Imbolc

Imbolc Ritual 2012

Again, this Ritual was pieced together from various Rituals I found online. Feel free to use and adapt it.

(Everyone should line up on driveway in front of the house. Four quarters and the person playing Brighid will be given lit torches. HP will be at front of line, HPS will be at end, four quarters will be spaced in the line. Jess will go over and stand with lit torch beside the Brighid’s well.

HPS: Good Fey, know ye are welcome!

HP: Go we now to the sacred place
And stand within the sacred space
Turn your minds to sacred things
And dance with me unto the ring!
Come we forth, with joyful Dance
Within the Lady's radiance
To celebrate the Sun's rebirth
To renew life, to warm the Earth
Earth and Water, Fire and Air
I invoke the Goddess there!
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!
Earth and Water, Fire and Sky
I invoke the God on high
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!

(Stan will lead group to and around the fire three times. )

HPS: Let us call the quarters

EAST: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, I do summon
Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.
(Take torch and light the East torch that is stuck in the ground and then put the torch in your hands in the fire)

SOUTH: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, I do summon
Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.
(Take torch and light the South torch that is stuck in the ground and then put the torch in your hands in the fire)

WEST: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, I do summon
Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.
(Take torch and light the West torch that is stuck in the ground and then put the torch in your hands in the fire)

NORTH: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, I do summon
Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.
(Take torch and light the North torch that is stuck in the ground and then put the torch in your hands in the fire )

ALL: The circle is cast and we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as one

HPS: Goddess of rebirth. You again bring forth the God and the promise of spring
Be with us this night. As we celebrate the young God and the growing light

HP:  God of love, and protection. You again lead the ever-changing dance of life
Be with us this night. As we celebrate the rising of the Mother and the fertility of the Earth

HPS:  Imbolc is upon us. And spring draws near. Beneath us the world slowly awaken. We come together to celebrate this night

HP: The Goddess and God stand together once more. May we feel their presence in our hearts and minds. As easily as we see them in the wider world

( The person playing Brighid who has been standing over near the Bighid’s well with a lit torch, should step forth, and say:)

The person playing Brighid:  This is the time of Brighid, the Patron of Poets and Fire, and of Healing.
This is the time of new beginnings, when the Mother has become Maiden.
This is the time when the days have turned, and grow longer, and the Sun-child is growing to His strength.
Now is the time that the Earth slowly awakens under her mantle of snow and the light grows!

HP and HPS: the light grows! The Earth awakens!

The person playing Brighid: This is the time of Brighid, the Patron of Poets and Fire, and of Healing. Come now, one by one and receive her blessings and healing from her well.

(Each person should walk up to the person playing Brighid who will be standing beside the well, and Jess  should lightly dab some of the well water on their forehead.)

The person playing Brighid: (Hand your torch to HP, while you do the blessings. To each person as they receive Brigit’s blessing)
May Brigit bless you and heal you

(Once everyone has received Brigit’s Blessing. Jess may take back torch and rejoin the circle.)

The person playing Brighid: This is the time of Brigid, the Patron of Poets and Fire, and of Healing. To tribute her and thank her for her Blessings, let us all read the poems we have prepared for her, once read please let the fire consume your poem, so it may ever be heard by her.

(The person playing Brighid should pass her torch to around circle to give everyone light to read their poem by. Everybody should read the poem they prepared and once read they should put their piece of paper in the fire. Once torch makes it back to The person playing Brighid, she can put it in the fire.)

HP: Let us share in the simple feast and thank the Great Mother and Father God for the bounty they share with us and the lives they have blessed us with.

