Sunday, February 8, 2009

My Imbolc Observance

Yesterday was spent at Cheaha State Park with the family. Later on that evening, I decided to make some barley bread both for offering and for breakfast on Sunday. It failed horribly, lol. I’m not sure what I did wrong but it came out like a brick, so I wrapped it up to crumble up later and give it to the birds. By the time I was finished with that and did the dishes to be sure the kitchen was clean to receive Bríd, it was really late so I decided to call it a night and get up early Sunday and begin working on another offering.

Before bed, I “lit” the electric candle I have for her, repeating A Brighid, scars os mo chionn / Do bhrat fionn dom anacal* as I lay down to sleep.

I awoke up around 7:30am this morning and did the routine cleaning my face and etcetera. I was up before the rest of the family, so I started the coffee pot and began gathering the ingredients for the tea cake. I made two, one for everyone to eat that morning and one mainly to give an offering from, and whatever was left for the extended family coming over after church.

Once they were off to church, I lit the oil burner and said Ultan’s Hymn to Brigit** [in English since I‘m not sure on Old Irish pronunciation]. I then went outside to gather from fresh juniper and performed the An Liuthail rite. Afterward, I warmed some milk and mixed in some honey, allowing the honey to melt. Once done, I came to the altar in my bedroom and poured it into the offering bowl, saying: Bríd breo bithbbhuan***. I walked outside and found some dandelions in bloom, so I picked those for Her and placed them on the altar as well.

Nothing fancy but very meaningful to me, at least.


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* O Brighid, spread over my head / Your bright mantle to guard me

** Brigit be bithmaith [Brigit everfine lady,]
breo orda oiblech, [golden sparkling flame]
don-fe do'n bithlaith [may she lead us to eternal day,]
in grian tind taidleach [the fiery radiant sun!]

*** Glory everlasting to Brigit the fiery!