Preparations and Imbolc Blessings {Resource Link Roundup}

Over the last while a few folks have been contacting me with questions about Brigid and Imbolc. I'm starting to prepare for my own observances and will be a little too busy to contact people back right away, so I figured that I would make a quick resource link round up of previous posts for people instead. I hope that it will be found to be helpful and that you all have a blessed Imbolc {in the North} and Lughnasadh {in the South}.

Warm Hearts & Hearths,

Laurel

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A Herding Croon
A Recipe for Spring Cleaning
A Rowan and Red Thread Cross for Safe Travels
As Imbolc Approaches
Candles for the Three Realms
Charm of Grace

Consecrating Seed
Crafts for Imbolc
Cross Quarter Waters
Devotionals
Every Day Rituals {and Hearth Keeping}
Fertility Charm
Forging New Bonds with Deities {focused on An Cailleach, but transferable to other deities}
Hail Brigit
Hearth/Home Blessing Candle
Lustral Bath Melts
My Brigid Doll and Her Bed
Poetic Weather Forecast
Saining/Purification Water
The Descent of Brigid
Victorious Brigit
Woolly Gaelic Songs & Prayers

Healing with the Aid of Ancestors {Ritual and Herbal Powder Recipe}

I had been inspired by two events and two plants this year to finally do an Ancestral healing ritual this past Samhain. This is something that I had been wishing to do for a few years now, and had worked my way towards it on some counts, but also had been avoiding doing so, not ready to face or let go of some pain and anger. 

The first event of inspiration happened when I was at Tlachtga/Hill of Ward this past Bealtaine, after hearing the story of Tlachtga, I knew that I had wanted to do something on Samhain to honour her. In her story she is deeply betrayed by her jealous father, which lead to her rape and impregnation, causing her to birth three sons, which also ultimately lead to her death. But instead of her last words being of vengeance and hatred, they were of hope and love, the naming of her three sons: Cuma, Muach and Doirb. And as long as those names are remembered, Ireland and her people shall be safe from catastrophe. To me Tlachtga is a figure of strength and sovereignty; not necessarily encouraging forgiveness and most certainly not forgetting, but urging one forward to live their full potential, irregardless of what life throws at them. Also while at the Hill of Ward, I had my first of many experiences during my time in Ireland of communing with various nature spirits, this time being with Stinging Nettle. Already an ally, I was reminded of the many lessons that this plant can teach. One of them being that just like the pain one can get through harvesting them, it could be well worth going through the experience for the potential of nourishment and healing that both the plant and painful experience can bring. For only through such experiences can we truly gain the insights needed to heal ourselves and help others with the same. 

The second event of inspiration came this past summer during a get together up north, while visiting our family cemetery in a small village. The whole place was carpeted by beautiful Selfheal/Heal-all, another beloved plant ally. I harvested some, knowing that it would be perfect for helping heal family and ancestral wounds. 

While I did initialize the healing on Samhain, it is a work in progress, so this is something that I continue to do. I suppose it could be said that this has been incorporated into my devotional work with my Ancestors, hopefully that is mutually beneficial for both the living and the dead. 

I've decided to share some of that here, in case others are looking to do similar work with the aid of their own Ancestors.

Ancestral Herbal Healing Powder

A powder like this could easily be used in charms, in an incense, or as I have done and made it for adding to candles for ritual use. *Wearing gloves would be a good idea while making this, as some of the ingredients can be toxic. This was made on the full moon before Samhain, which happened to be a Sunday, to me a great time for healing work. I spent a good long while grinding everything in a mortar and pestle, in a meditative state focusing on healing. The mixture was then left under the light of the full moon to be blessed for nine days.

Stinging Nettle

Selfheal

Ancestor Graveyard Dirt

Ancestral Rose Thorns

Wild Rose

Cedar

Tansy {can be toxic}

Apple Leaves

Meadowsweet

Thyme

Bleeding Hearts {can be toxic}

Mullein

Heather

Linden Leaf and Flower

Forget-Me-Nots

Ancestral Healing Ritual

I carved on a black candle in Ogham down three separate sides "Clann" {Family}, "Shinsir" {Ancestors} and "Leighgeas" {Healing}, and over each carving placed three personal effects to consecrate the candle within the Three Realms: blood {Talam/Land}, saliva {Muir/Sea} and breath {Nem/Sky}. Then on each carving I rubbed some of the herbal powder from above, three times on each.

