Athenaeum
A Place for study of the arts
In ancient Greece students of the arts gathered in the temples of Athena to exchange ideas, philosophies, and techniques.  The purpose of the Athenaeum in Ravenwynd is the same.  Here you will find things from many different traditions.  And we hope you will find something useful to you on your path.

Within the Christian religion, Imbolc/Brigid is known as Candlemas.  This is the mass reserved for the consecration of candles to be used for religious purposes throughout the year within the church.  The remnants of pagan worship of the returning light is very evident within this mass.  The following ritual is a blending of both pagan and Xian traditions.
Imbolc Ritual
 

Materials required:

Several fresh, new candles.  Keep unlit upon the altar.
Small clean bowl or bottle filled with virgin olive oil for anointing.

Create and purify sacred space according to your own tradition.  Relax and breathe naturally.

Chant:  Io Evohe, Brigid take my hand and light the way.  Io Evohe.

Feel the presence of the Goddess, breathe in her energy.

Take the small bowl of olive oil and put a drop of the consecrated water into it saying:  Let this oil be purified by air and fire.

Breath in the energy of the Goddess while still holding the oil.  Feel Her power enter from the top of your head and flow through you, vitalizing you and leaving through your hands into the oil.

Invoke:  Great Goddess of the Universe, bless and consecrate this oil that it may be used in the Work of the Craft.

Now you have anointing oil to use to consecrate the candles upon the altar and later, other objects for ritual use.

Take the candles up one at a time and using your dominant hand, dip your finger into the oil, and beginning in the middle of the candle, anoint the candle up to the wick and then go back down to the base.

Then light the first anointed candle and place it upon the altar saying:
Lady, I light this candle in honor of Thee.

You can now anoint any other candles you have to be used for other rites or Craft purposes.  Light the candles that are consecrated from the altar and then put them out immediately (according to old legends, this is to lock the light into them).

This is also a good time to ask the Goddess' help in any creative projects you may be doing.

Spend a few minutes meditating upon the glimmer of the light that is slowly growing in radiance and warmth as it pierces the cold and dark.

Promise yourself that the next moon will be a more peaceful, introspective, and healing time for you as the dark gives way to light and as winter melts into spring.

Share wine and cakes.

Thank the Goddess for all the good things in your life.

Open your sacred space as usual.

Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.
 
 

           Ravenwynd thanks Wiccans for Planetary Peace for this ritual

 

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