Imbolc Festival News - contents
- Sarah's New beginnings - how Orchard Barn is seeding itself
- Kaaren Whitney's Imbolc poem Endurance
- Coming soon .... Spring Equinox celebration at Mangreen, near Norwich
- Jackie's review and Sarah's photograph of new 'HEARTH' group - their first meeting at Imbolc at Sanctuary
- Andrea Gibbon's Imbolc poem Arise
- Winter Solstice 2006 Festival News
New beginnings - Orchard Barn
The Celtic Festival of Imbolc at the beginning of February heralds new beginnings and deepening clarification of our 'seed-intentions' for the year. The light of the sun grows, encouraging us to consciously radiate and shine our light. Imbolc is associated with Brigit, patroness of healing, midwifery, poetry, creativity and smith-craft. She can fuel us with courage to think and act boldly, and to step where we had previously feared to journey.
Sarah writes ..... 'Looking back to the quiet tides of Winter Solstice, I had been experiencinga lot of internal pressure to complete outstanding projects. It felt like there was something big in the air waiting for me, and I just had to clear the decks. Rather mistakenly I thought it was to be a greater involvement with CSV community radio and my own 'Live Life Lightly' Green radio programme. And that may still happen. But no, that wasn't what was seeding itself.
On Sunday 21st January, my son prompted me to view a derelect barn standing in 1.25 acres of even more derelect orchard. Instant excitement. If the guide price was anything to go by, it was affordable and an answer to a long held dream. Formal tenders had to be submitted by noon just 9 days later! Miraculously, I got my tender in with 54 minutes to spare. The angels were on the case. Thank-you so much to everyone who offered help, encouragement, support and much more. By the next morning I knew that my tender was the highest (by an amazingly small amount). Friday 2nd February (Imbolc) I visited the site with a good friend. In the midst of the undergrowth - the Healing Grove was waiting to be found. Orchard Barn and the Healing Grove were duly toasted with sloe gin from PJ's Goddess chalice. The new beginning that was being birthed there had begun. We blessed the land, and asked that the nature spirits and former community elders help guide the project.
Plans for the barn and land are developing, but essentially it is what has been dreaming itself into being for 10/15 years - a larger Sanctuary - a rural Holistic Health / Yoga Centre with grounds in which our growing community can meet, dance, meditate, mark and celebrate the festivals.
Things are flowing fast. My house is re-mortgaged. An eco-friendly architect appointed. Completion date is scheduled for the 20th February. Then what? Lots of bramble clearance so we can see what is actually there. Your help would be very welcome - whether it is chopping brambles, fire-tending, tea-making or hedge trimming. Will keep you posted, meanwhile here are a few photos ...
What of my 'seed-intention' for the year? My wish for this year and beyond is to radiate love to every cell of my being and throughout all that I do and am. AND to continue with my seed-intention for 2006 which was to develop heart-centred community. I am delighted with the way things are unfolding; the synchronicity and the timing are something else completely, and I shouldn't be surprised - this is LIVING THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR - the flow of Celtic Festivals - Celebrations - Nature - Community - Ceremony, and of conscious intent and allowing Nature to be our Educator.
Welcome home to the central hearth. With bright Spring Blessings to you all and the multitude of projects and seed-intentions that you are growing. If you have news that you would like posted here, email Sarah.
Please scroll down for Jackie's review of our new group HEARTH and Sarah's description of Heart-centred Council
Endurance
Winds whip sheltering snowdrops
clutching their cup like bonnets
as if needing a chin tie
not to be pummelled skyward.
After a half-moon cycle,
if the gusts have gone to ground,
white heads will open outward,
bobble in calmer currents.
Then should snow blanket the ground
they will blend comfortably,
know they will out last melting
as they announce Imbolc's light.
Kaaren Whitney
18th January 2007
Coming soon .......... Spring Equinox evening at Mangreen, near Norwich Friday 7.30pm 23rd March 2007
Spring Equinox with Sarah Partridge
Equal day. Equal night. Balance.
Poised to step into Spring.
Come and celebrate this Celtic Festival with us.
Awaken your Spring energy.
£6
To book telephone Anita Martin 01603 502228
Or visit www.souljourneyonline.co.uk
Review of HEARTH's first meeting to celebrate Imbolc on Sunday 4th February at Sanctuary
Jackie writes about our first gathering of 'HEARTH' - Imbolc 2007
'We met for the first 'HEARTH' gathering on Sunday 4 February and it was wonderful. Beginning with Ginger Wine to warm ourselves! Then smudging, with white sage and swan feather.
Sarah led the Heart Centered Council, which was powerful and beautiful. We sat in circle and spoke, if we felt moved to do so, opening to spirit and the Earth, to say anything which needed to be heard. This was not discussion time, but some comments naturally flowed on from something else said: Hearth, contains Heart….Hear…Art… and Earth.
Then we had lunch for one hour - so that everyone had a good long time to chat.
I then led a simple Imbolc Ceremony, in three parts:-
1) Sitting with an ice cube, reflecting on the thaw and new life, letting the ice melt and silently releasing/cleansing anything we wanted to.
2) Lighting candles around the circle, as a blessing to each one of us, with the words "Take a part of the light into yourself, that it may warm you on your journey"
3) Circling to receive a bulb, then planting it in a pot to take away, with spoken intentions for the future and watering it with the melted ice (optional).
We finished with one circle dance and a cuppa. (But not at the same time!!)
HEARTH feels, already, like a firm focal place where our community can gather, with changing fluidity, depending on who can make it along for each date.'
'HEARTH' - a place to connect with the spirit of Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas, Samhain
Andrea Gibbon's Imbolc poem Arise
Winter Solstice 2006 Festival News
wishing you much
IMBOLC
It's time for re-awakening
and stirring from the earth
of buds on trees
of birds and bees
after the winter of re-birth.
For the maiden of fertility
the young king of light
to bring back the spark of life
and colours; oh, so bright.
The goddess moon still shines
on cold, but shorter nights
and longer days begin again
as the sun-king reaches planetary heights.
We are here to realise our dreams
and sow seeds we hold so dear
and gather inspiration
for visions throughout the year.
To initiate the clearing
of the unwanted and the old
to meditate and to pray
of which we must be bold.
So we worship the elements
close to our hearts, you can tell
and the sacred flowing waters
that run to helly-wells.
The air we breathe
the earth we tread
the fires of life
and spirits of dead.
At last we can breathe again
the deepest, freshest breath we can
that Imbolc has delivered
since the earth began.
Andrea Gibbons 2006
Community
contributions?
Do you have any writings, poems, photographs, ideas on how to celebrate Imbolc or the other festivals that you would like to contribute to this site?
If so, please
contact Sarah
