Imbolc Correspondences

" Feel Me now as Maiden.I am the initiator. I am the twinkle of an idea. I am the spark that activates and inspires.I am the light that illuminates manifestation.I bring the energy that encourages the sleeping Winter world to begin to stir.Feel My presence.I am the spark of life in all things."

excerpt by Wendy Andrew

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This is the time of celebrating the virgin & Maiden Goddess

as she prepares for her union with the Sun God

and to pay homage to the Mother Goddess

for nurturing the young God as he continues to gain his strength.

A time of purification & cleansing as we bid farewell to the Winter

and welcome the coming warmth.

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We sweep away the dead season

and light bonfires and candles to banish the darkness and welcome the light
This day marks the inception of Spring,

the beginning of new life in the belly of the Earth
~~~
On this day, many of us celebrate Brighid,

Triple Goddess, Goddess of healing, poetry and The forge.

Patron of smiths, healers and artisans.

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"It is tempting to view this tender goddess of the early Spring
only as: a wide-eyed, golden-haired girl, encircled by children.

But behind her girlish innocence

is the power of a once-great ancestral deity, Brigid,

whose name means “The Exalted One,”

queen and mother goddess of many European tribes.

She is also known as Brigid, Bridget, Brighid, Brighde, Brig or Bride

and some scholars consider her name originated

with the Vedic Sanskrit word brihati, an epithet of the divine.

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The 10th century Cormac’s Glossary

describes her as the daughter of the Daghda,

the “Great God” of the Tuatha de Danaan.

He calls her a “woman of wisdom…

a goddess whom poets adored,

because her protection was very great and very famous.”
Since the discipline of poetry, filidhect, was interwoven with seership,

Brigid was seen as the great inspiration behind divination and prophecy,

the source of oracles.

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She is said to have had two sisters:

Brigid the Physician and Brigid the Smith,

but it is generally thought that all three were aspects

of the one goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft.

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Elsewhere she is described as the patron

of other vital crafts of early Celtic society:

dying, weaving and brewing.

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A goddess of regeneration and abundance,

she was greatly beloved as a provider of plenty

who brought forth the bounties of the natural world

or the good of the people.

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She is closely connected with livestock and domesticated animals.

She had two oxen called Fea and Feimhean.

She was also the guardian of Torc Triath,

king of the wild boar.

These three totem animals used to raise a warning cry if Ireland was in danger."

excerpt from the writing of Donna Woodka

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Gods

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Cernunnos, Eros, Herne, Osiris, Pan

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Goddesses

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Aradia, Athena, Bast, Blaize, Brigid/Brighid,

Ceres, Cerridwen, Demeter,

Gaia, Hestia, Venus, Vesta

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Colors

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Lavender, Light Green, Orange, Pink, Red, White, Yellow

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Tools

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Besom, Bonfire, Brighid's Bed,

Candles, Cauldron, Garden Tools, Priapic (Acorn) Wand

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Symbols

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Besom, Brighid's Cross, Candle, Corn Doll,

Garden Tools, Lantern, Plough, Priapic Wand, White flowers

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Animals

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Burrowing animals, Ewes, Deer, Goats, Lambs
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Herbs

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Angelica, Basil, Bay, Blackberry, Celandine, Chamomile, Coltsfoot, Rosemary
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Feast Foods

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Bread, Cakes, Dairy products, Seeds

Meats-such as Lamb & Roasts
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Feast Drinks

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Milk, Warm Drinks- such as Ciders & Mulled Wines,

Herbal Teas- especially Chamomile tea,
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Metals

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Brass, Gold, Iron
Incense & Oils
Jasmine, Myrrh, Neroli
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Flowers

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All Early Spring Flowers- the very firsts of the season;

Snowdrops, Daffodils, Heather, Iris, Primrose, Tansy, Broom
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Trees

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Evergreens, Willow
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Gemstones

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Agates, Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Moonstone,

Onyx, Rose Quartz, Ruby, Turquoise
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Altar Decorations

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White Flowers, Acorns, Brigid's Cross, Bride's Beds, Corn Dolls,

Daffodils, Lanterns, Sun symbols, Bonfires, Candles

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Rituals & Spells

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Awakening Rituals ~ Initiation Rituals~ Purification & Cleansing Rituals

Bonfires ~ Candle Magic ~ Fertility Magic

Goals for the coming Quarter/Season/Year

Consecration of the Gardens/Farms and Agricultural Tools

Healing Magic & preparation of remedies

Hearth & Home blessings ~ Home Fire (extinguish & relight)

*HAPPY IMBOLC DEAR FRIENDS & READERS

&

HAPPY LUGHNASADH TO MY FRIENDS

IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
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Much Love & Light from Me & my Banshees

~Danae, Acacia Makayla & Jeremiah Donovan