The candle was then placed in a silver bowl of Ancestral graveyard dirt, surrounded by three poppy pods, one at each point of the Ogham carving. Under this is kept names and situations being focused on for healing. Before being lit, the candle was anointed with nine drops of a healing oil, and sprinkled with more of the herbal powder. This is something I do every time before the candle is lit for a working.

Of course before beginning the ritual, I always leave offerings to those who I am asking help from, which I encourage everyone to do. During the ritual there are prayers, meditation and often divination as well, which I also encourage others to do, tailored to their own needs and personal practices. 

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It's never an easy thing, the process of healing. For those on that same journey, I hope that this post might be of some use to to you. 

Lustral Bath Melts

This was my first time making bath melts, and the recipe I used is pretty simple. If you have ever made candles before, you should find making bath melts quite easy. The recipe I used can be found over at DIY Natural, for which I doubled the measurements to get four large bath melts {one could probably be broken up for three baths each}.

I made these bath melts with purification in mind, and just in time for Imbolc. The plants I used are often associated with purification and I added a few extra for overall blessings: birch bark, dandelion leaf, heather flowers, juniper berries, lavender flowers, lemon verbena, rose petals, thyme, vervain and yarrow. I also added peppermint essential oil, for both purification and is great for relaxation.

Really though, there are all sorts of combinations of herbs and essential oils that you could use, whether for magical or mundane purposes. Experimenting is half the fun! 

I ended up using metal candy molds, and I had a bit of trouble getting them out. Next time I think I will use silicone molds. After removing them I stored them in a mason jar in the fridge, just to be sure that they don't get all melty.

Sláinte!

Laurel

Charm of Grace

The guiding light of the Gods is before you,

The sage steps of the Ancestors are behind you,

The kind stream of the Spirits is through you,

To succour and aid you.

The bloom of the Gods is upon you,

The bloom of the Ancestors is upon you,

The bloom of the Spirits is upon you,

To bathe you and make you fair.

Grace is upwards over you,

Grace is downwards over you,

Grace of graces without gainsaying, 

The beauteous grace of The Three.

Excellence of men,

Excellence of women,

Excellence of council,

Excellence of lover, 

Excellence of sons and of daughters.

Excellence of dells,

Excellence of knolls,

Excellence of hollows,

Excellence of hills,

Excellence of horses and of heros.

Excellence of travel,

Excellence of journey,

Excellence of small town,

Excellence of great town,

Excellence of sea and of shore.

Excellence of beauty,

Excellence of radiance,

Excellence of goodness,

Excellence of the Otherworld,

Excellence of day and of night.

Excellence of form,

Excellence of voice,

Excellence of complexion,

Excellence of cattle,

Excellence of curd and of butter.

You are the star of each night,

You are the brightness of each morning,

You are the tidings of each guest,

You are the inquiry of every land.

You will travel rough ground,

And you will not redden your feet:

The Three are guarding you and The Three are by your hand.

The brilliance of the Gods is around your head,

The wisdom of the Ancestors is on your brow,

The hospitality of the Spirits is in your heart:

You will go forth and come home safely.

You will journey upward

And come down again,

You will journey over ocean 

And come back safely here;

No peril will befall you

On knoll or on bank,

In hollow or in meadow,

On mountain or in glen.

The protection of The Three is over you,

To shield and guard you 

From your head to your foot.

No man

No woman

No son

No daughter

Will make a glance or wish

Hate or jealousy,

Love or evil eye,

Envy or durance

That will sunder you,

That will lie on you,

That will subdue you, 

That will injure you.

Host will not make,

False one will not make,

Evil spirit will not make,

World will not make,

Word or accusation,

Lie or story,

Spell or sorcery,

Harm or hary,

That will affect you,

That will afflict you,

That will maim you,

That will overpower you.

