Candlemas / Imbolc / Ground Hog Day / White Rabbit! Feb 1-4 ~ Say White Rabbit first thing Feb 1 for luck throughout the month. The Rabbit in the Moon is our magical guide. Imbolc (Gaelic “in the belly”) marks the first quickening of new life in the womb of Mother Gaia. Generally observed on Feb 1 from the evening of Jan 31, the Imbolc / Candlemas midwinter festival extends through Feb 3-4 when the winter cross-quarter / midpoint Aquarius occurs, exact this year at 10:15 pm gmt Feb 3. The New Year time spirit (zeitgeist, new aeon) quickens to life through the fires of Candlemas or Imbolc, the festival that honors the Celtic goddess Brigid. The Candlemas cross-quarter point this year is 5:15 pm est Feb 3 when the Moon will align with Uranus in Aries sparking a New Age. The Candlemas Hora extending through Feb 18 is the time when the new aeon consciousness is seeded and the new avatars begin to awaken. Ground Hog Day Feb 2 comes from the old Celtic custom of scrying the future by animal signs. Birds and burrowing animals bring omens of what will be. The lights of Imbolc or Candlemas also symbolize Ceres torch lit underworld search for her daughter Persephone. The rediscovery of Persephone is the first glimmer of conscious light in the dark of winter. The sacred mysteries of Persephone (a.k.a Kore and now Eris) are revealed at this time. Now the nature of the new cycle can be gleaned, seeds of the new creation are sown. Visions of the future may be glimpsed in the fires of Candlemas perhaps called forth by a simple traditional ditty such as this: By the light of candles three Golden flames reveal to me A path, a sign, an omen fair, To guide me to my destiny The Mysteries of Persephone are revealed now in the Greek esoteric tradition. The Mysteries of Eleusis taught in the Fall were called the Greater Mysteries because more attended, the Mysteries of Persephone taught at midwinter are called the Lesser Mysteries because fewer initiates are in attendance. The more secret seeds are sown in the winter darkness at the heart of Aquarius. Persephone returns from the underworld now attended by her hierophant Hermes and by her torch bearing mother Demeter (America’s Lady Liberty). Demeter and Persephone reunited bring blessings to the world. Cairleach, the Celtic crone of winter gives way to Bride/Persephone, the ever rejuvenating goddess of each new time. Persephone presides over the death, rebirth and healing of the king - and the coming forth of the true king. The feeling need for a true king, an avatar or champion is a collective invocation in this time. In her quiet and solitude woman invokes the divine return. Candlemas Ritual for Scrying the Future, Forecasting the Year ~ The future doesnt just happen, the future is forecast given the energetic resources and understanding we have available. What will be is part destiny defined by laws and cycles of nature and its partly, artfully, shaped by free will. It is a paradox that the more we live in concert with natural cycles the more free will we have to express ourselves and shape our future. In Francis Bacons famous words, Nature is commanded by obeying her. This Candlemas/Imbolc ritual is best done Feb 3-4 but it can also effectively be done any time between Feb 3 and Feb 18 when the Candlemas Hora ends. It might be repeated until the future forecast is clear and what is to be is envisioned satisfactorily. Forecasting is both passive predicting of influences and active envisioning, casting forward, what is to be. The set up for the Candlemas ritual is simple: First place a small (ideally silver) bowl filled with water in the middle of the celebration space. Put in the bowl 3 round stones perhaps from a creek or beach or gem store, round is key. Arrange 3 candles to form an equilateral triangle around the bowl. Optionally, vines or other greenery and flowers may be placed about the bowl. Now to the celebration ritual: Light the 3 candles and walk or dance clockwise around the center altar. Chanting or singing simple songs quickens the energy and synchronizes breath with movement for greater effect. Dancing 3 times round sets the space, clears the circle. Circling clockwise 7 times will dispel illusions and break all shadow spells. This is a good time to invoke spiritual forces and put intentions on the air. There may be an inclination to speak in rhyme, its the time. After the circle is set, take note of what comes through. When the dance movement feels complete sit and gaze into the water pool between the candle fires to gain insight into the future year and the role you will play. Remember the water element connects us with our unconscious and the collective unconscious of the astral world. It is here we find the shape of what will be. In focusing on the glimmering water, remember Genesis and the spirit of God moved on the face of the water. It is here at the edge of water and air that the new world begins. This scrying ritual can be done effectively anytime at night though preferably in the hour beginning at sunset or in the midevening hour that begins halfway between sunset and true midnight. The hour half way between true midnight and sunrise is also good if youre an early riser or just happen to be awake. This hour resonates with Imbolc / Candlemas, the winter cross-quarter in the cycle of the year. Imbolc or Óimelc is the name of the pagan festival celebrated on the first day of the planting season. It was one of the cornerstones of the Celtic calendar. Like many Celtic festivals, the Imbolc celebrations centred around the lighting of fires. Fire was perhaps more important for this festival than others for it was also the holy day of Brigid (Bride, Brigit, Brid), the goddess of the scintillating might of fire, healing and fertility. The lighting of fires celebrated the increasing power of the sun over the coming months. For the Christian calendar, this holiday was reformed and renamed Candlemas when candles are lit to remember the purification of the Virgin Mary. For the ancient Celts, the success of the new farming season was of great importance. As winter stores of food were getting low Imbolc rituals were performed to harness divine energy that would ensure a steady supply of food until the harvest six months later... February 4th is the exact centre between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere. ~ Celtic Mythology, https://facebook/mythology.celtic All power is of one kind, a sharing of the nature of the world. The mind that is parallel with the laws of Nature will be in the current of events, and strong with their strength. ~ Emerson, The Conduct of Life ~ Imbolc Herald of Spring by Wendy Andrew Candlemas / Imbolc / Ground Hog Day / White Rabbit! Feb 1-4 ~ Say White