Imbolc: February 2005

Transcription

N e w s l e t t e r
volume 3, issue 3
In this issue: Winter Reflections
Winter Reflections ............ 1
Yogic Candle-Gazing
Exercise (Trataka) ............. 2
An Imbolc Altar ................ 3
White-Tailed Deer: Return
to Gentleness .................... 5
Crossword Puzzle ............. 7
Photos from Japan ............ 8
Websites: Arts & Crafts ... 9
Word-Search Puzzle........ 11
About Us ......................... 12
by Ben Gruagach
he sky is clear and the sun is shining this frigid winter day. As I
walk across the snow it makes a scrunching sound, like the sound
you get when two pieces of Styrofoam rub together. The air is so
crisp it makes me hypersensitive of my nose, nasal cavities, and lungs
as I draw in a breath. The White Lady and old Jack Frost clearly have a
hold on the land this time of year.
T
Winter is often a time when we stay inside more. Itʼs always more comfortable to be snuggled in where itʼs warm while the air outside is nippy.
Itʼs good to get outside, though, and experience the season first hand.
Feel the touch of the Goddess and God on your skin, even though itʼs
not something we can endure for very long.
Existence is all about cycles moving from one thing to another and then
back again. Winter becomes Spring, which becomes Summer with its
extreme heat, and then things cool down into Autumn and Winter again.
It is the dance of life, death, and rebirth. To appreciate the pleasant
weather, we need to learn to respect the times when the weather might
not be to our liking. Itʼs better to face things directly and try to learn
from them rather than pretend they donʼt exist and then be devastated
if we are ever forced into a confrontation. We humans might think we
are all-powerful but in the end we are just animals living in a dynamic
ecosystem along with every other animal.
The Pagan celebration of Imbolc, Christianized as Candlemas, is a
reminder that even in the depths of Winter there are always seeds of
hope. The nights might be long and dark, but the sunlight is starting to
increase as we creep towards Spring. Candles and fireplaces are tiny
reminders of the ever-living flame of the sun that will dominate our
world when Summer comes. The dark and cold are just shadows cast by
the ever-present light. Light and dark twirl in a never-ending dance that
takes three hundred and sixty-five and one-quarter days to complete one
circuit. Blink, and itʼs dark. Blink, and itʼs light again.
During the cold and dark, we retreat into the warmth of our homes to
wait for warmer times. This is a natural time of year to turn inwards,
to ponder deep thoughts, to re-evaluate our lives and actions. Imbolc
celebrates the first stirrings of the light, the promise of the return of
Spring and Summer. Now is a good time to imagine what we might do
in the warmer times, plan for how to get there, and scheme our way to
success. Daydream the possibilities that lie ahead. Then when you have
a good spark, feed it and help it grow into a small flame that can grow
ever stronger as the season becomes Spring.
Thatʼs what Imbolc is about: itʼs the time of initiation, the time when
those first sparks flare into life as small flames, that with careful tending
can grow and fill our lives with warmth. Fan those sparks with attention
and meditation, and help the ones that are worthy burst into flames to
light the coming seasons.
Yogic Candle-Gazing
Exercise (Trataka)
by Sabina C. Becker
ouʼll need a candle and matches, a bowl of cold water (and a washcloth, if desired) and a towel.
Y
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, remove them first. Light the
candle; turn off all other lights. Sit in a comfortable, upright position
and simply look into the candle flame, without blinking, for as long as
you can, until your eyes begin to water. (Donʼt stare; just look, as you
normally would, without widening or straining the eyes.) Close your
eyes a few seconds to rest them, then bathe them with cool water and
dry them.
Next, visualize a large clock face in front of you, with the 12 just above
your range of sight and the 6 just below it. Move your eyes around the
dial, starting at 12, then “tick” them clockwise in a full circle through
all the “hours” at one numeral per second. Repeat, this time going counterclockwise. Close your eyes, then cover them with the palms of your
hands for about 30 seconds, or as long as necessary to rest your eyes
and clear your mind.
