Massachusetts Pagan Parenting
Newsletter
Volume 1 January 2001 Issue 4
Letter from the editor
Happy New Year! Now that the dawn of the new millennium is finally here, it is a good time to start new projects, especially before mercury goes into retrograde in mid February. It�s hard to believe that we are already in January! Where does the time go? This is also a good time to start looking through seed catalogs and to start dreaming about that garden you have been putting off for some time now. What ever your motivation is, don�t let the winter doldrums get the best of you! Speaking of seed catalogs, this issue contains rituals, recipes and crafts all geared towards Imbolc.
Thanks again for your submissions, comments and suggestions. Remember, this newsletter couldn�t happen with out your support!
Brightest Blessings from my family to yours!
Othila
Imbloc
"As the light lengthens, so the cold strengthens,' goes the old saying. The stark coldness of February seems winter-locked until we see the emerging tips of snowdrops to herald the return of Spring. As the lengthening shafts of sunlight pierce the earth, all growing things put forth shoots, buds begin to open and
flowers bloom in great variety. The season of Imbolic encompasses the spouting period of young growth when we emerge from the introspection of Winter to the fresh hope of each new Spring."
"Imbolic heralds the opening of the second quarter of the year. This season is under the aegis of the Irish Goddess Brighid; she is of the Tuatha de Danaan and inherits the mantle of Danu, the ancestress of the Celtic People. Brighid has three aspects, being a matron of healing, smithcraft, and poetry;she is lauded by the
gifted people, the poets, as the mistress of inspiration and prophecy..."
From The Celtic Book of Days by Caitlin Matthews
Destiny Books,Rochester,Vt.
Imbolc Thoughts
Compiled from a variety of sources
(unfortunately, not documented)
Bridgit, Brigid, Ffraid, Brid (pronounced 'breed'), Candlemas, Groundhog Day ... or Imbolc is the celebration of the return of the Maiden of Spring. Now the Crone undergoes her transformation into the beautiful Maiden of Flowers, Mistress of the Hunt. Imbolc, which can be interpreted as "ewe's milk," is the start of the lambing season, the first signs of returning life, the quickening of the year. As a symbol of the returning spring, serpents were said to wake from their winter sleep and venture from their holes on this day. Maybe this is what inspired the groundhog? Imbolc is the festival of light in the darkness, the
celebration of the rekindled fire. Because of this, candles are often used for this holiday... both in making candles for the coming year, and to help usher in the light. Bridget is the Celtic Goddess of the Forge, a fire Goddess who rules over inspiration, healing, and poetry as well as smithcraft. Both as a saint and a Goddess, she is triple-aspected as the patroness of
healers, craftsmen, and poets; sometimes she appeared as three sisters all named Bridget, with different functions assigned to each. Herbs were the basis for her healing skills, and her remedies were shared openly with those in need of healing. Bards were sacred to Bridget, and they were given consecrated
bells on Imbolc to tie around their walking staffs in her honor. There is evidence that the cult of the Virgin Mary grew out of the cult of Bridget. This theory is supported by the appellation "Saint" Bridget as the "Celtic Mary" and by the practice in some churches of having the regular ordination ceremonies in the chapel, and then taking the novitiates to an underground vault for a "secret" ordination. Another story that has been passed around the ages has Bridget as Mary's midwife. There are other themes played out at Imbolc. It is a time of cleansing and of purification. Spring cleaning now prepares our minds and bodies for a resurgence. The Maiden sweeps away the debris of last year's growth with her new broom. She is filled with new ideas and new ways. Like her, we must prepare and clear the ground for something new. It is the time of youthfulness and of inspiration. Time to sweep out winter's cobwebs and ready the seeds for planting. Seeds of course can be literal or figurative--representing our actual food harvest or new ideas, new plans, a new course for life, and of course all aspects of fertility.
My family Tradititons:
By Pat , Emily, April & Lilly
For Imbolc our family does a hearth blessing in honor of Brigid. The house is only lit by fire (candles & the fireplace) We build a fire in the fireplace & make wishes for our family. We weave a Brigids Cross (see craft section) to hang over our hearth. We thank the Goddess Brigid for all her blessings by burning the Brigids Cross from the previous year & hanging a new one above the hearth in it's place. We also burn our greens from Yule. Some years we have made candles. Some years we have planted seeds to begin indoors as a symbol of the promise of Spring.
Some years we do a family blessing with water as follows (adapted from a few sources!):
Blessed be my feet that they may walk gently upon the earth, our Mother
Blessed be my belly that gives me inner strength
Blessed be my breast that holds my heart of love
Blessed be my lips that they speak the truth
Blessed be my eyes that they see the beauty around me
Blessed be my mind that seeks wisdom.