Towards or from,

Earth or land,

Here or there, 

Up or down,

Above or below,

Sea or shore,

In the sky aloft 

In the deep below.

You are the nut of my heart,

You are the face of my sun,

You are the harp of my music,

You are the crown of my sense;

You are the love of the Shining Gods,

You are the love of the Wise Ancestors,

You are the love of the Gracious Spirits,

You are the love of every living creature.

~Altered prayer from Carmina Gadelica Vol III 

Love Magic

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Valentine's Day, a full moon, and a Friday...to me you can't get much better timing to do a love spell! The last few days I have had a handful of people ask me for some love spell ideas, which I figured I would share on the blog as well.

First I would like to say that while I cannot control what other people do in their own magical practice, I personally do not endorse trying to manipulate or force someone to have feelings for another person. I do however think that there is nothing wrong to encourage a situation along where someone would naturally have feelings for another person. So this is the spirit in which these ideas are offered.

A Charm for a Current Romance

Last year I shared a working that I did for my own relationship, which I will go into a little further detail here.

This is a charm that would be suitable for people who are already in a relationship with someone, and might be something that you would like to do around your anniversary, during a threshold period of a relationship {such as getting married}, to strengthen bonds, or to simply bless and keep the love strong.

Starting on the Friday of the full moon take a pink or red candle and carve your names and intent {you can just make a heart, put the words "love" and so on if you wish} into the candle. For extra potency, you can anoint the candle with a love oil. Gather herbs {such as roses, lady's mantle, meadowsweet, and lavender}, stones {such as rose quartz} or other small items that are associated with love {such as snail shells}; if desired, also gather herbs, stones and other small items that are associated with other qualities that you wish to incorporate such as lust, fertility, harmony and so on. Also needed are personal effects such as hair, items that are worn or a photo to represent you both.

Set herbs, stones, and personal items/effects around the candle in some fashion {I stuffed mine into a tight-necked vase which I used as a candle holder {see example below}:

After you have everything set up, light a candle with a prayer of intent. I lit the candle over the course of nine days, although you could do it in one sitting should you wish or as many days as you feel is best for you.

Once the candle has be burnt down, place it along with the herbs, stones and personal items/effects into a charm bag or a piece of fabric and tie it with a pink ribbon {like the one pictured above}. Keep the charm bag somewhere in your home that you feel is important to you and your relationship, such as your bedroom or on a household shrine.

To Dream of a Future Love

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This is an adaptation of a practice that is recorded in Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland by Lady Francesca Speranza Wilde:

Under the light of the full moon gather plants that are associated with love {such as roses, lady's mantle, lavender and so on} saying:

"Moon, moon, tell me

Who is my true love to be
And when my true love shall I see?"

Wrap the gathered plants and place under your pillow to dream of your destined love and your future together.

To Attract a Love Interest



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 This is a spell that was inspired by a healing spell that a lovely friend shared with me. This is a spell that you could do to attract a specific person that you know or to attract an individual with the qualities that you are looking for in a romantic partner.  

Create representations of yourself and your love interest {incorporate names, personal effects/items and such}...these could be poppets, drawings or even just your names with your dates of birth on a piece of paper. If you don't have anyone person in mind, incorporate instead the qualities of the person you would like to attract {such as representations of those qualities or writing the words onto a piece of paper, such as "funny, caring, strong"}. 

Once you are finished creating your representations bind them together in some fashion, such as tying them together, while saying a prayer of intent:

"You for me, and I for thee and for none else;

Your face to mine, and your head turned away from all others."

{from Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms, and Superstitions of Ireland}

Then place the bonded representations into a garden pot, put in some potting soil. Plant a seed {even better if it is of a plant associated with love!} saying:

"May our love meet as this seed reaches for sunlight,

May our love grow as the leaves unfurl,

May our love flourish as this plant blossoms,

May our love thrive long past it bearing fruit."

Tend to your plant with great care, as it is a representation of your desires.

To Mend a Broken Heart

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I think just about everyone will face heartbreak at some point in their lives, and it is a process to heal from it, so this suggestion is more of a meditative morale boost than a cure.