This deceptively simple yogic exercise, which you only need to do
once a day, is said to not only strengthen the eye muscles, but the eyes
themselves. Presumably, the tearing action helps cleanse toxins and
harmful bacteria from the eyes, and the movement of the gaze around
the imaginary clock dial helps ease the eyestrain that results from sitting
and staring in one direction all day. But there is more to it than this, for
those interested in psychic development. According to one ancient text,
the process is said to lead to clairvoyance, and therefore “should be kept
secret carefully, like a box of jewelry.”
While that injunction to secrecy may be irrelevant nowadays, with the
Burning Times mercifully at an end, itʼs not hard to see how this exercise can be invaluable for those learning to scry or see peopleʼs auras.
When I first tried it, I began to see a purplish “haze” around the candle
after a few seconds of gazing, just before my eyes began to blur and
Northumberland Mystical Gatherings
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water. The simple action of still, steady gazing, in a darkened room,
with half-unfocused eyes, is the key to clairvoyance training. And the
“haze” I saw, which grew steadily brighter until I had to close my eyes,
was in fact the energy aura around the flame itself, which is invisible
under ordinary circumstances and is easily drowned out by other lights
- one of the reasons why seers like to work in near-total darkness.
Practice this exercise every day, if you can, as a prelude to scrying; or
just do it on its own at the end of a long day, as part of your bedtime
routine, to relieve eyestrain, stress and headaches. Whatever you use it
for, you will literally see results in a very short time!
An Imbolc Altar
by Layla Morgan Wilde
mbolc for me, signifies a freshness and purity.
The maiden has returned and with Her, warm
solar rays of hope.
I
The altar is covered with a snowy cloth draped like
a brideʼs gown. There is a painting I did of a Goddess as a maiden or virgin with the crescent moon.
At the center is a golden disk to symbolize the sun.
On top of it is a bowl of fresh snow. Around them
is a circle of candles, including golden ones. They
celebrate the sunʼs return of warmth that melts the
frozen
ground.
This
festival of
light also
celebrates
our inner
illumination and inspiration.
There is a glass of milk to represent oimelc or eweʼs milk.
The lactation of the ewes at
this time of the year symbolizes the return of the life-giving
forces of spring. A bell (at the
left or east) is used to purify
and to herald in the new.
A besom or ritual broom is
there to sweep away the old
energies and make way for the
new. It is not used for actual
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cleaning. Before preparing the altar, a good “spring” cleaning of the previous altar and room is in order. It felt so good
getting rid of old candles and dried out bits of evergreen
boughs.
This year, I decided to include a ceramic snake that a
Wiccan friend made for me. It normally graces my herb
garden in the summer. The snake is the origin of the
Ground Hog Day tradition. The snake used to peek out
from the womb of the Earth to test the temperature. I like
its symbolic form of rebirth and regeneration. Last year I
had some early snowdrops from the garden, but this year
Iʼll have to make do with store-bought crocuses.
Have a blessed Imbolc, everyone!
page 4
White-Tailed Deer:
Return to Gentleness
by Amberlight
This is the fourth article in a series about the birds and animals we
share the Wheel of the Year with, and the spiritual messages they bring.
f you live in a rural area, you may be lucky enough to sometimes
catch a glimpse of a white-tailed deer. They can be especially in evidence during the winter months, as they venture out of wooded areas
to browse on buds and twigs, often to the chagrin of those who have
young ornamental or fruit trees in their gardens. Although we donʼt
often actually see them, white-tailed deer frequently come up from the
valley below our house to visit our wild meadow, probably
in the pre-dawn hours, where they snack on sumac saplings
and leave behind a network of tracks in the snow.
