Imbolc 2013

Happy Imbolc!

Dandelions are FUN!

The dandelions have been blooming in my area for a few weeks now, but I wanted to give special consideration to this holiday, as I have been building my relationship with Bride. I felt that this day must be a particularly special holiday for me. Of course, life gets in the way, and on the day of the calendar holiday I was working late and my mom had surgery scheduled for the next day! I ended up celebrating Sunday night (the 3rd); a good friend came for dinner and we "churned" butter in a mason jar! We had fun singing a churning song, and the butter was so delicious! After dinner my friend and her son went home and I attempted to get my 2 year old to help me make a Bride's Cross, but that idea went up like a lead balloon!

Bride's Cross made with pipe cleaners - kid friendly!

I finally had some quiet time after Mr. 2yr Old was in bed, to make my dealbh Bride (Bride doll/icon) and her cradle (the leaba Bride). I happen to have a young apple tree in the back yard so I used an apple branch for the slatag Bride - the wand of Bride.

The dealbh Bride 

Once the crafty part was done I did my prayers and offerings, and put all my garden seeds and some thread and cloth outside that night to be blessed, before inviting Bride in. More prayers and offerings in the morning; unfortunately I had not had time to go out to find any elder twigs (since I am in an area where there doesn't seem to be much rowan or mountain ash!) to make protective charms with ... I will have to make sure to be more prepared in the future! All said, it was a successful and enjoyable experience. I wish I'd had more time to prepare - especially for house cleaning - but I believe Bride was pleased. I did see something resembling wand marks in my ashes that morning!