Cut out a heart on a piece of cardboard or paper and rip the heart in half. Alternatively, you can use a cut apple. Take some thread and a needle and start to sow the heart back together. Really take your time with this, focusing on healing saying a prayer such as :

"Tissue to tissue,

Vein to vein,

May my heart become whole again."

{Adaptation of a traditional Gaelic healing prayer}.

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Sláinte!

Laurel

Imbolc Blessings

May Brigid bless you all, your families, and your homes.

Yuletide Blessings

 

I want to wish all of my readers a wonderful holiday season & all the best for 2014! May you have plenty of warmth and merriment during this cold time!

Sláinte agus Beannachtaí,

Laurel

A Free Ancestor Printout

I had made this image to go in a frame I made a few months back that will hang over my Ancestor altar. I am sharing it with others to print out for free, should they wish to make a similar project or have something nice for their altar for Samhain.

 

The image features a Gàidhlig blessing:

"Cuiridh mi clach air do chàrn." {"I will add a stone to your cairn."}.

 

The background is a photograph that has been altered. The original photo is of cairns in Scotland, by Roy Lathwell which can be seen over on his Flickr page.

 

To download a full sized version {4 by 6 inches, 300 dpi}, click here.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

A Bealtaine Blessing

Bless, O Great Three true and bountiful,
Myself, my family, my household,
While in our home or out in the world.

Everything within my dwelling or in my possession,
Whether needful or sentimental, living or inanimate,
From Samhain Eve to Bealtaine Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From boundary to boundary, in every little space,
From ground to sky, above and below.

Be the Great Three taking possession of all to me belonging,
Be the sure Three protecting me in truth;
Oh! Guide me to live with honour,
And shield my loved ones beneath your wings of strength.

Bless everything and every one,
Of this little household by my side;
Place the glory of the Three on us with the power of love,
Until we go to live with our Ancestors.

When we shall leave these four walls,
When we shall leave the shelter of this roof,
When we shall go out into the world,
May the tending of the Three follow us.

You who have been with us since the beginning,
Please listen and attend me as I honour you
Morning and evening as is becoming of me,
In your presence, beloved Gods, Spirits and Ancestors.

~an adapted prayer from The Beltane Blessing found in the Carmina Gadelica

As Bealtaine Approaches

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I thought that I would do a quick post sharing some resources and ideas since Bealtaine is just a few days off.

 

A few years back I did a post on Bealtaine and May Day over at the nefaeria blog, going over some of the history and lore, as well as some recipes, prayers and other celebration ideas. The Tairis website has two fantastic pages with information on Bealtaine {part one, part two} as well as a webpage dedicated to ideas on traditional ways to observe the festival. As well, the Celtic Reconstructionist group Tuacondate shares their 2010 Bealtaine ritual on their website.

 

To get things started you could make a May bush and on the eve of Bealtaine decorate your home with green boughs and flowers. I have seen a few sources mention yellow flowers being a traditional choice, so you may decide to go with dandelions, woodbine/European honeysuckle, buttercups, cowslips or primroses. I also like to decorate with periwinkles, lady's mantle, daisies, sweet woodruff, ferns and other pretties that are further along this time of year. For bough cutting choices you may want to try hawthorn, rowan, ivy, elder {although some have historically thought that it was bad luck to bring elder into the home}, juniper, and blackberry. Some good possible substitutes for my particular region could be raspberry, Virginia creeper, forsythia, cedar, dogwood, chokecherry or crab apple.

 

Fire tends to be one of the first things people think of when it comes to Bealtaine, which is the focus of many different activities, including jumping over the bonfire, the ritual smothering and relighting of the hearth {with a communal flame}, and driving livestock between two bonfires for blessings and protection. Should you have the means, lighting a bonfire on Bealtaine Eve could be a great way to kick things off. I do not have a fireplace, so what I like to do is take my "hearth candle" and extinguish it and light a new one that I made for the upcoming year. If doing this idea in a group ritual setting, each person/household could have their own candle, which could be lit from the central one to represent the re-lighting with the communal flame.