HPS: Let us never thirst! (Pass around drinking horn)

HP: Let us never hunger! (pass around plate of bread)

HPS: Let us thank the quarters

(Quarters should go pick up torches that are stuck in the ground and walk back to the fire, hold the torches up, recite the following together and then put the torches in the fire)

All quarters together:
Thus I release the East and West
Thanks to them from Host to Guest
Thus I release the South and North
With "Blessed Be' I send them forth!
The Circle's open, dance we so
Out and homeward we shall go.
Earth and Water, Air and Fire
Celebrated our desire.
The Sun's returned to banish dark
The Earth awakes to sunlight's spark.
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
Our circle's done; and Blessed Be!

EVERYBODY: Blessed Be!

Imbolc Ritual 2011

Everyone will line up on front driveway. The 4 quarters and HPS will be given lit torches to carry, HPS will follow in the end. The four quarters should be in order - East, South, West and North- and spread out evenly throughout the line. The group will walk single file to the fire, and then after walking three times around the fire will form a circle around the fire. Trish will use her torch to light the fire. 

EAST: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, I do summon

Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.

(Take torch and light the East torch that is stuck in the ground)

SOUTH: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, I do summon

Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.

(Take torch and light the South torch that is stuck in the ground)

WEST: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, I do summon

Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.

(Take torch and light the West torch that is stuck in the ground)

NORTH: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, I do summon

Stir, I call ye now to witness this Rite and guard this circle. Blessed Be.

(Take torch and light the North torch that is stuck in the ground)

ALL: The circle is cast and we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as one. 

EAST: Goddess of rebirth. You again bring forth the God and the promise of spring

Be with us this night. As we celebrate the young God and the growing light 

SOUTH:  God of love, and protection. You again lead the ever-changing dance of life

Be with us this night. As we celebrate the rising of the Mother and the fertility of the Earth 

WEST:  Imbolc is upon us. And spring draws near. Beneath us the world slowly awaken. We come together to celebrate this night

NORTH: The Goddess and God stand together once more. May we feel their presence in our hearts and minds. As easily as we see them in the wider world 

HPS: 

( HPS, who has been quietly standing off to the side over near the altar, will pick up the cauldron of blessed water and walk around the circle, she’ll stop in front of each person and say……

It is Imbolc, the sun grows stronger, what will you sacrifice to help life be renewed?   (person should put whatever the brought into the fire)

(Once the sacrifice is made,  touch them lightly on the brow with some of the blessed water and say… )

You are Goddess, you are God. You are the blanket of winter, and the first breath of spring. Imbolc Blessing upon you. Bless and Be Blessed

(Once everyone has been blessed, HPS will walk back to in front of Altar, and go back to standing quietly off to the side of it)

EAST: The light grows strong once more in the land. Under the snow, the pulse of life quickens. Feel the Earth beneath you, the heartbeat of the waking Mother.

May we share in the great cycle of rebirth. And blossom with new life and creativity. So mote it be.

All: So mote it be! 

SOUTH: Night gives way before the growing God 

WEST: We feel the power alive in the world 

NORTH: The Goddess walks the Earth again 

EAST: And sings us awake with wind and rain 

SOUTH: The promise of life is newly made 

WEST: Our winter's debt to darkness paid . Blessed be! 

(Four quarters step forward together and put their torches in the fire)

EAST: Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, thank ye for joining us this eve. I bid thee, Hail and Farewell! Blessed be! (Pick up quarter torch and put it in fire)

SOUTH: Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, thank ye for joining us this eve. I bid thee, Hail and Farewell! Blessed Be! (Pick up quarter torch and put it in fire)

WEST: Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, thank ye for joining us this eve. I bid thee, Hail and Farewell! Blessed Be! (Pick up quarter torch and put it in fire)

NORTH: Hail, Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, thank ye for joining us this eve. I bid thee, Hail and Farewell! Blessed be! (Pick up quarter torch and put it in fire)

HPS: Mother Goddess and Father God, our love and thanks!

The circle is open, yet never broken.

Again, this Ritual was pieced together from various Rituals I found online. Feel free to use and adapt it.

Imbolc Ritual- 2009

HP: Good Fey, know ye are welcome!

