Priestess: May the Sea not
rise up and swallow us. May the Sky not fall upon us. May the Fire not consume
us. May the Earth not open swallow us.
Priestess: Land Spirits, draw
close and hallow and hold this hall. What we have been given we return to you.
Accept our offerings this night! (pour libation into offering bowl)
Priestess:
Ancestors, draw close and hallow and hold this hall. What we have been given
we return to you. Accept our offerings this night. (place bread in offering bowl)
Priest:
Lugh, shining one, son of the Great Mother. Master of all magics. You who
are the light to our darkness that brings us peace and plenty. Join us now to banish
the darkness of our winter and bring us the promise of new life to come. Failte'
Lugh.
Priestess: Brighid, shining one, daughter of the Good God.
You who are the fire of creation called forth by the shapers at their forge. You
who are the spirit of inspiration this is written in the flaming words of the bards.
You who are the light that heals the darkness of body, mind and spirit. Come to
us this night. Help us to banish the cold and darkness of our winter and bring us
the promise of new life to come. Failte' Brighid.
(Symbolic Great Rite)
Priestess:
We gather tonight to celebrate the feast of Imbolc. In the days of our ancestors,
when they lived as family groups or clans upon the wild moors and in the deep forests
of a land that would one day be called Britain or Ireland, time was marked by the
passage of the sun and moon, and by the changes in the world around them. At Yule
they gathered around the fires to call back the sun and prayed that the darkness
would not swallow the earth. So slowly that at first none could tell the changes,
the dawn came earlier and the sunset later each day. But still the winter held fast
the land in its grip, and summer remained a distant memory. Then the Mother sent
signs to the clans that life would begin anew. For Imbolc, which means "first
milk" marked the season when the sheep and goats began to give birth and to
let down their milk.
Tonight we prepare for the visitation of Bríghid. She
comes tonight to bring us tidings for the rest of this year. We are gathered here
to honor the Goddess of Poetry, Healing, and Smithcraft. She is daughter of the Dagda,
guardian of our hearth and home, an inspiration to poets and a healing Goddess who
hangs Her cloak on the rays of the sun. As I kindle the flame upon my hearth, I pray
that the flame of Bríghid may burn in my soul, and the souls of all I meet. I pray
that no envy and malice, no hatred or fear, may smother the flame. I pray that indifference
and apathy, contempt and pride, may not pour like cold water on the flame. Instead,
may the spark of Bríghid light the love in my soul, that it may burn brightly through
the day. And may I warm those that are lonely, whose hearts are cold and lifeless,
so that all may know the comfort of Brídghid's love.
(Draw Down - Chant:
Spirits of Fire)
(Cup of Sharing - Chant - Now we banish winter)
Priestess:
May this cup be filled with the blessings of Brighid!
Priestess:
May this bread be filled with the blessings of Brighid!
(Priest and Priestess
bid farewell to the Lord and Lady)
Priestess: Ancestors, we have
been honored by your company. Depart now in peace until we meet again.
Priestess:
Land Spirits, we have been honored by your company. Depart now in peace until we
meet again.
Imbolc
Ritual - 2006