

as one of our 8 Sabbats on The Wheel Of The Year.

Astronomically it is the cross-quarter

day between the

Yule/the Winter Solstice and Ostara or Eostre/the Spring Equinox.

All over the web, and in many of our Pagan books and Magazines,

information about this Sabbat abound.

In fact- between them and the bang up job

that so many of my favorite bloggy friends have done-

I almost feel redundant covering it again here.

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But, for those of you

who may be making your first exciting round

through the Wheel of the Year;

and who may stumble across

the threshold of my humble bloggy home

in search of information and a fellow Witchy friend-

I feel the need to share the basic history of the holy day-

as well as the few special tricks & treats

of how my own little tribe celebrates this Sabbat.

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For those who have passed this way many times before,

and have made many rounds of the wheel,

or those who are simply stopping in

for a cuppa coffee and a visit with a friend-

I welcome you all to my little Bloggy Home-

just as I would into my physical home.

(The bonus being that I don't have to worry about if

my home, my hair or my kids are 'right!')

Gods bless the Internet!!!

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In ancient Northern Europe

the holy day of Imbolc

celebrated the return of the ewes milk,

and the time of Lambing;

all signs that Spring

and therefore prosperity

would be soon returning to the frozen world

The holy day also celebrated the

Goddess Brighid or Brighit.

Her name is derived from

the Celtic brig or "exalted one"-

She is the daughter of the Dagda,

and therefore one of the

Tuatha De Dannan.

As one of three sister Triple Goddesses.

She was a Hearth Goddess;

associated with Healing, Home & Hearth,

Crafting, Divination, as well as Smithcraft.

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In the early Christian days,

after they realised they could not fully stamp out

the Mother Goddess Brighid

(across Northern Europe);

they attempted to disguise the Goddess as St. Brigit

and the Holy-Day as Candlemas, St. Brigitanias Day,

or the Feast of the Enunciation of the Virgin Mary.

By Whatever name they/we call Her...

She is still the same powerful Goddess

that has endured thru the centuries.

Unfortunately,

in our secularized American culture

the day has been reduced to

Groundhog and Valentine's Day;

but even they have their ancient Pagan counterparts.
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Although traditionally Imbolc is associated with Brighid,

the Irish goddess of hearth and home,

there are a number of other deities

who are represented at this time of year;

and who have been and still are celebrated

by many different by many peoples,

in many lands, in many ways

and by countless names.

From The Celebrations of Brighid in Ireland;

the Greek, and later Roman Februalia,

honoring The Goddess Flora and Her Consort Faunus;
Lupercalia in Rome;

The Feast of The Virgin Mary,

The Festival of the Egyptian Goddess Nuit;

and the many similar Goddesess,

such as Vesta , the hearth goddess of Rome;

the one who watched over home and family,

and as such was keeper of the fire and sacred flame.

Offerings were thrown into the household fires

to seek omens from the future.

Vesta is similar in many aspects to Brighid,

particularly in her position as a goddess

of both home/family and of divination.

Many of these Goddesses,

and so many more

are variations of this same Goddess.

It matters not what we call Her- only that we do call Her!

(One of my tiny Kitchen Altar/Shrines;

this one honors Vesta, my Patron Domestic Home & Hearth Deity)
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Imbolc isn't a big whoop-dee-do for us;

but we do honor the Sabbat

and mark the turning of the wheel

as we do all of the changing of the seasons;

and opportunities to worship the God and Goddess.

We've done plenty of the standard traditions,

as passed down thru the cultural ages;

and like the Crafty & Quirky Little Pagan Do-It-Yourself-ers that we are;

we have a few of our own traditions

that we have developed over the years for good measure.
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After all- I firmly believe in living our spirituality

and in creating our own definitions and modern meanings-

as well as ancient connections and traditions

for the Holy Days that we honor.

