Imbolc, Brigid's Day of Fire

Imbolc is the time of year when we start planning for the coming of Spring. When we say good bye to the Crone of winter, and prepare to greet the Maiden once again. It's a day we starting planting our seeds for our ideas, goals and inspirations. It is also a day that we celebrate Brigid, Celtic Goddess of fire, poetry, hearth and home. Call on her and ask her to warm you with her passionate fire. The fire of inspiration and creativity.

There are many crafts to make and ways to honor Brigid on Imbolc. In the old Celtic lands, people used to make corn dollies in honor of this Great Goddess. They would then take these dolls door to door to celebrate her sacred day. There is also the Brigid's cross, usually make of reeds of some kind. I actually made one of these, and I had so much fun! You could also use pipe cleaners, which are much easier, but I decided to go the traditional route. If you are going to use reeds, soak them for a couple of hours, or maybe even overnight to make sure they can bend easily. I found step by step directions on About.com, please give your hand a try, it's not as hard as it might seem. Make a Brigid's Cross

In honor of Brigid and her sacred day, I decided to post a meditation dealing with Brigid and her cross. Yes you have to make the Brigid's cross for this! This is a meditation about crossroads, about the crossroads we all come to in life, and can't decide which path to take.

Begin by closing your eyes, and thinking about where you've been in the past year, spiritually, emotionally, even physically. What things have you done that bring your regret? What things have brought you joy? Is there anything you wanted to do, but didn't get a chance to? Picture yourself wandering along a path, out of the past and into the present. Let your mind roam freely, and visualize yourself approaching a crossroads. Perhaps it's a place in a forest, where a pair of deer trails run together. Maybe it's in the mountains, where streams intersect. Or maybe you picture yourself out in a wide open space, with roads connected in the middle of nowhere.

Regardless, see yourself at that crossroads. You are at the center, and branching out from where you stand are many paths. Each leads in a different direction. Each path will take you to something new. Begin creating your Brighid's Cross and as you weave the straws together, think about what may lie in each direction. As you look out over your choices, thinking about which way to travel, Brighid herself is standing beside you. Continue weaving your cross, and watch her. She points out one of the roads.

When you've finished your cross, close your eyes once more, and meditate on the path which Brighid indicated for you. What lies in that direction? Is it something familiar and comforting? Something new and unknown? Focus on the cross you've made, and let this newly chosen path inspire you. Know that it will ultimately bring you to something good and positive and strong.

I hope you enjoyed this meditation! On your altar for Imbolc have lots of candles (to represent fire), an image of Brigid, your Brigid's cross and/or a corn dolly, colors of yellow and orange to represent the sun.

Have a Blessed Imbolc!

Blessings )O(

Meditation taken from About.com


Photo courtesy of Wendy Andrews