Our Imbolc ceremony will take place at Alexandra Palace in North London. I suggest we meet at Alexandra Palace Station, at the Buckingham Road exit. There is a pub opposite where we could gather if the weather is cold. I suggest 2 p.m.
Trains run from Kings Cross to Alexandra Palace – though check times and engineering works closer to the day. The station is a 15 minute walk from Wood Green Tube on the Picadilly Line (see Map). If you are driving there may be some parking in nearby roads and there is a large car park at the Palace itself. From the station we can walk onto the hill and around the path to where I am visualising the ceremony taking place.
Please bring anything you would like to include in the ritual. I have some Imbolc incense (from Star Child in Glastonsbury – where else?) and it would be good if someone could bring a small metal bowl to burn it in. (I also have charcoal discs.) Snowdrops or other early spring flowers would be lovely (white for preference but doesn’t really matter). I shall bring some. I will also bring candles.
I will plan a basic structure but, following our custom, there will be space to talk first and see what themes are arising for each of us as we move into the lighter time of the year and to discuss how these could be incorporated into the ritual. Imbolc is particularly associated with Brighid, goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft as well as it being a time of renewal.
So, I look forward to seeing you. Messages as to whether or not you can come would be appreciated.
Blessings of buds and early lambs to you all.
Daniel and I are expecting to come along, although we haven’t quite worked out the route yet.
Comment by Lorraine — 2/2/2007 @ 1:02 pm
Sorry for the delay in writing the account of the ceremony. I did do a draft version but then I was quite badly ill for a couple of weeks after and then I had things like having to sort out a problem with my old car and then having to sort out getting a new one when the problem proved too expensive to sort out (!). Will be posting it soon. Hi to every one, hope you all enjoyed the eclipse, I watched it with Jo and her young son who had never seen one before!
Comment by Mike — 12/3/2007 @ 12:21 am
Hi Mike,
I hope you are better now and everything is getting sorted out!
I’m really looking forward to your account of Imbolc.
Comment by hilde — 13/3/2007 @ 10:36 am
Mike – car problems -ugh! Am glad you’re going to post since, paranoid as I am, I had begun to wonder if the Imbolc ritual was too unspeakably horrible for anyone to mention it. Well feel free to say if it was !
Blessings – and yes, the eclipse was destabilisingly impressive.
Liz
Comment by Elizabeth — 13/3/2007 @ 8:48 pm
Liz, don’t be silly! It was one of the most moving and beautiful ceremonies we’ve ever done. I would have posted something if I’d had some time…
Comment by hilde — 14/3/2007 @ 10:40 pm
Thank you Hilde and you are right it was/is silly. I suppose I’m 70% sensible woman and 30% insecure child. On that day the child got to the website before the woman. I’m working on it …
Comment by Elizabeth — 15/3/2007 @ 5:29 pm
Don’t worry – my inner 8-year-old gets most places way ahead of me :)
Comment by hilde — 15/3/2007 @ 8:40 pm