Finding the 'glory, miracles and meaning'
in our daily existence can feel difficult many times-

but they truly are the moments of glue,

that make the rest of the time worth trudging thru!

We must also remember that these Sabbats and holy days

are more than certain dates and hours-

they are seasons;

that mark the passage of our days, years and lifetimes.
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We are not an ancient agriculturally based family.

We are a modern day Pagan family who play with our digital toys

and buy our meat and dairy from the grocer.

Therefore, we have to come up with modern interpretations

of our cultural holidays;

and find ways to mark the passing of the seasons

that is relevant to us.

Like making goals for the upcoming season and year;

recognizing the changes in Nature;

and fnding modern day meanings to us urban folk;

cleaning the house and yard for Spring;

and honoring our Gods & Goddesses

in ways that make us exited

and feel connected to Them and to the seasons.
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My children and I are still in the process making our Sabbat Altar-

so no real photos just yet...

...except one of the altar stuff awaiting preparation!

(Which had to wait for a night when everyone-

Mmm-hmmmm...Mr. Bump-

is behaving well enough for a Family Fun Time evening thing.

Unfortunately we've been having some discipline difficulties

at school & subsequently home

with my usually adorable Little Man!

(Personal experience & advice appreciated!)
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The ingredients for our (small) feast have yet to be bought;

but I am planning the usual

3 Herb Braided Goddess Bread,

to honor the Triple Goddess-

and hoping that I can come up with enough 'dough'

(pun intended!)

for the usual Lamb Chop or Stew.

(Unfortunately, it just may not happen this year-

and we may just have Chicken & Dumplings instead!)

Nooo biggie!

I will just come up for a cool and special name for them,

and all will be groovy.
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I have a few fun Children's Spells, Activities, and Blessings

that I hope to find the time to do with them

(& share with you!);

along with any cool links I may have, find or come across!
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As for our 'Imbolc Weekend plans'-

we will have our usual blessing of the Spring Seeds & our Goal Pot Spell;

as well as the fun 'Melting of the Ice Ritual'-

(with the tiny Goddess figure inside)

which represents Lugh/the Sun's return to kiss the Old Winter Crone,

and turn Her back into the Young Spring Maiden.

It also symbolizes Lugh's Flaming Wand

which melts the ice and snow-

bringing with it warmer days to come.

I also do the Blessing of the Altar Candles

(supposedly for the entire year's Sabbat candle stock-

but I will be lucky to have enough candles to bless for this Sabbat alone.

2009 was a tough one for us all!)
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One of these years I want to craft one of those

'Topsy-Turvy Upside Down Dolls'

with a Crone on one side, and The Maiden on the other.

I have never actually seen one made with that intention;

but I think that would make a fine Altar Doll

for several of our Sabbats- not just Imbolc.
(If any of you make, or have made one-

I would love to see your photos!)
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My daughter Makayla has been crafting a fine version of her own
Brighid's Crosses- Oragami style.

(Remember back in Elementary School? We knew them as Ninja Stars.

But Miss Red thought they reminded her of Brighid's Crosses-

and I think it is a fine interpretation!.)

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Anything to inspire the little Paganettes.
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For now I will leave you

with wishes for a fine Friday

and a Happy Imbolc

for you and your own families.
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Oh- and for my Crafty Chick's Retro Fantasy friends-

the Little Boy Vintage Paper Doll companion to last week's girl

is now up for your use.

Enjoy!
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I have also been writing some eHow Articles as well.

(See the box at the top of the page to find links to them.)

Here is a link to the newest one...

How to Clean Out and Organize Your Handbag

&

How to Craft the Perfect Handmade Valentine Card

the Men In Your Life

Thanks for stopping in to help support my writing-

and remember...

PLEASE Oh Please CLICK ON A GOOGLE AD

from my pages,

as that is how I get compensated & every little bit helps!

(And for any of you eHow or other writers-

send me your links

and I will always do the same for you.)
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~Danae, aka...one very tired Crafty Mama!