"Imbolc (February 2) marks the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the God. The lengthening periods of light awaken Her. The God is a young, lusty boy, but His power is felt in the longer days. The warmth fertilizes the earth (the Goddess), causes seeds to germinate and sprout. And so the earliest beginnings of spring occur.
This is a Sabbat of purification after the shut-in life of winter, through the renewing power of the Sun. It is also a festival of light and of fertility, once marked in Europe with huge blazes, torches and fire in every form. Fire here represents our own illumination and inspiration as much as light and warmth." -- Scott Cunningham
This is also a time of initiation into covens or self-dedication as a Solitary.
I will turn out all the lights in the house and with ritual blessing words, walking from room to room, light them all again. I will light candles to symbolizes the growing light of the Sun, and a small fire in our wood stove, and to symbolize the re-fertilization of my spirit and inspiration. To me it symbolizes a celebration of renewal and rededication to my Goddess each year. :)
I will also be celebrating this Sabbat at the UU Church with the Pagan Circle on Sunday. I am looking forward to that as well!
Stitchery WIPs:"Neighborhood" RR, "Bath 5¢", "Walking to Town", a selection of San Man snow charts, "Millenium Sampler", 2 sets of curtain tie-backs using a DMC freebie chart and the new DMC linen threads AND a Kooler Studios chart called "Needlework Shop"
Well I honestly have to say that I had no clue what you were getting at until I read the other posts! I'm clueless these days and the only thing I could think of regarding this Friday was that my daughter's PTC is at 8:10 in the morning!
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Here's a simple description:
"Imbolc (February 2) marks the recovery of the Goddess after giving birth to the God. The lengthening periods of light awaken Her. The God is a young, lusty boy, but His power is felt in the longer days. The warmth fertilizes the earth (the Goddess), causes seeds to germinate and sprout. And so the earliest beginnings of spring occur.
This is a Sabbat of purification after the shut-in life of winter, through the renewing power of the Sun. It is also a festival of light and of fertility, once marked in Europe with huge blazes, torches and fire in every form. Fire here represents our own illumination and inspiration as much as light and warmth." -- Scott Cunningham
This is also a time of initiation into covens or self-dedication as a Solitary.
Here are some other links I found:
http://www.chalicecentre.net/imbolc.htm
http://www.wicca.com/celtic/akasha/imbolclore.htm
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usxx&c=holidays&sc=imbolc&id=1985
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc
I will turn out all the lights in the house and with ritual blessing words, walking from room to room, light them all again. I will light candles to symbolizes the growing light of the Sun, and a small fire in our wood stove, and to symbolize the re-fertilization of my spirit and inspiration. To me it symbolizes a celebration of renewal and rededication to my Goddess each year. :)
I will also be celebrating this Sabbat at the UU Church with the Pagan Circle on Sunday. I am looking forward to that as well!
Gypsy
)O(
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
I will notice groundhog day, if only because, since it has finally started to snow here, I expect the rodent will predict a long winter!
But I won't really celebrate it, or any other event...
Visit me at That Yank In...
and Traveling with That Yank
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Stitchery WIPs:"Neighborhood" RR, "Bath 5¢", "Walking to Town", a selection of San Man snow charts, "Millenium Sampler", 2 sets of curtain tie-backs using a DMC freebie chart and the new DMC linen threads AND a Kooler Studios chart called "Needlework Shop"
Molly
Congratulations on the new job!
To answer my own question... I've never connected with Groundhog Day; what's a rodent 3000 miles away got to do with the weather here, kwim?
Well I honestly have to say that I had no clue what you were getting at until I read the other posts! I'm clueless these days and the only thing I could think of regarding this Friday was that my daughter's PTC is at 8:10 in the morning!
No clue it was Groundhog's Day! D'oh!
Celebrate? Nope, not me. I
Have to say I am ignorant about the celebrations, except for Groundhog Day.
I will be celebrating the start of my weekend off ;)
I have no faith in the groundhog but my curiosity demands I know the results...LOL
*Star*
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