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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
CompuServe on-line Imbolc Ritual, 1990
(Ladyhawk)
This is Imbolc...or Candlemas...or Brigit's day
This is the feast of the waxing light.
What was born at the Winter Solstice begins to manifest
The Lady, midwife to the infant year,
now sees the Child Sun grow strong
as the days grow visibly longer.
It is a time of beginnings,
when we select the seed we will later plant,
nurture, and eventually harvest.
After I do each invocation, I will pause and let each of you say
a FEW words no more than 2 lines, please...to your particular
deity
Right now, I'd like everyone to ground and center themselves...
in the way that is best for you.
As you do, see yourself bathed in a white light, cleansing you
and your area.
Now, mentally turn to the East:
Powers of the East
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!
Now mentally turn to the South:
Powers of the South
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!
<Now mentally turn to the West:>
Powers of the West
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!
<Now mentally turn to the North:>
Powers of the North
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!
<Back once more to the East and in your own way, salute the East
again>
Now, let us all link together
Feel the earth energy welling up from the bowels of the Earth,
our Mother
Feel it rise to our feet and up through our bodies
White light energy
Feel it flow through us and link us,
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one with the other
So finally we feel and see the circle of energy,
the circle of power
binding us together and setting us apart
In a space not of this time, but of all times
Not of these places, but all places!
Blessed Be!
Sun King!
Horned One of animals and wild places
Joyously we ask you come!
All the land is wrapped in the chill of winter
The trees are bare and
the air is cold.
Yet still our hearts are glad
For we know you have been reborn
And nurtured in your early days
By the gracious Mother Goddess,
Lady of all fertility.
We bid you welcome
And rejoice in your growing strength!
Hail Great God!
Hail and Welcome! <ga>
(Jehana) Hail & Welcome!
(Ocean Mist) u!/u
(Shadow Hawk) Hail Mother, from you the Sun once more does grow!
(Gwynndon) Hail and Welcome!
(Shadowstar) Welcome, Lord of the Sun!
(Jehana) Brigid, Arianhrod, Cerridwyn, Herne... Welcome!
(Larne) Welcome Lord! Share with us your warmth and light!
(Ocean Mist) Hail and welcome in your new light!
(Ladyhawk)
Great Goddess, Noble Lady!
Known to the Celts as Brigit, Bride, Cerridwen, and more
Goddess of Light
Keeper of the sacred wells!
We gather tonite to honor your
who has nurtured the Sun King.
As the spring lambs are born
and the ewes come to milk,
as we sense spring itself
so close
We bid you welcome as we
Clear out the old and make way for the new
Welcome Lady
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Welcome and all Hail!
(Gwynndon) Bride is come! Bride is Welcome!
(Jehana) Welcome, bright lady, spark of inspiration!
(Rita) Welcome, Great Mother. Welcome and grow strong, Young
Lord.
(Shadowstar) Welcome, Lady of Light!
(Larne) Welcome Lady! Nurture and help us as we grow!
(Shadow Hawk) Mother smile upon us and bring us Life, Son shine
down upon us and bring us Light!
(Ocean Mist) Welcome goddess of light!
(Ladyhawk)
Now, let us each concentrate on that which we need to "sweep out"
of our lives
Picture it as, with a new, clean broom,
you sweep it away
and it vanishes in the air.
And now, with ourselves cleansed,
let us meditate on that we might wish
to plant for this year...
the "seed" we will plant in the spring.
For, this is the time of chosing the seed
and preparing for the planting.
Gracious Lady! Help us chose wisely the seed!
and now, with our seed selected and held dearly in our hearts,
it is time to thank the Lady and the Lord.
O Sun King, Horned One!
We thank thee for thy presence
Surely we feel your growing strength
In our heart of hearts
and find joy in knowing
that as the sun grows,
so do you!
We thank thee for teaching us that
even in the depths of winter
Life grows!
Farewell, Lord, if you must go.
Though, gladly would we have you stay and
rejoice with us.
Hail, Sun King!
Gracious Lady,
We thank thee for thy guidance
in selecting our seed.
Truly will we hold it in our hearts
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Till the time of planting.
We thank thee also
For teaching us the wisdom
of cleansing and letting go
of that which is no longer useful to us.
Thus do we heal of past hurts
and grow in strength, even as does our Lord.
We thank thee
and bid you farewell if you must go,
but gladly would we have you stay
and rejoice with us!
Hail, Gracious Lady!
And now, we will let our circle sink back into the Earth once
again.
For all that comes of the Earth, must surely return to Her.
But even as the circle departs,
know that we are still bound
By our love of the Gods
and the Love between us.
Blessed Be!
(Shadow Hawk) Blessed Be
(Rita) Blessed Be!
(Ocean Mist) Blessed Be!
(Shadowstar) Blessed Be!
(Larne) Farewell Lord and Lady. Depart our circle, but be always
with us.
Blessed Be!
(Jehana) Blessed Be! So Mote it Be!
(Gwynndon) Blessed Be!
(Vkai) Blessed Be!
(Ladyhawk)
<Now turn in your mind's eye once again to the East>
Farewell, Powers of the East
We thank you for
Your attendence
and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!
<Face South>
Farewell Powers of the South
We thank you for your attendence
and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!
<face West>
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Farewell Powers of the West
We thank you for your attendence
and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!
<face North>
Farewell Powers of the North
We thank you for your attendence
and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!
<once more face East and mentally salute once again>
The circle is open, but unbroken
Merry meet and merry part
and merry meet again!
(Shadow Hawk) Merry Meet and Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!
(Ladyhawk) <The Rite is ended>
(Shadow Hawk) (passing food)
(Jehana) (Passing drink)
(Larne) I'll have some of those cakes!
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