Week 4: Holy Day Recap (Imbolc part 2)

Write up for the Imbolc ritual held 2/2/2014.  I'll turn this into a proper essay next week, when I'm less stressed about it.

From Ci:

Our omens for the rite were: 
Ancestors: Sail, or the Willow. The Ancient Ones are speaking, through the stream of time, and bless us with their wisdom if we are willing to listen.
Spirits: Onn, or Foundation and the Wheel. The Noble Ones bless us with stability and forward motion, and remind us that we are supported by the Earth even when the Earth itself trembles.
Deities: Coll and Iphin, or the Hazel and Honey. The Shining Ones bless us with the sweetness of life, and remind us that wisdom is not only found in adversity. Trust them and embrace the joy they offer.

From Magical Alphabets, by Nigel Pennick:

[Sail] is an ogham of linking, a watery symbolism which brings itself into harmony with the flow of events, most notably the phases of the moon... In divination, its power is greater at night than in the daytime, except when the moon is visible during the day.  Its power fluctuates with the cycle of the moon's phases... Esoterically, this eminent flexibility demonstrates [Sail]'s harmonious amenability to the conditions to which it is subjected. (page 134)

[Onn] is a plant which can be found in flower in almost every month of the year.  Thus it is an ogham of continuous fertility... Magically, [Onn] represents the collecting together and retaining of one's strength through adversity. (page 143) 

Coll... signifies the hazel tree...  In Viking times, hazel poles were used to delimit the sacred enclosures known as the hoslur, or hazeled field, in which formal combat took place.  Both in single combat, holmganga, and in full-scale formal battles between armies, the area for battle was distinguished from the normal world of everyday by hazel posts which formed a magical boundary around it. (page 137)

Book does not include Iphin (or at least, nothing that translates to Honey and nothing spelled anything approaching that). 

Write-up time!  I'll go through and turn this into a proper essay at some point, but now is not the time for that.

"How did the rite go in terms of structure? Who were the patrons of the rite, and who was the gatekeeper?"

We followed the Core Order of Ritual, substituting in the appropriate deities.  Earth Mother was Danu`, Gatekeeper: Manannan; Deity of the Occasion: Brigid. 

What things went wrong during the ritual? What things went right? 

No big foul ups.  being indoors always causes a problem with the offering to the outdwellers, but we managed.  We also couldn't have real fire (libraries are unfortunate that way).  But other than that, we pretty much did ok.  Had the right offerings to the right beings and nothing got screwed up too horribly.

Did you have problems with saying the words without stumbling, or did everything come out smoothly? 

I was only in charge of the offering to the Shining Ones.  For once, I didn't really stumble over the words.  Which probably has more to do with the lack of Deity names than any particular talent on my part.  There is just something about celtic names that cause me all sorts of trouble (probably because the monks who wrote down the assorted forms of Gaelic were drunk and/or high, but whatever).  I do probably need to to pick up one of my Celtic mythology books and re-figure out how to pronounce names.

Did you forget to bring a sacrifice? 

We had all the sacrifices we needed.  As soon as i figure out if there is a particular deity calling me, I'll start bringing a sacrifice for hir.  I do think I should probably put together a ritual back up kit that just lives in my car that contains things like a bowl to act as the well,  a gallon of apple cider or some other juice for offerings, incense, a lighter, that sort of thing.

Were you alone, or with a group? If you were with a group, did you say anything or do anything?

Group ritual with the Grove.  I did the offering to the Shining Ones. I need to get more comfortable with the idea/ presence/ whatever of the out dwellers.  but i'll get there.  Particularly since the Norse do have out dwellers that do need to be placated?

Now, for the not so easy part: how did the rite go in terms of function and feeling? Did you feel anything during the ritual? Did you experience doubt or confidence? Can you describe what happened? If you were with a group, what did the other people say about what happened? What omens were drawn (if any), and what did they tell you? Could you feel the presence of any deities, spirits, or powers? What else about the rite struck you, or do you want to share?

One of my... issues?  although that might be too strong of a word... with the Core Order of Ritual is that it doesn't feel like it's honoring the deity of the occasion enough.  I don't know if that's a grove thing, a me thing, or what.  It's more than possible that I'm expecting the wrong thing.  And I definitely need to work through it, even if working through it means that my personal devotions take that spot.

Once more, my discomfort with the outdwellers needs to be worked on.  I think it stems from my discomfort at inviting the attention of /any/ deity.  It's not a prevalent in celtic and norse mythology, but certainly in the mythologies of my youth, attracting the attention of God/Gods/Goddesses was death sentence.  Nothing pleasant ever happens to those who attract personal attention.

Omens, as interpreted by my current experience, are:
Ancestors: Gma Treva telling me I'll get through this.  Dad's right, I am feeling much the same way she did when Bill left.  But she did pretty good after Bill left and I'll do pretty good after Jon is out of my life.  I just need to trust zen.

Spirits: the foundation is solid, even if it doesn't feel like it.  I need to trust it and fly.  

Shining Ones: Joy is a type of wisdom as well.  Life carries on, and with it, the joy of creation.  Not only the despair of destruction.