Merry Meet Friends
Greetings and Witchy Blessings to you all!
Welcome to our latest newsletter. As the wheel turns to Candlemas - Imbolc, and once again the daylight hours lengthen we focus this newsletter on this Sabbat.
Imbolc Greetings
Imbolc (Em' bolc - hard, guttural "c")- 1-2 August Southern Hemisphere
Deities: Brigid, Brid, the Maiden, the Spring Goddess, the Young Lord.
Herbs: Angelica; Basil; Bay Leaves; Myrrh.
Stones: Quartz; Opal; Moonstone; Aventurine, Sunstone.
With this Sabbat we celebrate the first stirrings of the Earth as she responds to the wake up call of Spring. Although this is a fire festival, the emphasis is on light rather than on warmth. This is because the light is necessary to guide spring's path so it doesn't get lost, or even worse, forget to renew the Earth with its greening.
The most common theme is that of purification. This is symbolised by the sweeping of the circle. It is time to being spring-cleaning. Time to get rid of what's no longer of any use to us - bad habits, old ideas, and preconceived notions. It is time to make way for the new and exciting things to come.
Decorate Altar with White flower (representing snowflake), or snow in crystal container. Orange candle anointed with musk, cinnamon, frankincense, or rosemary oil. Appropriate Foods include all dairy foods. Sour cream dishes. spicy, full-bodied foods in honour of the Sun. Curries and all dishes made with peppers, onions, leeks, shallots, garlic, or chives. Spiced wines and dishes containing raisins - all foods symbolic of the Sun - are traditional.
Looking for ways to celebrate:
Turn on all the lights in the house for a few moments to guide the path of spring. Alternatively, burn a votive candle in each room. Burn any leftover evergreen decorations from Yule. This ensures good luck in the coming year. Tie small bundles of straw together with pieces of black ribbon. Name each bundle for some thing you wish to remove from your life and burn it. Have a through 'spring clean' using your broom to sweep out any stale energy that has been building throughout the winter months. With my broom filled with power, I now sweep away the old and sour,
Crystal for the Month- Moonstone
Ruled by the Planet - Moon; Venus-Neptune
Ruled by the Element -Water
Ruled by the Deity -Diana, Selene, Isis and all lunar Goddesses Associated Powers- Love, Divination, Psychism, Sleep, Gardening, Protection and Youth.
The moonstone is intimately connected with the Moon in magical lore. So much so that many use it in accordance with the lunar phases. It is said that some stones change their hue with the lunar phases. This stone is very deceptive and love-drawing. Wear or carry moonstone to draw love into your life. Because of its association with the Moon, the bringer of sleep, the stone is often placed beneath a pillow to ensure a restful sleep.
Places to visit, Books and Magazines to look out and other items of interest. After a recent trip to Sydney we have highlighted couple of places to visit that were discovered.