I
There are about 40 species of deer worldwide, but the whitetailed deer is the most common in Canada, and inhabits
every province except Newfoundland. Their ideal habitat
is mixed forest with lots of clearings and scrubby areas. As
herbivores and browsers, they eat everything from grasses,
sedges, seedlings and young tree shoots, to leaves, berries,
mosses, and even mushrooms and acorns. In winter, which
is the most difficult time of year for deer, they live on buds,
twigs and bark.
Because they are preyed on by so many other animals,
including wolves, coyotes, bobcats and lynx, not to mention
human hunters, white-tailed deer have evolved to be exceptionally alert and fast-moving. Observe one in the wild – if
you can stay in his or her vicinity without being detected,
that is – and notice how vigilant and watchful he is, and how
the slightest sound or movement can trigger instant alarm
and flight. A deerʼs senses are highly attuned to his environment and his perceptions extremely sharp.
Male deer begin growing antlers around the middle of
March, and shed them again the following winter, after the
November rutting season. For five years, as the buck matures, his rack of antlers becomes larger and more impressive, and boasts an increasing number of “points.” Fallen
antlers serve as an important source of calcium for foraging
rodents such as mice, rabbits and porcupines, who like to
gnaw the bone – a good example of how everything in nature serves a
purpose and nothing is wasted!
Deer antlers held a special significance for First Nations people. Shamans and chiefs often wore them because of the power they represented, and also because they were believed to function something like
antennae, making the wearer more sensitive to his surroundings, and
better connected to higher forms of awareness. Antlers of all kinds have
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always been a symbol of power, strength and authority among pagan
peoples, and can also represent male virility and sexuality (think of the
Horned God, Herne the Hunter). In European stories, stags are often associated with royalty and kingliness and frequently show up as the ruler
of the forest in northern folktales and legends. On the other side of the
coin, deer can also symbolize innocence, purity, serenity, and a return
to the wilderness – think of the image of a doe
with her fawn in a secluded forest glade.
Deer’s Spiritual
Message
If white-tailed deer are
figuring largely in your
life, it may be a reminder to pay
closer attention to your inner
thoughts, perceptions and intuition, and to also try and heighten your
awareness of your surroundings. Just as
the male deerʼs antlers grow larger and
more majestic every year for five years,
so your own perceptions and growth can
expand and branch out during the same
period of time.
Donʼt expect instant or dramatic change,
however. One of the deerʼs most important messages is gentleness: not only gentleness in terms
of how you treat yourself and others, but gentleness
and subtlety in personal growth. Are you expecting
too much? Are you pushing yourself or others, feeling overly critical and impatient? The deer might be
reminding you to take your foot off the accelerator a bit
and let change happen naturally, in its own time, rather than trying
to force things and being too hard on yourself and everyone else in the
process.
The deer can also be beckoning you towards new adventure – think of
the King Arthur story in which Sir Gawain was lured into a series of adventures by following a white hart. There are many similar tales, some
of them centuries old, of hunters being drawn into new and unfamiliar
territory while giving chase to a stag that they canʼt catch.
By sharpening your perceptions and insight, and following the deerʼs
lead, you can embark on your own adventures of personal growth and
expansion. Just remember to follow, not barge ahead, and let the changes unfold in their own time, gently and naturally.
page 6
Magick, Mythology, Fantasy &
Science Fiction
by Titania of Elysium (with Ben Gruagachʼs assistance)
Across
4. Resting place of King Arthur
7. Famous fictional wizard Harry
8. Witches and Wizards practice this
11. Other elusive humanoid beings of nature
14. The computer in 2001
15. King Arthurʼs Sword
17. Greek Goddess of the Home and Hearth
18. The main starship in Star Trek, the __________.
19. Humanoid beings of the forest
24. A wise Jedi Master in Star Wars
26. One of the Sailor Scouts from Sailor Moon,
named for a tiny cold planet: Sailor _____.