HPS: Go we now to the sacred place
And stand within the sacred space
Turn your minds to sacred things
And dance with me unto the ring!

(HPS will  lead group to around the fire by a spiral dance. The greenman should be at the end of the line. )

HPS: Come we forth, with the Spiral Dance
Within the Lady's radiance
To celebrate the Sun's rebirth
To renew life, to warm the Earth
Earth and Water, Fire and Air
I invoke the Goddess there!
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!

HP:  Earth and Water, Fire and Sky
I invoke the God on high
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!

HPS: Let us call the quarters

EAST   O Guardians of the Eastern Tower,
Airy ones of healing power
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

SOUTH   Oh fiery ones of Southern Power
Thus I invite you to this tower
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

WEST  Western ones of water's flow
Help to guard us here below
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

NORTH  Earthen ones of Northern fame
Bless and guard our Power's fane
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

HP:  So I cast and consecrate
This Circle of the small and great:
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
By Rock and Earth, by Land and Sea,
By Fire and Water, Earth and Air,
By the Lord, and Lady Fair!
By Love and Joy and Work and Play,
All things harmful cast away!
By lightening's flash, and rain's soft fall,
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:  Cast the Circle: Blessed be!

EVERYBODY: The circle is cast and we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow , meet as one.

( The Maiden shall step forth, and say. Maiden should be given a lit white candle)

MAIDEN  This is the time of Brigid, the Patron of Poets and Fire, and of Healing.

HPS:  This is the time of new beginnings, when the Mother has become Maiden.

HP:  The days have turned, and grow longer, and the Sun-child is growing to His strength.

GREEN MAN   I have been a wave upon the sea,
And a spark in the firelight.
I have been a fish in the ocean.
I have been a Thought within a Word,
And a Word within a Deed.
I was cast away, and found again.
I have been made of flowers  And of cold steel and brass.
Fire and ice are alike unto me.
I have been the narrow blade of a sword
That kills without cutting.
And the Void is my homeland.  I have been in Caer Sidi
In the Spiral Castle of Glass.
And the letters on the Standing Stones Are no secret from me.
I have been in Annwyn  And Tir na n'Og,
I have danced the Spiral Dance,
And drunk from the Hierlas at daybreak.
I have ridden beneath two ravens
And served in the kitchen, And all places are alike unto me.
I have been a child  And now I come into my strength!
I invoke the Land, the dear Land, the Earth our Mother!

MAIDEN   The cycles of the Moon have taken their course, and I am in my Maidenhood. The stars are kindled, and I dance in their light.

GREENMAN:  Thy home is with me thru the long months of Winter, when the Earth shall lie fallow and bare.

MAIDEN: But no more! The Earth is awakening! Very slowly , under the mantle of snow, it awakens again! The Light grows!

GREENMAN:  Yes, the light grows!

(The Greenman should walk around the circle handing out candles, The Maiden should walk around the circle lighting everybody’s candles. The Greenman may rejoin the circle when he has handed out all the candles)

MAIDEN  This is the time of Brigid, the Patron of Poets and Fire, and of Healing. Come now, one by one and receive her blessings and healing from her well.

(Each person should walk up to the Maiden who will be standing beside the well, and the Maiden should lightly dab some of the well water on their forehead.)

MAIDEN: (To each person as they receive Brigit’s blessing)
May Brigit bless you and heal you

(Once everyone has received Brigit’s Blessing. The Maiden may rejoin the circle.)

HPS: This is the time of Brigid, the Patron of Poets and Fire, and of Healing. To tribute her and thank her for her Blessings, let us all read the poems we have prepared for her, once read please let the fire consume your poem, so it may ever be heard by her.

(Everybody should read the poem they prepared and once read they should put their piece of paper in the fire)

HP: Let us share in the simple feast and thank the Great Mother and Father God for the bounty they share with us and the lives they have blessed us with.

