Imbolc is upon us
- February 1st for 2014. The word is
Irish in origin and means, "in the belly." This is the Quickening, the beginning of
spring. Now new life within the Earth
prepares to emerge. Goddess Brigit is
rising in the east with the Sun, as Mother Hecate draws Her winter's mantel
toward the Dark Side of the Moon where She rules the Craft and watches over Her
daughters.
Imbolc
At the Quickening
sister flowers and brother trees end their winter sleep,
Brigit calls them
to awaken and revel in the lustrous dawn,
Before long they
will put on their new green and dance in the balmy wind,
Rich milk will flow
from the teats of tender four-legged mothers,
As a new
generation of young suckle close, drinking deep of the liquid of life.
Tall and stately
Aspen and Maple prepare to leaf,
Cottonwood and
slender Elm raise their budding arms against a cerulean sky,
For so long I
have yearned to hear them whisper words of power,
Hear them sing their
gratitude to the rain,
Feel their
silhouette gently touch my shoulders as I tend my spring herbs.
Soon I will sleep
again in their emerald shade,
And sit without thought
of time beneath their elegant canopy,
I will see the
sun splatter between their new leaves,
Making stained-glass
patterns on the greening earth,
Sculpted visions
of light and shadow to inspire my daydreams.
In a little while
animal and plant will take their place on Brigit’s Earth-altar,
Under the glowing
stars the flawless ritual of blessing will begin,
The Goddess’
Priestesses will draw down the Moon,
Shimmering white,
the flower that shares its name will reflect the alabaster glow,
And another
season will begin.
