The Morrighanic Tradition Newsletter ezine Imbolc Issue 2011 our first issue

8/7/2019 The Morrighanic Tradition Newsletter ezine Imbolc Issue 2011 our first issue

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The Morrghanic Tradition

A New Magical and Spiritual Tradition.

Imbolc 2011


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The Morrghanic Tradition

A New Magical and Spiritual Tradition

Imbolc 2011 VOL. 1 ISSUE 1

The Morrghanic Tradition is an eclectic, magical and spiritual tradition dedicated to honoringThe Dark Goddess Morrighan. As well as honoring the Dark Mother in and by all Her names as

well, such as Hekate, Inanna, Isis, Kali and others. We work magick for the healing andbetterment of our lives and healing of the Earth. We embrace and practice the old ways andembrace some of the new.

The Morrghanic Tradition has two Sister Circles. Must be 20 yrs of age and olderhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/SistersoftheDarkMoonCircle

The New Morrghanic Tradition ezine will be a quarterly newsletter sent via email.Serving the Pagan, Wiccan, and Occult community with pages dedicated to The Craft,Paganism, Celtic myth and lore, Sabbats and much more.

If you wish to contribute to the costs of keeping the website and ezine running, contact theHigh Priestess Lady Morrighan at the website.

Lady Morrighan web mistress/website ownerTala Editor

Christine Assistant Editor


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Imbolc 2011

Something's in the air. We can feel it, but it isn'talways easy to figure out what that feeling is.We may still be deep in the grip of severe winterweather, but small subtle signs are beginning toshow. Buds are swelling on the trees; bits ofgreen may be popping up in the garden. Birds aresinging and building their nests, squirrels arescampering about. We know that we still have awhile to go, but we know that Spring is coming,the darkness is nearly over, the light is returning.We begin to feel the stirrings of life within

Mother Earth. This is Imbolc.

Imbolc is one of the ancient Celtic Sabbaths orfestivals. Imbolc has traditionally been a fire

festival, as well as a celebration of home andhearth. It occurs on the cross quarter, halfway

between the Winter Solstice and the SpringEquinox. The word Imbolc comes from the Gaelicword "oimele," meaning ewe's milk and wasassociated with the ewe's beginning theirlactation in preparation of giving birth. This wasthe sign that spring was coming and the sun wasreturning. This was a time when the peoplesearched for signs of the upcoming planting andharvest season. It is the time of blessing of theseeds and consecration of their tools andequipment.

In Celtic legend, Imbolc was the day that theCailleach gathers her firewood for the rest of thewinter. Legend has it that if she intends to makethe winter last a good while longer, she will makesure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny,so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore,people are generally relieved if Imbolc is a day offoul weather, as it means the Cailleach is asleepand winter is almost over.

Many cultures around the world have celebratedfestivals similar to Imbolic during this season. .Many cultures celebrated this time of the year as

a sign of hope and new beginnings. A rebirth ofthe Earth. Some cultures celebrated this season asa time of purification of the land and the people...

For modern day pagans, this is the time manyhonor the Goddess Brigid in her maiden aspect. Itis a time to clean and consecrate your magicaltools and your sacred space. A time to plangardens and start your seeds. It is a good time todo divination for the year ahead. Give thanks forsurviving the time of darkness and prayers for aprosperous season ahead!

A blessed Imbolic to you all.

Tala


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February Moon LoreThe Full Moon in February is called the

Quickening Moon, Hunger Moon, Storm Moon,Horning Moon, Wild Moon, and Ice Moon.

Because the heaviest snows fall during February,Native Americans called this the Full Snow Moon

or the Full Hunger Moon, due to the harshweather conditions making hunting difficult.

It is a time of ice and dormancy; life appears low-key but animals begin feeling a quickening of theirsoon-to-be-born which will enter the world in the

Spring. The Earth too is quickening with newgrowth just below the surface. This is the time forplanning for the future. Magickal work should be

focused on personal growth, achievements andadvancements.

Correspondences include:

Deity: Brigid, Juno, Kuan Yin, Diana, Demeter,Persephone, Aphrodite

Colors: light blue, violetStones: Amethyst, Jasper, Rose QuartzTrees: Rowan, Laurel, Cedar, Myrtle

Herbs: Hyssop, Myrrh, Sage, SpikenardFlowers: Primrose

Element: FireAnimals: otter, chickadee, eagle, unicorn

. and Nature Spirits

Feb 2 New Moon, ImbolcFeb 11 First QuarterFeb 18 Full Moon in the zodiac sign of VirgoFeb 24 Last Quarter

The Full Moon in VirgoWhen the moon is in Virgo is typical to find

ourselves paying more attention to details andmay include being critical, analytical, diligent,rigorous, practical, etc, as well as favoring workas a whole, especially in requirements of skills,practical knowledge, precision, and diligence.

During this time, critics, proofreaders, printers,mathematicians, people who engage in thebusiness of details will find themselves beingeven more thorough; your boss will be mostthorough and looking for mistakes!

While the Moon is in Virgo, it is also a good timeto clean house, and communicating with your

families are desirable to avoid criticism. This isthe time where you can indulge in your hobby,especially if it relates to work or collecting.

