“So now, as the Maiden form of the Goddess whispers to us of hope and new beginnings at the festival of Imbolc, it is on a cold February morning that you are invited to step onto the ‘Wheel of the Year.”
― Carole Carlton
"What stories of Hope live within us? What stories of Hope can we share around our Imbolc Fires? Around our Imbolc Hearth? “Hope can be a powerful force.
- Inspiration from Brigid Goddess of Imbolc
Already many people are heralding spring. I say sssshhhh, we are still dreaming the seeds.. In this episode I share some of the whispers of the season, of Imbolc and some of the stories stirring!! Insights into our patroness Brigid and how she showed herself now and over the years!! Just what is Imbolc and who is Brigid?
The start of our Imbolc hearth , Brigid came to us many winters back as a Shepherdess , so as we approach the end of January and start of February.
I feel the call to wander the wintery landscape gathering a little fleece from the hedgerows, and spin it by candle light into soft white yarn, using gypsy thorn spindles, which will then be woven into the yarn we use on the wishing scarves.
A crafted doll of Brigid sits on our Ancestral Altar and also in our kitchen, a beautiful gift we were given many winters back, and ironically look at her Antlers a obvious connection to Elen, that has only come to light this past Year .
She has a sheath of wheat and a crown of antlers, whispers of sovereignty .. We will leave offerings of grain and honey, for all the Landwights.
We have a pot of seeds on our altar. Maybe for planting, or if any sister within our clan wants a baby this year, for her to eat.
Our Beautiful Brigid Doll rests in the Magical Space Within our kitchen reminding me The Old Ways are so relevant in the times we live in!! Bridging the Ancient with the Morden, To craft, make, weave, anchoring and navigating such uncertain times!!! A way of connecting and reconnecting to what is so important and simple, connection to ourselves, the land we stand upon, the air we breathe, and its people, and their stories, and traditions, those who come before us and those who are yet to come!!
The Ebbs and Flows of the Seasons and the turning of the Wheel!! The Brigid Doll came to me just before Imbolc 2019 gifted by my dear friend @puregroundflowers Brigid even then gently whispered to me these words.
“ Hope and Renewal” Hope being the word that carries, whilst there have been the darkest of days that the land is upholding its promise there will indeed be longer and brighter days!!! And so Hope also lives within us!!! What stories of Hope live within us? What stories of Hope can we share around our Imbolc Fires? Around our Imbolc Hearth? “Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.” Light candles and fires often. Not only will you find me in the flames when you choose to look, you will find a spark within yourself”
Yet important questions remain when the world breaks down, how should it be put back together?
Love and Bridie blessings from this fire to yours…
Jo's Message
And so I rouse myself from my winter slumbering, my dream-time, to welcome ahead the next turn of the Wheel of the Year. Ever turning, as we are ever learning (of course: remembering!).
Yet I would be lying if I were to claim that my days since Winternights / Samhain had been the dreamy, restful, hibernating, slow-down days we yearn for, that our bodies literally ache for, and that we had lauded and recommended as the nights drew in. I do live in the "Real World" (though I question that term!) Family life had me dashing around, my social world a whirl, there were presents to source, food to plan, buy and prepare, rooms to tidy & clean, parties to go to, people to reconnect with... it was, in hindsight, quite lovely actually, but totally exhausting!
January has hit with a thud, the wind and rain lashing at the door, the cold more down to dampness, yet persistent within my four walls. Much like Rosa, my dog, I want little more than to snuggle on the sofa under a soft, warm blanket and while away my hours with gentle music and (me, not the dog 😉) a good book! I will also put my hand up and stand proud to say that my Christmas tree still twinkles with light to bring warmth and cheer to my living room and all the while the needles hold I mean to let her stay... 'til Imbolc that is, when Yule-tide is truly over, the snowdrops are flowering and the light is noticeably beginning to return!
As Shane has said, Imbolc heralds the forthcoming beginning of Spring, but although it marks the "first milk" as the lambing season begins, we all know that February still tends to feel decidedly wintry and though we know it is on its way, Spring has not yet really sprung. Yet those shoots which are already appearing in our flowerbeds and at the tips of the outermost branches of the trees fill us with hope and that has flavoured our ceremony for this season. Hope springs eternal,. right? As Spring brings hope eternally to us. Let us sow those seeds of hope for the coming year and watch them grow, bloom and prosper with the fruits of our dreams and intentions!
How fitting, too, that the date of our gathering falls also on the full moon! We shall be weaving our prayers and intentions as our beautiful moon strives towards the pinnacle of her waxing and leave the woods just as she lands at her fullest. She eases our journey through the year with her constant ebb and flow, marking the passing of time with solid regularity and with a gentle guiding light. We will honour her as we have always done in gratitude for her consistency, her light and her motherly protection! 🌕🙏
Just one thing, which I solemnly promise to Tristan, youngest member of our tribe: I note that this full moon is known as the Snow Moon. After the magical shenanigans of our Yule ceremony and the resulting 4 hour journey home, I do hereby solemnly swear to leave my holly wand safely at home!! 🙏😉✨
Do you wish to join us in our Community Rites and Rituals…
Our Next being "Dreaming The Seeds and The Whispers of Imbolc "
We will be crafting our very own medicine pouches, to dream the seeds and stars of our winter alchemy.. Here we dream the seeds, the seeds that we have tended to within the darkness of winter, retrieving the gifts of the stillness and darkness of winter and the dreaming!!
We are being invited as community to touch the ground and reach deep into the earth with our bare hands, we pull those stories up into the light , like lost seeds, that are yearning to be reborn , retold and remembered.
You will go onto take these beautiful medicine pouches home with you!!
Sunday February 5th 12pm to 4pm
Hosted beyond the Woodland Gate!!
Coming along for the first time? Feel free to email for more details info@shanegadd.com