Cat’s Morning Bits for January 31, 2020 “Imbolc Edition”
Good Morning Beautiful Souls, grab a cup of your favorite morning brew and start things off with “Today’s Inspirations”. I hope you find something here that will make you feel good or help you on your path today.
Blessings, Cat
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“Candlemas’ is the Christianized name for the holiday, of course. The older Pagan names were Imbolc and Oimelc. ‘Imbolc’ means, literally, ‘in the belly’ (of the Mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings. The seed that was planted in her womb at the solstice is quickening and the new year grows. ‘Oimelc’ means ‘milk of ewes’, for it is also lambing season. The holiday is also called ‘Brigit’s Day’, in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit. At her shrine, the ancient Irish capitol of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses (no men allowed) kept a perpetual flame burning in her honor. She was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry and healing (especially the healing touch of
midwifery).”
– Daven’s Journal – Imbolic
gardendigest.com
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Pagan Library: Bulb Planting Earth Chant by Eileen
breath of the stone is strange to me
i know it lives as i can’t see
force of the earth is strong and free
sustenance and beauty be
born of the stars and sprang from the ground
Mother, Goddess all around
Wheel must turn as the seasons show
what lies dead shall surely grow.
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ThoughtCo: Smooring the Fire—A Prayer to Brighid
Alexander Carmichael was a folklorist and author who spent nearly five decades traveling around the highlands of Scotland collecting stories, prayers and songs. His most noteworthy work, the Carmina Gadelica, is an interesting blend of early Pagan tradition mixed with the influences of Christianity. Smooring the Fire is from Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica, published 1900, and is a Gaelic hymn to Brighid, honoring the tradition of smooring, or dampening, the hearth fire at night, and particularly on the night before Imbolc.
An Tri numh (The sacred Three)
A chumhnadh, (To save,)
A chomhnadh, (To shield,)
A chomraig (To surround)
An tula, (the hearth)
An taighe, (The house,)
An teaghlaich, (The household,)
An oidhche, (This eve,)
An nochd, (This night,)
O! an oidhche, (Oh! this eve,)
An nochd, (This night,)
Agus gach oidhche, (And every night,)
Gach aon oidhche. (Each single night.)
Amen.
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Brigid’s Cross
At Imbolg, the Maiden aspect of the Goddess might be represented in a great variety of ways — by a simple ear of dried corn, a figure made of grain at Lughnasadh, or straws or wheat braided into an intricate design. One representation of the Goddess is Brigid’s Cross. Although the original design may well have been made from rushes, wheat versions have been recreated for centuries. Make a cross for each room in the house to invite the blessings of the Goddess into them.
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Patheos: Brighid the Dawn Goddess of Imbolc and Spring
The Goddess Brighid is one of the oldest and most popular Celtic deities. She is a paragon meaning that she is used as a standard to live up to or for mortals to be compared with.
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Today’s DIY: Imbolc Craft–Frozen Earth Cups
Crafting a take-home ritual for Imbolc celebration attendees.
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The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Groundhog Day 2020
Groundhog Day Forecast, History, Folklore, and More
Groundhog Day comes from our agricultural past and marks the halfway point to the spring equinox. Here are the facts and folklore about Groundhog Day. It’s much more than a wacky weather prediction from a plump marmot!
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Patheos- Raise The Horns: A Solitary Imbolc Ritual
I’ve always loved the quiet nature of Imbolc. As someone who first discovered Witch- craft in the American Midwest, early February was always a time of cold, snow, and at least another month of winter. But despite the cold, Imbolc always spoke to me of pos- sibilities.
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EarthSky News: See Mercury beneath Venus at dusk
Live in the Northern Hemisphere? If so and you’ve never seen the planet Mercury – or even if you have – take advantage of your golden opportunity to see Mercury after sunset these next few weeks. February 2020 showcases a good evening apparition of Mercury at northerly latitudes.
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Patheos-Pagan: Imbolc Sabbat Index: Craftings, Cleansings, and Rituals for a Witch’s High Winter
Imbolc (im’-molk), is the Witch’s grand sabbat of High Winter. I celebrate the peak of the winter season when the sun reaches 15 degrees Aquarius, which falls sometime during the first week of February.
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Inner Journey:
Capture your inspiration!
“Ideas can come from anywhere and at any time. The problem with making mental notes is that the ink fades very rapidly.”
— Rolf Smith
Insights and inspiration come to us for a reason. Don’t let them disappear on you!
When a great idea pops into your mind, write it down and capture it. Keep a mini-journal or piece of paper with you at all times.
Reflect on your insights. How might you anchor this great idea so it enhances your life?
“Everyone who has ever taken a shower has had an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it that makes a difference.”
— Nolan Bushnell
higherawareness.com
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A Note from the Universe
When you don’t know what you want it’s probably time to begin enjoying what you have.
You’ve done so well for yourself,
The Universe
tut.com
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Recipes for a Pagan Soul: Imbolc
Food and drink: Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, poppyseed cakes, muffins, scones, breads, all dairy products, peppers, onions, garlic, raisins, spiced wines and herbal teas, chives, curries, honey, and lamb
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Magical Correspondences for Imbolc
Date: February 2
Names: Imbolc, Candlemas, Imbolg, Oimealg, Brigids Festival of Lights, Lupercus
Colors: White, Yellow, Orange, Red or Light Blue
Herbs: Bay, Basil, Benzoin, Angelica, Myrrh, Blackberry, Heather, Iris, Violet
Sacred Stones: Bloodstone, Amethyst, Turquoise, Garnet, Onyx
Deities: Brigid, Ceres, Demeter, Dagda, Cerridwen, Eros, All virgin goddesses/gods of love and fertility.
Food & Drink: Dairy products, raisins, creamy soups, olives, leeks/shallots. White wine, milk, soy milk or water
Symbols: Ploughs and garden tools, brooms, candles, yellow flowers, Brigids crosses, Bride dolls.
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Daily Wisdom
January 30, 2020
Beginnings & Endings
“Every exit is… an entrance somewhere else.”
-Tom Stoppard
This sounds like an optimistic way of looking at things. It’s the same as “when one door closes, another one opens.” But it’s so true. Look at the opportunities that arise when something ends. All that energy has to go somewhere – so new situations and circumstances are created. It’s exciting! Change is good. Beginnings are good.
-Lissa Coffey
coffeytalk.com
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Daily Tarot: The Magician
You have a magic touch today. The right word or action at the right time can instantly turn things around and morph a challenge into an easy opportunity. This is not something to take for granted or to exploit, though. Use your power with a very light touch, if at all. It’s possible that a mere thought or unspoken intention could have influence.
astrology.com
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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily posts are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.
I invite you to check out my websites!
The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/
Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! https://thedesertpath.com
Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/
The Desert Path 
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