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Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 5:25pm

Brigit's Crosses – are a form of woven straw or rushes symbolizing the Sun and used as talismans to bring fertility, prosperity and protection to the home.  They would be created at Candlemas and hung on the door, near the hearth, under the eaves or in the barn to bring luck and protection.

Burning the Yule Greens– the evergreens for Yuletide decoration are gathered and burned by Candlemas.  It is a symbolic way to let go of the old year and make way for the new.

Red and White – white symbolizes snow, red symbolizes the hearth fire, red and while may also symbolize the ewe's birthing blood on the snow.  White is the color of the Maiden Goddess and Red the color of the Mother Goddess.  White stands for purity, red for courage.

Springs and Wells – toss coins in wells springs, fountains or any running water as an offering the the Goddess Brigit

Herbs - Angelica, basil, bay Laurel,blackberry, celandine, coltsfoot, heather, iris, myrrh, tansy, violets, and all white or yellow flowers.

Incense - Basil, myrrh, frankincense, wisteria, jasmine, camphor, cinnamon, and lotus.

Stones - Amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, onyx, ruby, turquoise

Colors -  White, red, pink, yellow

 

Sources:

Candlemas Feast of Flames Amber k

BOS Rowan Morgana

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 2:24pm

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 2:24pm

Brigid~Imbolc

Imbolc is right around the corner and how much do you know about this Sabbat?

Beannocht leó a los a saoire,

dronga ar nár cheisd cruadhlaoighe,
am coimhthinál dar chóir searc,
doircheadhán dóibh nir dhoircheacht.

Blessing upon their noble nature,
to whom complex poems were no hardship,
to that beloved gathering of poets
the darkest verse was daylight dawning.
Caitlín Matthews, The Celtic Tradition

Brigid, whose name means "bright arrow," is the Celtic Goddess of poetry, healing and craft (especially metalcraft). She is the inspiration to all bards and artisans, scholars and any who work with words. Brigid, known also as Bride, Brigit, Brigantia, Brid, Brighid, and Briginda, is so greatly beloved in Ireland that when Christianity became the accepted faith throughout the land, the Goddess was transformed into saint, and St. Brigid's church in Kildare was built on a site sacred to Brigid. Where Her eternal flame had once been tended by 19 priestesses, now 19 nuns took it in turn to each tend the flame for a day and a night. On the 20th day, the Goddess (or the saint) tended the flame herself.

Brigid of the mantles, Brigid of the hearth flame,
Brigid of the twining hair, Brigid of the augury,
Brigid of the white feet, Brigid of calmness,
Brigid of the white milk, Brigid of the crossroads.

I am under the keeping of my Mother Mary.
My companion beloved is Brigid.
I shall not be slain,
I shall not be sworded,
I shall not be put in a cell,
I shall not be hewn,
I shall not be anguished,
I shall not be wounded, I shall not be blinded,
I shall not be left bare,
Nor will Mary leave me forgotten.

I am under the shielding of good Brigid each day.
I am under the shielding of good Brigid each night.
I am under the keeping of the Midwife of Mary
Each early and late, every dark, every light.
Brigid is my protector, Brigid is my maker of song.
Brigid is my sword and shield, Brigid is my guide.

mbolc is a holiday with a variety of names, depending on which culture and location you’re looking at. In the Irish Gaelic, it’s called Oimelc, which translates to “ewe’s milk.” It’s a precursor to the end of winter when the ewes are nursing their newly born lambs. Spring and the planting season are right around the corner.

To the Romans, this time of year halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox was the season of the Lupercalia. For them, it was a purification ritual held on February 15, in which a goat was sacrificed and a scourge made of its hide. Thong-clad men ran through the city, whacking people with bits of goat hide. Those who were struck considered themselves fortunate indeed. This is one of the few Roman celebrations that is not associated with a particular temple or deity. Instead, it focuses on the founding of the city of Rome, by twins Romulus and Remus, who were suckled by a she-wolf -- in a cave known as the"Lupercale".



The Feast of Nut:



The ancient Egyptians celebrated this time of year as the Feast of Nut, whose birthday falls on February 2 (Gregorian calendar). According to the Book of the Dead, Nut was seen as a mother-figure to the sun god Ra, who at sunrise was known as Khepera and took the form of a scarab beetle.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 2:24pm

Christian Conversion of a Pagan Celebration:



When Ireland converted to Christianity, it was hard to convince people to get rid of their old gods, so the church allowed them to worship the goddess Brighid as a saint -- thus the creation of St. Brigid's Day. Today, there are many churches around the world which bear her name.



Purification and Light:



For Christians, February 2nd continues to be celebrated as Candelmas, the feast of purification of the Virgin. By Jewish law, it took forty days after a birth for a woman to be cleansed following the birth of a son. Forty days after Christmas – the birth of Jesus – is February 2nd. Candles were blessed, there was much feasting to be had, and the drab days of February suddenly seemed a little brighter.