This year we will use water from the Pemi River in New Hampshire. It is a very special place for us.
To Celebrate Imbolc
Imbolc is a time when the first stirrings of life are felt in the womb of the mother Earth. What better way to celebrate than planting spring flowers : Here�s what you�ll need:
Choose a pot that is at least twice as tall as the bulbs.
Mix bone meal or bulb fertilizer into your potting soil.
Fill the pot with a light potting soil so that when the bulb is placed on top of the soil, the growing tip reaches the top of the pot. Place the bulbs on top of the soil. They should be placed close together, but should not touch each other or the pot.
Sprinkle soil around the bulbs until only the shoulders are showing. Water the soil and keep it moist. Place the pot in a cool dark place, such as a refrigerator. Most bulbs need about 12 weeks of cold storage.
Note: No cooling is required for some bulbs such as Amaryllis.
When the stems are about 2 inches tall, move the pot to a warm sunny spot to stimulate bloom.Small pots of ivy can be transplanted around the bulbs when they begin to bloom.
daffodil (Paperwhites)- Use a flowerpot at least 2 inches deep and large enough to hold three to twelve bulbs. Fill the container half full of pebbles. Set the bulbs on the pebbles. Pour in more pebbles until a third of each bulb is covered. Add water until it touches the bulb and place in a cool, dark place. Continue as above.
Amaryllis - Plant one bulb per pot in a good commercial potting soil allowing about an inch of space between the bulb and the pot. Leave about 1/3 of the bulb exposed. This bulb needs a well-lighted warm place in the beginning, then can be moved to a cooler, shaded interior to make the blooms last longer.
Hyacinth - These bulbs can be forced in 8-10 weeks. Plant in a good commercial potting soil so that the tips are near the surface or protruding slightly. Keep them in a cool dark place until the shootsare 4-5 inches tall. After this period, provide abundant light.
Tulip - Precooled early tulips can be forced into bloom by Christmas.Keep them cool for three weeks before moving to a warm, sunny place.
Imbolc Incense ~Scott Cunningham's Incense Oils and Brews~
Parts Frankincense
2 parts Dragon's Blood
1/2 Part Red Sandalwood
1 Part Cinnamon
few drops red wine
To this mixture, add a pinch of the first flower (dry it first) that is available in around the time of Imbolc
Breakfast for the Great Mother
Breakfast for the Great Mother
By Kiara
When you wake up in the morning and your tummy grumbles, your body is telling you that you need nourishment. At Imbolc the Earth is beginning to awaken and needs to be nourished. To help our Great Mother here is a simple nourishing ritual.
Items needed:
Milk
A bowl to hold milk
Dixie cups
Cookies (Oatmeal would be best) on a plate
Pour milk into the bowl and draw a pentacle over it with wand or finger. Say:
"Bless this milk so that it may aid us with nourishment."
Draw a pentacle over the cookies and say:
"Bless these cookies so they may aid us with nourishment."
Give each participant a Dixie cup of milk and a cookie to bring outside.
Raise cups of milk as you would for a toast and say:
"Great Mother, throughout the seasons you nourish us with your bounty. As you awaken from your slumber, we offer these gifts to replenish your body."
Pour out half of the milk onto the ground and all say:
"Thank you Great Mother"
Each participant will then break off a piece of cookie and place it under a nearby tree or bush along side the leftover bowl of milk. Leave the bowl out overnight for the Fairies
MEAGAN'S IMBOLC by Kathryn Dyer �1996
For more Meaghan stories visit:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/6875/imbolc.htm
Once upon a time there was a little girl named Meagan. She lived with her mommy and daddy, her big brother Corwin and her beautiful cat named Starweaver.
Meagan was waiting for her daddy to pick her up from school one day. It was cold and she was very unhappy. She couldn't wait for her daddy to get her to help her feel better. Soon she saw her daddy standing at the doorway. She ran to hug him. "Whoa there," said Michael, "You almost ran me over! What's the matter honey?"
He lifted Meagan's chin and looked into her tear-filled eyes. "Some, some other kids called me names today!" cried Meagan. "Oh, honey," said Michael as he gathered her up into his arms, "Let's go get into the car and you can tell me all about it. It looks like it really hurt your feelings." Meagan nodded and hurried into her coat.
Once she and Michael were in the car she started to tell him about her 'most awfullest day'. She told her daddy how she had been telling her best friend Cindy about making candles for Imbolc. Some other kids overheard her and started calling her 'witch' in very mean voices. On the way home Meagan
cried and cried. Her daddy started to look very upset himself.
