What I'm Learning From The Goddess Brigit

This is Brigit's season and I have never felt her presence so strong in my life. Well, yes, that could be because I've never tried to connect with her before. And it could be because I never really celebrated Imbolc or this season before. But I am so happy that I am today.


One of the reasons I so strongly wanted to activily practice Wicca again was because I needed the guidence of Spirit to provide me with the lessons I needed to learn to get healthy again. Mentally healthy. And to become a person that I can be proud of. Just as many people turn to thier spirituality when they need healing, I am doing the same.


Almost every morning I take part in a daily devotional ritual, which takes anywhere between five to fifteen minutes. It all depends on my mood, my schedule, and how long the Gods keep me there. Although I don't do this every day, I wish I did. On the days I don't have this quiet time with my Gods, I always sort of feel off-kilter. I'm so glad I had my ritual this morning.


I have a beautiful image of Brigit above my alter. In fact, this is the exact image:

And as I was meditating and thinking about the words I say during my daily ritual I knew She was helping me sort out some issues.

I have added special wording within my ritual to help me remember to see the beauty in every one and every thing and to make the right choices to live in perfect love and perfect trust. Part of the reason for this is that I have a child with several neurological disorders and he is always challenging me, whether he knows it or not. And over the  years, I just come to expect the worst. I need to let go of this attitude and learn to be more patient with him when he needs me to be and remember that he has troubles and is a bit immature for his age. But we all know how hard it is to change things like this that have become almost instinct. I don't want to yell anymore and I just want to love him even more than I do now, no matter how bad his behavior is.

Brigit reminded me of the Charge Of The Goddess.. this line that keeps echoing in my head over and over for the past couple months, which is "If that which thous seekest thou findest not within thee, thou wilt never find it without thee"  And this line I continually meditate upon. It's telling me that if I can't first find the love and compasion and patience within me, how can I then share it with others? If I can't FEEL the Universal Love within me, I will not be able to feel it from others, including my  Gods and my children. And I will not be able to be the mother or the person I want to be until I feel that I am that person already in my heart.

And it ties in with Brigits fire because that fire of passion and love must be contiously burning within me, and then I can share it with others. Passing along a piece of my fire.. aka.. sharing the Universal Love with others...When I share my internal fire with others, what is burning inside me will grow to replace what I have shared, because that is the nature of fire. And that person will now have a small piece of the Universal Love Flame that will grow within them, just as the natural will of fire is to burn big and bright and it will grow big enough to fill up that person's soul just as it fills mine.

As with everything in and of this world, we are all connected, which is why Brigit is showing me how my desire to be more loving must start within me, as a flame in my soul, just as She shows her flame. And then I can share that flame with others as She shares hers. But I first have to find and kindle my flame and be the person I want to be before I can then share with others. I will not find what I am looking for anywhere but within myself. It's a lesson in the energy of Fire, in the emotion of love and compasion and forgivness, and also an inspiration to continue to learn how to be the best I can be with the help of the Ancient Ones. And I belive this is one of the Wiccan Mysteries that I am meant to learn and continue to learn more about.

Do you have a daily ritual, meditation, or affirmation? How has it helped you as a Wiccan or as a person? Have you been able to connect with a specific Deity through this process? I'd love to hear about some of your stories!!

Until next time, may you be guided and protected by the light of the sun and the moon,

Aria

Blessed Imbolc - A Wiccan Sabbat

Today, the first signs of spring and the lengthening of the days are celebrated around the world and the Wiccan Wheel turns again!

Brigit, the beloved Celtic goddess is invited into many circles and homes in hopes of her blessings for the year.

The sabbat Imbolc honors the Goddess as the waiting bride of the returning sun God. Before the Nordic influence, it was also the Sabbat and season when the Celts saw the sun as being born anew. In Ireland it was, and still is, a special day to honor the Goddess Brid in her guise of bride. The modern Irish celebrate this day as St. Briget's Day, St. Briget being a slightly disguised, Christianized version of the Pagan Goddess.

On Imbolc, the Celts would dress grain dollies, which are made from dried sheaves from the previous harvest, as brides. These dollies would be laid in a place of honor within their homes, typically in cradles or baskets called Bride's Beds. Nuts, symbols of male fertility, were tossed in with them, as well as a staff, cape and other items.

Imbolc is a fire festival, where bonfires are held and candles are lit in profusion, often within a wreath, another symbol of the Wheel of the Year. The fire and candles are symbolic of the heat and light of the returning sun.

At this time of the year, the Goddess and God are seen as youthful figures and are not yet joined as One through sacred marriage. They are innocent and fun-loving, and are waiting for spring just as anxiously we are.

Here are some things you can do on or around Imbolc to celebrate the season:

• Make the Bride's Bed using the Corn or Wheat Doll made the previous Lughnassadh. Dress the doll in white or blue with a necklace that represents the seasons. Lay it in a long basket adorned with ribbons; light white candles on either side of the basket, and say:

"Welcome the bride both maiden and mother; rest and prepare for the time of the seed; cleansed and refreshed from labors behind her; with the promise of spring she lays before me."

Next morning, remove the dress and scatter the wheat outdoors (or if you use corn, hang it up in a tree for the squirrels and birds). This represents the Lady's recovery from the birthing bed and readiness to begin the turning of the seasons anew. The Imbolc Corn Doll represents the mother nurturing her son, who will grow and become her husband. This is the earth and the sun, which is still weak but gaining in strength.

• On Imbolc Eve, leave buttered bread in a bowl indoors for the faeries who travel with the Lady of Greenwood. Next day, dispose of it as the "essence" will have been removed.

• Place three ears of corn on the door as a symbol of the Triple Goddess and leave until Ostara.
• Light a white candle and burn sandalwood incense.

• Cleanse the area where you do card readings or scrying with a censor burning rosemary or vervain, and say:

"By the power of this smoke I wash away the negative influences that this place be cleansed for the Lady and her babe."

• Cleanse the altar and equipment, do a self-purification rite with the elemental tools representing earth (salt) for body, air (incense) for thoughts; fire (candle flame) for will; and water (water) for emotions.
  
• Make dream pillows for everyone in the family.
  
• Create a Solar Cross from straw, palm fronds or pipe cleaners. (A great craft for kids!) Make enough to place one in each room of the house.
  
• Bless each room in your home. Place a red pillar-style candle center to the front door; with palm crosses in hand, light the candle and open the door and say:

"We welcome in the Goddess and seek the turning of the wheel away from winter and into spring."

Close door; take up the candle and go to each room of the house and say:

"Great Lady enter with the sun and watch over this room!"

Leave a Solar Cross in the room and proceed throughout the house. This is great for the kids as you can divide up the tasks for each to do - one can hold the palms, another can open doors, another can carry the candle, and so forth.  The last room should be the kitchen and here you say:

"Mother of the earth and sun, Keep us safe and keep us warm, As over our home you extend your blessings."


Later, I will post the solitary Imbolc ritual that I will be doing tonight.