We celebrate Imbolc last night. It was very beautiful to share this with my daughter F. A is still to young and was sleeping when we did our ritual. I will say it again it was just beautiful, F was amazing. She did well with sitting still and visualizing what I told her to. She is turning 7 in March and I can see the changes happening now. This is her drawing of Bridget, she has fire hair and is helping the plants grow.
The day before Imbolc we had our weekly co-op group come over. We listened to a story about Bridget from PookaPages . Then we drew a picture about a wish or intention we would like to come true this spring. F first drew a picture of money "for mommy" she said, then of a chihuahua. She really wants her own dog. Then we got a flower pot of earth and placed a flower bulb ,with our wishes, inside the pot. Then we covered it with earth. I wish I would have gotten photos of this, but I was busy spending time with everyone and directing the project. The night of Imbolc we placed a candle in the pot and did a small ritual to visualize our wishes.
I had F first relax an clear her mind using the Peaceful Piggy technique, as she likes to call it. Then I told her to imagine a circle on the ground, around us and the table, that this circle was to keep out anything bad or negative and only let in the good and positive. Then we pictured the elements in our mind; the earth which we stand on and grows trees and food for us. The air and sky which has the clouds and birds and give us breath. The water which we swim and drink to feel good. Then the fire, which we respect, that gives us warmth, is the sun, and cooks our food. Last spirit which is our heart and brings love and joy to us and those we love. Then we pictured the goddess Bridget and asked her to watch over us.
It helped that we had read stories from Circle Round and the one from co-op, in order to visualize her. We then looked into the flame and imagined our wishes coming true and that spring would come a little sooner. We sat thinking about this for a few minutes. When F was ready we thanked the goddess for listening to our wishes. Then we thanked the earth, air, water, and fire for all the things they do for us. That we live by them and thank you. Then F wanted to just cuddle up in my lap and stare at the flame talking to Bridget. She was precious. She asked me all day, "when is Bridget coming" I guess she took this as her coming. Which is not what I was intending, but exactly what a ritual is about.
I took a photo opportunity of her cuddling. After she was done, we opened the circle by picturing it blowing away. Then we read the book Annie and The Wild Animals. It's about a little girl, set in winter, who's cat goes missing and she is trying to befriend other wild animals to be her new pet. Untill spring comes and ... shh spoiler.... The cat comes back with kittens.
I feel so blessed to be able to finally be able to share this with my daughter. She is at a the age where she is questioning "magic" she sees in movies or books and wants to know the real stuff. I explained to her magic is like wishing, we sit and think about something we really want. Like spring to come, a friend to feel better, ourselves to feel better, something we need or even want. This was the perfect first ritual to introduce "real" magic to her.
