(Text in blue are links to those activities. You can also click images to enlarge them.)
Candlemas 2018 Ritual Outline: "...Silence is its own musical entity. We say, "silence is golden". We talk about "peace and quiet". We often connect with the sacred in silence...Music generated as healing, devotional, or spiritual communing is thought to transform the musician and the listener." This ritual used different drumming patterns to lead participants through a personal journey which included: purification, initiation, and setting an intention. Using seed imagery, participants were able to "notice the space inside you for germination and what wants to be planted.
Candlemas 2017 -Ritual Outline: This ritual was a reverent acknowledgement of the power and importance of going deep within to examine and rejoice in our personal journeys. The activities included: a blessing, calling in Bridget- "Welcome, welcome, welcome to the holy woman", feasting, sharing the history, Calling in the Directions, a Spiral Dance . Then we had an hour to experience 4 stations (click here for prompts with images)-Meditation, Scrying, Divination cards and decorating a candle. Returning to the circle, a Rumi poem was read. Then we experienced a visualization during which we encountered 4 goddesses. We culminated the ritual by sharing. We closed the circle singing, "Rise up Oh Flame", and "May the Circle be Open". Following the closing of the circle we had desert.
Imbolc 2016-Our group's ritual: The ritual began with a "Feast of Brigid". After delightfully partaking of yummy food, we opened the circle with blessings, a reading, "Prayer for the Great Family", and songs. The ritual included an Initiation for new members, a sufi dance, and a meditation (cleansing at a well and a request that Brigit help nurture the new seed quickening inside us). Journaling and sharing followed. We closed with a Water Ceremony based on Dr. Emoto's research.
Imbolg; January 2015- Ritual Outline: Theme: Deepening our intuitive knowing through Tarot-There were 5 alters set up around the room; Spirit, Emotional, Worldly, Physical, Mental. We each pulled a card from the Voyager deck and stood by the alter we felt drawn to, then adjusted the groups until there were about 4 in each group. The facilitators separated and each led a different mini group by encouraging us to interpret the card we chose in relationship to the alter we chose. As we listened to each sister's interpretation, we led her to deepen her awareness through questions and comments. When all had completed their turn, we chose one of the cards from the group's cards to represent the alter. After meeting back in whole group, a representative from the group explained why they had decided on that card to represent the alter. The activity provided us an opportunity to awaken our intuition, share in depth with other sister's, and deepen our awareness of our group's culture and intention. It was beautiful and powerful. Later, each card was looked up in the Voyager book and we were emailed the book's interpretation of our women's group tarot reading.
This was the tarot spread for our group in 2015
Mental: We are a Seekers- Trust out instincts, listen to what our senses have to say. Emotional: Equanimity- This is detached, non-judgmental awareness. We are centered, balanced & level headed. Physical: Compassion- We possess Buddha like empathy & tolerance. We extend ourselves for healing. Spiritual: Reflection- Live simply, rest and reflect. Worldly: Strength- Dominion is the controlled but free & total expression of our being. |
2013 Candlemas / Imbolc Ritual Outline: (Handwritten notes throughout and we're missing 1 page, but the bulk of the ritual is here.) The activities listed include: Blessing, History (don't have it), Dancing to celebrate the birth of the sun (song: O Lucina), Calling in the Goddesses representing the elements, Tea Ceremony (infusing our bodies with warmth, courage, inspiration, love, truth, passion, strength & clarity), Blessing of Solitude, Initiation and Dedication (I only have the beginning of the initiation text.)
2010 Candlemas Ritual Outline: Theme-What influences have formed you? What do you wish to transform? What does this newly transformed "You" look, feel,...like?" Then, we each stand on the platform/alter and say what we are owning for ourselves & name ourselves. Song, "Welcome ___, Celebrate ____,"
2005 Candlemas Ritual Outline: It includes 4 stations/4 groups that rotate to: making a collage of dreams, writing a group poem, decorating a candle, and consulting the rune oracle.
