The Blessings of the Maiden

The Maiden returns, Imbolc is upon us and life begins to spring forth.

Failte leat a Bhrid (Welcome Bridget)

Welcome Bride, Lady of Wisdom.
Welcome Bride, Lady of Healing.
Welcome Bride, Lady of Prophecy.
Welcome Bride, Lady of Light.
Welcome Bride, Lady of plenty.
Welcome Bride, Lady of Poets.
Failte leat a Bhrid!

From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

The Season of Imbolc

Imbolc is a joyous season, for it signifies the return of the Maiden as Her hand once again touches the earth. The word Imbolc, actually means 'in the belly' which refers to the fact that life is once more beginning to stir in the belly of the earth. Snowdrops appear, new born lambs grace the fields and this is a time of powerful transformation.
It was also the time when the festival of Bride, the beloved Irish Celtic Goddess was celebrated. Bride was often depicted as a triple Goddess, but not in the usual form of maiden, mother & crone, but as the Goddess of smiths and craftsmen, therapists and healers and writers and poets. It is little wonder that such a benevolent and popular Pagan Goddess survived the Christian conversion and became St Bridget, who was equally loved and revered.
In Her honour this Imbolc, why not make something, write something, or give a little of your time to someone who may be in need. The rewards will be plenty - far beyond those of a material nature.
May Bride bless you this Imbolc and put you in touch with the youthful side of your nature.
Read more: Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers

The Return of the Goddess

The festival of imbolc begins at sunset on the 1st of February and is a festival of joy, hope and new beginnings. It marks the birth of the first lambs, the return of the Goddess and is sacred to the Goddess Bride (Bridget).

Imbolc for me is when the new year really begins. Gone are the dark days of January for now the Goddess awakes and, as her hand touches the earth, life once again begins to stir bringing us a promise of renewal and the slightest whisper of spring.

The colour of this festival is white and silver and it is a wonderful time to share a meal between friends and loved ones with white wine, white meat (if you're not vegetarian) and white chocolate or ice cream. If you would like to toast the Goddess, then raise your glass with the words 'Failte leat a Bhrid' which simply means 'Welcome Bridget' and is pronounced 'Falche lai a Breed'.

Happy Imbolc and may the waxing year bring you health, love and happiness

Discover more in 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

Spring Cleaning

Between the festivals of Imbolc and the Vernal Equinox, the time honoured ritual of spring cleaning was performed by our ancestors and still continues today in many homes around the world.

Today the strengthening sun makes us think of our spring wardrobe and so we tend to throw out our old winter clothes in favour of something lighter and more colourful. It is also a time when our thoughts turn towards decorating and gardening, two occupations which lend themselves to cleaning and tidying up.

For our ancestors however, the spring clean was to ensure that absolutely nothing was left in the house from the winter solstice celebrations. Anything that was found would be burned, which acted as a safeguard against hauntings in the year to come and also ensured that the house was ready to greet the spring.

Happy cleaning!

The Celtic Goddess Bride

Today until sundown is the festival of Imbolc which has, overthe years become synonymous with the Celtic Goddess Bride (christianised as St Bridget).

Bride is often depicted as the gentle maiden Goddess, who's return brings a promise of spring at this lovely winter festival. This image however, belies her true character and tenth century Irish writings provide a far more accurate description when they say she was; 'The daughter of Daghda, the great God of Tuatha de Danann, a woman of wisdom.'

The Tuatha de Danann were thought to have been a race of Divine beings who inhabited Ireland long before the time of the Celts. Bride therefore came from good stock and was indeed a woman of wisdom, often depicted as a triple Goddess in so much as she was, and still is, recognised as the patron of healers, smiths and poets.

To simply celebrate this festival, light a white candle, bring an offering of craftwork, a poem or a promise of helping someone in need and sit quietly in order to give thanks to a Goddess who's return heralds the return of life to the earth.

The festival of Imbolc

Sundown today sees the beginning of the Celtic festival of Imbolc, although in truth, the Celts did not have a fixed date, but celebrated in style as soon as the lambing season began. Imbolc was a time of the utmost importance to the Celtic tribes as the quality and amount of new born lambs meant the difference between survival and extinction.

The word Imbolc (pronounced 'im-olc') actually means 'in the belly' and refers to the stirring of life within the earth's womb. An alternative term for this festival is 'Oimelc', meaning 'the first flowing of ewe's milk, both of which are appropriate words for this exciting time of year.

When christianity came to these islands this festival became 'Candlemas' and commemorated the time when Mary went to the temple to undertake a purification ceremony forty days after the birth of Jesus.

Imbolc is still celebrated by Pagans and witches alike today and has become synonymous with the delightful Celtic Goddess Bride (christianised as St Bridget), who I will look at in greater detail as the week progresses.

Enjoy celebrating over the next few days. Decorate your home with white flowers and candles and arrange to share an Imbolc meal with friends or family to celebrate the return of the Goddess and the eternal hope of spring.

The return of the Maiden

The month of February is often looked upon as being the worst of the winter months as far as the weather is concerned. It does however have several high spots by way of ancient festivals, many of which are associated with new beginnings and all of which we can still celebrate in our own individual ways today.

The Celtic fetsival of Imbolc was always celebrated with the birth of the first lamb, which heralded a much welcomed event for our ancestors especially when they were still in the grips of a harsh winter. For today's Pagans the commemoration of this occasion normally runs from sunset on the 1st, to sunset on the 2nd february. It is a time when the return of the Goddess in her maiden form is celebrated and is often associated with the Irish Celtic Goddess Bride (Bridget), the patron of healing, smiths and poets.

In your celebrations drink white wine, elerflower cordial or milk and eat white meats or treat yourself to a creamy sweet treat. Reinvent the Maiden aspect of yourself by doing something that makes you feel young and acknowledge Bride by writing poetry or indulging in craft work.

We are of course all familiar with the romantic St Valentine's Day on the 14th February, but less is known about the following day which marked the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia.

To the Romans the month of February was named after the Latin word 'februa' meaning 'purification' and on the 15th February that is exactly what the festival of Lupercalia entailed. Here the lusty priests of the Goat footed God, Pan, would run around the streets whipping maidens with their goat skin thongs in order that they might become both purified and fertile.

If you feel the need to celebrate this festival then please be at liberty to do so as you wish, although a public display of goatskin thong thrashing is probably not the way to go!

In the Christian calendar, the beginning of the period of Lent normally falls during February, a time associated with resistance from pleasure until Easter Sunday. If therefore you intend to adhere to a period of abstinance during this time, the tempting delights of pancakes with the most sumptuous of fillings is a must on Shrove Tuesday.

The Return

Deep within the earth She sleeps,
Dreaming dreams of her awakening.

Deep within the earth She calls,
The snowdrops from their slumber.

Deep within the earth She breathes,
The frosted breath of morning.

Deep within our soul She lights
The spark which sets us free.

(From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers' )