When they got home, they found Corwin sitting in the living room playing the recorder that he had
gotten for Christmas. "There you are!" said Corwin, looking rather disgusted, "Dad, do you know what
she did? She went blabbing all over school about being a witch. Two of the guys in my class were
talking about it. Why does she have to be such a big blabbermouth?!" Michael looked at Corwin
sternly and said, "Meagan was talking to Cindy about making candles for Imbolc, I hardly think that
counts as blabbing all over school. Do you remember how hard it was for you to keep from telling
everyone about rituals when you were her age? Meagan feels very hurt because some kids don't
understand our religion and were making fun of her. As I recall, you felt the same way when the boys
down the street teased you about learning to cook even though you like cooking. I think you'd better
go up to your room and do your homework while your mother and I talk to Meagan about what
happened." Corwin looked at the floor, "Sorry Meagan. I'll tell mom you're in here on my way
upstairs." and with that he slunk out of the room.
Meagan's mother Elizabeth came into the room frowning just as Meagan settled onto her daddy's lap in
the big armchair by the fireplace. "Oh my," she said as she saw Meagan's teary face, "Corwin said that
you'd been teased at school today. What happened honey?" Meagan snuffled her nose and took a
deep breath, "I was telling Cindy about making candles for Imbolc and she asked me what it was and I
was telling her when some stupid boys overheard me and started calling me a witch!"
Meagan burst into tears again because remembering made her feel bad again. Michael kissed the top of
her head. "I know that it's hard when other people say things to try to hurt us," he said, "Why do you
think they were teasing you?" "Because they're mean!!" said Meagan. Elizabeth took her hand and said,
"I don't think that's it honey. Do you remember when we told you why you shouldn't talk to Gramma
Lee and Granpa Scott about rituals?"
Meagan nodded, "Uh-uh, 'cus they're Christian and they're scared that we'll go to hell and so they get
really mad when we talk about it." Meagan's parents smiled at each other. "That's right Meagan. They
don't understand why we are pagans and when people don't understand things sometimes they get mad
instead. Lot's of people are afraid of things they don't understand but they don't like being afraid and so
they'll get mad to keep from being so afraid", said Elizabeth, "Do you think that those boys understand
what being a Pagan is?" Meagan shook her head.
Michael hugged her close. "Are you feeling a little better?" he asked. "Yeah, I guess so", said Meagan.
"Well", said her daddy, "What would you like to do about this? Do you think that we should talk to
your teacher, or to the boys?" Meagan thought about it. The boys teasing did make her feel bad but she
knew that she was not a bad person and she really liked going to rituals. "No", she said to her parents,
"Maybe if we leave them alone for awhile they will not bother me. When Bobby teased me about my
hair at day camp I just pretended like he wasn't there and pretty soon he stopped doing it. Maybe
these boys will do the same thing." Her parents smiled at her. "That's a really good idea Meagan", said
Michael, "Let's leave them alone for awhile and see what happens."
Elizabeth stood up, "So are you in a good enough mood to make candles now?" she asked. "Oh yes!"
said Meagan, her face brightening as she jumped up from Michael's lap. Meagan and her mother went
into the kitchen. Just then, Corwin came thumping down the stairs with something in his hand. "Here
Meagan," he said handing her a small circle of metal, "I was saving this for your birthday, but I thought
it might cheer you up. I'm sorry I called you a blabbermouth". Meagan looked
at the disc in her hand. It had her name on one side and runes on the other. "Thank-you Corwin", she
said, "What do the runes mean?" "Oh," said Corwin, "This one stands for you and this one is for
protection and this one is for happiness.
So, mom, are we going to make candles now?" Elizabeth nodded, "Remember to keep away from the
stove Meagan, it's going to be very hot!" They all worked hard to make candles for Imbolc. They made
green for the earth, yellow for air, red for fire, blue for water and purple for spirit. They also made
white candles for the Lady and Her Lord. Meagan helped pick out the scents for the candles. She had
been studying oils told her mother to add patchouly for earth. She decided they should add lavender for
air and cedar for fire. Meagan wanted lilac for water and sandalwood for spirit. But she couldn't decide
which oils to use for the God and the Goddess.
She looked at the list of oils in her parent's Book of Shadows. The Book of Shadows contained lots of
information, like rituals and lists of herbs, oils and runes. She saw that carnation and jasmine both stood
for Imbolc. Carnation was listed as a masculine herb and jasmine was a feminine herb. When she asked
her mother what that meant, Elizabeth told her that masculine meant 'male' and feminine meant 'female'.
So Meagan decided they should put carnation and jasmine in the candles for the Lord and Lady.
