Imbolc
Imbolc, also referred to as Candlemas, came and went saturday, though it was only yesterday when I was able to do my ritual. I can’t post it online just yet, I only have it in handwritten form and haven’t typed it into the computer yet. As soon as I do that I will post it, though the holiday is past.
Like many Wiccan holidays, the origins of this holiday are from older times - this is traditionally when calving was done during the winter, thinning the herd to make sure it was strong enough to survive the remaining winter months. It’s also sacred to the Irish goddess Brigid (pronounced Bree), Goddess of poetry, smithcrafting, and healing. Accordingly, she is considered a fire goddess. He worship was so entrenched in Ireland the Catholic Church was unable to extinguish Her worship, and so she was canonized as a saint, like many pagan gods.
Literally translated, Imbolc means ‘in the belly’ and is symbolic of the Goddess being pregnant with the Sun God, whom she will give birth to at Ostara, the spring equinox. It is customary to plan goals for the coming year, to decide what you want to accomplish. I actually did that last fall, but I used this holiday to commit myself to doing the things I know I should be doing in order to make them happen, and to do the things I know I need to do in order to take care of myself correctly, like going to jujitsu class regularly, and to stop doing things I shouldn’t be doing, like eating junk.
So far I’ve kept up with my project at the Gardens, though I suspect that may become more difficult as the temperature improves. Next weekend may be particularly difficult, as there is a special display that weekend and I will likely be competing to see if I can take certain pictures before the crowd builds too much and I am unable to take them.
Regardless, I have driven the proverbial stake in the ground and said this is what I’m going to do, I’m going to make the necessary changes to make sure it happens, and I accept the responsibility and consequences of my decisions. Which I think will be all positive, because most of the changes I want to make are about doing the things I want to do but have been to lazy to do them. Nothing like a good ritual to motivate you and remind you that you’ve been slacking off, and that someone can serve as a witness besides the face in the mirror.