When the moon moving into Virgo, the body willoccur cathartic processes and internal regulation.It is good to support these processes with dietand recovery. It is advisable to consume more

fresh foods during this time.

Feb.

February Moon Phases and Lore

By Rowan SilverMoon February Moon


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Bubble Bubble Toil and TroubleB Christine

Imbolc Incense/Oil Recipes:

Imbolc Incense 13 parts Frankincense

2 parts Dragon's Blood1/2 part Red Sandalwood

1 part Cinnamona few drops Red Wine

To this mixture add a pinch of the first

flower (dry it first) that is available inyour area at the time of Imbolc(February 2nd). Burn during

ceremonies on Imbolc, or simply toattune with the symbolic rebirth of the

Sun --- the fading of winter and thepromise of Spring.

Imbolc Oil5 drops Sandalwood

5 drops Vanilla extract6 drops Jasmine

2 drops BalsamMix with 2 tbsp. grape seed oil

Imbolc Incense 21 tsp. Basil

1 tsp. Bay1 tsp. Frankincense

1 tsp. Myrrh2 tsp. Rosemary

3 tsp. Cinnamon

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Safety Precautions for Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated substances

and should be

treated with care. A working knowledge of howto use these oils isnecessary in order that you are able to get the

most benefit fromthem without causing any harm. Here are a few

guidelines to ensure

safe and effective use of essential oils:

Use only 100% pure natural essential oils from

plants.

Keep oils tightly closed and out of the reach ofchildren. Never consume undiluted oils. Use only oils

approved for food use.

Do not use undiluted oils on the skin, dilute with

vegetable oil.There are a very few exceptions to this rule, for

example non-irritating oils like Lavender or TeaTree oils undiluted on burns, insect bites,

pimples and other minor skin eruptions so longas you do not have sensitive skin. You shouldalways do a skin test with an essential oil for

sensitivity. Many people who are sensitive orallergic to say synthetic fragrances will not be

sensitive to natural

oils. Do a patch test with a 2% dilution (with apure vegetable oil, I like Grape seed)in the crook of the arm; 12 hours will be ample

time to check for a

reaction. If redness or irritation occurs, try aweaker dilution (1%) or try alternative oil.


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Keep oils away from eyes and mucousmembranes.

If redness, burning, itching or irritation

occurs, stop using oilimmediately.

-If youre pregnant or have any other healthissues always check youre your doctor or alicensed Holistic Practionier before using

any Essential Oils.

-Many herbs and essential oils can be highlytoxic and could cause serious illness or even

death. Always check reputable source beforeusing.

Recommendations for Imboc:

Incense/Oil: Jasmine, rosemary,

frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, olive,sweet pea, basil, myrrh, and wisteria, apricot,

carnationHerbs: Angelica, basil, bay, benzoin,celandine, clover, heather, myrrh, all yellowflowers, willow.

Foods: Dairy, spicy foods, raisins, pumpkin,

sesame & sunflower seeds, poppyseed

bread/cake, honey cake, pancakes, waffles,herbal tea.

Pagan Puns

Imbolc Rum Cake(A bit of Humor)

Imbolc Rum Cake

1 or 2 quarts rum

baking powder1c. butter1tsp. soda

1tsp. sugar

lemon juice

2 large eggsbrown sugar

1c. dried fruit nuts

Before you start, sample the rum to check for

quality. Good, isn't it? Now go ahead.Select a large mixing bowl, measuring cup, etc.

Check the rum again. It must be just right.

To be sure rum is of the highest quality, pour

one level cup of rum into a

glass and drink it as fast as you can. Repeat.With an electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter in alarge fluffy bowl.

Add 1 seaspoon of thugar and beat again.

Meanwhile, make sure that the rum is of thefinest quality--

try another cup. Open second quart, ifnecessary.Meanwhile, make sure that the rum is of the

finest quality--try another cup. Open second quart, ifnecessary.

Add 2 arge leggs,2 cups fried druit and beat till high.

If druit gets stuck in beaters, just pry it loosewith a drewscriver.

Sample the rum again, checking fortonscisticity.

Next sift 3 cups of pepper or salt (it really

doesn't matter which).

Sample the rum again.

Sift 1/2 pint lemon juice.Fold in chopped butter and strained nuts.Add one babblespoon of brown thugar, or

whatever color you can find. Wix mell.Grease oven and turn cake pan to 350 gredees.

Now pour whole mess into the coven and ake.

Check the rum again, and bo to bed.


