Imbolc Celebration 2009
Private Event

Blackberry Circle would like to thank everyone for their understanding regarding the need for a private event. The coven really needed to be able to celebrate and to renew their energies and foundation. It appears as though this was a great success.

We have been able to re-focus and are now preparing to provide open/public rituals for the rest of the year. Again, we thank you for your understanding.

At this time the Imbolc Celebration will be a private affair and by invitation only. This is a time for the Coven to renew themselves and their communion with each other as well as with the Gods.

Ritual performed...

IMBOLC 2009
31 January 2009

BARD/GREENMAN = James
MAIDEN = Maria
DARK LORD = Keith
HPS = Terri
HP =Jon

The Bard should stand to the NORTH.

HPS
Go we now to the sacred place
And stand within the sacred space
Turn your minds to sacred things
And dance with me unto the ring!

HP and HPS lead the coven to the place of ritual by a spiral dance, ending in a circle around the altar. The cauldron should be at the south. The Bard/Green Man dances at the end of the line.

HPS
Come we forth, with the Spiral Dance
Within the Lady's radiance
To celebrate the Sun's rebirth
To renew life, to warm the Earth
Earth and Water, Fire and Air
I invoke Danu there!
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!

HP
Earth and Water, Fire and Sky
I invoke The Dagda on high
This night we are Between the Worlds
To celebrate the year unfurled!

The Quarters shall be called so that all may hear, but shall not be called until the HPS reaches that Quarter on her rounds.

EAST
Earthen ones of Eastern fame
Bless and guard our Power's fane
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

SOUTH
Oh fiery ones of Southern Power
Thus I invite you to this tower
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

WEST
Western ones of water's flow
Help to guard us here below
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!

NORTH
O Guardians of the Northern Tower,
Airy ones of healing power
I do summon, stir and call you
See these rites and guard this circle!
Come to us and heed our call!
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
Come to us; and Blessed Be!
As HPS moves to each Quarter and says the following and moves to the next while the previous Quarter is called:

HPS
So I cast and consecrate
This Circle of the small and great:
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
By Rock and Earth, by Land and Sea,
By Fire and Water, Earth and Air,
By the Lord, and Lady Fair!
By Love and Joy and Work and Play,
All things harmful cast away!
By lightning’s flash, and rain's soft fall,
By the Power that made us all;
By the Power that blesses Thee:
(Cast the Circle: Blessed be!)
On her return to the first Quarter she shall change the last line above, and say:
The Circle's cast; and Blessed Be!

Here begins the Imbolc Mystery:
The Bard/Green man walks from the North to the West Quarterand then towards the altar.
The Maiden shall step forth, and say:

MAIDEN
This is the time of Brigid, the Patron of Poets and Fire, and of Healing.

HPS
This is the time of new beginnings, when the Mother has become Maiden.

HP
The days have turned, and grow longer, and the Sun-child is growing to His strength.

BARD/GREEN MAN
I have been a wave upon the sea,
And a spark in the firelight.
I have been a fish in the ocean.
I have been a Thought within a Word,
And a Word within a Deed.
I was cast away, and found again.
I have been made of flowers
And of cold steel and brass.
Fire and ice are alike unto me.
I have been the narrow blade of a sword
That kills without cutting.
And the Void is my homeland.
I have been in the Otherworld
In the Tech Donn.
And the letters on the Standing Stones
Are no secret from me.
I have been in the Otherworld
And Tir na n'Og,
I have danced the Spiral Dance,
And drunk from the horn at daybreak.
I have ridden beneath two ravens
And served in the kitchen,
And all places are alike unto me.
I have been a child
And now I come into my strength!
I invoke the Land, the dear Land,
the Earth our Mother!

MAIDEN
The cycles of the Moon have taken their course, and I am in my Maidenhood. The stars are kindled, and I dance in their light.

DARK LORD
Thy home is with me thru the long months of Winter, and the Earth shall lie fallow and bare.

The HPS shall then light the lantern of Brigid, and shall approach the Maiden, who is now standing in the East, and hand her the lantern.

The Maiden shall now, in company with the Bard/Green Man, go around the circle, and the coveners shall light their candles from her lantern. The Bard/Green Man shall return to his normal place within the circle and the Maiden shall place the lantern on the altar. The Maiden shall then approach the Dark Lord, and kneel before him, and he shall say:

DARK LORD
As it always is, always was, and always shall be. Come to my Kingdom.
Here he shall place the dark cloak around her, and they shall retire to the West.

HPS
In a ring we all shall stand
Pass the Power, hand to hand.

HP
As the Sun is given birth
Build the Power; root to Earth

HPS
Pass the Power, hand to hand
Bless the Lady, bless the Land

HP
Bless the Lord, and bless the Skies
Bless the Power that never dies!
The above four verses should be repeated three times, (or as many times as needed) and then the HPS should say:

HPS
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree:
Let the Power flow out and free!
All should release, at this point.
The Circle is opened.

HPS
Thus I release the East and West
Thanks to them from Host to Guest
Thus I release the South and North
With "Blessed Be' I send them forth!
The Circle's open, dance we so
Out and homeward we shall go.
Earth and Water, Air and Fire
Celebrated our desire.
The Sun's returned to banish dark
The Earth awakes to sunlight's spark.
By Fin and Feather, Leaf and Tree,
Our circle's done; and Blessed Be!

COVEN
Blessed Be!

Ritual borrowed from The White Bard’s ritual located at http://www.paganlibrary.com/rituals_spells/candlemas_ritual-2_february.php