Imbolc Ritual:
Cleanse & Transform
Imbolc is when we celebrate and honor Brigid, the Celtic Goddess of smithing, poetry, and fire. She is also revered for being a goddess of healing. If you prefer to work with a different goddess, that is up to you, but be sure to use one that will fit your purpose. On the surface you may think, “Smithing? What need do I have of that?” But smithing is really all about transformation and change, and that is what you really will be working with. You may also be healing some old wounds when working through clearing, so this also makes Brigid an ideal candidate.
This ritual is going to take place in three different stages with three different activities and at least two different locations. You will begin with a ritual bath, then a planning journaling session, and finish with a recharging meditation. The last two stages will take place at your altar in your sacred space.
For the ritual bath:
Angelica
Frankincense
Horehound
Hyssop
Lemon peel
Myrrh
Cheesecloth
White rose petals
A white candle
For your altar:
A red candle to represent Brigid
Sandalwood oil
Bergamot oil
Black pepper oil
A notebook or journal designated for spiritual purposes only
A writing utensil
A fire-proof container or incense burner designed for self-lighting charcoal tablets
Self-lighting charcoal tablet
Lighter
Your preferred method of energy raising—drumming, dancing, chanting—whatever works best for you
Any other altar decorations and ritual supplies you generally use
You will begin by preparing the ritual bath. Add equal amounts of angelica, frankincense, horehound, hyssop, lemon peel, and myrrh to a piece of cheesecloth and bundle it up and tie it into a knot. Place it into the bathtub where the water will be able to flow easily through it from the faucet. As the tub fills, scatter the white rose petals on the water and light the white candle, placing it in a safe location.
Remove your clothes and as you step into the bath, ask Brigid (or whoever you decide to work with) to join you. (If you want to call quarters, do so before entering the bath.) This is a cleansing bath. It’s a bath to help you clear away the grime in your emotions and your mind. Allow this bath to wash away the heaviness you have been feeling—the sadness, the boredom, the oppressiveness of winter that has been piling on for months. Inhale the scents around you, particularly the lemon peel, frankincense, and myrrh. Each of these have cleansing, purifying qualities. Let the feeling of clean wash over you and visualize the “dirt” washing away. Picture what exhaust-covered snow looks like. It’s dirty and dingy, but when clean hot water is poured over the snow, it melts away, revealing the grass below just waiting for the rays of the sun to wake it up and bring it back to a lush green life. You are the waiting grass. You need to melt away the cold, dirty snow and warm up your roots for your growing season. Feel the change take place inside of you. Really feel it. Feel the relief of becoming clean and pure once again. This may become very emotionally, and that’s good. Let out your built-up frustrations. Splash the water if you feel like it. Kick and scream. Any mess you make can easily be cleaned up later—it is, after all, just water. Cry if you feel like it. Let out feelings of boredom, helplessness, frustration, powerlessness, sadness, and any other negative feelings you need to let go of. Just let them out, then pull the bathtub drain plug and let those feelings be sucked right down the drain. Send them out of you and on their way.
Exit the tub and get dressed, or if you prefer, proceed to the next part of the ritual skyclad. You may just want to throw a robe or cloak on to keep you warm without interrupting the flow of your ritual and energy too much.
Proceed to your prepared altar area. If you want to cast a circle or call quarters, do so now. Light the charcoal tablet and place it in a safe location. Light the red candle and place in a safe location as well. Drip a few drops of the sandalwood oil onto the lit charcoal. Pass your journal through the smoke the oil gives off and say:
Bless this work I do today.
Pass the writing utensil through the smoke and say:
Bring to fruition, these words I write.
Take a seat in front of your altar and get comfortable. Take a few deep breaths to relax and center yourself. While preparing for this ritual, you have had some ideas come to you about what you would like to work on and what you would like to plan. Take the time now to meditate on those thoughts and explore them more fully. You may want to title one page “brainstorming” and another “final thoughts.” You may want to use a list or outline format. You may want to draw what you want to see come to fruition. Take as much time as you need to think about and write about your plans. Be as concrete with your thoughts as possible. Don’t just say, “I want to be happier,” write about what you need in order to be happier. Do you need a plan to have more free time in order to pursue pastimes that bring you joy? Dissect how that happens, and then write about it. Perhaps becoming more organized mentally and physically with your surroundings would help free up time. Put real thought into what you want and need and what steps you need to take to get there. If you really have no ideas, perhaps that is precisely what you need to work on—getting to know yourself better and what you want out of life. Write about the steps you are going to take in order to do that. When you need a boost, add a couple more drops of the sandalwood oil to the charcoal tablet. When you are finished with the planning portion, place your journal back on the altar and say the following:
Brigid, goddess of transformation, lend to me your strength, to bend, to ply, to shape my wishes and desires into realization. Your blessings are appreciated and I give my thankfulness and devotion in return.
Begin the final part of this ritual by sprinkling a few drops of both the bergamot and black pepper oils onto the charcoal tablet. Both have energy raising properties. Remain standing through this part of the ritual until the end. You are going to raise energy to recharge and rejuvenate your spirit. If you like drumming, do that. If you prefer to dance, do that. (Just have music ready to go if you want it.) Whatever it is you like to do to raise energy, spend time doing that and do it knowing you are doing it just for you. Often when we raise energy it’s for some far greater purpose such as sending healing out into the world. But this time it is all for you. If you want to sing, drum, and dance around naked, go for it! Raise the energy, keeping in mind that your intent is simply to raise energy for you. When you hit the point of release, let it go and collapse to the ground. Roll around on the floor and let the excess energy soak into the carpet or whatever is beneath you. Feel the release of pent-up emotions and feelings. Feel the energy you built up giving new life to your spirit. Release everything. You may find yourself wanting to laugh; this is common, so let yourself laugh. Let the energy and endorphins breathe new life into your spirit and soul. When you have come down from your energy high and are fully grounded, state purposefully:
So Mote it Be.
Often these are just words to end a ritual or spell, but don’t let that be the case. Fully feel these words as you say them, and then allow them to come true.