Imbolc Ritual: Visualization For The Birth Of Spring

Before we begin our in-bulk meditation,

I might suggest for you to find a position lying on your back where you can be as comfortable as possible.

You could also take this practice seated on a cushion or a chair.

Just allow yourself to move into a space where you can be fully supported and relaxed.

When you've arrived in your seat,

Gently close your eyes and take three deep breaths.

In through the nose and out through the mouth.

In through the nose and out through the mouth.

In through the nose and out through the mouth.

And I invite you to join me in this visualization meditation,

Allowing the story,

The characters to play out for you on the backs of your eyelids.

It is several weeks past midwinter and you are standing outside,

Headed towards a small log cabin,

Which is your home.

Not far away is a thick stand of pine and spruce and you can hear the sounds of birds as they shake the snow from the branches of the trees when they land.

You return to your cabin where you pick up a knapsack sitting outside the front door and head out toward the nearby forest.

The path is clearly marked and packed snow has become as hard as ice,

But the new snow from last night dusts it and gives you a firmer footing.

As you walk along,

Bundled tightly against the cold,

The sun rises higher into the sky.

The day seems warmer than yesterday and while spring is still a month or so away,

You know the harshest part of winter has passed.

When you reach the boundaries of the forest,

You gaze quietly up at the trees that are silent today.

At night,

They creak and moan in the wind and you can hear them even from your cabin,

But today there isn't even the slightest breeze and you actually feel a little warm.

You open your muffler and let the cool air press against your skin.

The sun climbs higher as you enter the woods.

Here,

The path is easier to navigate.

The snow is not so heavy under the thick cover of tree branches and you increase your pace,

Making better time.

As you pass through the silent wonderland,

You occasionally see a branch move or a bush shake and you know that not everything is asleep.

The forest deepens around you.

You have walked for about an hour when you hear the sounds of laughing up ahead and as the path bends and you turn the corner,

You see a group of people gathered around a large well that stands in a wide clearing.

The people in the clearing are friends of yours,

Villagers whom you've known since childhood and you have come to join them in celebrating in bulk the festival of Brigide.

The people bid you welcome and you put your knapsack down and join a few of the others near one of the bonfires that burn brightly throughout the meadow.

Over one fire,

You see a spit with roasting meat.

Another has died down to embers and there are potatoes and turnips roasting amongst the coals.

Almost everyone here is dressed in something red or white and you now search in your knapsack for your ritual outfit and go behind a large blanket that hangs from a tree.

It's private and you can change clothes there.

As you change into your ritual garment,

Feel your day-to-day outer self slip away as you dress yourself for ritual and magic.

When the sun is high overhead and midday has come,

The village high priestess calls everyone to feast.

The smell of roasting meat makes your stomach rumble and you gather gladly with the others at the long tables that have been erected.

Eat heartily for the ritual begins at twilight and afterwards,

You know you have the journey home to make.

The foods on the table are hot and filling,

Meats and breads,

Apples,

Potatoes,

And turnips.

Great jugs of milk have been specially marked for the feast and wheels of cheese dot the tables.

Fill your plate and think about the fare you're eating.

The summer bounty is a long way off and even spring vegetables seem like a distant dream.

After dinner,

Everyone rests while the children play.

The fires are maintained,

Hot blazes that melt away the snow underneath.

The ritual fire is being laid.

It is made with willow and hawthorn branches,

With hazel and rowanwood.

The high priestess of the village comes by and she tells everyone that it is time to gather near the main ritual area.

You search in your knapsack and find the candles you were told to bring.

One is red,

One is white,

And one is black.

You gather near the ritual area.

It is a large clearing a little farther in the woods with the fire laid in the center.

Split logs have been cleared of snow and people are sitting around the fire in a semicircle.

You take your place and wait as the high priestess steps forward.

A tingle in your belly tells you that the magic is near.

The energy is running high today,

Even though everyone seems calm and relaxed.

"'Welcome to Imbolc and welcome to our festival,

' she says.

"'May Brigid give blessing to the houses that are here.

"'Brigid the fair and tender,

Her hue like the cotton grass,

"'the rich-tressed maiden of Ringlet's Gold.

'" As you hear the ancient words of invocation that open the ceremony,

You gently slide into a trance.

The voice of the priestess is gentle.

It floats on the wind and you almost can't hear it,

But then it drifts into your thoughts and out again.

We gather to celebrate the Lady Brigid,

Brigid the renowned,

Brigid the fiery arrow of power,

Goddess of fire and fertility,

Of healing and cleansing,

Of poetry and the hearth,

Goddess of the oracle.

The priestess turns to light the Imbolc fire and it crackles,

Blazing to life.

The flames reach up into the air,

Shooting sparks high to shower on the frozen snow below.

She speaks again.

"'On this day,

We gather to honor you "'and renew our pact with fire,

"'which rules healing and creativity and the forge.

'" As her voice dies away,

You look up into the fire.

Amid the crackling flames,

You see the image of a woman.

