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"Moon Over First
Snow"
painting by Karri Alrich
Visit the Allrich
Studio at
http://www.c4.net/allrichstudios/
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The
Goddess at Imbolc
By Karri Allrich
The crows are noisy this
winter morning, their blue black wings
impressive
against the snow. It's cold and overcast, with a
low gray sky. Still, I smile. In
a few days it will be Imbolc, that welcome turn in
the year's wheel that promises
spring. Living in New England gives me a very
tangible sense of the seasons,
and for that I am grateful. The changing guise of
the Goddess continues to stun
me; the beauty of each time of year speaks to my
very soul. I am not a hardy
person who weathers the colder temperatures all
that well, and I have dreamed
about living in warmer climes, I admit. But somehow
I find that I need the
lessons each season teaches us. I need them in a
concrete experiential way. The
Goddess is not subtle here in New England. Each
turn of the wheel brings its silent
sermon and truth, if we simply take the time to pay
attention.
By February the days are
noticeably longer. The long night moon of December
is
now waxing a lovely crescent in the late winter
sky. I watch her elegant form
and breathe in the promise she emanates. Imbolc is
the feast of quickening.
The moment of snow drops pushing through the frozen
crust reveal the earth's
power for renewal. Beneath her mantle of snow the
Goddess is stirring. She
sparkles in her shimmering white, as pure as the
quintessential virgin bride.
Expectancy is in the air as our bodies stretch and
yearn toward the promise
of spring. The sun's warmth is returning to awaken
us from stasis and call forth
the Green Man, that urgent primal force of the
forest, that lover of our beautiful
Goddess. The promise of their dance is the seed
sown at Imbolc.
Light a candle in a bowl of
ice and snow to celebrate the Sun's returning
warmth,
and melt away winter's grounding. Unfreeze your
heart and spirit and welcome the returning life
energy of longer days and higher moons. I always
celebrate with
food, and Imbolc is a favorite time for stirring up
energy in the kitchen. Think
about the Bride of Imbolc as your inspiration. Play
with the themes of white,
and the think of the Celtic Goddess Muse, Brigid.
How will she inspire your cooking? Potatoes seem
very appropriate. As do winter pears and snowy
cheeses. Perhaps a
pasta with all white vegetables? Have fun playing
with ingredients and be sure
to share your culinary creations with someone you
love.
Recipes
for Imbolc
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