Brighidmas Feb 2 Also known as Candlemas and Imbolg. This day is when the God consummates his love for the Lady. A ritual for the blessing of candles, for writing poetry, or learning a new craft are all perfect here. Also a very good day to begin tantric practices; the sealing of a spell or ritual using sex as the power generator.

Click Magick Circle if you do not know how to form a proper magickal circle, BEFORE attempting to perform the ritual below.



PREPARING YOUR ALTAR

° Altar candles should be white only.
° Incense should be benzoin or vanilla.
° Circle may be decorated with white flowers.
° Circle candles sould always be for the elementals (green, yellow, red, and blue).
° Lay your magick broom (besom) upon the altar.
° Have a white votive candle in the cualdron.
° Have rosemary and bay to burn.
° Have extra wine.



INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CEREMONY

Sweep circle area; lay out circle and altar items; bathe and robe. Light incense and altar candles. Ring bell three times and say,

"The circle is about to be cast and I freely stand within to greet my Lady and my Lord.

Take center candle from altar, light each candle of the circle moving north, then east, south and west and say,

(N) I call upon light and earth at the north to illuminate and strengthen the circle.
(E) I call upon light and air at the east to illuminate and enliven the circle.
(S) I call upon light and fire at the south to illuminate and warm the circle.
(W) I call upon light and water at the west to illuminate and cleanse the circle.

Take athame in upraised hand, begin circle at north and move around the circle north to east to south to west, and say,

I draw this circle in the presence of the Goddess and the God where they may come and bless their child, Say your magickal name.

Lower the athame at the north, and as you walk around the circle, envision a blue light shooting out from the point and forming the circle boundary and say,

This is the boundary of the circle. Only love shall enter and leave.

eturn to the altar and ring bell three times. Place point of athame in the altar bowl of salt and say...
Salt is life and purifying. I bles this salt to be used in this sacred circle in the names of the Goddess and the God.

Pick up the salt bowl and use tip of athame to drop three portions of salt into the altar bowl of water and set salt bowl back in its place. Stir three times with athame and say...
Let the blessed salt purify this water that it may be lessed to use in this sacred circle. In the names of the Goddess and the God, I consecrate and cleanse this water.

Take the salted water bowl in hand and sprinkle water from it as you move deosil around the circle, NESWN and say...
I (speak your magickal name) am consecrated in the names of the Goddess and the God in this, their circle.

Take the wand and hold it aloft, with both arms open and upraised, at the north of the circle, envision a powerful bull arriving and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Earth, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I have body and strength, we are kith and kin!

Lower wand and move to east, raise up wand, envisioning fairies devas or an eagle in flight arriving and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Air, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I breathe and think, we are kith and kin!

Lower wand and move to the south, raise up the wand, envisioning a fire dragon and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Fire, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I consume life to live, we are kith and kin!

Lower wand and move to the west, hold wand aloft, envision an undine, sea serpent or dolphin arriving, and say...
I call upon you, Elemental Water, to attend this rite and guard this circle, for as I feel and my heart beats, we are kith and kin!

Return to the altar and use wand to draw in the air above tha altar the symbol of infinity (an 8 lying on its side), the sign of working between the worlds. Set wand on altar, raise up athame in both hands overhead and say:
Hail to the elementals at the four quarters! Welcome Lady and Lord to this rite! I stand between the worlds with love and power all around!

Pour wine into your cauldron as a libation to the Divine in which they are honored by offering to them the first draught, then you drink. Ring bell three times and say,

This is the mid-winter Feast of LIghts. The spring lies within sight and the seed is prepared for sowing.

Ring bell five times and say...

With my besom in my hand I will sweep out that which is no longer needed so as to purify my surroundings and prepare for new grown.

Take broom in hand and say...

Clear out the old and let the new enter. Life starts anew at this time of cleansing.

