FROM PATTI WIGINGTON, YOUR GUIDE TO PAGANISM / WICCAN"
How will you celebrate Imbolc?
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Licensed to About.comImbolc is right around the corner on February 2, for our Northern Hemisphere readers, so this is a good time to start preparing your rituals and ceremonies to celebrate this Sabbat. Use it as a time to honor the goddess Brighid, or to celebrate the end of winter. For many traditions, this is a time of new beginnings, rededication, cleansing, and initiation. Have a magical week, and don't forget you can FOLLOW PAGAN/WICCAN ON TWITTER OR JOIN ME ON FACEBOOK.
Imbolc HIstory Imbolc is a holiday with a variety of names, depending on which culture and location you're looking at. Regardless, it's evident that many societies chose this point, midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, as a time to celebrate. The Romans, the Celts, and even the ancient Egyptians found ways to mark this important time of the year. Search Related Topics: february holidays wiccan and pagan calendar wheel of the year
Saying Farewell to Winter Imbolc is typically around the time when we're all getting cabin fever -- it's cold, we're snowed in, and frankly, we're all a bit tired of winter. This simple ritual is a fun one to do with your family on a snowy day, but can also be performed by a single person. The best time to do it is when you have a fresh layer of snow on the ground, but if that's not possible, never fear. Find a big pile of snow to work in.
If you don't have time to do a full length ritual, try our End of Winter Meditation instead. Search Related Topics: rituals pagan celebrations wiccan ceremonies
New Beginnings In some Pagan traditions, Imbolc is a time of new beginnings. If your group is welcoming new members, try our Imbolc Initiation Ceremony. If you've already dedicated yourself to the gods of your tradition, you can re-affirm your commitment with a Rededication Ritual. Search Related Topics: imbolc rituals self-dedication rededication
Honoring Brighid This ritual is designed for a group of individuals, but could easily be adapted for a solitary practitioner. Imbolc is the time between Yule and the Spring Equinox, the halfway point in the dark months of the year. It's the time when the days suddenly seem to be getting longer, and the snow is beginning to melt, showing us small patches of earth and green. At this time of returning spring, our ancestors lit bonfires and candles to celebrate the rebirth of the land. Search Related Topics: imbolc rituals pagan celebrations