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'

The Storm Moon

The new crescent moon is now apparent in our evening skies and was known by the Celts as the storm or snow moon.
Although we may moan at a snow shower or the high winds, for the Celts, when food supplies were begining to run low, this time of year was still a far cry from spring. As such they would drum, chant and sing to appease the Gods and keep the cold weather and wild storms at bay.
Why not have a 'storm moon' celebration this week with plenty of drumming chanting and singing to appease the cold Gods of winter. Enjoy.
Read more in 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

Wassailing on Old Twelfth Night

The exact date of old Twelfth Night is the 17 January, but became the 5th of January after the calendar reforms of the C17. Today's celebrations however can be held any time between the two dates and this weekend sees many Wassailing celebrations nationwide. (check on line to see what's available in your area)
The word 'wassail' was first recorded during the early C14 and derives from the Saxon 'waes hael' meaning 'be whole'. Wassail was shouted as a toast whilst the drink known as lambswool was consumed which consisted of mulled ale, herbs and honey. A large goblet was filled with the drink and passed from person to person and accepted each time with a kiss.
In the middle Ages songs were written to accompany the drinking ritual;
'Wassail wassail all over the town, the toast it is white and the ale it is brown.'
So if January seems a little flat, why not celebrate and wassail with honeyed ale and song and may you all 'be whole' in the year ahead.

From 'Mrs darley's Pagan whispers