Imbolc Blessings!

Happy Imbolc to everyone!

Yes, I know it was Thursday and it is now Saturday. But I had to work and the Goddess will always forgive.

I did do some stuff on Thursday. My broom, Endora, got some fresh ribbons and I used her to sweep the negativity right out my front door. I set out a bowl of cream for Brigid and a yellow candle. I also hung up a nice wind sock. I even made a little besom to hang by the door to welcome Brigid.

I left a white cloth out overnight so that Brigid could come by and bless it. I am saving it for a day I need Brigid’s help. I also made fresh, homemade butter.

Tonight we celebrated.

This morning I put out fresh buttermilk for Brigid, as well as some bread. (I made the buttermilk myself. It was left over from my butter making on Thursday.) I gave the house another good sweeping. I also put out some fresh spring flowers.

I made a variety of gifts to honor Brigid and for my friends and family to take home for this special day. I made bird seed bells to hang in the trees. I made a milk bath sachet to give to people and I made a Celtic Cream warming potion that was so good. I also made a potato cheese soup and bread pudding.

We lit white candles to honor Brigid. Once everyone’s candle had been lit by Brigid’s flame, we snuffed them and cooled them so they could be taken home to bless the homes of my friends and family.

And finally, one of our group was having a birthday and so we honored her with cake and gifts. You only turn 17 once. So happy birthday to you. We hope to see you and your mom at one of our services again soon.

All and all it was a pretty awesome Imbolc. Thank you Brigid for honoring us. I am already looking forward to this celebration next year. I have great ideas for crafts and new decorations I want to get.

Blessed be!

Passover

Today is the first day of Passover, a Jewish religious celebration of the book of Exodus. In the Hebrew book of Exodus, the Jewish were slaves to an Egyptian Pharaoh. Led by Moses, the Jewish attempted to gain freedom, with an assist from God. God unleashed 10 horrible plagues upon the Pharaoh, persuading him to let the Jewish people go.

First, God changed the water of the Nile to blood. So the Egyptians would have no water. But it didn’t bother the Jews.

Next, God sent frogs. That again, left the Jews alone.

Third, it was lice. But not on Jews.

Fourth, it was a swarm of flies or wild animals. But the Jewish farms remained untouched.

Next, God sent diseased livestock to the Egyptians only.

For the next bit of persuasion, God sent boils. Ow.

Then it was a thunder storm or hail and fire which somehow missed all the Jewish people.

For the eighth plague, God sent locusts.

And for the ninth, God made it night for three whole days.

Now, let me just say, these Egyptians were a stubborn bunch. I would have given up already. But the Egyptians, who worshiped a nature based pantheon of gods, were sure that their gods could kick the Jewish God’s butt. In Islam, The Qur’an, which tells a very similar story of Moses, says that despite all of these, the Egyptians “were seeped in arrogance, a people given to sin.” (The Holy Qur’an- Surah 7: Al A’raf Section 16, Verses 132 through 136.)

So for the 10th and final plague, God decided to kill all the first born sons. The Jewish were instructed to put the blood of a slaughtered lamb over their door so that God would know not to kill those first born.

And so we have Passover. As in, God passed over the Jewish homes when He was on a killing rampage.

The Pharaoh decided that killing people was too far and told Moses to take his people and go. Then he changed his mind later, but that is a different story.

And so the Jewish were freed.

Except…

People of that area were celebrating a Spring Festival long before the Exodus, which would have been roughly 1300 BCE. Complete with lambs blood on the door to ward off evil spirits, as soon as the barley was ripe.

And who says the Jewish God was more powerful that the Egyptian pantheon? Perhaps the Pharaoh was being a jerk, which he clearly was, and Ra, the sun god, was not happy with the way this Pharaoh was treating people and let these things happen to teach him a lesson. Maybe they were working together.

We are all at the will of the Gods and Goddesses. Only by respecting them, shall they respect us. Lesson learned. Thank you, Moses. You have shown us that those who serve the Gods are helped by them. And thank you Pharaoh, for this lesson in how not to act. Be kind to all who walk the path of the Spirit. While their path may not be yours, it is also not your path to judge.

Happy Passover to all of my Jewish friends.

Blessed be.

Spring Has Sprung!

Happy Spring!

Happy Ostara!

Blessings upon you all as the sun begins to come out and warm us up again. Extra blessings to those of you who live in cold climates. Spring is here! Feel it!

