I thought I would revive an old tradition and write up our Imbolc Ceremony. Hoping to inspire others…
My day didn’t start very auspiciously. Something heavy fell on the back of my leg in the morning, and somebody drove into the back of my car on the way to Horsenden Hill. So I arrived a little shaky and even more stressed than usual! I had given Kirsten a lift from the tube station, and when we arrived I saw a gathering of what looked like a group of walkers. It took me a few seconds to recognise the members of our group under layers of scarves, coats and hats. It was a cold day, but the sun was shining down on us brightly.
We made our way to the same clearing we had used the year before. It is on the other side of the road from the Hill, and a little more out of the way. A little more sheltered from the wind, too. It was great to see eleven of us, including Amelia and baby Taliesin, gathered in the winter sunlight.
After the usual pre-ceremony chaos, everyone took on a role and the ceremony started. Amelia reports that Taliesin had a big smile on his face when we chanted the Awen. We followed the brown book ceremony, and it unfolded really well. It is a beautiful and simple ceremony that calls back the power of the Sun and the green growth that inspires our lives: “Come back to us Lady, and bring the Spring.” The Lady did come and she blessed us with water and fire. Brighid has told me that she is the fire of the sky (Sun, Moon, or Stars) reflected in the water. May her inspiration stay with us through the year.
A real feast follwed as the Sun sank down behind the trees. Greg and Trui improvised a kitchen right there in the clearing. Greg fired up his gas burner for hot water and served us all with cups of tea. Other people had also brought things to eat, and we shared biscuits, crisps, sausage rolls and Trui’s mother’s excellent fruit cake. Eating warms you up. I’m not sure if it’s because you’re distracted from feeling the cold, or because of the extra energy. I noticed I had left all my stress behind.
That feast was sufficient for some of us, but others continued down the pub. I’ll leave it to them to tell you what happened there!
