Imbolc Preparations
Jan. 29th, 2006 11:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
athenagreyWhen I explain Imbolc to non-pagan friends, I often joke that it’s our spring cleaning holiday. I do try to clean with intent in the days leading up to Imbolc, and I always take time to clear off my studio worktable, scrub it completely, use it to cut the fabric for a new white robe, and then put everything back in better order.
I have a luscious bolt of vintage white linen, woven in Ireland back in the 1940’s. I always say I am going to make robes from it. But every year I take it out of the fabric cupboard, feel the heaviness of the fabric, and put it away in again. This year’s robe will be plain white calico. It’s simply too warm here to wear heavy linen robes.
So, Imbolc is a time for a new white robe, and for spring cleaning. What else? Borrowing in a circular way from Candlemas, it is a day for making ritual candles. I know I will be pouring small soy voitves. We used the last of them at Samhain. I may also dip some beeswax tapers.
As for ritual, a lot will depend on mood and weather. We have an old stone well in our garden, and might go out and decorate it with red and white ribbons to honor Brigid, and work some healing magic. We certainly will go through the Aerie and bring blessings into every corner of it. We’ll spend extra time in the studio, working some creativity magic there. I’ll need that to get through this year, especially to support my sustained participation in the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
embodiment project. I don’t do sustained very well.
We may not go down to the sea, because we spent the entire afternoon there yesterday. I had an urge to draw a labyrinth in the sand, which I did, and as I walked it, Jannie stood witness as the truths unfolded in me.
First, I was aware of the reason that this labyrinth needed to be drawn. I needed to honor impermanence in a timeless world. My marks on the sand would be gone at high tide, but the sand and the sea will endure.
Then, well, that’s a story for another day.
I have a luscious bolt of vintage white linen, woven in Ireland back in the 1940’s. I always say I am going to make robes from it. But every year I take it out of the fabric cupboard, feel the heaviness of the fabric, and put it away in again. This year’s robe will be plain white calico. It’s simply too warm here to wear heavy linen robes.
So, Imbolc is a time for a new white robe, and for spring cleaning. What else? Borrowing in a circular way from Candlemas, it is a day for making ritual candles. I know I will be pouring small soy voitves. We used the last of them at Samhain. I may also dip some beeswax tapers.
As for ritual, a lot will depend on mood and weather. We have an old stone well in our garden, and might go out and decorate it with red and white ribbons to honor Brigid, and work some healing magic. We certainly will go through the Aerie and bring blessings into every corner of it. We’ll spend extra time in the studio, working some creativity magic there. I’ll need that to get through this year, especially to support my sustained participation in the
embodiment project. I don’t do sustained very well. We may not go down to the sea, because we spent the entire afternoon there yesterday. I had an urge to draw a labyrinth in the sand, which I did, and as I walked it, Jannie stood witness as the truths unfolded in me.
First, I was aware of the reason that this labyrinth needed to be drawn. I needed to honor impermanence in a timeless world. My marks on the sand would be gone at high tide, but the sand and the sea will endure.
Then, well, that’s a story for another day.
