I thought I had better get the Imbolc thread going as we're creeping ever closer.
We recently had the thread about pancake day (an idea that I ADORE by the way), but I thought it would be nice to have somewhere to discuss other Imbolc related themes. I have three questions to get us started.
1) What are the themes and activities you associate with this festival? If you don't celebrate, is there something around this time that you observe instead? If so, what are the themes and activities you associate with THAT festival?
2) Does anyone else have an element of sacrifice amongst their themes at this festival? I can't find this mentioned anywhere so think it's just me but would be delighted to find out I didn't make this up. There is no historical reason for this, but I like the stories of the Oak King and Holly King. Maybe it seems a bit mixed up, but I consider them aspects of the Green Man and as such, although they are defeated at the solstices, I celebrate their sacrifices at the following sabbat. This kinda fits with Lughnasadh, but seems unheard of at Imbolc (but a God of winter willingly giving way to spring as the ice retreats isn't too hard to imagine, surely?). Janet and Stewart Farrer suggested different Sabbats for their sacrifices, but after much contemplation, my version just seems more logical to me.
3) There is a ritual I read years ago that I am sure was in a Scott Cunningham book. I don't remember which and as I'm not a huge fan of his writing, I gave my books away so can't look for it myself. It was a ritual or spell in which he poured milk into a bath of water. Can anyone tell me what this ritual was and why he was doing it? It's just been on my mind recently for some totally unknown reason and as I associate Imbolc with milk products, I'm thinking of making this an Imbolc activity.
This is getting long, so I won't answer question 1 myself just yet. Thanks in advance. These threads are always really inspiring!
We recently had the thread about pancake day (an idea that I ADORE by the way), but I thought it would be nice to have somewhere to discuss other Imbolc related themes. I have three questions to get us started.
1) What are the themes and activities you associate with this festival? If you don't celebrate, is there something around this time that you observe instead? If so, what are the themes and activities you associate with THAT festival?
2) Does anyone else have an element of sacrifice amongst their themes at this festival? I can't find this mentioned anywhere so think it's just me but would be delighted to find out I didn't make this up. There is no historical reason for this, but I like the stories of the Oak King and Holly King. Maybe it seems a bit mixed up, but I consider them aspects of the Green Man and as such, although they are defeated at the solstices, I celebrate their sacrifices at the following sabbat. This kinda fits with Lughnasadh, but seems unheard of at Imbolc (but a God of winter willingly giving way to spring as the ice retreats isn't too hard to imagine, surely?). Janet and Stewart Farrer suggested different Sabbats for their sacrifices, but after much contemplation, my version just seems more logical to me.
3) There is a ritual I read years ago that I am sure was in a Scott Cunningham book. I don't remember which and as I'm not a huge fan of his writing, I gave my books away so can't look for it myself. It was a ritual or spell in which he poured milk into a bath of water. Can anyone tell me what this ritual was and why he was doing it? It's just been on my mind recently for some totally unknown reason and as I associate Imbolc with milk products, I'm thinking of making this an Imbolc activity.
This is getting long, so I won't answer question 1 myself just yet. Thanks in advance. These threads are always really inspiring!
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