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Cailleach is arguably one of the most ancientGoddesses of the Celts. In fact she may even be apre-Celtic Goddess.Many historians have hypothesized that she mayhave been the earth Goddess of the originalinhabitants of Ireland, prior to their integrationwith the invading Celtic tribes. She is usuallydescribed as an old woman with white hair andblue skin. She was associated with a mountain in

Ireland called the Slieve na Calliagh. The Slieve naCalliagh is made up of jagged rocks which may bewhy she was sometime said to have very sharpteeth. Cailleach is best known as a Goddess of cold,winter, and darkness. She was also a Goddess ofstorms and during the winter months she was saidto ride through the air on the back of a wolf,bringing snow and ice to the world below.According to my Irish grandmother thunder is reallythe Cailleach sneezing! She also had a magickwand that she used to strike away any hints of

green on the winter landscape. While Cailleachseems like a dark figure she is a necessary side of theGoddess. She is destruction, the bareness of winter,she can bring chaos and change just as swiftly asshe can call up a winter blizzard, but we mustremember she also wears another face. On Imbolcthe Winter Hag melts away, transforming intoBrigid the Goddess of fire and inspiration.There are several legends as to how Cailleachstransformation into Brigid occurs. In Scotland itwas believed that each year Cailleach held theGoddess Brigid captive in a cave, preventing herradiant light and warmth to shine on the earth. Insome stories Cailleach turns to stone at the firstsigns of spring, and Brigid escapes bringing withher renewed fertility and warmth to the world. At

Samhain Cailleach awakes and captures Brigid,

Celtic Myth and Lore

B Dark Raven

At Imbolc we celebrate the first stirrings ofspring. It is a time of rebirth and new hope. Theearth begins to wake from its winter slumber, thesnow begins to melt, and the first green buds andshoots appear, bringing with them the promise ofspring. For most of us it is still bitterly coldoutside, and if you live in New England like mesnow still covers the ground. Its hard to imaginespring is just around the corner when you are stillshoveling snow from your driveway.

The transformation we witness each year is asacred one, one that plays out in the myth of theCelts, and in the way they viewed the Goddess.

During this time of year the myths of Cailleachand Brigid come to mind. While Cailleach, theWinter Hag, is churning the clouds above anddumping snow on my driveway, I know soon shewill transform into Brigid the lovely maiden ofspring. Each Imbolc we stand at the precipice, a

time of transformation, a time between times.Just as Cailleach transforms into Brigid so toocan we be inspired from their myths to transformourselves, to leave the old and no longer usefulbehind and to drink from the sacred well in orderto be renewed.


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once again holding her captive through the winter.In another version Cailleach travels to a magickal isle(sometimes said to be the Isle of Skye) where there is amiraculous Well of Youth. On Imbolc she drinks fromthe well and transforms into Brigid.

Cailleach and Brigids myths remind us how the Celtsdivided the year. Although we recognize four distinctseasons, the Celts generally divided their year in two,the dark and light half of the year. Although tripleGoddesses are prevalent in Celtic myths, dual or twofaced Goddesses are just as common. Cailleach andBrigid are two aspects of the same Goddess, theirchanging faces mirroring the changing of the seasons,and the way the Celts viewed theses seasonal cycles.At times these dual Goddesses appear as a Crone andMaiden, other times they are two sisters. We see thisin Aine and Grian, two Irish sister Goddesses, whoeach ruled half of the year. Whether we see theGoddess as Maiden, Mother and Crone, or as theWinter Crone and Spring Maiden, these two aspectsof the Goddess are intrinsically linked. The darknessof the Crone will always give way to the rebirth andnew beginning of the Maiden.

So if there is still snow in your driveway, rememberthat Cailleach is about to take adrink from that sacred well, soon she will bethe Goddess of spring. And as the earth around usbegins its transformation think about what you can

change in your own life. If you were to drink from theWell of Youth what transformation would you seek?

Below is a simple ritual I use each year to invokeCailleach and Brigids energies during Imbolc. Mayyou drink from the sacred well and be renewed!

Drinking from the Well of Transformation:

Brew a cup of your favorite tea or if you prefer use

wine. Take the cup to your sacred space. candles onthe altar.

Place two candles on your altar, one of eachside. Blue for Cailleach and a red candle forBrigid. Light the candles and place your cup in-between the two Take a few minutes to groundand center. See yourself in a small boat. Theboat glides soundlessly across the waves, and a

cold winter wind blows across you. Soon yourboat glides up to the isles shore and you steponto the green earth. Shaded by a grove of treesyou see an old stone well. The well waters shinewith their own light, and you know you havefound the Well of Youth. Take a few minutes toconsider what kind of transformation you wishto bring into your life. Are their old habits thatyou need to shed, new ventures you wish tostart? When you are ready you dip your handsinto the water and drink.

When you are ready take the cup in your handsand hold it over the altar, saying:

Cailleach, blue hag of winter,Churning storms and chaos in your wake,

Lady of thunder, winter, and cold,Drink now from the sacred well,

Bring transformation,And let me change as you do each year

Hold your hands over the cup. Visualize a

brilliant white light filling the cup, the light ofCailleach and Brigid, the light of new beginningsand transformation. Then take a sip of yourmagickal brew. Feel the blessings of Cailleachand Brigid filling you, revitalizing you, as theGoddess energies renew and awaken the eartheach spring. When you are ready say:

Like Cailleach I transform,I drink from the sacred well,

The darkness within transformed to new light,I shine like Brigid of the green mantle,

Renewed and transformed by the Goddess!

Pour the remaining liquid outside as an offeringto Cailleach and Brigid.

Documents

The Morrighanic Tradition Newsletter ezine Imbolc Issue 2011 our first issue