"Momma", asked Meagan, "Why *do* we make candles for Imbolc?" Elizabeth set aside the hot wax. "Well," she said, "do you remember what I said about what we celebrate at Imbolc?" Meagan nodded, "We're celebrating because Winter is starting to go away and Spring is coming back." "That's right," said Elizabeth, "and we light candles to remind the Sun to come back to us. On Saturday we'll have an Imbolc ritual and light all the candles so that the Sun will know where to come back. If you remember to take a nap on Saturday you can stay up and go to Circle with us." Meagan was excited. She loved to go to Circle and she especially loved to sing the chants to honor the gods.
Just then, Starweaver jumped onto the table. "Oh no!," cried Elizabeth, "Star, get down, you might get hurt by the hot wax! Meagan, you'd better take him outside so he'll be safe. The candles will have to cool and harden now. Corwin can help me clean up." Meagan picked up Starweaver the way her parents had taught her, holding him under his chest and holding his back legs so that he would feel safe. She and Starweaver went outside to play.
Soon, it was Saturday. The boys at school were still teasing Meagan but because she didn't pay any attention to them they weren't finding it as much fun as they had at first. It still made Meagan feel bad and she had written a story about how she felt and that made her feel better.
On Saturday Meagan helped her brother Corwin put the candles all around the family room. In the winter their Coven met in the family room because it was too cold to circle outside. Meagan saw their High Priest Jeremy put a fire extinguisher by the place where the gate to the circle would be. That made her feel better since there would be so many candles lit tonight. Soon it was time for ritual. Meagan took a bath and got into her robe.
When she went downstairs she saw that all the candles had been lit. The regular lights were out and the room looked like a fairyland.
After circle everyone helped clean up. Meagan yawned. She went over to Isabella who had been made an initiate in their tradition. Isabella had been studying a long time to learn all the things that their tradition said a first degree initiate should know. Meagan knew that she had to wait until she was grown
up before she could become an initiate. In their tradition a person had to be 18 before they could become an inititate but Meagan's mother told her that she could go ahead and learn many of the things that an initate had to know. She was already learning about oils and herbs and things.
Meagan went to kiss her mother goodnight. Just as she was going to kiss her father she yawned even bigger than before. Michael smiled at her, "Excuse me everyone, I think a little girl needs a proper escort to bed". He picked her up and carried her to her bed.
As Michael tucked her in, Starweaver jumped onto the bed. Meagan cuddled up with him to go to sleep. She decided to dream about the magic land of pancakes where the rivers are made of syrup and
all the leaves are different flavored pancakes. When her mother came into check on her she was sound asleep with a smile on her face.
Her week had started out bad, but ended up very, very good.
Imbolc links for Kids
Just click on the links or cut and paste into your browser.
CANDLE WORKING WITH KIDS
A site that has great Celtic/Scotican Wicca links & gardening tips for kids
KidsHotline.com
... traditions. The Solstice, Yule and Sacaea and ... KinderCrafts ... Lil'Land for Kids - Filled with ... safe coloring pages, games, interactive ...
Kids Imbolc
Instead of making a traditional circle ritual with my kids, we celebrate Imbolc
in the kitchen.
ENCHANTED GARDEN
This is a good time to start planning your garden. Nothing is better than curling up with a colorful seed catalog while the outside shows variuos shades of gray. Thamks to Pat and her
�inspiration � of a moon garden, I �d like to offer up these websites to theme gardening. Theme gardening is the art of taking a particular subject and choosing your herbs and flowers to
accentuate it. For example there are Shakespearian gardens (herbs and flowers used in references in the mighty bards plays), a
kitchen garden (culinary herbs and edible flowers), moon garden (an assortment of pale blue/white flowers which reflect Her beauty). Whatever you have in mind....click away!
Need an idea for your garden? Don't want the same old
pansies and marigolds this year?
Martha Stewart Collection
This collection of gardens offers both beginners and experts the ... to group plants
creatively. Each of these theme collections offers a potential plant palette
SFASU Mast Arboretum Home Page
Fairy garden links
Fairies in the Garden
Our collection of fairy lore, rare sightings, flowers and
plants to attract the wee ones to your garden.
A FAERY TALE GARDEN
Want to add some magic to your garden? Why not attract Faeries
by planting their favorite trees, flowers and herbs?