Rabbit first thing Feb 1 for luck throughout the month. The Rabbit in the Moon is our magical guide. Imbolc (Gaelic “in the belly”) marks the first quickening of new life in the womb of Mother Gaia. Generally observed on Feb 1 from the evening of Jan 31, the Imbolc / Candlemas midwinter festival extends through Feb 3-4 when the winter cross-quarter / midpoint Aquarius occurs, exact this year at 10:15 pm gmt Feb 3. The New Year time spirit (zeitgeist, new aeon) quickens to life through the fires of Candlemas or Imbolc, the festival that honors the Celtic goddess Brigid. The Candlemas cross-quarter point this year is 5:15 pm est Feb 3 when the Moon will align with Uranus in Aries sparking a New Age. The Candlemas Hora extending through Feb 18 is the time when the new aeon consciousness is seeded and the new avatars begin to awaken. Ground Hog Day Feb 2 comes from the old Celtic custom of scrying the future by animal signs. Birds and burrowing animals bring omens of what will be. The lights of Imbolc or Candlemas also symbolize Ceres torch lit underworld search for her daughter Persephone. The rediscovery of Persephone is the first glimmer of conscious light in the dark of winter. The sacred mysteries of Persephone (a.k.a Kore and now Eris) are revealed at this time. Now the nature of the new cycle can be gleaned, seeds of the new creation are sown. Visions of the future may be glimpsed in the fires of Candlemas perhaps called forth by a simple traditional ditty such as this: By the light of candles three Golden flames reveal to me A path, a sign, an omen fair, To guide me to my destiny The Mysteries of Persephone are revealed now in the Greek esoteric tradition. The Mysteries of Eleusis taught in the Fall were called the Greater Mysteries because more attended, the Mysteries of Persephone taught at midwinter are called the Lesser Mysteries because fewer initiates are in attendance. The more secret seeds are sown in the winter darkness at the heart of Aquarius. Persephone returns from the underworld now attended by her hierophant Hermes and by her torch bearing mother Demeter (America’s Lady Liberty). Demeter and Persephone reunited bring blessings to the world. Cairleach, the Celtic crone of winter gives way to Bride/Persephone, the ever rejuvenating goddess of each new time. Persephone presides over the death, rebirth and healing of the king - and the coming forth of the true king. The feeling need for a true king, an avatar or champion is a collective invocation in this time. In her quiet and solitude woman invokes the divine return. Candlemas Ritual for Scrying the Future, Forecasting the Year ~ The future doesnt just happen, the future is forecast given the energetic resources and understanding we have available. What will be is part destiny defined by laws and cycles of nature and its partly, artfully, shaped by free will. It is a paradox that the more we live in concert with natural cycles the more free will we have to express ourselves and shape our future. In Francis Bacons famous words, Nature is commanded by obeying her. This Candlemas/Imbolc ritual is best done Feb 3-4 but it can also effectively be done any time between Feb 3 and Feb 18 when the Candlemas Hora ends. It might be repeated until the future forecast is clear and what is to be is envisioned satisfactorily. Forecasting is both passive predicting of influences and active envisioning, casting forward, what is to be. The set up for the Candlemas ritual is simple: First place a small (ideally silver) bowl filled with water in the middle of the celebration space. Put in the bowl 3 round stones perhaps from a creek or beach or gem store, round is key. Arrange 3 candles to form an equilateral triangle around the bowl. Optionally, vines or other greenery and flowers may be placed about the bowl. Now to the celebration ritual: Light the 3 candles and walk or dance clockwise around the center altar. Chanting or singing simple songs quickens the energy and synchronizes breath with movement for greater effect. Dancing 3 times round sets the space, clears the circle. Circling clockwise 7 times will dispel illusions and break all shadow spells. This is a good time to invoke spiritual forces and put intentions on the air. There may be an inclination to speak in rhyme, its the time. After the circle is set, take note of what comes through. When the dance movement feels complete sit and gaze into the water pool between the candle fires to gain insight into the future year and the role you will play. Remember the water element connects us with our unconscious and the collective unconscious of the astral world. It is here we find the shape of what will be. In focusing on the glimmering water, remember Genesis and the spirit of God moved on the face of the water. It is here at the edge of water and air that the new world begins. This scrying ritual can be done effectively anytime at night though preferably in the hour beginning at sunset or in the midevening hour that begins halfway between sunset and true midnight. The hour half way between true midnight and sunrise is also good if youre an early riser or just happen to be awake. This hour resonates with Imbolc / Candlemas, the winter cross-quarter in the cycle of the year. Imbolc or Óimelc is the name of the pagan festival celebrated on the first day of the planting season. It was one of the cornerstones of the Celtic calendar. Like many Celtic festivals, the Imbolc celebrations centred around the lighting of fires. Fire was perhaps more important for this festival than others for it was also the holy day of Brigid (Bride, Brigit, Brid), the goddess of the scintillating might of fire, healing and fertility. The lighting of fires celebrated the increasing power of the sun over the coming months. For the Christian calendar, this holiday was reformed and renamed Candlemas when candles are lit to remember the purification of the Virgin Mary. For the ancient Celts, the success of the new farming season was of great importance. As winter stores of food were getting low Imbolc rituals were performed to harness divine energy that would ensure a steady supply of food until the harvest six months later... February 4th is the exact centre between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere. ~ Celtic Mythology, https://facebook/mythology.celtic All power is of one kind, a sharing of the nature of the world. The mind that is parallel with the laws of Nature will be in the current of events, and strong with their strength. ~ Emerson, The Conduct of Life ~ Imbolc Herald of Spring by Wendy Andrew -post via Steve Nelson
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 03:51:49 +0000
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