HPS: Let us never thirst! (Pass around drinking horn)

HP: Let us never hunger! (pass around plate of bread)

HPS:  Thus I release the East and West
Thanks to them from Host to Guest
Thus I release the South and North
With "Blessed Be' I send them forth!
The Circle's open, dance we so
Out and homeward we shall go.
Earth and Water, Air and Fire
Celebrated our desire.
The Sun's returned to banish dark
The Earth awakes to sunlight's spark.
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
Our circle's done; and Blessed Be!

EVERYBODY: Blessed Be!

STAN” Happy Imbolc to all!

Again, this Ritual was pieced together from various Rituals I found online. Feel free to use and adapt it.

IMBOLC RITUAL 2008

EAST: Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East, I do summon, stir, I call ye now to witness this rite and guard this circle.

SOUTH: Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South, I do summon, stir, I call ye now to witness this rite and guard this circle.

WEST: Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West, I do summon, stir, I call ye now to witness this rite and guard this circle.

NORTH: Ye Guardians of the Watchtowers of the North, I do summon, stir, I call ye now to witness this rite and guard this circle.

ALL: The circle is cast and we are between the worlds, beyond the bounds of time, where night and day, birth and death, joy and sorrow, meet as one.

HP:  Goddess of rebirth
You again bring forth the God and the promise of spring
Be with us this night
As we celebrate the young God
and the growing light

HPS: God of love, and protection
You again lead the ever-changing dance of life
Be with us this night
As we celebrate the rising of the Mother
And the fertility of the Earth

HP: The Goddess and God stand together once more
May we feel their presence in our hearts and minds
As easily as we see them in the wider world

(Light a taper candle from God candle and walk around circle lighting everybody’s taper. As each candle is lit, say to the person….)

You are Goddess
You are God
You are the blanket of winter
and the first breath of spring
Be with us, within us
Bless, and be blessed

HP:  The light grows strong once more in the land
Under the snow, the pulse of life quickens
Feel the Earth beneath you, the heartbeat of the waking Mother
May we share in the great cycle of rebirth
And blossom with new life and creativity
Blessed Be!

EAST: Night gives way before the growing God

SOUTH: We feel the power alive in the world

WEST: The Goddess walks the Earth again

NORTH: And sings us awake with wind and rain

EAST: The promise of life is newly made

SOUTH: Our winter's debt to darkness paid
Blessed be!

HPS: Let us end with the simple Feast

HP: Goddess of abundance
Bless these gifts as you bless us all
Help us to see the Divine in all we share

HPS: God of the harvest
Bless these gifts as you bless us all
Help us to see the Divine in all we share

(Pass around mead and cakes)

HP: May we never hunger

HPS: May we never thirst

HP: Goddess of the brightening day
We thank you for your presence in our circle,
And ask you to be near us,
While we are apart;
Let your warmth revive us
Your love support us
And your passion inspire us all

HPS: God of the growing and wild things
We thank you for your presence in our circle,
And ask you to be near us,
While we are apart;
Let your warmth revive us
Your love support us
And your passion inspire us all

EAST: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the East,
Thank you for your presence and strength
Both here, tonight, and in our daily lives
May we live in peace, with you and each other, always
Blessed Be!

SOUTH: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the South,
Thank you for your presence and strength
Both here, tonight, and in our daily lives
May we live in peace, with you and each other, always
Blessed Be!

WEST: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West,
Thank you for your presence and strength
Both here, tonight, and in our daily lives
May we live in peace, with you and each other, always
Blessed Be!

NORTH: Guardians of the Watchtowers of the West,
Thank you for your presence and strength
Both here, tonight, and in our daily lives
May we live in peace, with you and each other, always
Blessed Be!

HPS: Let us all come together and open the circle

(sing three times)

The circle is open, but yet unbroken
May the love of the Lord and lady be ever in your heart
Merry meet, and merry part and merry meet again.

HP: the circle is open but unbroken. Blessed be!