A Blue Moon Imbolc

 

Four Times a century we have years with double blue Moons.  In those years the moons almost always fall in January and March.  The second full moon in January will usually start on the 31st and continue through Imbolc giving us a Blue moon Imbolc.

For this year there are certain special things you can do.  In the tradition I follow I rarely if ever work with Silver.  The Moon in the Northern or Celtic Tradition can be regarded as male or simply "the other"  But since silver is the traditional color of the moon it seems appropriate for this ritual.  In the case of our blue moon this year I suggest doing a working around the triple goddess, of maiden, mother and crone. 

You can begin on Sunday with the normal Imbolc ceremonies honoring Brigid in her maiden aspect., but the altar and the accoutrements should all be varying shades of blue and silver.  In fact a good thing to do this year would be to make a candle in three shades of blue so that you can burn the light blue part Sunday, the medium blue part on Monday and the dark blue part on Tuesday at the close of the full moon.

Imbolc is always centered around the Goddess Brigid, who in her triple aspects represents:


Goddess of Inspiration - poets, poetry, creativity, prophecy, arts
Goddess of Smithcraft - blacksmiths, goldsmiths, household crafts
Goddess of Healing - healers, medicine, spiritual healing, fertility (crops, land, cattle)

Symbols

Fire - flames, candle crown, hearth
Water -  springs, wells
Grain - Brigid wheels, corn/oat sheaf Goddess effigy, Brigid's Bed
Creatures - white cow with red ears,  snake, swan and lamb
Talismans - Shining Mirror to Otherworld, cauldron, and Holy Grail

 

Sunday Blue Moon: anytime after 11:07 EST

Basic Requirements

Altar
The altar should be in the center of the circle area, facing the northern quarter or facing the fire place.  I use a bed tray for an altar.  It's a reasonable size in terms of surface area and it's the right height that a cat can fit underneath during a ritual.  Neela (my familiar) is a wonderful assistant but it's best if she helps by adding her power rather than by trying to move things around on the altar since paws only seem to be made for knocking things over.

Altar Cloth
Blue and Silver

Candles and other altar decorations
Silver for altar candles
The Goddess Candle should be three layers of blue, dark on the bottom, a medium blue in the middle and light blue at the top.
Blue, white or silver colored aromatherapy pot.
Picture of the triple Brigids
Large cauldron or heat proof bowl
Bergamot oil for the aromatherapy pot

Music
Celtic Mysteries Vol 1
Celtic Mysteries Vol 2

Special Items
Ogham Sticks for divination
blue or silver ink
blue or clear tipped glass pen
blue paper
Your creative projects that you're seeking assistance on

Decorations
Early blooming bulbs are always appropriate, crocuses, snowdrops, etc.   For this ritual blue flowers are a wonderful choice even if you have to resort to silk flowers.

Food
Bailey's Irish cream and oatmeal cookies or blackberry wine and hazelnut cookies

Ritual

The work to be done tonight is  centered around the struggle inherent in the opposition between the inner and outer persona, who you are on the inside and how you relate to the world. This is the lunar phase that's ideal for promoting your original, individualistic, idealistic talents and ideas. Brigid in this aspect is the White Goddess, the Muse, the holder of the flame of creativity.  This is the start of a 19 year cycle, so view anything you ask for tonight as a 19 year commitment.

 

Light Fire in Fireplace, set up altar and cast the circle:

Facing East

Brigid, Lady of Air, I call you:
to sweep confusion from my mind,
Bring with you the strong winds of creativity
to help me meet each day as new
Come Lady of Air, I call you.
Join with me now

Facing South

Brigid, Lady of Fire, I call you
to feed the flame of my desire
Bring with you the blue flame of inspiration
to power the work of my soul
Come Lady of Fire, I call you.
Join with me now

Facing West

Brigid, Lady of Water, I call you
to refresh the waters of my imagination
Bring with you the rainbow sparkling of dew
to enchant my eyes with wonder
Come Lady of Water, I call you.
Join with me now

Facing North

Brigid, Lady of Earth, I call you
to make manifest the yearnings of my heart
Bring with you the firmness of rock
to support my footsteps on my journey
Come Lady of Earth, I call you.
Join with me now

 

State your intention with regard to your creative project and ask Brigid's advice.  If you follow a shamanic tradition then now is the time to put on your drumming music and journey to visit Brigid.  Otherwise, cast the ogham sticks.

If your altar is large enough cast the ogham sticks on the altar if not then cast them on their cloth in front of the altar. 

Once you're satisfied with what you've learned, write on the paper the aspects of your work in which you want either inspiration or help in sustaining the 19 year commitment you are about to make. When you're done, raise energy and put it into the paper, then light the paper with the candle flame. Drop the burning paper into the cauldron, making sure the entire paper is blackened.

Depending on the size of the candle you made you'll need to make plans now to complete the burning of just the light blue portion of the Goddess candle.   Once you've done that you can take down the circle but Brigid will stay with the candle until it's burned.  When the light blue is finally consumed, that her for her presence with you this night.

Monday February 1st Blue Moon - Traditional Imbolc

Basic Requirements

Altar
If you can find and lift such a thing, an anvil would be the perfect altar for this ritual. 

