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A Druid's Web Log - Imbolc 2012 - the Festival of Brighid
February marks the appearance of the first fires of spring. It becomes obvious that the days are growing longer as the sun sets later and later. Already my evening commute is in full sun; just a month ago I was driving home in the dark.
For the Celts it was a month sacred to Brighid, the Goddess of Poetry, Smith craft and Healing. A Mother Goddess she was associated with the cows and sheep. In the old days there were no super markets and you had to wait until the ewes began to lactate before fresh milk could be had once again. Once the milk appeared it was cause for a feast and a celebration.
The Christian church adopted the festival and re-named it “Candle mass”. Everyone would bring their candles to the church to be blessed.
Modern Wiccans have adopted February 1 as the day of “Imbog” (in the bag), a day to honor Brighid. I did place a basket of “clooties” (little strips of cloth to be tied to a sick person or animal throughout the year) on my doorstep on that night for Brighid to bless as she went by. But the astronomical Imbolg actually falls on February 4 this year (midway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox).
It gets complicated.
I asked the local farmers what day the sheep give birth in this part of New England and they said around February 15. The sheep start to give milk again about 3 days before they deliver their lambs, so the milk festival in my area should properly be observed on or around February 12!
I plan to observe the festival of Brighid with some local folk on the 11th.
Here are some links to more details about this all-important Celtic milk festival;
Imbolc is here!
http://www.llewellyn.com/blog/2012/01/the-festival-of-imbolc/
A song of Brighid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt6N0WNJKjo
A Brigit beneath ar sét - O Brighid, bless our road!
http://shrineofbrighid.com/
On a more secular note I was priviledged to attend OCCUPY CINEMA a few days ago. It was a collage of films made by Occupy Wallstreet supporters. Six hundred folks showed up in this relatively rural area and everyone left energized and uplifted.
The most interesting thing I learned from the films was what happened in Spain recently. Apparently Progressives lobbied to have "none of the above" added to their presidential ballot. "None of the Above" got more votes than any candidate. But because Progressives refused to vote the most right wing candidate got in. Very sad situation now for Spanish workers, students, and the poor.
It is very important that everyone vote this fall. Even if a candidate seems less than perfect.
Some upcoming gigs where you will find me;
PANTHEACON, SAN JOSE, CA
The 18th Annual PantheaCon will be held Feb. 17 - 20, 2012
(President's Day Weekend) at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, CA
http://pantheacon.com/wordpress/
I will be speaking on Scottish magic, herbs and Fairy lore.
Spring 2012
AGAWAM PUBLIC LIBRARY, MA
Monday, March 19, 2012
I will discuss the new novel PRIESTESS OF THE FIRE TEMPLE: A DRUID'S TALE and my other books and I will have books for signing.
750 Cooper St., Agawam, MA. 7 PM (413) 789-1550
HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, MA
Thursday April 19, 2012
I will be speaking on Celtic Gods and Goddesses and signing books.
7 East Main Street, Huntington, MA. 01050 5:30 PM
(413) 667-8847
LITERARY NEWS
The Hobbit in Gaelic
http://www.evertype.com/books/hobad.html
The next book in the Priestess of the Forest trilogy is already available
for pre-order here;
http://www.amazon.com/Priestess-Fire-Temple-Druid-Tale/dp/0738729256/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1318541331&sr=1-6
PRIESTESS OF THE FIRE TEMPLE: A DRUID'S TALE actually comes out March, 2012
MUSICAL NEWS
Irish festival comes to Portland, Oregon
Featuring the Irish language, sean-nos singing, sean-nos dancing and Irish
music.
What: 5th Annual Sean-nós Northwest Festival
When: February 17th, 18th & 19th 2012
Where: Multnomah Village, Portland, OR
Tickets: $35 daily pass, $60 weekend pass
Website: www.seannos.org
ARCHAOLOGY NEWS
A Roman city in Wales
http://www.forest-and-wye-today.co.uk/featuresdetail.cfm?id=4432
GoogleEarth - seeing under Stonehenge
http://blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk/seeing-beneath-stonehenge/
Was King Arthur buried in Scotland?
http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/local-headlines/hobby_historian_claims_king_arthur_in_yarrow_grave_1_2036581
More...
http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2012/01/05/scottish-stone-holds-key-to-holy-grail-of-arthurian-legend-claims-historian/
More evidence
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/a/arthur.html
How the ancient Irish cooked deer, fish...
http://www.stonepages.com/news/archives/004678.html
Orkney's Stone Age Temple
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01971gm
Ancient Celtic Art
http://www.uni-due.de/DI/Architecture_Art.htm
For those on Facebook, this site has lovely photographs
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150542524576178.394818.260446741177&type=3
ANTHROPOLOGY NEWS
SCIENTISTS PINPOINT AREA NATIVE AMERICANS CAME FROM
http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-genetic-footprints-africa.html
RELIGION NEWS
More weird religious views from the GOP
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/28/hindus-sikhs-muslims-blast-rick-santorum_n_1237932.html
The Mayan elders speak about 2012
http://www.seri-worldwide.org/id435.html
Christians abuse Pagan children, secular activists
http://pncminnesota.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/quick-response-by-local-school-over-pagan-necklace/
One small victory for a Pagan school child
http://pncminnesota.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/quick-response-by-local-school-over-pagan-necklace/
Death threats sent to woman who opposed Bible give away in school
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120121/NEWS/301210018/School-Bible-giveaway-protester-reports-threats?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage
Catholic leaders urge Gingrich and Santorum to stop bashing the poor
http://www.floridaindependent.com/65318/newt-gingrich-rick-santorum-catholics-to-stop-perpetuating-ugly-racial-stereotypes
NATURE NEWS
Solar flares heating up. Get ready....
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/story/2012-01-28/solar-flare-northern-lights/52824828/1
How to make dandelion coffee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8WiuYyk_vXM
Singing plants
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZaokNmQ4eY
Tree rings played as music
http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/2083-tree-rings-sound-record-player.html?utm_content=LLMysteries&utm_campaign=seo+blitz&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social+media#.TxiOMaWgzc8.facebook
Bristish Campaigner urges UN to accept "ecocide" as a crime
http://m.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/09/ecocide-crime-genocide-un-environmental-damage?cat=environment&type=article
ART NEWS
View the Sistine Chapel in Rome, drag your mouse around for a panoramic view
http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html
May Brighid bless your house, your kin and your cattle! |
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