Spinning
the Wheel of BrigitAna
Sabbat Rituals
for Solitary Use
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here for Goddess Group Sabbat Gatherings
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It is not always convenient to participate in an open gathering,
or some people prefer to mark the turn of the
Wheel of the Year alone. With this in mind we provide,
for your pleasure, eight simple rituals honoring the Goddess
as She journeys through the seasons.
For all rituals take a few moments to
still yourself. Light a candle. Sit and visualise a blue globe
surrounding you for protection and visualise this globe as
your magic circle.
|
Samhain
31st October
Kerridwen's Festival of the Crone |
Samhain
is the end of the Celtic year, the end of the growth period
and the beginning of the process of restitution or death.
The leaves are falling and the earth Mother is preparing to
withdraw natures energies, She is embarking on Her journey
as the beautiful and wise old Crone.
It is a time for reflection
and repose. It is a time to review and to look back at your
own personal harvests. It is a time to rest and go within.
It is also the time of year when the veils are thin between
this world and the hidden worlds.
Standing facing the North
West call to Kerridwen.
"Kerridwen, Wise Crone
Mother, Mother of bone and stone, Cutter of Ties, join me
and watch over my rites this Samhain night." Visualise
Kerridwen coming into your circle and say.
"I breath you in, hail and welcome Kerridwen"
GOING WITHIN
Spend some time in candle light, watch the flames flicker
and allow yourself to become still inside. Breathe deep and
close your eyes. Now visualise yourself at the mouth of a
cave, it is dark and as you enter all around becomes dark
and cool. At the back of the cave is a small still point of
light, it begins to grow into a fire, you approach. Sitting
by the fire is an older woman. She wears a necklace of bones
and has long flowing white hair. She is scary at first until
you look into her eyes and see that she is wise beyond time.
Now sit with her, watch her actions and listen to her words.
You may also like
to remember those who have passed beyond the veil at this
time. Loved ones and relatives who have been through the death
process and given up their physical form. Light a candle in
their honor and leave them a cake and a warming brew.
When you are ready to close
your ritual begin by thanking Kerridwen for her presence and
slowly bring yourself back to normal waking state. |
Winter
Solstice (21st/22nd December)
Arianhrod's Fesital of Air at Yule |
| Standing
facing North call to Arianhrod.
"Arianhrod of the Silver Wheel, Mother of Air I call
to you, join me and watch over my rites this Solstice day/night/eve"
Visualise Arianhrod coming into your circle.
"I breath you in, hail and welcome Arianhrod"
Now simply sit in the stillness
of the Winter Solstice energies, it is a time to look inwards
and reflect. To think about the inner life, the stillness
of your Soul and the mysteries of this earthly existence.
When you are finished you may wish to write down any thoughts
or inspiration.
When you are ready. Thank Arianhrod and bid Her farewell.
Then blow out your candle and declare your circle closed.
Other Yule suggestions: create a Yule log, visit a
windy wild place, write your worries on paper, dance over
them and tear them up and scatter them to the four winds.
|
Brigid's
Festival of the Maiden of Light at Imbolc
(1st February) |
| For
this ritual gather many candles around you as Imbolc is the
festival of first light brought back after winter by Brigid.
Leave the candles unlit until you have called in the Goddess.
Standing facing Northeast call to Brigid.
"Brigid, Maiden, Healer, Swan Goddess, my Inspiration
I call to you, join me and watch over my rites this Imbolc
day/night/eve. Come and rekindle my fires Lady of the Smithy"
Visualise Brigid coming into your circle and as She does
begin to light your candle saying.
"I breath you in, hail and welcome Brigid"
Now write
a poem or a story dedicated to yourself expressing all that
you have carried through Winter, your thoughts, fears, anything
at all that springs to mind. Ask Brigid for inspiration in
the coming months as the light gathers and the seeds of your
life begin to grow. When you've finished, fold the letter/poem
up and place it somewhere unusual to be found again at a later
date.
When you are ready. Thank Brigid and bid Her farewell. Then
blow out your candles and declare your circle closed.
Other Imbolc
suggestions: Create a Bridie doll or a Bridie
cross from last years corn. Write all your dreams and desires
down on separate pieces of paper and plant them in the earth
imagining they are seeds - then sit back and watch them grow!
|
Spring
Equinox (21st/22nd March)
Artha's Festival of Fire at Ostara |
| For
this ritual gather anything golden around you such as cloth,
candles, clothing. You will also need some good dancing music!
Standing East call to Artha.
"Artha, Great She Bear, Mother of Fire I call to you,
join me and watch over my rites this Ostara day/night/eve.
Come and strengthen my courage"
Visualise Artha coming into your circle saying.
"I breath you in, hail and welcome Artha"
Start your music and for a
moment allow your body to be still. Be totally in your body
with your eyes closed and think for a minute of the things
in your life you fear and worry about. Now slowly begin the
dance first moving your head and shoulders, then hands and
hips, then feet and legs until your whole body is dancing
and moving. Allow your body the freedom to do as it wishes.
