Imbolc Family Festival

Hello all,

The end of this week brings us half way between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  It is a time when even though temperatures are low and ice flows down the river the days are growing longer.  January tricks us with a few warm days and kindles an awareness of the coming of spring. We look to the groundhog on February 2nd wondering if he'll see his shadow or not.  We may feel the urge to clean our homes, and we feel a quickening within ourselves.

As we near the midway point of winter I've gathered a few ideas for the young and not so young to cherish this time of year and honor the change of the season around us.

Enjoy a nature walk.  Looking for swelling buds on the trees and listening for new bird songs.

Turn on some music at home and spend an afternoon cleaning your house.  Children have fun helping with dust brooms and buckets of warm soapy water.

Make A Brigit's Cross.  Bridig, the Goddess of Imbolc teaches us to nature the seeds of healing and hew growth before their actual emergence in these dark days.

Create paper sheep shapes and wrap with wool yarn or roving.  Baby sheep and calves beginning to show themselves around the valley remind us that spring is on its way.

Begin to plan your garden.  What will you grow this summer?

Spend some time thinking about the seeds you want to plant in your life this spring.  Feel the inspiration of the goddess Brigid and write down what you plan to grow for yourself and your community.

Create a nature table, altar or place of prayer.  Perhaps snipping a branch from a bush outside to bring inside and force the blossoms in the warmth of your home.  Adding candles to honor the fire of the returning sun.

Grow some sprouts to eat.

Verses for this time of year:

Candle, Candle, burning bright;

Winters halfway done tonight

With a glowing, were are knowing

Spring will come again.

If Candlemas be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas bring clouds and rain,

Go winter and come not again.

Friday morning I will join the tadpoles at The O'Hara Commons to share a puppet show about the coming of spring.  I hope you can join me.

Thank you and happy turning of the seasons.

XO

Dulcie