 

Before sunrise on Bealtaine morning I will go out and collect dew and rainwater should there be any, to keep for various uses in the upcoming year. Later on I will usually also get the first "cream" from a friend's well for the same purpose.

 

If the weather is agreeable, I think that spending a good part of the day outdoors is a great way to celebrate. This time could be used to bless your garden, fields, livestock or to go out and collect rowan wood, as this was apparently the only time that it was proper to collect it to the Gaels.

 

For inside the house, it is a good time to sain/bless your home and hang rowan and red thread crosses. There are many different recipes appropriate for Bealtaine, and if you are feeling really adventurous, you could have a go at churning your own butter.

 

The Gaol Naofa website has a few great traditional songs for Bealtaine, including an old butter churning song!

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

Herbs & Prayers for Bed Time

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Recently I have been looking into traditional Gaelic methods that help to promote sleep, good dreams and to keep nightmares at bay. One book that has been particularly helpful is Healing Threads by Mary Beith, which I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in traditional Scottish folk healing and magic.

 

In it the author mentions various different herbs used to help with sleep; heather was used for bedding and later on put under pillows, and thyme was also put under pillows to ward off nightmares. Nettle, chickweed, oats, apple, and poppy were also used, mainly to deal with insomnia.

 

 

With this in mind, I decided to create some herbal sleeping charms to be placed under pillows. In them I put heather {to promote sleep}, thyme {to keep away nightmares}, mugwort {to promote dreaming}, rowan leaves {for protection} and a few drops of lavender essential oil for a soothing smell. The herbs were sewn into wool plaid squares that are 3 by 3 inches each and stitched with red thread for extra protection.

 

In the Carmina Gadelica {Vol I} there are a variety of prayers and blessings for a restful and protected sleep. The prayer that I say every night is an adaptation of two of them: A Resting Prayer  and Sleep Consecration:

 

May the Three shield this house tonight,

And all who dwell within.

Preserve us from all danger and harm,

From disaster and foe.

Protect my loved ones in this place

And where ever they may sleep,

This night and every night.

　

Tonight I will sleep in peace and protection

With the blessings of the Gods

With the blessings of my Ancestors

With the blessings of the Good Folk.

And tonight I lay down with the blessings of

Macha, Airmid, Flidais, An Callieach, and Brigid.

May I always have the blessings of Them and the Great Three.

 

There is quite a bit more lore for me to go over, so I will likely do a more in depth post on this topic in the future.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

Woolly Gaelic Songs & Prayers

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Gaelic cultures are rich in traditional songs, prayers and blessings for daily tasks, from starting the morning fire, milking the cow, churning the butter, harvesting the crops, and putting the fire out at night. So rich in fact that there is even a collection of these songs recorded in Gaelic Songs of Scotland: Women at Work in the Western Isles.

This is a practice that I have adopted and adapted into my daily routine, which I find does make work a lot more pleasant and my actions more meaningful {I talk about this a bit more here}. While I don't have sheep, nor do I spin, weave or knit, I do find the songs and prayers associated with these activities particularly lovely.

 

The Carmina Gadelica {Vol. I} has a great selection of blessings two of which I will share below:

 

 Am Beannachd Lombaidh

 

Falbh lom ’s thig molach,
Beir am boirionn Bealltain,
Bride mhin a bhi dha d’ chonaill,
Moire gheal dha t’ aurais,
Moire gheal dha t’ aurais.

Micheal mil a bhi dha d’ dhion
Bho ’n mhi-chu is bho ’n an-chu,
Bho ’n mhac-tir ’s bho ’n mhadhan stig,
’S bho ianaibh ineach call-ghob,
Bho ianaibh ineach cam-ghob.

 

{Translation:}

 

The Clipping Blessing

 

Go shorn and come woolly,
Bear the Beltane female lamb,
Be the lovely Bride thee endowing,
And the fair Mary thee sustaining,
The fair Mary sustaining thee.

Michael the chief be shielding thee
From the evil dog and from the fox,
From the wolf and from the sly bear,
And from the taloned birds of destructive bills,
From the taloned birds of hooked bills.