As you do this imagine you are dancing away your fear, stamping
them out with your feet and flicking them away with you hands.
Then begin to take deep, deep breaths and visualise a golden
light which represents pure courage. Now dance and breath
this in!
When you are ready. Thank Artha and bid Her farewell. Then
blow out your candles and declare your circle closed.
Other Ostara suggestions: Make plans for the coming
months, Ostara is a great time to plan as the day is in balance
with the light and all of nature growing so now is a time
for your to write down your growth plans! |
Rhiannon's
Festival of Love at Beltaine
(1st May) |
| For
this ritual dress in reds and pinks and surround yourself
with beautiful things such as flowers, scents, crystals and
have in front of your a mirror as big as you dare!
Standing in the Southeast call to Rhiannon.
"Rhiannon, Lady of my Heart and Soul, come fill me
with your love this Beltaine day/night/eve. Come ride to me
on your White Mare and charge me with your love"
Visualise Rhiannon coming into your circle saying.
"I breath you in, hail and welcome Rhiannon"
Now sit in front of the mirror
and declare your love for yourself! Talk to yourself in the
mirror and tell yourself how wonderful you are, tell yourself
of al your qualities and strengths, really go to town with
your love making! Such words as "I love you" may
start you off if you find this difficult.
When you are ready. Thank Rhiannon and bid Her farewell. Then
blow out your candles and declare your circle closed.
Other Beltaine suggestions: Do something fun and childish
to express the Maiden within you. Make love with your loved
one. Wash your face in the morning dew. Light a candle and
make a wish for a new love to come into your life. |
Domnu's Festival of Water at Litha, the Summer Solstice, around
21st June. |
For this ritual dress in
blues or turquoise, the colours of the ocean and waters. You
may want to do this outdoors by a river, waterfall, lake or
the sea. You will need, a bowl of
water and a water soluable pen and paper.
Standing in the South
call to Domnu, Mother of Water.
"Domnu, Lady of the Lake, Mother of Water and going
with the flow. Mistress of my emotions, the turbulance of
the crashing waves and the stillnes of the mirror lake, come
unto me this Summer Solstice."
Visualise Domnu coming into your circle saying.
"I breath you in, hail and welcome Domnu."
Now think about the ever changing
seasons of the year at this the midpoint of the year. Bring
to mind all the lessons you have thus far recieved and write
them on your paper including all the emotions and any upheavals
you went through. Really let them go give them over to Domnu
to take away, remembering always that your emotions are valid,
they are a tool to be used to help you overcome difficulties
and learn. We can become too trapped by our emotions we have
always to let them lead us to a new place. Now place the paper
in the water (if placing in river or sea make sure its bio-degradable!)
and say "I give this up to you Domnu, to make way for
abundance and the ripenning of my Harvest. Wash all away."
Now spend a few minutes thinking
about the promise of your abundant harvests yet to come.
When
you are ready. Thank Domnu and bid Her farewell, give her
an offering of your love, then declare your circle closed. |
KerRhiannon's
Festival of Abundance at Lammas,
1st August |
For
this ritual wear golds, yellows and whites. You will need,
three ears of corn, a ribbon and time to think.
Standing in the Southwest
call to Ker, the Great Goddess as Harvest Mother.
"Ker, Mother of the Corn, Mother Goddess of abundance
and growth. Mistress of my harvest, come unto me this Lammas
day/eve/night."
Visualise Ker coming into your circle saying.
"I breath you in, hail and welcome Ker."
The three ears of corn represent
your past, present and future. think about the harvests you
have reaped, those you wish to let go of, those you are thankful
for and those yet to come. Our harvests can be financial,
emotional, spiritual or mental harvests. Lammas is the first
harvest and a time to give thanks and to cut down the fruits
of our labours. Now bind the corn with the ribbon, binding
in as you do so all your wishes and best intentions for now,
all of your dreams and seed thoughts for the furture, and
all that belonged to your past that you have to be thankful
for.
Now spend a few minutes thinking
about the abundance in your life.
When you are ready. Thank
Ker and bid Her farewell, give her an offering of your love,
then declare your circle closed. |
| Brigantia's Festival
of Earth at Mabon, the Autumn Equinox around 21st September. |
For this ritual wear earthy
tones of orange and brown. You will need, a path to follow,
be it in your local park, a woodland, hillside or in your
city.
Standing in the West call
to Brigantia Gaia, the Great Earth Mother.
"Brigantia Gaia, Mother
of Earth, Mother of sticks and stones, mud and good green
grass. Mistress of my body, come unto me this Mabon day/eve/night."
This is a meditation of connection
to the Earth and all you need to do is to say or sing this
traditional Goddess chant to yourself to bring the Earth Mother
into your body. This will help you stay grounded and connected
to Her, body and soul as the wheel of the year turns
"Mother I fee you under
my feet, Mother I hear your heartbeat".
When you get to the end of
your path and when you are ready, thank Brigantia and bid
Her farewell, give her an offering of your love, then declare
your walk over.
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