Posts Tagged ‘cross quarter’
This is the day of Bride
the Queen will come from the mound……
Imbolc! It’s time for one of the Cross Quarter Days which make up the Wheel of the Year.
For the Northern hemisphere this begins at sunset on February 1st and goes through to sunset on February 2nd.
In Medusa’s cave by Lake Tritonis you can scarcely notice the difference between the snows of winter and the first, faint warming of the earth. The mortals who live close by her neighbourhood also notice it little, but so many in Greece have forgotten the Old Ways.
In Ireland there are many who still remember. There will be celebrations galore for the ancient Celtic Festival of Imbolc and, regardless of how many learned academics may tell you the word is derived from Ol-melc (ewe’s milk) because the ewes are lactating at this time, pay no heed. For this is Im-bolg (around the belly) a festival in honour of the swelling belly of the Goddess.
And she is called upon at this time by her name of Brighid. The Arrow of Fire.
It is a harsh and bitter month, February. The Wolf-month, the Faoilleach, the a’ marbh mhiòs. But small signs are appearing of the life which is to come, the swelling of Brighids’s belly heralds the promise of the new born lambs, the soft rains, and the birds begin to build their nests. On this day, the lark will sing more clearly over Kildare.
Celebrate Imbolc as the middle of the season of long nights which will give way to the upcoming season of light.
Warm and quickening Light
awaken and bring forth beauty
Like the frozen earth, the Crone, who is barren and produces no growing things, gives up her place to the fertile young maiden.
When the Christians came , the joyous day of Imbolc was replaced by Candlemas. Call it what you will, the tasks you must undertake are the same.
Clean your hearth and then light a new fire. For this is a Feast of Fire. A time of illumination, reflection, and purification.
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