candlemas

   Candlemas, also called Imbolc, is a celebration of fire, of light, dedicated to the celt godess Brigid, patron of fire, wisdom and poetry. She is also associated with healing, divination and prophecy. This sabbat marks the end of a feminin purification rite that took place 40 days after the winter solstice.

    In Europe, at Candlemas, peasants walked in processions in the fields, carrying torches in order to purify the ground before sowing them. They also wanted to honor the different gods of harvest. They prayed for the return of the great Godess so her warm breath would give a new life to nature and bring back spring.

RITUAL

    This sabbat celebrates spiritual growth, purification and new begginings. It is the perfect time to rid ourselves from negativity from the past, or whatever we want to get rid of.

    The prietress, dressed in white and wearing a crown holding 13 red candles - crown of light symbolizing wisdom and knowledge - beggins the ritual by sweeping inside the circle to rid it of negative energy.

    The priest and priestess, invoque the elements as well as those who watch upon them so they help he Godess to come back by joining their magickal energies to that of everyone present. The invocation is simple but it has to be done to the sovereign of each elemental kingdom since, like every ancient kings, they have total control of their subjects.

    One of the simplest way to invoque them is to do it at the beginning of the ritual, at every cardinal point: east corresponds to the sylphides of the kingdom of air, and their sovereign is Paralda; south corresponds to the salamandres of the kingdom of fire, and their sovereign is Djinn; west corresponds to the ondines of the kingdom of water, and their sovereign is Nixsa; north corresponds to the gnomes ef the kingdom of earth, and their sovereign is Ghob.

    When you call the elements and the four directions, simply ask the help of the king and is subject, the appropriate elementals.

    In the old days, every little village also choose, if they wanted to, to honor a perticular god or godess. When christianism took over, people included the virgin Mary in their invocations. Today, in Spain, a procession is organized on this date in honor of Mary.

    Do note that Candlemas corresponds to the aztecs of Mexico.

THE GODS TO CELEBRATE OR INVOKE

Brigid:   Celtic godess of fire, wisdom and poetry.
Aradia:   daughter of the godess Diana and founder of the Old religion.

HOW TO DECORATE YOUR ALTAR

   A crown holding 13 red candles, a branch of fir, spruce or cedar, a witches broom (made of twigs) to symbolicaly sweep away the past, white candles will decorate your altar. The appropriate flowers are every white flowers.

SYMBOLS AND CORRESPONDENCES

Incense:   basil, myrrh, gardenia.
Trees:   birch.
Flowers:   snowdrop, white lily (any white flower).
Colours:   white.
Candles:   white, red, pink.
Stones:   amethyst, garnet, onys, turquoise.
Planets:   Saturn and Uranus.
Tarot card: The star.
Influence:   spiritual revival, hope, purification.