BS: Imbolc Greetings

Subject: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 08:46 AM

To all our Friends on the 'Cat :

May the increasing Light, the Hope and Optimism which Imbolc (The Celebration of Lactation of Ewes)brings, bring you and all whom you love Joy, Health, Peace, Love and Blessings.

So Mote it Be.

Erica and Bryn (Merlin and Andrasta)

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 09:11 AM

Imbolc Greetings and Blessings to you both too.

BB

Khatt and Paul

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Rapparee
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 09:19 AM

And to all.

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 09:23 AM

Bring on the snowdrops!!!

Blessings all... especially to the unknown couple for whom I'm busy making floral arrangements for their wedding tomorrow.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 09:27 AM

We're going to our forest tomorrow after we've picked up our new fireplace!! Hopefully there will be some snowdrops in the clearing, I take the camera and get some pics if there are!

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 10:16 AM

No snowdrops for me yet. But then again I haven't been out stomping for a wee while... Be good to see photies of other peoples little floral heralds of the Spring.

Wondering how other people observe Imbolc? I've done the whole Brides Bed thing before. In fact I've tried to find songs for Imbolc and/or Bridgit, to learn ans sing in some prayerful fashion. But without a lot of success. So Imbolc shall be observed with candles, milk and contemplation but no songs...

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: My guru always said
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 12:13 PM

Snowdrops abounding in our garden and I am glad to see them!

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: JohnB
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 03:20 PM

Snowdrops! it's around zero out there today, for the first time in about three weeks (it's been around a high of -10 much colder at night) the snow on the way to the barn the other day was around the tops of my -70 approved knee high wellies, that's after compressing the area I was walking on.
Last years snowdrop photo's were taken on APRIL 14th.
That's what you get for moving to Canada.
Happy days ahead, JohnB

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 04:05 PM

King Orfeo is one of the songs I sing at Imbolc, likewise The Wife of Ushers Well (both currently playing on my myspace page) - the former in respect of bringing home the beauteous spring from the grips of elfin winter, the latter with respect of a singular correlation with the earthy illustration for February in the Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry despite the central events of the ballad being set at Martinmass. Indeed, given that Imbolc falls on February the 9th this year (feast day of the miraculously conceived Saint Apollonia of Alexandria, patron saint of dentists) one senses a particular cross-quarterly resonance so essential to ceremonial empowerment when the best of us can do at time of year is to warm our nethers by the blazing fire...

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 06:57 PM

Thanks for the link, IB, sounds great!

Bryn and Erica, thanks for the thread and greetings!

It's a tad early for snowdrops here in Colorado, too, even in the Banana Belt, though I did hear a demented robin the other day. I think it didn't get the memo telling it winter had decided to stick around a bit longer.

Blessed Be, all,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 07:36 AM

one senses a particular cross-quarterly resonance so essential to ceremonial empowerment when the best of us can do at time of year is to warm our nethers by the blazing fire...

This should read:

one senses a particularly potent cross-quarterly resonance so essential to ceremonial empowerment when the best most of us can do at time of year is to warm our nethers by the blazing fire...

Snow drops? Not yet, but we do get the occasional nocturnal blackbird.

Another fine balled for Imbolc is Child #6, The Witch Mother, aka Willie's Lady, aka Nine Witch Knots, which we call The Wax Baby - which seems ceremonial to the containment of vibrant spring by the hag of winter, and the ordeals we must endure to experience the eventual glory of the birth! As I write I'm uploading a rehearsal demo we made of this song for last years Fylde - so raggy but spirited! It's not the usual Son-Ar-Chistre melody (as set by Ray Fisher, made famous by Martin Carthy) but an old Scandinavian lullaby...

Have a listen at: Venereum Arvum

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 05:45 PM

Cheers for the suggestions IB, 'Bird' that follows is thoroughly magical by the way. Checked my calendar regards the ninth, you base your festival date on the Full Moon presumably? I'd always thought that the Celts were more Terrestrial than Celestial based in their festivals, as theirs was an agriculturally anchored season, so more likely to be dictated by earthly signs than heavenly ones. Of course all one can do is presume I suppose. Though I think my least favourite presumption regarding the strict timing of the Fire Festivals is that they be Celestially tied into the Solstices and Equinoxes (which from what I understand, predate them rather signigicantly...) and thus assigned to a convenient but quite inappropriately imposed cross-quarterly 15'.

Many thanks for the Imbolc Hare Bryn & Erica. Lovely :-) x

Subject: RE: BS: Imbolc Greetings
From: Cats
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 06:52 PM

Blessimgs, light and love