27. Colour of the heart Chakra
28. The talking car in Knight Rider
30. Dataʼs twin andorid brother from Star Trek
31. The Ranger in Lord of the Rings
32. King Arthurʼs Wizard Advisor
33. Ancient Grecian God of the Underworld
34. Osirisʼ Beloved
Answers on last page.
Down
1. Harryʼs potions teacher, Professor _____.
2. Famous fantasy authour Marion ______ Bradley
3. The sprite in A Midsummernightʼs Dream
5. Witches and wizardʼs tool
6. Mythical horse with a single horn
7. Greek God of the Seas
9. The wise wizard in Lord of the Rings
10. A famous Faeire Queen
12. Bird of peace
13. The beloved of Hades
16. The beautiful Elven wood in Lord of the Rings
17. One of the Elves in Lord of the Rings
20. A Transformer, Optimus _____.
21. Apollo was said to transform into this sea animal
22. Greek Goddess of animals
23. One of Terry Pratchettʼs creations
25. Egyptian God of the Underworld
27. Mother Nature
29. May the _____ be with you.
page 7
Holiday Photos from Japan
by Emerald Deepwater
onnichiwa everyone! Hope you all had a great holiday! Mine was
great but went by very fast (as do most vacations, eh? lol).
K
As most of you know I did not go home for Christmas due to time
and expense. *whines* But for my own Christmas present and to take
my mind off of not being home I treated myself to a three day vacation to Okinawa, Japanʼs most southern island. Okinawa is kind of like
Hawaii (and they pretend they are too, leis and everything!) and so the
weather is nice and mild in the wintertime. It was about 20C the whole
time I was there! I did not do any sightseeing though Iʼm afraid. Was
sick of sightseeing so I just wanted a few days to relax and recoup. So I
treated myself to a resort hotel in the middle of nowhere so I really had
no choice but to just bum around the resort and enjoy myself. I attached
a few pictures for you (hope you donʼt mind), and I must say, I really
am colour coordinated with the ocean. I think I should get paid to have
pictures taken of me at the ocean! ☺
New Years here isnʼt like it is in English speaking countries, itʼs more
similar to Christmas. People just get together with their families and
go to Shrines and spend the day together. So I invited a friend and her
friend over and we had our own little party and watched crazy Japanese
new years shows on TV (including Daruma doll faces being painted
on about a hundred menʼs asses and having them do a little dance....
loooong story that I will tell you about if you want.) Other than that I
just relaxed for this holiday and am thoroughly enjoying it! Right now
Iʼm having a Harry Potter movie marathon!
Anything else? Hmmm... I donʼt think so. Japan does celebrate Christmas but not really the same way. They want to celebrate it because it
looks cool and romantic (thanks to movies) but they havenʼt really gotten it yet. As in, Christmas is not just decorations, songs and gifts, so it
was a little weird but interesting nonetheless!
It snowed briefly the other day,
it was all fluffy and pretty but
then turned into slush and then
rain. It was horrible! Itʼs just
too mild to snow very well so
it pretty much just snows slush.
And to think I was wondering
why everyone was carrying umbrellas when it first started to
snow! I soon knew when I got
back home and, well, letʼs just
say my only pair of shoes are
STILL drying!! Ha ha ha!
page 8
Websites to Interest
Pagans: Arts and Crafts
by Ben Gruagach
agans, by and large, tend to be a rather crafty lot. Most of the Pagans I know just love to make things with their hands. Expressing
oneʼs self through the visual arts, music, writing, or through arts
and crafts, are all popular pastimes.
P
There are many websites devoted to visual arts, music, and various arts
and crafts. If youʼre like me and want to try your hand at some of these
things, but arenʼt sure how to start, exploring websites can be an easy
and cheap way to figure out if itʼs something youʼd like to try.
Many websites are aimed specifically at arts and crafts for children, or
that parents can do with their children. But why should kids have all the
fun? Making a picture out of dried beans and uncooked pasta can be a
lot of fun whatever your age. It doesnʼt matter if the result is successful
or not. Sometimes itʼs good to let your “inner child” play around and
just make a constructive mess.