A Wytch's garden links
Thirteen Herbs for a Witch's Cupboard
A Magickal garden
plants of the same herb in each point ... the plants before planting in the garden ... inscribe
therein This garden round. I plant ... I toil to this witch's rune
Kyrene's Garden
... veggies. I have an herb garden that measures 4-by ... time for a large garden. Do what
ever satisfies ... transplants if you like
Witch's Garden
Moon Phase Planting. Balancing Incense, Drying & Storing ... of
the herbs in my garden
A Child�s garden
Susan Mort
My motto when working with children: �keep it simple! Use seeds that are big to grasp and will sprout quickly! Start now to choose a sunny area where your children can have their own space. Here are some suggestions
A child�s hide-away ~ construct a �teepee� out of bamboo sticks (or anything similar) Plant sweet peas, morning glories or any other flowering vine and train them up the sticks. These plants will grow quickly and create a hide away for your little ones all their own.
Sun flowers ~ These come in a variety of colors and sizes. They are big enough to grasp with little fingers and sprout rather quickly. Experiment with the smaller versions, they are
great in containers.
Mints~ These grow quickly (and spread fast...so you may want to keep under control) My children love to munch on mint in the summer.
Calendula ~ colorful flowers with edible petals for budding cooks.
Pumpkins ~ I like the Jack o� little�s. They do not take up a lot of space and they are great for Samhain!
A Moon garden
Anyone who has the chance to view their flower garden at night should consider planting a small "Moon Garden" patch that can be enjoyed during the late evening and early night hours. Some flowers only flower at late evening and night and others, particularly several white varieties seem to actually glow under a moonlight. I recommend the following:
GIANT MOONFLOWER( IPOMEA ALBA VAR. )
A fast growing vine related to the morning glory, this annual may climb to 10 feet. Tightly closed by day, its white flowers open at dusk to release a sweet fragrance. Flower can be seen very clearly in moonlight
PINK EVENING PRIMROSE ( OENOTHERA )
A lovely border plant growing to 12" with silky, rose colored blooms that deepen to a butter-yellow center. Opens in late evening to release soft fragrance.
EARLY SHASTA DAISY (Chrysantheman superbum) Dwarf Snow Lady:
Sow in October through December for summer blooms in 2001. Early, compact perennial that blooms the first year. Excellent for beds and borders. Requires light to germinate, average germination in 12-18 days. Germination temperatures should be in the sixites. This shasta daisy is reputed to be an early bloomer, up to four weeks before any other Shasta daisy
CRAZY DOUBLE DAISY (Perennial)
Here is a daisy I bet you won't find anywhere in your neighborhood! A daisy that has double layered blooms of quill-like feathery white petels with a bright golden center. Very beautiful and sure to please any gardener who likes to have unique flowers in their garden bed!
JASMINE TOBACCO: Sweet scented alata
A very sweet scented flowering tobacco with pure white trumpet shaped flowers 3-4" long and 1-1/2" wide that open in evening. Very free flowering. Fall sown seedlings make great pot plants for growing during the winter. A good Moon Garden subject as flowers open at night and show up well in moonlight.
SOUTH AFRICAN DIMORPHOTHECA
This is the famous flower from the flora of the South African countryside. Grows only 12" tall with milky white blossoms so pure they appear to be luminous. Shows up very well at night under moonlight.
PURE WHITE AFRICAN DAISY
A fast growing African daisy growing to 10 inches with large, pure white flowers with black eyes. A slightly spreading plant.
FRAGRANT BRIDAL CARNATIONS
An unusual carnation with pure white, absolutely symmetrical, very fragrant flowers. A must for any flower arrangement.
WHITE DILL ( AMMI MAJUS )
A beautiful plant growing to about 36 in. tall with clouds of white flowers often in clusters 6 in. or more across. Excellent as a cut flower or as a filler in bouquets. Seeds need light to germinate. Seedlings will appear in about two weeks.
SUPER WHITE CANDYTUFT ( FLORIST'S STRAIN )
This flower will stand out in any arrangement. Beautiful large trusses of brilliant white flowers on sturdy stems. Very easy to raise. Seeds germinate in about 10 days.
PURE WHITE SALVIA
Grows 10-12 inches with dark green foliage and pure white flowers. Very unusual and very early flowering
PURE WHITE CONEFLOWER ( ECHINACEA VAR. )
A lovely pure white version of echinacea purpurea that bears fragrant white coneflowers. Very nice cutflowers.
FEVERFEW ( MATRICARIA CAPENSIS )
A native American herb with sprays of 1" single white daisy like flowers. Yellow centers are flat. The flowers are said to repel bees and a tea made from the plant is said to relieve headaches.
ordering information: try these on-line catalogs
Moon garden Links
Seedman
Zone Info: For those who would ... Seeds for Planting a
Moon Garden
"http://www.keepsmilin.com/moongard.html"
Rex Seed Company
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