February 2nd Ritual for Candlemas

Candlemas, the highest point of spiritual power between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, is also known as Imbolc, Brigid’s Day, and the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin. Many Wiccans use this sabbat (holy day) as the special day to initiate new witches. Brigid, the Celtic goddess and saint honored on this day, is connected with both the elements of fire and water, both powerful powers of purification.

Essential elements for this Candlemas ritual are a cauldron, white candles, a bough of cedar, a small bough of pine, a small bough of juniper, a small bough of holly, incense, red cotton thread or yarn, a stone for an altar, and a bowl of water.

The leader of the circle should purify the circle with the fire of the incense while invoking the four directions to raise power. Place your altar stone north of the circle, and place white candles on and around the altar. Cast the circle:

Face east and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the East, bringing your fresh winds, the breath of life.

    Come to the Circle on Candlemas.

Face south and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the South, bringing us heat and health.

    Come to the circle on Candlemas.

Face west and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the West, bringing the setting sun and nourishing gentle rains.

    Come to the circle on Candlemas.

Face north and say:

    Welcome, Guardians of the North, bringing life-bringing rains and snow.

    Come to the circle on Candlemas.

While meditating on the concept of purification, make a bouquet of the four branches and wrap it near the bottom with the red cord. The red symbolizes Brigid’s fiery aspect, while the four trees stand for purification. Bow with it to each of the four directions. Bow last to the north, over the altar stone, and say:

    Bright Brigid,

    Sweep clean our homes and spirits on this sacred day.

    Purify our souls of the dullness of winter, and help us prepare for

    the light of summer.

    Brigid of the white hands, Brigid of the golden curls,

    Bless us all. So mote it be.

All respond:

    So mote it be!

The ritual leader dips the tips of the branches in the water and sprinkles the circle and each participant, saying:

    Blessed Brigid, may your water heal us and make us whole.

Leave the bouquet on the altar stone as an offering to Brigid.

Symbolic Inscriptions: A Spell to Connect with Your Subconscious

If you wish to make direct contact with your unconsciousness, here is a way to see through the veil between the two worlds and enter the recesses of your mind.

At any herbal store or metaphysical shop, obtain dry mugwort leaves and dried patchouli, as well as some wormwood if possible. The latter is a bit harder to come by, but worth the try. It is the active agent in absinthe. 

Crumble any of these herbs between your hands until it is gently ground into an almost powdery consistency. Pour the herb into a baking pan. Make sure the crumbled herb dust is evenly spread over the surface of the pan. 

Light yellow candles (from your creativity altar) and close your eyes. Take the forefinger of your left hand and touch the center of the pan. Run your finger back and forth in a completely random pattern—don’t think, just rely on your instincts for two minutes. Open your eyes, look at the pattern you have drawn, and write down what the symbols and designs bring to mind. Also write down the thoughts you were having while you were “drawing.” Some of my friends have found that they unconsciously wrote words, which they then used to start a poem or novel, or which generated an idea for a painting.

Peace of Mind Blessing Bowl

While a bowl is not a tool in and of itself, you can utilize bowls in your spellwork often, anytime you are inspired to do so. Three simple ingredients—a red rose, a pink candle, and water—can bestow a powerful blessing. The rose signifies beauty, potential, the sunny seasons, and love for yourself and others. The candle stands for the element of fire, the yellow flame of the rising sun in the east, harmony, higher intention, and the light of the soul. Water represents its own element, flow, the direction of the west, emotions, and cleansing. This ritual can be performed alone or with a group in which you pass the bowl around. Float the rose in a clear bowl of water, and light a pink candle beside the bowl. With your left hand, gently stir the water in the bowl and say:

    I give myself life and health, refreshing water for my spirit.

    I give myself time to rest and space to grow.

    I am love. My heart is as big as the world.

    I am peace of mind. So be it, now and always.

Keep the blessing bowl on your kitchen altar for three days and three nights. Dry the red rose and keep it on your nightstand or desk where it will always fill your heart with love.

How to Set Intentions for a Ritual of Your Own Design

When creating your own ritual, or performing any spellwork, for that matter, you must approach it with a definite concentration, so try to eliminate any distractions clogging up your sacred space. If a nagging worry is hovering in the back of your mind, you are not properly focused. You may even want to perfect an image of your intention and desire with creative visualization.

