This time of year is amongst my favorites because, although it may still be cold and look barren outside, I can begin to sense the beginnings of new life in subtle ways, even in the scent of the air. The following Imbolc ritual mirrors the changes going on in nature through the use of symbols of rebirth, and growth, which also represent the transformation of the Crone back to the Maiden.
Around midday on February 1, one or two female coven members should go together to a riverbank or to a place where a hidden spring or stream lies underground and willow trees grow. Bring with you a strong trowel or shovel, and a small bucket or empty flowerpot, and a pair of gardening clippers.
Near the base of a great willow tree, where the earth is warmer, use your shovel or trowel to dig up just enough dirt to fill your bucket or pot about three quarters of the way.
Using your clippers, cut off some slender willow branches; one for each member of your coven, each about 12-inches long. Make sure these branches have catkins on them.
That evening, coven members should meet in a chosen location. Weather permitting, this could be outdoors under an open sky; otherwise, indoors. In any case, you should be able to safely build a small fire, so your chosen place must have a fireplace, outdoor grill or pit, or a wood-burning stove.
All participants take care to dress for the ritual in colorful, patterned clothing covered completely with a brown garment such as an overcoat, work smock, poncho, or blanket. Special jewelry may also be worn.
Items Needed
For the ritual:
5 white tealights
Willow wands, 12-inches long, fresh cut with catkins on them (one per participant)
Pitcher of fresh water
A small container holding the cooled ash from a bit of dried greenery, if possible left over from Yule (such as a sprig of evergreen from a wreath or tree, dried mistletoe, or holly). Lacking this, you may use the ash from a few sprigs of dried rosemary or several dried bay leaves.
Bucket or pot of earth
Paperwhite bulbs (Narcissus papyraceus)
Milk, a small amount
Athame (optional)
Drum to raise energy (optional)
Tarot deck for divination (optional)
Refreshments:
Golden ale
Seeded bread or cake
Wedge of sheep’s milk cheese (pecorino, feta, or Roquefort)
Preparation
Bring the bucket or pot of earth and the willow wands in a pitcher of fresh water. Bring an odd number of paperwhite bulbs (Narcissus papyraceus), a little bit of milk in a tiny container, and, for refreshments, some golden ale, some seeded bread or cake, and a wedge of sheep’s milk cheese such as pecorino, feta, or Roquefort. You might also bring an athame if you normally use one, a drum for raising energy, and a deck of tarot cards for divination.
Light a small wood fire and place the bucket or pot of earth safely near it to warm while you set up your altar. This fire, and any additional candle lantern lights set safely outside the circle, will be your only lighting.
Place the paperwhite bulbs, the white tealights, the container of milk, the container of ash, and the willow branches in their pitcher of water on your altar in a circular formation. Finally, place the pot of earth on the altar, in the center of the circle.
The Ritual
Begin the ritual by raising a protective shield of light around all participants, standing in a circle around the altar. Drumming and dancing or simple circling around holding hands may be used to raise energy and form the shield.
The leader, or selected participant, should form a pentagram over the pot of dirt using the athame, or an index finger in the air, and call out the quarters as they are pointed to.
When everyone is ready, the leader shall say:
Now the daylight hours increase, the sun warms tiny roots below ground back to life and growth. Now the old Crone dies and the young maiden is arising from the ash.
The ash of the dried greenery is sprinkled upon the warmed soil.
The leader holds up one flower bulb in her hand, toward the east.
Into the open grave of the Crone we plant this bulb, which holds the secret of new life, and, like the phoenix, will rise from the ashes of the old.
The paperwhite bulbs are each pushed, pointed side up, into the soil. (Don’t worry if they are close together; they should be fine.)
Sprinkle a few drops of milk onto the soil, and say:
We nourish you with white milk, you who are just beginning to be born—
Take the willow wands from the pitcher of water and lay them temporarily aside. Water the soil in the flowerpot well and say:
We quench your thirst with water from the magical well of Bride—
Put the wands back into the pitcher.
Now place the five tealight candles on the surface of the soil and light them.
At this point say:
We, too, are transforming, with each new season we are renewed, now changing from the old crone of winter to the fresh young maiden of Imbolc.
Everyone should now remove their outer brown layer of clothing, throwing it outside the circle, to reveal their brightly colored clothes beneath.
Let our spirits be renewed, our spirits are the life force itself—ever-enduring. Our past is dead, turned to ash, and our future lies ahead, unfurling before us like a new green bud into leaf. Like the snake, we crawl from our old skins, splendid in our new ones.
Whoever wishes may now request that a special item of jewelry be magically charged, by removing it and placing it at the center of the altar, near the tealights on the pot, and calling Brigid, goddess of metalsmiths, to bless it.
Likewise, Brigid’s presence may be called upon for raising healing energies to be sent the way of those in need.
Those desiring so may request a tarot card reading from a fellow coven member, to divine the next few months’ future, or the outcome of a spiritual or fertility-related question.
The protective shield of light may then be lowered, and participants can enjoy a tankard of golden ale, some seedy bread or cake, and a bit of sheep’s milk cheese, whilst conversing freely.
Before parting, each member of the coven shall be given a willow wand to take home. These should be put into a glass of water until its catkins open and it forms roots, at which point the green wood can be planted somewhere damp, for magical growth. The potted paperwhite bulbs will be taken home and cared for in a sunny place indoors by one of the coven members. These are to be brought to the next meeting, at Ostara, when they should be in full bloom.