 

{source}

 

Coisrigeadh An Aodaich

 

Is math a ghabhas mi mo rann,
A teurnadh le gleann;
Aon rann,
Da rann,
Tri rann,
Ceithir rann,
Coig rann,
Sia rann,
Seachd rann,
Seachd gu lath rann
Seachd gu lath rann.

Nar a gonar fear an eididh,
Nar a reubar e gu brath,
Cian theid e ’n cath no ’n comhrag,
Sgiath chomarach an Domhnach da,
Can theid e ’n cath no ’n comhrag,
Sgiath chomarach an Domhnach da.

Chan ath-aodach seo, ’s chan fhaoigh e,
’S cha chuid cleir no sagairt e.

Biolair uaine ga buain fo
’S air a toir do mhnai gun fhiosd;
Lurg an fheidh an ceann an sgadain,
’S an caol chalp a bhradain bhric.

 

{Translation:}

 

The Consecration of the Cloth

 

Well can I say my rune,
Descending with the glen;
One rune,
Two runes,
Three runes,
Four runes,
Five runes,
Six runes.
Seven runes,
Seven and a half runes,
Seven and a half runes.

May the man of this clothing never be wounded,
May torn he never be;
What time he goes into battle or combat,
May the sanctuary shield of the Lord be his.
What time he goes into battle or combat,
May the sanctuary shield of the Lord be his.

This is not second clothing and it is not thigged,
Nor is it the right of sacristan or of priest.

Cresses green culled beneath a stone,
And given to a woman in secret.
The shank of the deer in the head of the herring,
And in the slender tail of the speckled salmon.

 

{source}

 

You can see more relevant prayers and songs in the Carmina Gadelica {Vol I} online for free.

 

Since the uploader has disabled embedding, here are some links to some videos on Youtube of some traditional songs and the singers in action: A Gaelic Waulking Song & A Gaelic Spinning Song.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

 

As Imbolc Approaches

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With Imbolc just two days off, I thought that I would share some resources that folks might be inspired by.

 

To start off with, some good information about Imbolc can be found on the Tairis website, as well as an article written by Mary Jones, Rethinking Imbolc, which is definitely worth a read. Also on the Tairis website is a write up about some traditions and ways to celebrate, and Tuacondate{a Celtic Reconstructionist group} has been kind enough to share the outlines from their 2010 and 2011 Imbolc rituals.

 

Before the festivities begin, getting some serious cleaning done is always a good way to start off. Since  Imbolc is associated with purification,  saining and lustration rituals are also suitable; collecting water specifically for these purposes may be desirable too.  

 

To celebrate Brigid's day, there are many fun crafts to do. You can make a Brigid's cross, a Brigid doll, and a bed for her to sleep in. I think that this is a great time for candle making too.

 

On the eve of Imbolc, traditionally people would leave out items for Brigid to bless, such as a brat Bríde, salt or water. Those are all left out here, along with a few other trinkets.

 

For those of us getting a start on gardening, some folks like to plant seeds on Imbolc, and this would be a great time to consecrate seed should you wish to do so. It is a little early for me to get most plants started quite yet, although I will be planting and consecrating heather seeds that my lovely friend from across The Pond sent me.

 

While not directly about Imbolc, I still think that the recently published Breath of Life: The Triple Flame of Brigid is a timely read. The essay was written by Kathryn Price NicDhàna and Treasa Ní Chonchobhair  of Gaol Naofa. 

 

Well, that is it for now. Have a great Imbolc, folks!

Sláinte!

Laurel

Friday's Magic




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For me Fridays are perfect for love magic and spellwork for romance, fertility, beauty, harmony, and to focus on increasing all the desirable things in life. Pictured is a blessing for a romantic relationship. The working was done for our anniversary a few months back, and it was started on a Friday during the full moon.

 

The candle was carved with Ogham script with our names and intent, and then was anointed with a specially created oil. Stuffed into the candle holder {which is actually a vase} are herbs associated with love and other qualities we want to see continued in our relationship, along with personal effects. After the candle was burnt over the course of nine days, it along with the items in the candle holder were put into a charm bag tied with a pink ribbon.

