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St. Brigid

Brigid: Celtic Goddess Triple Aspects: •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 - cauldron, springs, wells •Grain - Brigid wheels, corn/oat sheaf Goddess effigy, Brigid's Bed •Creatures - white cow with red ears, wolf, snake, swan and vulture •Talismans - Shining Mirror to Otherworld, Spinning Wheel and Holy Grail

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Imbolc Lore

Imbolc is the festival of the lactating sheep. Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth. The Maiden is honored, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brighid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is placed by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun.

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Imbolc

Date: N.H. February 2nd ~ When the Sun is in 15 degrees of Aquarius

Deities of Imbolc: All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Aphrodite, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.

Symbolism of Imbolc: Purity, Growth and Re-Newal, The Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and dispensing of the old and making way for the new.

Symbols of Imbolc: Brideo'gas, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brighid’s Crosses, Priapic Wands (acorn-tipped), and Ploughs.

Herbs of Imbolc: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.

Foods of Imbolc: Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.

Incense of Imbolc: Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh.

Colors of Imbolc: White, Pink, Red, Yellow, lt. Green, Brown.

Stones of Imbolc: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise.

Activities of Imbolc: Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Making of Brideo'gas and Bride’s Beds, Making Priapic Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires maybe lit.

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Yule Lore

Yule is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, the sun’s “rebirth” was celebrated with much joy. On this night, our ancestors celebrated the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth. From this day forward, the days would become longer.

Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider. Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun. The boughs were symbolic of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not “die” thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Divine). The wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes Nature Sprites would come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit tthe residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration. It represented the seed of the Divine, and at Midwinter, the Druids would travel deep into the forest to harvest it.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift… it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Many customs created around Yule are identified with Christmas today. If you decorate your home with a Yule tree, holly or candles, you are following some of these old traditions. The Yule log, (usually made from a piece of wood saved from the previous year) is burned in the fire to symbolize the Newborn Sun/Son.

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Yule

Date: N.H. December 21st-23rd ~ When the Sun is in one degree of Capricorn. S.H. June 21st-23rd ~ When the Sun is in one degree of Cancer.

Deities associated with Yule include Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses.

Gods:Apollo, Osiris, Horus, Odin, The Horned One, The Oak King.

Goddesses: Isis, Gaea, Demeter, Diana.

Symbols: Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, clove studded fruit, poinsettias, a simmering pot of wassail.

Traditional foods: Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruit, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Herbs: Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, holly, frankincense, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, myrrh.

Incense: Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Oils: Carnation, cedar, spruce, pine, rose, cinnamon.

Stones: Rubies, garnets, bloodstones, emeralds, diamonds.

Colors: Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Activities: Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, bake a Yule log cake, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, leaving sunflower seeds outside for birds, gathering Yule greens to burn at Imbolc.

Spells: Peace, harmony, health, love, prosperity. Yule Fire Spell On the darkest night of the year, gather together three dried leaves of holly and pulverize them into powder. On a clean four-inch by four-inch piece of paper, write a single word in red ink that represents what quality you would like to be born within yourself along with the newborn Yule Sun. Sprinkle the holly powder into the center of the paper and twist the whole thing closed with the holly powder inside. Light the wick of a red candle, with this flame, light the holly filled paper on fire. As it burns, see your wish fulfilled. The spell is done.

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Wiccan Wheel of the Year 🎃❄️☔️🌷🔥☀️🌾🍂

The Wheel of the Year is an annual cycle of seasonal festivals, celebrated by many modern Pagans. The Solstices and Equinoxes are known as solar festivals because they mark a seasonal change caused by the Sun. The cross quarter days are celebrated by fire festivals and are significant agricultural festivals. Combined the solar festivals and agricultural festivals make up the Wheel of the Year. Among Wiccans, these festivals are also referred to as sabbats. In many traditions of Paganism all things are considered to be cyclical, with time as a never ending cycle of growth and retreat in the Sun's annual death and rebirth. The festivals of the Wheel of the Year also represent the active and dormant states of nature, man and agriculture. In addition, each of the sabbats is associated with a certain God and Goddess.

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Water Correspondences

Gender: Feminine Direction: West Energy: Receptive Symbols: Ocean, Lake, River, Well, Spring, Pod, Rain. Goddesses: Aphrodite, Isis, Mariamne, Mari, Tiamat, Yemaya. Gods: Dylan, Ea, Manannan, Osiris, Neptune, Poseidon. Spirits: Nymphs, Mermaids, Mermen, Sirens, Salamanders. Season: Autumn. Colors: Blue, Green, Gray, Indigo, Black. Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. Stones and Jewels: Amethyst, Aquamarine, Blue Tourmaline, Pearl, Blue Topaz, Lapis Lazuli, Flourite. Magickal Tools: Cauldron, Cup, Chalice, Mirrors. Metals: Mercury, Silver, Copper. Plants and Trees: Ferns, Lotus, Mosses, Bushes, Water Lilies, Gardenia, Willow Trees. Animals: Dolphins, Fish, Seals, Sea horses, Frogs, Turtles, Otters, Swans. Type of Magick: Sea, Ice, Snow, Fog, Mirror, Magnet, Rain. Ritual Work: Emotions, love, courage, intuition, dream work, cleansing of magickal tools.

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Fire Correspondences

Gender: Masculine Direction: South Energy: Projective Symbols: Lightning, Volcanoes, Rainbows, Sun, Stars, Lava, Heat. Goddesses: Brigit, Pele, Vestia. Gods: Agni, Horus, Promtheus. Spirits: Jin, Genies. Colors: Red, Gold, Crimson, Orange. Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. Stones and Jewels: Fire Opal, Ruby, Agate. Magickal Tools: Sword, Athame, Censer, Lamp or Candles, Burned herbs. Metals: Gold, Brass. Plants and Trees: Garlic, Hibiscus, Red peppers, Cinnamon, Coffee, Beans, Chile peppers. Animals: Dragons, Lions, Horses, Snakes, Bees, Ladybugs, Pheonix. Type of Magick: Candle magick. Ritual Work: Energy work, Spirit work, Spells/divination with candle flame. Spells for such things as protection, banishing, energy, courage, sexuality, strength.

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Air Correspendences

Gender: Masculine Direction: East Energy: Projective Symbols: Sky, Wind, Breezes, Clouds, Breathe, Vibrations, Plants, Herbs, Trees, Flowers. Goddesses: Aradia, Arianrhod, Cardea, Nuit, Unania. Gods: Enil, Kheohera, Mercurym, Shu, Thoth. Spirits: Sylph, Fairies, Zepbryns, Angels. Season: Spring. Colors: Yellow, White, Crimson, Pastels. Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Stones and Jewels: Topaz, Pumice, Rainbow stones, Crystal, Amethyst, Alexandrite. Magickal Tools: Censer, Wand, Athame. Plants and Trees: Frankincense, Myrrh, Primrose, Vervain, Dill, Lavender. Animals: Birds, Spiders, and Winged Insects. Type of Magick: Divination, Concentration, Visualization, Wind Magick. Ritual Work: The mind, all mental, intuitive and psychic work.

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Correspondences to the element of earth which can be very useful for different reasons. For example, earth magick/spells, ritual work, and energy work, etc. )o(

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Niagara Falls Canada is one of the most beautiful places to go and see the Goddess.💧💦🌈

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🔥☀️🌹💋

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☁️⛅️💨

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🌳🌿🍃🍂