Altar Cloth
Blue and Silver if using your regular altar, nothing if you found an anvil

Candles and other altar decorations
Silver for altar candles
The Goddess Candle should be two layers of blue, dark on the bottom, a medium blue at the top
Blue, white or silver colored aromatherapy pot.
Lambs
Blue, white or silver colored aromatherapy pot.
Picture of the triple Brigids
Vertiver oil for the aromatherapy pot

Music
Celtic Mysteries Vol 1
Celtic Mysteries Vol 2

Special Items
Herb seeds



Decorations
Early blooming bulbs are always appropriate, crocuses, snowdrops, etc.   For this ritual blue flowers are a wonderful choice even if you have to resort to silk flowers.

Food
Blue cornmeal cakes
butter
Honeyed warm milk

Ritual

Tonight you'll be contacting Brigid as mother, the lady of the forge, the goddess of midwifery and husbandry

Cast the Circle

Lady forge your circle bright
beat a strand of golden light
In the east come to us as the warm pollinating breeze
In the south come to us with the brilliant light of your fiery forge
In the West come to use with the nourishing milk of your sacred cow
In the North come to us with the bounty of your vast field of corn

Light the Goddess Candle

Midwife of Mystery, open the door,
Infant of the Infinite, come you in.
Let there be welcome to the newborn truth,
Let there be welcome to the Spring of the Year.
In cold and darkness you are traveling,
In warmth and brightness you will arrive,
May the blessed time of Imbolc,
Kindle the soul of all beings,
Bringing birth to innocence and integrity,
From the depths to the heights,
From the heights to the depths,
In the heart of every soul.
(Caitlin Matthews)

Think of Brigid and the warmth of the forge as a direct link to the warmth of the returning sun as the days lengthen. Now that with her help what you plant at this time will be fed and nourished


Plant the seeds you've set aside with each type of plant representing something you want to manifest in your life.  Pick herbs and pots that will look nice in the kitchen.   Grow chives or parsley and know that every time you put some of the herb into your families food you are thanking the Goddess and asking her blessing on your family.

After you've planted the seeds.  Break open the corn muffins and spread them with butter.  Eat the muffins and drink the milk, thanking Brigid for the bounty she has provided. (make sure you leave some of everything you'll need it later)

If you follow a shamanic tradition now is a good time to journey to meet Brigid as mother and smith and to learn what ever she might want to share with you.

When you return thank Brigid and open the circle.  Then put on your boots (we have snow on the ground here) and take out the corn cakes, butter and the milk and leave it for either the animals or the little people.



Tuesday February 2nd,  last night of blue Moon

Basic Requirements

Altar

The altar should be in the center of the circle area, facing the northern quarter or facing the fire place

Altar Cloth

Blue and Silver

Candles

Silver and last portion of Goddess candle

Special Items

A large bowl with very darkly tinted water for scrying or else a silver scrying mirror
Blue, white or silver colored aromatherapy pot.
Picture of the triple Brigids
Large cauldron or heat proof bowl
German Chamomile oil for the aromatherapy pot

Decorations

The circle area may be decorated with whatever flowers are first to bloom in this early time of year, or the same blue flowers you've used in the previous rituals.

Ritual

The final night of our three night blue moon Imbolc will be an opportunity to meet Brigid as Crone, Healer and Lady of Justice.   Depending on what you need in your life at this moment chose whether or not to invoke Brigid in her aspect as healer or Lady of Justice.

 

Prior to beginning the ritual take a purifying bath.  Use blue tinted bath salts or kneippe Lavender bath oil.

Cast the circle

Blessed be the precious and preserving air, the breath of life, our inspiration and delight.
[Faces south]
Blessed be the precious and preserving fire, the blood of life, our warming guest.
[Faces west]
Blessed be the precious and preserving water, the water of life, our cleansing guest.
[Faces north]
Blessed be the precious and preserving earth, the flesh of life, our sustainer and our wisdom.

The Lighting of the  altar Candles:

As it was,
As it is,
As it shall always be:
Light and Darkness,
Darkness and Light;
For in union with the Dark
Is the glory of the Light!

Light the Goddess candle

Crone of the waning Winter,
Soon to lay aside
Thy chilling, crystaled scepter
In parting benediction
To the season of swirling snow.

We invoke Thee,
Even as Thou yieldest
To the approaching light of the bright Maiden,
Goddess of growth and green things,
Standing upon the horizon of Spring,
Eagerly awaiting to wake again
The dormant earth.

Venerable Crone,
Goddess of each dying cycle
Upon the ever-turning Wheel of Years,
We give Thee thanks
For strengthening our spirits
With Thine inner renewal
For the coming seasons of life and laughter.

Hallowed Crone of Wisdom,
We are grateful for Thy guidance,
And look forward to Thy return,
When Darkness once more
Shall consume the Light,
And Thou shalt guide us again
Into restful meditations
Admist falling leaves and snow-filled silence.

If you follow a shamanic tradition now is a good time to journey to meet Brigid as healer or lady of justice and to learn what ever she might want to share with you. Otherwise put your black ink into your scrying bowl and ask your questions of Brigid through the element of water.

Open the circle and thank the Goddess

[Faces north]
Precious earth, we bless thee and release thee.
[Faces west]
Precious water, we bless thee and release thee.
[Faces south]
Precious fire, we bless thee and release thee.
[Faces east]
Precious air, we bless thee and release thee.
[Faces the altar]
Goddess Brigit, we thank thee for your presence and your gifts.