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Happy Imbolc!

 
 
Leigh Monster loses its cool
17:07 / 01.02.07
Happy Spring everyone =)

I've never spoken to Brigid or asked anything of her, but I feel like I should acknowledge her this year, seeing as I'm sort of staying in Her home. Any suggestions? I was just going to light a candle and leave some porridge with milk and honey. Is there any reason she might not be okay with this sort of abrupt hello?
 
 
Ticker
17:16 / 01.02.07
Imbolc


In addition to being a vital source of nourishment, milk also served as a symbol of purity. That the festival of Saint Brigit falls on the same day as the pagan holiday of Imbolc is probably more than coincidence. Of course, we must remember that even though the Saint's day is the same as the holiday, we have no warrant to presume that the pagan celebration was associated with the goddess of the same name.


More on Brigit, Milk, and Imbolc

IMO Imbolc was a lot bigger than Brigit as throughout the Celtic Isles different Milk Deities are connected with the Sovereignty of the Land.

The first Milking (goats as well as sheep) is a very big deal in cultures that rely heavily on it for food.
 
 
Leigh Monster loses its cool
17:35 / 01.02.07
ooh, sorry. pretend that my "happy imbolc everyone" and my noob question about brigid were non sequiturs.
 
 
Princess
18:44 / 01.02.07
Hooray!Imbolc is rocking. Last Imbolc myself and the Gardenerians I work with did a pretty wee ritual, and it involved making little requests for things to bloom.

Well they did, so that rocks, and I'm stoked.
 
 
grant
18:59 / 01.02.07
Bless my candles.

Aw, yeah. Let that baby show the way.
 
 
ostranenie
19:11 / 01.02.07
Laoi: I don't think you need apologise. Okay, maybe we don't know exactly how the ancient pagans celebrated Imbolc, but the association between Brigit and Imbolc is very strong, at least in Ireland. She's the only deity I've seen consistently associated with it in anything I've read, though most of it's been specifically Ireland-related. (Though xk, I'd be very interested in hearing which other deities are.)

I think She'd appreciate the hello. She's never seemed to me like the kind of deity who demands you approach her with pomp and ceremony and exact forms of words. She's more informal than that, as I see her; the kind of goddess you could imagine yourself having a pint with while She dispensed robust advice and kicked your ass in a tough-love sort of way if She thought you needed it. (God, that sounds twee, sorry.)

By the way, when you say "staying in Her home", where do you mean? Just out of interest.

But I should get off the internet, I have a small thanksgiving ritual to do. Happy Imbolc to you too.
 
 
Earlier than I thought
19:11 / 01.02.07
Lit a candle in celebration. Suddenly, a pint of milk bursts in the kitchen, goes everywhere. Hie me to Barbelith, where I hear of milky offerings. Dance delightedly at the way it works. Hoorah!
 
 
Olulabelle
21:18 / 01.02.07
Bring a snowdrop into your house, place it on your altar and acknowledge it as Brigid. Welcome her. Light white candles, bless the candles you will use during the coming year. Clean your house and youself and welcome Spring into your life and your home.
 
 
Haloquin
21:29 / 01.02.07
Yay!

People turned up to the Imbolc ritual, and it went fairly smoothly (apart from me forgetting to lead the acknowledgement of Brigid... *blushes*... when the fire went out we all relit it together in her honour, so that worked out alright!)

On Milkiness, I got a recipe for a nice drink;

mug of milk, 2 teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of nutmeg, microwave/heat on hob until steaming.

Yummy!
 
 
ostranenie
21:55 / 01.02.07
Also: Brigit likes thresholds and in-between places. I'm going to leave some cake and cider at a sort of little stile between my housing estate and the woods. And look at the moon while I'm at it.
 
 
Leigh Monster loses its cool
22:04 / 01.02.07
I cleaned everything and had milk and honey and everything feels wonderful and I love you all!
 
 
harmonic series
04:57 / 02.02.07
Oh, happy Imbolc; on a full moon, even!

I set out an offering, with a little cinnamon- I don't know, it seemed 'warm' to me.

Hope you all have a wonderful "womb-like" day. Also, blessings for your baked goods, if you like to make recipes for this special day.
 
 
Olulabelle
07:30 / 02.02.07
I am making my Mum's birthday cake because her birthday is on 3rd. Blessed be her coffee and walnut cake then...
 
  
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