Part of your preparation should also include using ritual correspondences—the phase of the moon, the day of the week, the color of the candles you use, and much more. These things add to the depth and meaning of your ritual. Do you need to clear the energy and refresh your altar with some housecleaning? Do so and continue to focus on your intention as you create the foundation for a successful ceremony. While you are clearing energy in your space, you must also clear out the clutter in your mind. If you are in a state of inner chaos, the outcome will simply not measure up to your expectations. Perhaps it will help you relax if you listen to instrumental music or sacred chants. Conscious breathing or stretching will also help you make yourself ready for ritual. Constructing your inner temple is a marvelous process that can aid in your journey deep inside yourself.

Sit or lie down in a position that is comfortable enough to relax you, but not so comfortable as to allow you to drift off to sleep. As you breathe slowly and rhythmically, imagine a peaceful, beautiful place specific to your desires. It could be a white marble temple in a lovely sculpture garden under a still blue sky. It could be a mirror pool by a sacred grove. It must be pleasing to you, a place you can visit frequently in visualization. It can be any size or shape but should have certain aspects:

• The Center: Your inner temple should have a single center from which you can access all areas of the temple. This center space is a representation of your personal power center.
• Reflective Surface: Here is where you can take a look at yourself spiritually. The reflective surface can be a scrying mirror, a crystal ball, or even a pool of water. You can also use it to look at the past, present, and future.
• Water: Your inner temple can have any number of water sources, such as a waterfall, a well, a stream, or an ocean. Water represents our deepest levels of consciousness. Commune with your deepest self here.
• Earth: Here is where you ground yourself and create manifestation. Take stock of your deepest desires and goals here in a garden, forest, meadow, or wherever your imagination guides you.

Ideally, your inner temple has four doorways or gates, one each for the four directions and elements. Once you have created your ideal inner temple, you can now use it to perform ritual, as you have created permanent sacred space inside and outside this temple through visualization.

Blessings for Home and Harmony

On a low table or chest of your choosing, place a forest green scarf and a brown candle to represent your family. Add lovely objects that you have found around your home and garden: a special fallen leaf, ocean- carved driftwood, lacey dried lichen, smooth stones, or whatever your heart desires. It is of utmost importance to add a bouquet of wildflowers native to your area that you have gathered close to your home or purchased locally. This bouquet will help integrate your home into your neighborhood and the geographic area in which you live. If possible, add a sweetly scented sachet of potpourri made from your home kitchen garden: rosemary, lavender, thyme, and mint, all of which imbue your space with positive energy. Add personal mementos like photos or a locket with a photo of your spouse and children.

Burn your favorite essential oils, the ones that create an aura of instant comfort for you, such as vanilla, cinnamon, or sweet orange neroli in an oil lamp. Finally, anoint the brown candle while concentrating on peace and bliss surrounding your home. Chant:

    Here burns happiness about me.

    Peace and harmony are in abundance,

    And here true bliss surrounds.

    From now on, disharmony is gone.

    This is a home of peace and blessings.

    Here sheer joy lives.

This consecrated space will ease your spirits at any time. Your altar connects you to the earth of which you are a part.

Guided Meditation

Close your eyes, take a deep breath in and let it go. Breathe in again, breathing in peacefulness and breathing out tension, breathing in joy, breathing out frustration, breathing in fresh air, breathing out staleness. Begin to imagine that you are sitting in a beautiful pyramid of golden light. The light within this pyramid totally surrounds your body. Take another deep breath, then let it go. Imagine that there is a mirror image of this pyramid beneath you grounding you into the earth, creating a structure of light all around you. Breathe in the light, feel its warmth, and relax.

Now image there is a ball of light at the top of the pyramid. Begin to bring this golden ball of light down through the top of your head through your crown area. Opening the crown chakra, located in the top of your head, allow the light to filter down through your crown into the center of your head and expand it out so that all the cells in your head become one with the light, relaxed yet alert. Now take another breath and, as you exhale, relax and let all the tension of the day drift away and become more and more relaxed with each breath you take. Now image the light moving in and out of the center of your forehead, opening up this energy center to the light. As you imagine this, feel the energy coming in and out of this area in the center of your forehead, opening up this energy center to the light. As you imagine this, feel the energy coming in and out of this area in the center of your forehead, opening this energy center for new awareness and clarity. Know that as you sit in sacred space and work with this guided meditation, this process will become easier for you.

