Imbolc - “Candlemas”
Order of Service for an Indoor Rite by Good Folk
Welcome to our celebration!
Before we begin...
All candles and other lights in the house are extinguished.
The altar is decorated with early spring flowers and a glass of milk.
Rosemary and Bay are on the altar and the Cauldron is nearby.
The Besom is left in the Circle. A bell is on the altar, as is the crescent Crown.
In the three branch candlestick, a white candle in the center, a red candle for Brighid, a
green candle for Angus Og.
The white candle, a bowl of water, and an oak branch represent Fire and Well and Sacred
Tree.
Bannocks and Ale, and the Bride bed are prepared. The Brideog and Wand are ready.
Offering bowls and grain offering.
All texts are understood to contain the directions “In these or similar words.”
[B and G] represent the two participants in the original rite. Divide roles as appropriate
for your group.
Preparing ourselves for our time with the Gods and Spirits
All process to the Sacred Grove and travel around it three times deosil. Light the
white candle on altar and the incense. The circle may be cast as usual, lighting the four
candles from the one on the altar.
Opening Litany:
from Women’s Rituals by Barbara D. Walker
[N] What is this night?
[S] It is the night of Imbolc.
[E] What is the meaning of this night?
[W] It is the festival of Brighid, of the New Fire.
[N] What do we honor on this night?
[S] We honor the hidden heat of Life, the unquenched spirit within
the frost.
[E] After this Festival of Fire, what will we do?
[W] We will rekindle our lights, and look toward a brightening
future.
[N] How do we recognize ourselves this night?
[S] We hold high the Fire. We feel the stirring of Life. We call
upon Brighid, the Mother who brings us the Spring, and upon Angus Og, symbol of human
love.
[E] Who helps us?
[W] The Gods help us, who are manifest in many ways.
[N] What are the Gods?
[S] The eternal Promise, the fire in the Flesh, the undying Spirit
of Blood and Breath, Rain and Sunshine.
[E] Who are the Gods?
[W] The Virgin of Light, the Crone of Darkness, the Mother of Time;
the Father of Life, the child of Love.
[N] Where are the Gods?
[S] In our hearts, in all seasons of the turning year.
Awen Invocation
[G] From the Gods, and from the Spirits of the
Earth, and from the Ancestors, may we
have the inspiration of worship and of prayer.
By Fire and Well and Sacred Tree
Earth-Mother now we honor thee;
May we be hallowed one and all
That you may hear us when we call.
Senior Druid moves Sunwise around the Circle censing each Druid, with words like:
[B] Pure and hallowed may you be.
[G] So be it.
Earth-Mother and Outdwellers Offerings
[G] Earth-Mother we honor you and ask your blessing on our
rite.
All take a bit of grain and place it in the Offering Bowl, with the same words. At
the conclusion of the Rite, the offering will be taken outside and given to the Earth.
An offering is made to the Outdwellers, and placed outside the Circle.
Grove Attunement
[G] rings bell 3 times.
[B] As our ancestors once did, so we do today, and so our
children will do in the future. We are here to pay homage to Brighid, Lady of Fire, and
Angus Og, Lad of Love; to the Gods, to the Ancestors, and to the Earth Spirits; to the
rising light of the year. Now is the time of stirring, when the earth begins to soften and
the waters to flow. While frost still bites and winds blow, the light is growing stronger,
and life begins to wake. This is the Feast of Brighid, the Goddess of Fire and Water. She
is the year’s midwife, who births the Sun. Also we make offering to Angus Og, the God
of young love. Through the union of fire and water the ancients, our forebears, worked
magic to call in the spring. So let us join together as one folk to make our offerings in
joy and reverence.
[G] Takes the Besom and sweeps the circle clean, then rings the bell 3 times.
[G] This was the spring festival of the Celtic year. This is
the time when spring lambs are born and ewes come into milk. Spring itself is scented in
the distance and thoughts are on the Goddess as much as the God. Burn now the evergreens,
the ivy, the mistletoe and holly, the rosemary and the bay. Clear out the old that the new
may enter in.
Rosemary, bay, mistletoe, holly, ivy and evergreens are burned in the cauldron.
All are seated, and there is silence for a moment. [B] leads the Two Powers or
other centering meditation as usual.
[G] leads chant, A song of Imbolc.
[G] Let us now sing the Song of Imbolc.
[All] Midwife of Mystery, open
the door,
Infant of the Infinite, come you in.
Let there be welcome to the newborn truth,
Let there be welcome to the Spring of the Year.
In cold and darkness you are traveling,
In warmth and brightness you will arrive.
May the blessed time of Imbolc
Kindle the soul of all beings,
Bringing birth to innocence and integrity
From the depths to the heights,
From the heights to the depths,
In the heart of every soul.
(Caitlin Matthews, Celtic Devotional)
Purpose of the Rite, Naming of the God and Goddess of Imbolc
[G] Imbolc is the time of the hearth fire, and the thawing
and stirring of Earth’s waters. We make offerings to Brighid, and to Angus Og.
[G] lights the Red Candle for Brighid, and makes an offering of oil.
[G] Brighid, Goddess of Poetry,
Fill our minds with Life and Light,
And bring new Meaning to this Night.
