Imbolc

[SuperBunny]

Just wondering if anyone does anything nice for Imbolc?

some ideas

We'll make some nice food, read our books and create a ritual. As it's a Fire festival we'll have lots of candles. ( Just got a candle making kit so I'd like to try that).

We'll concentrate on the coming year as last year was really difficult, let's hope the light brings some lifting of the spirit with it, I'm not a January person!!

I'm sure I'll think of something else, I'm feeling cold and grumpy this evening. it doesn't help that I'm trying to be healthy when a big spong pudding would obviously do the trick!!

I'm rambling, take no notice , what are your plans?

We have no plans, other than candle lighting and looking forward to spring. Might plant a few seeds in a pot for the kitchen. Lots of good ideas on that site, thanks.

Curious to know if this is actually 2 February? If so it's Candlemas in the Catholic church, and we're going to one of its lovely traces-of-paganism rituals, a candle procession and candlelit service. Nice to think we might all see ourselves a united in gazing at the light!

I always think it is the 2nd but the ritual here is on the 31st. I think different people do different things. I don't join the public rituals though, so it doesn't make any difference to me.

The candlemas thing sounds nice

Had never heard of this festival before this post but what a wonderful celebration

It is, weblette

Earthy, I meant to say, hope you have a better year than the last one.

That's a great link Earthymama, thank you .

I first heard about Imbolc when I paid a visit to Avebury last year and there were some pagans wandering round the stones. We were stood watching and dd needed the loo, so I took her off to the pub. When we got back dh was stood in a circle holding hands with the others and chanting. "How did you know the words?" I asked "I don't know he said - I just did" .

I celebrated Yule for the first time in December and took dd into the woods to gather holly and ivy and look for a log. I shall definitely do something, even if it's just cleansing the house, but I might go back to Avebury again.

SB it's odd but although I'm broadly humanist, so many of the pagan rituals appeal to me

Thanks very much for kind thoughts. I'm in that horrid January blues at the moment and under pressure of my own making.

So I'm going to look for that light it's desperately needed.

Just seen my reply above, obviously I want a Sponge not a spong!!

Excuse the gatecrash

But this is fascinating Ladies - unfortunately I can't see OFSTED going for it as multi-cultural so we may just do something outdoors somewhere with lots of trees on Feb 2 with the children(is that Monday?)& maybe candles

I hope that would be in the spirit of Imbolc & not in any way crass or insulting

Why would Ofsted be bothered, KatyMac?

January is hard, isn't it? And Feb and march...

Surfer, Avebury is wonderful. @ your DH

Katy, I think your plans sound good

I'm a childminder and I have to represent other cultures and activities for the children. I get a fair amount of opposition (from some my white CofE/Methodist parents) for anything not mainstream

Surfer - d'you fancy taking the children out somewhere together on Sunday?

Katymac - "Remember that Brigid is the goddess of the fires of inspiration and patroness of poets. Plan an evening of family fun full of storytelling, music, and dance. Play drums and other musical instruments. Let your children read you their favorite poems. Share your favorites with them. Take the opportunity to teach your kids about Brigid."

Surely a fun day of music, dance, poetry and storytelling would be do-able?

How lovely - It sounds so nice

VampiresWalking - that would be fab. What do you have in mind?

I always do a house clearing as really feels right and sets me up for the whole year. I would never push my beliefs on dd but she does follow me about banging pots and pans much to dh amusement.

Then its great to just get out!

So, did anyone do anything nice?

I ended up with a last minute burst of energy so did lots of cleaning and filing and went for a run to clear my head then lit a candle and did some thinking. AND I scrubbed my pots and pans so they are sparkling again!

Tomorrow we are going to a 'welcoming the spring' party at the botanic gardens.

We had a ritual, Like SB did lots of cleaning beforehand.

We thought about the things/issues that came to the fore over the winter and pledged to deal with one of them,then used sage to cleanse.we planned what we are ging to grow in the garden this year.

I must admit we drank some libations too and I seem to remember Earth Chant by Seize the Day featuring in a bit of celebrating amongst the candle light!! You would know why I blush if you heard me singing!

It was lovely and I've been trying to work on my pledge.

I was a little late, but thought better late than never. I did a MASSIVE clean of the house today. I kept thinking "this is weird I WANT to clean" , so decided at the end of it to the candles, sage and cleansing ritual, with dd banging the biscuit tin with a wooden spoon!

She kept asking if she could go and put the Simpsons back on lol.

House feels great now and I was yawning lots, which normally means lots of energy clearing.

I'm still going to write about last year and my plans for the coming year, but need some quiet time which I didn't get once dd went to bed as dh came home.