It is Brigid as she rises above the meadow,

Full-bodied and beautiful.

"'Take up the black candle of the earth,

' she says,

"'and it seems you alone hear her voice.

"'Decide now what you would have manifest "'in your physical world this coming year.

"'Hold the candle and envision what you want to build,

' "'she says.

"'Take your black candle and focus your will into it.

"'You have finished.

"'Get up and walk to the fire "'where you cast the black candle into the flames "'and watch it melt away.

' "'She speaks again.

"'Now take up your white candle of healing "'and decide of what you want to heal or cleanse yourself.

"'Hold the candle and envision what you want to purify,

' "'she says.

"'Take your white candle and focus your will into it.

"'You have finished.

"'Once again,

Get up and walk to the fire "'where you cast the white candle into the flames "'and watch it melt away.

' "'A third time,

She speaks.

"'Now take up your red candle of poetry and art "'and decide what beauty you wish to create "'during this coming year.

"'Hold the candle and envision what you want to create,

' "'she says.

"'Take your red candle and focus your will into it.

"'When you have finished.

"'For the third time,

Get up and walk to the fire "'where you cast the red candle into the flames "'and watch it melt away.

' "'The image in the fire vanishes "'and the high priestess steps forward.

"'She says,

"'Now to follow the path into the crystal grove "'where Brigid awaits your coming.

' "'She points to a short path in the back of the fire.

"'You are the first to rise "'and you walk down the path "'where the trees are decked in red and white ribbons.

"'And as twilight deepens into evening,

"'you enter the crystal grove.

"'Pine and spruce surround the area.

"'The snow is light here,

Almost magically absent.

"'In the center of the grove is a sacred font "'made entirely of crystal,

"'and more crystals rise out of the water,

"'which is a delicate shade of aquamarine.

"'Behind the font,

Sitting on a pillow of red satin,

"'embroidered with gold,

Is the goddess Brigid.

"'She's cloaked in red and gold,

"'and her eyes are two crimson flames that watch you "'as you silently approach.

"'At her left hand sits a platter with hazelnuts on it.

"'At her right sits a platter of salmon.

"'She motions for you to sit opposite her.

"'Welcome to the crystal grove,

' she says.

"'The night is for scrying,

"'for divination,

But first you must understand "'the difference between wisdom and knowledge.

"'Knowledge gives you an understanding of things.

"'Wisdom tells you how to apply that understanding "'for the best outcome with the least harm,

' "'she says this,

And then falls silent for a moment.

"'After a moment,

She lifts the platter of salmon "'and offers it to you.

"'Eat of the salmon of knowledge,

' she says,

"'and you take one bite of the sweet flesh.

"'Then she leans forward and tells you something "'about yourself or a problem you've been having "'that you need to resolve.

"'Listen here to her words.

"'The goddess Brigid next offers you the platter of nuts.

"'Eat of the nuts of wisdom,

' she says,

"'and you take one of the hazelnuts "'and see that it is carved with the rune of hazel,

"'of wisdom and creativity,

And you eat it.

"'Then Brigid once again leans forward.

"'This time she takes your hand and gives you an insight "'into yourself that you've been overlooking.

"'Listen to her words.

"'After you have eaten,

She holds up a ladle.

"'Will you drink of the wine of health,

"'the wine of passion,

Or the wine of manifestation?

' "'She asks.

"'Make your choice,

And hand her a chalice "'that you draw from your bag.

"'She fills it with wine from one of the three nearby jugs "'and hands it back to you.

"'Drink deep in her presence.

"'Feel the energy of the wine racing down your throat "'and mingle into your bloodstream.

"'Now pay her honor,

Bid her farewell,

"'and depart from the grove.

"'You return to the ritual area "'where you see another person headed in "'for their meeting with the goddess.

"'Sit and think for a moment "'on what you've learned and what you've heard "'from the goddess today.

"'When everyone has finished their turn with Brigid,

"'the high priestess raises her arms to the fire and says,

"'Thank you,

Great goddess,

For joining us tonight.

"'Be with us as we go about our days "'during the coming cycle of growth.

"'Then,

The ritual over,

Everyone rises to leave.

"'You go up to the fire,

And the high priestess "'offers you a torch lit from the imbulc fire.

"'Now,

Set out for home,

Using the torch to guide your way.

"'The forest is crackling with energy,

"'and you feel renewed,

Ready for the spring "'as you walk under the cloudy night.

"'In fact,

Even though it is cold and snowing lightly,

"'you can sense a shift in the air,

"'and you know that spring is not far away.

"'When you reach your cabin,

"'enter and light the fireplace with the torch,

"'and then settle down,

Relaxed.

"'As I count from 10 to one,

"'you will awake and be fully refreshed.

"'10,

Nine,

Eight,

Seven,

"'six,

Five,

Four,

"'three,

Two,

One.

"'Take three deep breaths.

"'And then,

When you are ready,

You may open your eyes.

'"