Today is the start of Imbolc (pronounced ee-molk) and is an important festival in the witchy calendar.
Imbolc is one of the fire festivals in the Wheel of the Year, and represents the move into spring. The goddess has cast of the robes of the crone and renewed herself as a maiden and Imbloc celebrates season of awakening and rebirth.
On this day in Ireland the Celtic calendar celebrates Brede's Day. The Catholic church were at pains to squash the Celtic Gods and so they canonized Brede, who became known as St Bridgid.
Light a candle - spring is on its way.
15 comments:
It is celebrated as a lesser Gods day here in South Devon, the Curch in Lampton is called St Birdies - also Bridget, and local children carry a smouldering sausage to a church servive.
This is all so facinating. I love the old world ideas of witches...however..........
Here in the United States, I think that the women know about the covens, the idea of being closer to the ground, remembering the turns of the moon and honoring Mother Nature, but the idea has been nullified by the males.
I have never lost the thought. I remember the midwives that would tramp through the coal covered roads to deliver babies, I honor the moon. I rejoice in the seasons. Understand the earth....
...however, when one of the women at my new job look at me and call me "sister", I cringe. I have one sister. She is 5 years younger than I. Calling me "sister" feels and smells and tastes so damn artificial to me, I reject it.
Maybe I haven't found the right coven? Who knows. I know my own heart, and my own thoughts. We'll leave it at that.
That's nice, Mutley. I am sure St Birdie of the Lampton Curch, loves all the liddle children with the burnt offerings.
I am also sure that the Gods of Small Yappy Dogs send their love to you on this auspicious day.
Roberta,
of course women know all about honouring nature and the turn of the year, it is in our blood. And you are right. Our ancient, female-headed belief system was indeed squashed by men (of the church).This is not to say that men do not play a, err, vital part in the world.
Tis a myth, however, that women have to be in a coven - I am, after all, a Coven of One.
pee ess - tell your dear 'sister', at work, to bog off and find a new family.
I love all this quaint witchy stuff, although it doesn't compare with what the voodoo girls get up to in Africa. And let's not forget the Kola Boof bare-titty Earth Mother religion, which could yet be the salvation of humanity.
"Kola Boof bare-titty Earth Mother religion"
There's one that's not come up on my radar before! Wonder what the 'boof' stands for...?
Quaint witch? Heh.
Spring has sprung
The grass has ris.
One wonders where de boidies is.
De boidies on de wing.
But dat's absoid.
Everyone knows de wing is on de boid.
The above is courtesy of my dad. One of his rare clean ditties from my childhood.
Don't make fun of Kola, Cailleach. She e-mailed me after I wrote this post about her, and I changed its title just to please her. She likes to be called "a womanist". We had a long e-mail correspondence and she updates me on her latest published works. I kid you not.
Spring? I hope so, because it's -1 here right now - BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
I bow at your hairy feet, Mr Bananas - you are a God of Boofy information.
I weren't making fun, just being curious, and now curiosity kitten just got fed. Many thankees.
Very interesting post you refer to about a very interesting woman. Makes you wonder... nope - gonna save that thought for a poem!!!
Aha, that explains everything - given that we're the other way up here, and approaching autumn - I was wondering why my inner crone, old Baba Yaga was starting to rise. Blame the seasons.
Oh! And I thought I was lighting a candle tonight cos Friends of the Earth told me! Thanks for that bit of info, I'm very glad that Spring is on the way, cos that means that summer is right after. Yeah.
Yay, Atyllah, me inner maiden is just about to break free - so watch out!
Light a candle anyway V, it really is much nicer than all that horrible electric. Spring is springing, da boidies is singin'.
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