Imbolc \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Cold Moon<\/p>\n
In the early Celtic faith this day was a holy day and a market day, a cross quarter holiday that celebrated the freshening of the ewes. \u00a0When the ewes became pregnant–lamb in the belly, in the belly=imbolc, they would once again have milk, adding some variety to a food supply that had been stable since Samhain or so, the last harvest.<\/p>\n
Brigid, the Celtic triple-goddess of hearth, smithy and inspiration, all fire related–is the goddess honored on this holiday. \u00a0She was, like so much of the old religions, hoovered up into Catholicism as St.\u00a0Bridget, reportedly born of a good Christian woman and a Druid, thus straddling the transition from the old faith to the new.<\/p>\n
She had a center at Kildare<\/a> in Ireland, where the Catholics built cell dara, or cell\/church of the oak. \u00a0A great oak was there. \u00a0This Cathedral of St. Bridget went up in 480 ad. \u00a0That is very early, the Roman Empire was not quite dead. \u00a0Even so, the followers of the Goddess had been there much longer, with 19 priestesses who kept lit an eternal flame. \u00a0Catholic nuns dedicated to St. Bridget kept up this practice until the Reformation era.<\/p>\n “On February 1, 1807 Daniel Delany, Bishop of Kildare, began the restoration of the Sisterhood of St. Brigid. Their mission was to restore the ancient order and bring back the legacy and spirit of this amazing figure. In 1993, Brighid\u2019s perpetual flame was finally re-kindled in Kildare\u2019s Market Square by Mary Teresa Cullen, who at that time was the leader of the Brigidine Sisters. The sacred flame was kept by the Brigidine Sisters in their home and on February 1, 2006, the flame was brought back to the center of the Market Square where it has been permanently housed in a large glass enclosed vessel.” \u00a0see website sourced above.<\/p>\n (Brigid’s fire temple)<\/p>\n There was, too, a holy well dedicated to Brigid, also in this same location. \u00a0There are holy wells all over the Celtic lands, many dedicated to gods or goddesses, others revered as places for certain kinds of prayers, both blessings and curses. \u00a0These wells have since ancient times been considered portals to Faery or to the Otherworld, thus offerings left by the wells honor those of Faery as well as those who have died. \u00a0Dressing the well makes an offering at a holy well, i.e. surrounding it with flowers, plants, homemade things. \u00a0The Celts also use strips of cloth tied onto tree or shrub branches as offerings in a fashion very similar to certain native american traditions.<\/p>\n Given Brigit’s triple orientation–hearth, smithy and creative inspiration–today is a day to celebrate domestic life where the fire of the kitchen activates the home, and the fire of the smithy where the tools and weapons of a life lived close to the land are shaped, and, finally, the inspiration which comes to each of us from the holy wells deep within our own being.<\/p>\n This is a time to stop, take a look at the home fires. \u00a0How are they? \u00a0It is also a time to think about the tools for gardening. \u00a0Are they sharp and oiled, ready for the spring. \u00a0Then, too, especially for those of us who rely on the mystery of creative inspiration, are you being careful to tend your inner well? \u00a0Keeping it dressed and well-maintained?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Imbolc \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Cold Moon In the early Celtic faith this day was a holy day and a market day, … Continue reading Imbolc: 2013<\/span>