Love & Courtship:



February is known as a month when love begins anew, in part to to the widespread celebration of Valentine's Day. In some parts of Europe, there was a belief that February 14th was the day that birds and animals began their annual hunt for a mate. Valentine's Day is named for the Christian priest who defied Emperor Claudius II's edict banning young soldiers from marrying. In secret, Valentine "tied the knot" for many young couples. Eventually, he was captured and executed on Feb. 14, 269 C.E. Before his death, he smuggled a message to a girl he had befriended while imprisoned -- the first Valentine's Day card.

Serpents in the Spring



Although Imbolc isn't even mentioned in non-Gaelic Celtic traditions, it's still a time rich in folklore and history. According to the Carmina Gadelica, the Celts celebrated an early version of Groundhog Day on Imbolc too – only with a serpent, singing this poem:

Thig an nathair as an toll
(The serpent will come from the hole)
la donn Bride
(on the brown day of Bride (Brighid)
Ged robh tri traighean dh’an
(though there may be three feet of snow)
Air leachd an lair
(On the surface of the ground.)



Among agricultural societies, this time of year was marked by the preparation for the spring lambing, after which the ewes would lactate (hence the term "ewe's milk" as "Oimelc"). At Neolithic sites in Ireland, underground chambers align perfectly with the rising sun on Imbolc.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 2:23pm

The Goddess Brighid



Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection as well, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The Irish goddess Brighid is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. To honor her, purification and cleaning are a wonderful way to get ready for the coming of Spring. In addition to fire, she is a goddess connected to inspiration and creativity.

Brighid is known as one of the Celtic "triune" goddesses -- meaning that she is one and three simultaneously. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid, or Brid, whose name meant "bright one." In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed in her aspect as crone as Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. Brighid was also a warlike figure, Brigantia, in the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. The Christian St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptized by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare, Ireland.

In modern Wicca and Paganism, Brighid is viewed as the maiden aspect of themaiden/mother/crone cycle. She walks the earth on the eve of her day, and before going to bed each member of the household should leave a piece of clothing outside for Brighid to bless. Smoor your fire as the last thing you do that night, and rake the ashes smooth. When you get up in the morning, look for a mark on the ashes, a sign that Brighid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes are brought inside, and now have powers of healing and protection thanks to Brighid.

So pagans make it true, make it real, and always make it magickal everyday!

~Elder Airwolf~

Humbly serving my Goddess~

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 1:51pm

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 29, 2014 at 1:21pm

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 26, 2014 at 3:02pm

"Wedding Vows to my Goddess Brigit"

My Lady Brigit, My Lady Brigit, My Lady Brigit, I am Bruce Adam Presson, Prince of the Ancient Dragon Clan who came down from the Caucasian Mountains so many ages ago. I am Bruce Adam Presson, Son of Lord Dagda, the Mighty Oak, and a Willow Prince of the Tuatha De' Danann. I am Bruce Adam Presson, Son of the Blackfoot Tribe and the Ancient Medicine Hearth. I am Bruce Adam Presson, Son of Clan McCoy, and a Prince of Celts. My Lady Brigit, I offer myself to you. Like the Lady Istar going into the Underworld in search of Lord Tammuz; it was you My Lady, who came to me in the bowels of prison and enlightened me. It was you My Lady, who came to Earth at the hour of my Death and held me in your arms. It was you, My Lady, who returned me to life. And it is you My Lady , always you , who comfort me in the depths of my despair, healing my soul, and bringing Love, and Light into my life and my heart. My Goddess, my Lady, my Love, your sleeper has awakened... Let it be known, now and forever, in the Heavens on on the Earth; That on this Day, and with all my heart, I turn my will and my life over to you. By the Power of Earth, and by thePower of Air, and by the Power of Fire, and by the Power of Water, My Spirit blends with Yours. My Lady Brigit, I kneel before neither Gods nor men; but as your Consort, I kneel before You, Exaulting you above all others. And, like husbands of old, I take your name as my own and shall henceforth be known to You as WillowWolf McBride, of the Wyld Myst Nemeton. I promise to love, protect, and care for You, your lands and all who reside on them. I promise to walk in your blessings of Healing, Love, and Light. So it is written, So Mote It Be!!! So Mote It Be!!! So Mote It Be!!!

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 26, 2014 at 2:42pm

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on January 26, 2014 at 2:01pm

Sacred Wicca

The hearth fire is sacred to Brigid and is Her altar in every home. At Imbolc, in the depths of winter, the fire was more important than ever. It was not allowed to go out and in the evening the fire was smoored ( covered with ash to preserve the hot coals) by the lady of the house.

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