[All] So be it!
[G] Brighid, Goddess of the Hearth-fire,
Fill our hearts with hearth-fire bright,
And bring new Power to this Night.
[All] So be it!
[B] Brighid, Goddess of Healing,
Put all illness now to flight,
And bring new Wholeness to this Night.
[All] So be it!
[B] lights the Green Candle for the Angus Og, and makes an offering of oil.
[B] Angus Og, God of Love,
Fill our spirits now with mirth,
And may this Night bring forth new Birth.
[All] So be it!
Opening the Gates
[B] Let us now open the portals to the Otherworld, in Tree
and Fire and Sacred Well.
Come we now to this sacred grove
in this place between the worlds,
to give honor to the Goddess Brighid, and Angus Og.
Offerings make we now, that the portals may be opened.
[G] offers silver into the well, saying:
In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom,
Sacred Well, flow within us.
[B] lights incense from the White Candle and places in stand, saying,
I kindle the Sacred Fire in wisdom, love and power,
Sacred Fire, burn within us.
[G] sprinkles well water on the tree on the altar, saying,
World Tree with roots in the earth, and arms in the skies,
Sacred Tree, grow within us.
[All] So be it!
Invocation of the Three Kindreds
[B] We welcome now the Three Kindreds to our Rite:
Ancestors, Earth Spirits, and Gods.
Gods, and Dead, and Spirits all,
Receive our offering, hear our call.
By Fire, and Well, and Sacred Tree,
From Land and Sky, and from the Sea,
Now come, we pray you, to this Grove,
And bring your wisdom, strength, and love!
[G] Ancestors, Old Ones, remember us as we remember you;
Ancient Ones, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love.
Hoof and horn, leaf and stone, aid us as we aid you;
Earth Spirits, hear our prayers, and accept our offering of love.
Gods and Goddesses, Shining Ones, honor us as we honor you;
First-Born of Earth Mother, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love.
All sit and meditate upon the hosts of Spirits they have called. All speak in
their hearts to whichever
spirits present themselves to them.
Offering to the Imbolc Deities, The early Spring embodiment of the Divine
[G] The Song of Brighid:
Triple Goddess, One in Three,
Brighid, sing we now to thee:
Fire bright and Poem dear,
Healing power, bringing cheer;
All are manifest in thee,
Triple Goddess, One in Three!
The Brideog, or Bride-Doll is carried once around the altar and placed in its bed.
[B] The Song of Angus Og:
God of youth and God of Time,
Vigor of Life is always thine:
Strength of Cattle, strength of Love,
Strength of Beauty, form of Dove;
Wily though thy ways may be,
Lovers’ help is found in thee!
A wand of oak is carried once around the altar, and placed in the Bride bed.
Candles are lighted around the bed.
Prayer of Sacrifice
An offering of bannock is made, and milk, and cup of ale, with appropriate words
of praise from the heart for Brighid and for Angus Og.
The Omen
A Druid acting as an Ovate seeks the Omen through means of choice (rune, ogham, tarot,
etc.)
and interprets the Omen.
Receiving and Using the Returned Power
All sit.
[B] Let us now in silence or aloud express our personal and
group needs.
All express needs, either silently or aloud. [B] leads group into period of silent
meditation.
[B] leads guided meditation of receptivity. After a period of silence, [B] says:
[B] Join we now our hands in communion and agreement,
Consecrate we now ourselves to one another and to the Goddesses and Gods.
New incense is lighted and pass around the circle, Sunwise, each Druid censing the
other, in token of Divine Blessing.
[B] invites others to share insights, blessings, omens received.
At the conclusion of sharing, all share the cup of milk and join in chant:
[B] Join we now in chant of Communion and Praise.
[All] I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the Starlit Heaven,
The glorious Sun’s life-giving Ray,
The whiteness of the Moon at Ev’n;
The Flashing of the Lightning free,
The whirling Wind’s tempestuous Shocks,
The stable Earth, the deep salt Sea,
Around the old, eternal Rocks.
(from “Patrick’s Breastplate”)
Other workings as needed may be done at this time.
Bannocks and Ale are shared.
Unwinding and Ending
[B] O joyous Angus, son of Youth,
we thank thee for thy bright presence here.
We have been honored to have your Spirit among us.
Farewell, and Blessed Be!
[All] farewell, and Blessed Be!
[B] O magnificent Queen Brighid,
we thank thee for thy bright presence here.
We have been honored to have your Spirit among us.
Farewell, and Blessed Be!
[All] Farewell, and Blessed Be!
[G] Extinguishes the Candles after each person lights a taper from the White
Candle.
[G] The Goddess, the God have been honored.
This Rite of Imbolc is done.
Fire and Well and Sacred Tree,
and Gatekeeper of these portals three,
we offer thanks and praise to thee!
With welcome to the waxing Sun,
may gates be closed, and rite be done!
[B] Now our Rite of Imbolc is done.
Blessed peace on everyone,
and may we bring the light of Sun!
[B] leads others three times counter-Sunwise around the circle, in a journey back
from the Otherworld.
[G] rings the bell three times. The Rite is done.
Other candles in the house are lighted from the tapers.
Copyright 1998, by Good Folk
Permission to copy is granted if this notice is included
