Celebrating Brigid: Simple Imbolc Ritual

As Christianity spread across Europe, the Gods of indigenous faiths were either disregarded by the Church or absorbed into folklore. Some were demoted to demons in the new Christian lore. Others were transformed into heroes of a legendary past where they continued to be revered with magick and significance. Still others, particularly those of paramount importance, were adopted as saints. - Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess by Courtney Weber. 
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(photo: The Passing of St. Brigid, Smithsonian, but found on Wkipedia)

Whether you think of Brigid as a goddess, a Druidess, a Bishop of Kildare, founder of the Kildare abbey, a nun, a Saint, or someone who never existed, she is definitely a character who has taken a turn in every one of those roles.

Yesterday evening, Imbolc, or St. Brigid's Day, began, and it ends this evening. It's a day set aside to honor her.

Of course, it's also Candlemas and Groundhog Day, so it's a choose your own celebration day.  

In Celtic spirituality, it's a day that is said to usher in or herald the first signs of spring. Here, in the video below, I am virtually lighting a candle in her honor.

Imbolc invites us to look ahead. To reflect on how far we’ve made in through this winter, what seeds (literal and/or figurative) we want to plant in our daily lives and spiritual paths for the coming season and well beyond, and on ways we can honour the emergence of new life that will – true to the name of the season – soon begin to spring forth around us. -Autumn Zenith
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Here's the simple Imbolc ritual I did...

(1) Light a candle

(2) Brief meditation on winter and rest, and anticipating the light to come in spring. 

(3) Journal or reflection about the literal new life coming in spring, and the new things you hope spring will bring.

(4) Leave candle burning as long as you want.

(5) Say a prayer & blow out the candle to end the ritual.

​See you tomorrow!