Welcoming 2013

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,

A frost-mailed warrior striding a shadowy steed of snow.

~Edgar Fawcett

 

I hope that everyone enjoyed the holidays, however you may celebrate them, and may the new year bring many blessings to you & your loved ones!

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel



New Moon Prayer Requests

 

Every month during my new moon ritual I will make offerings and prayers for blessings for those in my life who request it. After thinking about it for a little while, I have decided to extend this service to the wider public. If you are interested, please contact me with the first name or initials of those the prayer is for.



Please note that this is an absolutely free service and you are not obligated to purchase goods or services from me. I understand that not everyone is in a position to afford the services of a magical practitioner, so this is a small way for me to give back for all the blessings that I have in my own life. 

 

If you look on the sidebar, you will see a link to the prayer request page on the Unfettered Wood website, which basically just has what I have already stated above. I may add more content to that page later on, including ideas on things one can do in conjunction with the prayers while they are being done and perhaps share photos of each month for people to see of the ritual that has been done on their behalf.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

 

A Hearth Blessing Ritual

Three candles burning for a hearth blessing.

Two Powerful Allies & Two Essentials

 

Rowan and Juniper are two treasured allies for when I perform blessings & clearings on a place. Pictured are a couple essentials in my kit: rowan and red thread cross and Imbolc water with juniper greens and berries.

Cross Quarter Waters

Tobernault Holy Well grotto in Sligo Co, Ireland. Photo by BA_Banks

During the cross quarters {to many neo pagans these are called the high sabbats} there are traditions of collecting water, whether it be from dew on a leaf, a holy well, or by leaving a bowl out to collect rain. Below you will see some of these traditions found in Ireland, Scotland & the Isle of Man, and I will share some of the ways that I collect water and what I use it for. If I am able to collect enough water, I will keep it in clean corked bottles {I usually re-use old whiskey bottles}.

Imbolc

 

There are a couple traditions that I have come across involving water for Imbolc. Sometimes water would be left outdoors or by the hearth on the Eve of Imbolc for Brigid to bless, which would be used for healing and fertility. Water was also collected from holy wells associated with Brigid which would be used to bless the household and livestock.

 

Since I do not live by a holy well, I will collect clean snow and leave it in a bowl for Brigid to bless. I use this water for house blessings and clearings {or saining}, as well as in purification rituals and for workings involving women's sexual healing and fertility.

Bealtaine

Many folks would visit holy wells and sacred water sites around the beginning of May to drink and bathe in the waters for healing or to take some home with them for luck and protection. The first "cream" of the well or spring collected for Bealtaine was thought to be the most potent. Dew was also collected and used by women and girls to bring beauty; both dew and the first cream was also used for blessing the milk cows and butter churns.

 

On Bealtaine morning before sunrise, I will collect dew {especially from lady's mantle} and bring in the bowls I left out to collect dew and/or rainwater. Some years I am also lucky enough to share some of the first "cream" of a friend's well. I use this water for consecrating seed, blessing livestock and farm buildings, as well as other agriculture rituals. The water is also useful for lust and romance workings.

 

Lughnasadh

It seems that people would generally go to sacred water sites and take care of business there, instead of bringing the water home with them. Sometimes horses and other livestock were put in the water for blessings, or people would immerse themselves and drink the water to heal all sorts of ailments.

 

I will collect rainwater {or river water if there is no rain} which is mainly used for harvest/reaping blessings; since Lughnasadh was historically a time for making contracts and paying taxes, I will also use it in workings involving engagements, marriage, oaths, business and finances, as well as other commitments. 

Samhain

I haven't come across many traditions involving water for Samhain, although the Tairis site mentions that water from a wise woman was sometimes used to bless folks for protection from the evil eye. If you happen to know of any traditions, please feel free to share them in the comment section!

On the Eve of Samhain I will leave out bowls to collect rainwater {there is no shortage at this time of year!}, which is used for workings involving divination, death and working with ancestors, protection against malignant forces and magic, and for hexing.

Sláinte!

Laurel