Ostara is one of the eight main holidays on the Wheel of the Year. Some scholars believe it was a festival for an old German Goddess, Ostara or Eostre. She was the Goddess of the Dawn, the Daughter of the Heavens. Some also believe she was the goddess of fertility and birth. She was celebrated during her namesake month on the old Germanic calendar, which fell near what is now April. She is considered the namesake for the festival of Easter. Her name is the derivative for the word “estrogen”. Her symbols included eggs and rabbits or hares. Some even have said it was hares or rabbits that pulled the Goddess’ chariot as she brought the dawn, although there are no writings supporting that. There are a few suggesting animals and possibly cats. Both cats and rabbits have been common animal familiars.

It is also said that it could have started form a cult following the old Norse Goddess Austra. They had long died out before Christianity hit the area. But perhaps her legend remained.

Experts agree it probably derived from ancient Celtic or Saxon spring holidays that were woven into the Christian traditions of the same time. Christians who came to the area probably realized the value of Easter to the Pagans there and tolerated the name for one of their own grandest anniversaries in order to convert people to Christianity. A lot of the traditions are similar, to include the inclusions of rabbits, eggs, sweets, baked goods and bonfires. Other religions, such as Jewish (Purim and Passover), Hindu (Holi) and Sikh (Hola Mohalla) all have important celebrations during the spring.

Modern Pagans generally celebrate it on the vernal equinox, or the first of spring, as we are right now. It is a time of renewal and rebirth. The bunnies are out enjoying fresh green. Baby chicks are hatching. Flowers are blooming. The days are getting longer. It’s a good time to plant a garden or go on a nature walk or go hiking. Open the windows and let some spring air into your homes. Have a meal of fresh vegetables and fruits. Enjoy some artichokes or asparagus; so many delicious greens and sprouts. Spring onions. Strawberries. Cherries. I am getting hungry.

Another option... Try a springtime fast to cleanse your body of winter’s toxins.

Bring in some flowers from the garden. Roses are starting to bloom. The tulips and daffodils are coming out. Bring some in and let spring inside. It’s time to wear the colors of spring. Get your pink on, your lavender, your pastels.

It is a very powerful time for magic. Incense in floral aromas like lilac and rose can help. Or try a strawberry aroma.

For me, who had to work, I got outside as much as I could and filled my office with lavender incense. (I really love my job sometimes.)

For all the rest of you… Enjoy your day and enjoy your Spring! Spring is here!

Blessings!

Spring: Myth or Reality?

Forget everything Game of Thrones taught you...

Spring Is Coming!

Happy Imbolc!!

(Also Happy Groundhog’s Day if that tickles your fancy.)

There are a ton of traditions that surround this fabulous day halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Legends. Tales. I could go on.

But I won’t. I am going to Disneyland. (Hey, there are fairies there. And it’s outdoors. And, true fact, Disneyland is also a botanical garden.)

This is a time of hearth and home. This is a time for spring cleaning. Traditionally, this was the onset of the lambing season. Also, one might look for the blooming of the Blackthorn. Fires and candles will be lit to welcome the return of the sun’s warming power.

Most Gaelic observers (both Pagan and Christian/Catholic) celebrate the day as St. Brigid’s Feast. And while I am part Irish, today I will regale you with the springtime story I have believed most of my life.

It is a belief of the Greek, and of me, that the Goddess Demeter (or Ceres for you Romans), is Mother Earth. She is the Goddess of Harvest, the Goddess of Grain. She is responsible for the fertility of our soil, for the green of the grass and the red of the desert. She is a very powerful Goddess.

She has a daughter called Persephone. She is said to be so beautiful that all the Gods wanted her so Demeter hid her away. Hades, God of the Underworld, wanted her for his wife and took her into the Underworld.

Demeter was distraught and looked for her everywhere. And the Earth plunged into despair. Nothing would grow.

Finally, Hades, plagued by the inhabitants of Earth who were begging for things to grow again, said he would give her back.

But before he did, he tricked Persephone into eating some pomegranate seeds. He knew that once she tasted the fruit of the Underworld she would never be able to leave it forever; she would always have to return.

And so the tale goes:

6 months of each year poor Persephone is bound as Queen of the Underworld. The rest of the time she could return to her mother. And so each fall as Persephone returns to the Underworld, the leaves fall from the trees, plants begin dying out as the Goddess Demeter is left in despair while Her daughter is gone and each spring as She anticipates the return of Persephone the fertility of the Earth returns with her.

Welcome Back Persephone.

Until We Meet Again...