Here are a few websites that present various arts and crafts with lots of
how-to information that is helpful both to beginners and those already
involved in the particular art or craft. During the cold winter months,
perhaps you can take up a new hobby and produce some beautiful
things to display in your home, or give away as gifts in the coming year!
Pagan Hearth Recipes: Corn Dollies
http://groups.msn.com/paganhearthrecipes/corndollies.msnw
One of the traditional Irish traditions for Imbolc is to put a corn dolly,
representing the goddess Brigid, in a special bed made for her either by
the door or the fireplace. Usually, a male symbol (such as a wand) is
also placed in Brigidʼs bed with the goddess. This website has examples
of corn (mostly wheat) dollies and other crafts made with dried grain
stalks.
A Pagan & Wiccan Parenting Page: Arts & Crafts
http://pages.ivillage.com/paganparent/artscrafts.html
Some creative ideas for things to make with supplies you likely already
have around the house. Includes recipes for things like face paints.
Disney Onlineʼs Family Fun: Arts & Crafts
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/
Lots more ideas for arts and crafts projects, many seasonal, for kids or
families to try. Some of the projects are really too complex for young
kids, and are more for teens or adults.
Lisa Vollrathʼs Paper Crafts page
http://www.lisavollrath.com/articles/index.html
Instructions on how to do all sorts of crafts with paper – from scrapbooking and altered books to paper dolls and trading cards. Lots of the
ideas here could be used in making a fancy Book of Shadows.
page 9
SacredSpiralʼs Crafts page
http://www.sacredspiral.com/crafts/index.html
Crafts with fabric and sewing, corn husks, patterns and more.
WitchesStitches.com
http://www.witchesstitches.com/
Cross-stitch patterns with a Pagan theme. Some of the examples are really beautiful.
PolymerClayCentral.com
http://www.polymerclaycentral.com/
A huge resource with lots of suggestions and instructions on how to
make cool things with polymer clay like SculpeyTM and FimoTM,
which can be fired in a regular oven at low temperatures. Goto the “lessons” button on the left to get lots of sample projects explained step by
step.
Arts & Crafts for Wiccans
http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/tigris/567/id99.htm
Includes instructions on making a ritual robe with no sewing involved,
how to make woodchips or candles with coloured flames, and lots more.
PathWalkers.net – Crafting page
http://www.pathwalkers.net/crafting/index.html
Instructions for various arts and crafts that will interest Pagans. Includes
instructions on making wands, soaps, and more.
page 10
Imbolc Word-Search
by Ben Gruagach
purification
goldenhaired
darlugdacha
inspiration
secondsight
blacksmith
lupercalia
brigantia
genealogy
corndolly
candlemas
needfire
vocation
holywell
cauldron
milkmaid
tirnanog
miracles
devotion
kildare
charity
triform
warrior
renewal
midwife
healing
brigid
hearth
kirtle
brigit
triple
cattle
butter
poetry
mantle
bride
forge
lambs
page 11
dagda
fairy
queen
snow
milk
ice
The words are hidden across, up,
down, and diagonally.
The solution is shown at the end
of the newsletter.
Solution to crossword puzzle
from page 7.
Solution to word search puzzle
from page 11.
About Us
orthumberland Mystical Gatherings is a group for discussion of pagan-related topics. Members come from
a range of backgrounds and spiritual systems, and embody a variety of interests and areas of practice,
belief, and learning. We welcome everyoneʼs views and perspectives, even if they lead to lively, goodnatured debate. However, we do not tolerate any disrespect or condemnation of anotherʼs path, beliefs or levels
of learning.
N
We meet regularly in person but also have an active online community. Some of our members live outside the
Northumberland region in Ontario, Canada. Our distant members participate mostly online.
Visit our website at http://www.mysticalgatherings.com or email us at [email protected]
page 12

Imbolc: February 2005

Transcription

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