2002 Candlemas Ritual Outline: Theme: Initiation & then, casting off what is no longer needed / Bringing something new in to the light. Setting: The room is dark. There's a large 3-4 ft. wide, dirt ring about 6 feet out from the alter. Since this was created in an indoor setting it was quite a trick. (black plastic with peat mossy stuff on it) Women create a cave by draping a blanket over them as they sit in the dirt. They pick something they are wearing to represent something they want to cast off (remove it shake the cast off energy into the earth.) Leaving the dirt they step into the ring of light and don a sheet of white. What do they want to bring into the light?
2001 Imbolc Ritual Outline: Theme-Release and Gain: Released energy/words were written on red tissue paper and buried in a basket of dirt, votives were lit after a visualization to bring in new energy. "Mother Peace Cards" were used to help focus intent for the year. Then, each made a symbol out of wax to add to a group candle that would be lit throughout the year during rituals.
2000 Candlemas Ritual Outline: Setting: The room is dark, "the cave", with only the embers of the fire glowing. The history is written on pages displayed around the front porch for women to read as they wait to enter. The 4 Directions are invoked with the blessing as they enter, "Welcome to Candlemas. As you enter the darkness of the cave, we, the four directions bring you our gifts. I am the East. I bring you the wisdom of your ancestors. May it illuminate your path. (sprinkle water)" see ritual for ideas for other directions. / Then, Cave Visualization.-"What is your shadow holding on to that you know longer need? / Write it on wood and burn it. / 2nd Visualization-"What do you want to manifest?" (Don't have.) / With a partner, share what you want to manifest, then write it on the dedication page on your book / As you light a candle, read the dedication page. / Collage the cover of the book. / Share significance of the collage / Close and feast.
1999 Candlemas Partial Outline: This ritual included a nest and notes on a meditation for shedding unwanted energy.
1998 Candlemas Synopsis: Activities include: head wreath of lavender, feet washing ceremony, a cauldron with soil to represent the womb, scrying box, blowing out a black candle to represent the un-needed energy from the past, lighting the white candle and luminaries, writing intentions for the new year with lemon juice, then burning the new year's intentions with the white candle. Choral reading of "What is this Night". Songs are: (Look in Candlemas Song Section for links.) "Goddess, Goddess, we are Calling", "Isis, Astarte...", "Rise up O Flame", (Name, Name, Name, Name, lit us tell you haow we feel...", "I Am a Circle", "May the Circle be Open"
1997 Imbolc Ritual: Within this ritual there was a blessing, calling the Directions, initiation of new members, and a secluded altar room for reflection. While each woman entered the altar, the rest of the women, chanted and sang. The song sheet is included with the outline. Also included was divination and anchoring the qualities we wished to bring in. All can be found on the outline.
1995 Imbolc Ritual: This ritual was a favorite of mine. It included a Cave Visualization for letting go, (writing down what we wanted to release and burning the paper), visualizing what we wanted to manifest for the year, decorating a candle, lighting it in an exquisite, secluded altar, and beginning a necklace that we added beads to throughout the year.
1994 Imbolc Ritual: This link takes you to a brief recap of the first ritual we saved in our binder. The year before this Pam led every celebration. We don't have outlines of those.
The following ritual is from an internet source (internorth.com) that is no longer available (as far as I can tell). It clearly lays out supplies and the roles of the participants. The format reminds me of a play with scripted parts. It leads into a Spiral Dance. (See the words to the song in "Candlemas Songs") Click on the link in bold for the full ritual.
Imbolg Celebrations
The BARD (if any) should sit or stand to the WEST, unless otherwise specified in the ritual.
Participants: (HPS refer to High Priestesses), a MAIDEN, or two MAIDENS, dressed in white, a MOTHER, (this role may be taken by the HPS) dressed in red, a CRONE. dressed in black, a BARDGREEN MAN DARK LORD, (can be the HP) dressed in dark clothing, and wearing a dark cloak, four WATCHTOWERS...