Sweep the circle with outward motions as you walk clockwise (deosil) around the circle, starting and ending at the north. Return besom to the altar. Light cauldron candle, drop the rosemary and bay into the flame, and say...

I call upon the power of these herbs that their scent released in this cauldron's fire purify me, my surroundings, and the tools of my Craft. With this rite I am reaffirmed in my Craft and made ready for the renewal of life in the coming of spring.

Wave the end of the broom over the cauldron and say...
May this besom be cleansed that nothing cast out of the circle return with it or cling to it. So mote it be!

Set aside besom and say...
As I have purified all within this circle, I am now ready to rededicate myself to my Lady and my Lord!

REDEDICATION RITUAL

Dip forefinger into the anointing oil and make the sign of the solar cross over the third eye. Arms upraised, say...

Lady and Lord, I call out to thee! I hold you in honor and know that I am one with all the things of the earth and sky. My kin are the trees and the herbs of the field, the aminals and stones through the seas and the hills. The fresh waters and deserts are built out of thee, and I am of you and you are of me.

Lower arms and say...

I call upon you to grant my desire. Let me rejoice in my oneness with all things and let me love the life that emanates from my Lady and my Lord into all things. I know and accept the creed: that if I do not have that spark of love within me, I will never find it outseide myself, for love is the law and love is the bond! And this do I honor when I give honor to the Lady and the Lord.

Kiss your right palm, hold your hand high, and say...

My Lady and my Lord, known to me, I stand before you both a dedicate myself to your honor. I will defend and protect thy spark within me and seek thy protection and defense of me. You are my life and I am of you. I accept and will ever abide by the principal of harming none, for what is sent, returns. So mote it be!

Take up the goblet of wine, slowly pour the remainder of wine into the cauldron, and say...

As this wine drains from the cup, so shall the blood drain from my body should I ever turn away from the Lady and the Lord or harm those in kinship with their love, for to do so would be to break trust, to cast aside the love of the Goddess and the God, and to break miny own heart. Yet through their continued love I know they would heal my heart and spirit that I might again journey through the cauldron of rebirth to embrace the love they freely give. So mote it be!

Dip forefinger into the anointing oil and again make the sign of the solar cross over the third eye. Then make the sign of the pentagram over the heart, followed by the Sacred Triangle touching solar plexus, right breast, left breast, solar plexus. Refill the goblet for Cakes and Wine. Wine and cakes are usual taken after any Green ritual or rite. Then, the elementals are thanked and dismissed, and the circle is taken down.



OTHER ACTIVITIES

° Make the Bride's Bed using the Corn Doll made the previous Lughnassadh. Dress the doll in white or blue with a necklace that prepresents 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 used corn, hang it up in a tree for the squirrels and birds. This can be seen in terms of 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. If you did not make a doll last Lughnassadh, do not fret. Make one anew. Just remember NEXT time to do this, and put it away.

° On Imbolc Eve, leave buttered bread in a bowl indoors for the fairies who travel with the Lady of Greenwood. Next day, dispose of the uneaten portions 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. Do this. It brings prosperity and richness to your home; both in finances and in heart. Just remember what I've told you about ENCHANTING magickal items.

° Light a white candle in a window and burn sandalwood nearby.

° Cleanse the area where you will do card readings or scrying with a censer 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 (solt) for body; air (incense) for thoughts; fire (candle flame) for will, and water (water) for emotions.

° Create a Solar Cross from palm fronds, enough to place one in each room of the house. Place a red pillar-style candle center to the front door, with palms in hand, light the candle and open the door and say...
We weldome in the Goddess and seek the turning of the wheel away from winter and into spring.

Close the door; take up the candle and go to each foom 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 thusly thoughout the house. The last room should be the kitchen and here you say...
Mother of the earth and the sun, Keep us safe and keep us warm, As over our home you extend your blessing.

©1996, Llewellyn Publications, "Green Witchcraft" by Ann Moura, pp 193-201