Over time, you will develop new ways of sensing, feeling, or seeing the light energy, but for now, relax and allow this golden light to move from your head down to your throat... allowing the light to massage your throat, opening up your throat to the light...readying your throat to speak your truth. When you feel each center opening, simply move to the next, breathing in and out. Imagine the light moving from the throat now down to the heart, bringing warmth and a golden glow to the heart center. Open your heart to its warmth by imagining your heart as a flower unfolding, opening to the warmth of the sun and your breath.

Stay here in the heart feeling yourself nurtured by the light. Notice the rhythm of your heartbeat...your rhythm, your vibration...and breathe. And now allow yourself to go deeper within the heat. Ask to go to your deeper heart, your soul heart, your wisdom heart...we all know this place...ask to go to this place and sit there with yourself. When you’re ready, bring the golden light from the heart center to the upper belly and open up the solar plexus chakra to the light. Sit there for a while, feeling this energy center open. When you are ready, move on. Bring the light to the lower belly, opening this energy center, and sit there for a while. Now bring the light from the lower belly to the base of your spine, your root chakra, opening this energy center to the light. Once you feel your connection at the base of your spine, imagine a cord of light running from the base of your spine into the center of the earth, grounding you in the earth. Know now that you are connected to heaven and earth and yourself for all of your knowing.

This meditation is a powerful way to connect before each healing process. It opens and connects you to yourself, the divine and the earth, providing an inner connectedness that supports inner listening.

At this point, invite in your spiritual guides or guardians, if you have not already done so before entering into the guided meditation.

Calling guides and helpers is easy. Simply say, “Guardians from the light, please come to me and assist me on my healing journey.” You may choose to know them and can say, “Show yourselves to me; let me know your presence.” Sometimes a friend or loved one who has passed away will come, sometimes an old pet will appear, sometimes you may feel a touch on your shoulder or a loving presence. Trust these moments. You can always ask, “Who is with me from the light?” If you feel a strange presence that makes you uncomfortable, ask who it is or simply ask the energy to go to the light and leave your space now. If you are unaware of guides or elders that work with you, there are some exercises later to introduce you to your helpers. Your higher self and other higher beings, such as angels, must be called. They are always present, but to actively work with you they must be invited. I call them like this: “Angels, Archangels, please come and be with me now. I would like your presence with me for this healing. Higher Self, please work with me now.” I also call all my guides and animal allies whenever I create my sacred space. 

Seasonal Altars

There are many reasons to create personal altars, and four of those reasons are the seasons of the year. You altar helps you to maintain balance in your life and deepens your spiritual connection to the world around you. A seasonal altar is your tool for ceremonies to honor Mother Nature and connect with the deeper wisdom of the earth. A seasonal altar enshrines the natural world and blends the energies of flowers, stones, shells, leaves, and any and all gifts of the season. I think of my seasonal altar as the middle ground between earth and sky, the meeting point of the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Creating a seasonal altar is a life-affirming act. It is my way of honoring our ecology and our planet.

Spring

You can create a wonderful outdoor altar for spring by planning two seasons ahead and planting tulip or hyacinth bulbs in a circle. When the flowers begin to bud, place an image or statue in the center. It could be a bust of the Greek youth, Hyacinth, immortalized in myth and in the gorgeous flower itself. Throughout the spring, you can stand inside your circle and pray or chant for the rebirth of the world all around you.

Summer

During this season of sun and heat, th fullness of life and growth can be celebrated with colors of yellow, green, and red. As you travel on vacation, bring back shells and stones and create an altar devoted to this season of joy.

Fall

The leaves are now falling and the harvest is here, calling for a gratitude altar that reflects the bounty and continuance of live. An arrangement of pumpkins, acorns, multicolored branches, and a handsome bouquet of leaves will honor the natural changes that characterize autumn.

Winter

White and blue represent snow and sky. Star-shaped candles and a bare branch on your altar symbolize this time to go within, explore the inner reaches of self, and draw forth the deepest wisdom for the coming spring. In The Blessed Bee, a Pagan family magazine, Selene Silverwind writes on the subject of setting up a candle-free children’s altar. She emphasizes the importance of changing the altar for every season and holy day, specifically for Samhain, our modern- day Halloween, and Yule, the precursor to our Christmas. In so doing, Silverwind points out that you are “teaching children to connect with faith at a deep level,” helping them participate in their religion in a physical way instead of trying to stand quietly at a ritual. You are also teaching them the meaning of the seasons and how they affect us.