Wheel of the Year: Imbolc Recipes and Ritual

As I am not a traditional witch in any respect, I do not personally celebrate Imbolc in any extravagant fashion. Our celebrations are limited to candles lit in each room, the altar brought out and an offering made to the Goddess in her Maiden aspect, and finally a thorough "Spring Cleansing" of our home. This is the time of year we prepare for the onset of the warmer months. For those who would like to have more information, I have provided excerpts from some great websites I frequent.
The first passage regards the the relevance of the Celtic Goddess, Brighid, to celebrations of this particular day, recognized on February 2nd, from ancient times to modern times. It is from About.com:

"Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection as well, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The Irish goddess Brighid is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. To honor her, purification and cleaning are a wonderful way to get ready for the coming of Spring. In addition to fire, she is a goddess connected to inspiration and creativity.
Brighid is known as one of the Celtic "triune" goddesses -- meaning that she is one and three simultaneously. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid, or Brid, whose name meant "bright one." In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed as Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. Brighid was also a warlike figure, Brigantia, in the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. The Christian St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptised by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare, Ireland.
In modern Wicca and Paganism, Brighid is viewed as the maiden aspect of the maiden/mother/crone cycle. She walks the earth on the eve of her day, and before going to bed each member of the household should leave a piece of clothing outside for Brighid to bless. Smother your fire as the last thing you do that night, and rake the ashes smooth. When you get up in the morning, look for a mark on the ashes, a sign that Brighid has passed that way in the night or morning. The clothes are brought inside, and now have powers of healing and protection thanks to Brighid."

The next is a recipe I enjoy making for this particular day, a tribute to my Irish former Mother-in-Law, who is still a close and cherished friend. She created a Potato Soup recipe which I have modified to suit my own needs over the years. Here I share my version of her recipe with you, a hearty, all-in-one meal I think you will enjoy.

 You will need:

1/2 of a green bell pepper, roughly diced

1 white onion, quartered, chop one-quarter

6 russet potatos, washed and peeled, cut into medium sized chunks

4 celery hearts, chopped

3 carrots, washed, peeled, diced

4 cups of milk

3 cups of potato flakes

Directions:

Mix all vegetables listed  into a large pot filled 1/2 full of water. Add 4 cups of milk. Cook on medium-high temperature until you reach a rolling boil. Turn down to a simmer. Add potato flakes, stir until soup thickens slightly. Potatos should be soft and other veggies should be soft as well. You can also add pepper-bacon to the recipe, but if you choose to do so, cook the bacon until it is crispy enough to crumble into pieces. Add the crispy bacon bits and the gristle from the pan to the soup before you add the potato flakes while the soup is still boiling.

Finally, I would like to leave you with a beautiful ritual that a very close friend sent to me to put on this blog. She has used it before, and I found it to be lovely. It is written by Dawn "Belladonna" Thomas. Source: http://www.globalgoddess.org/oracle/imbolc_2009/solitary
Please enjoy, and have a wonderful Imbolc this year! :)

Altar Needs
White altar cloth
Five white candles
Cauldron
Pen and Paper
Chalice

To prepare for the ritual have a ritual bath with some bath salts. Play some relaxing music. Set up your altar with the five unlit candles - one for each element and one in the center to represent the Goddess.
Call the Elements and the Goddess:
Hail to the Spirit of the East, Element of Air. The winter winds blows in a new season. Please join me tonight. Light the candle in the East.
Hail to the Spirit of the South, Element of Fire. The warmth of fire makes me aware of the increasing light. Please join me tonight. Light the candle in the South.
Hail to the Spirit of the West, Element of Water. The melting snow flows into the rivers and provide water to the beginnings of new life. Please join me tonight. Light the candle in the West.
Hail to the Spirit of the North, Element of Earth. The fruits from the last harvest have provided the nourishment during these winter months. Please join me tonight. Light the candle in the North.
Great Mother Brighid, Guardian of poetry and smith crafts. I am honored to have you here and to bask in the light of your eternal flame. Please join me tonight. Light the candle in the center of the altar.
Tonight I celebrate the return of the sun and the rebirth of light.
Work and Meditation
Sit in front of your altar and think about what you would like to manifest in your life. When you are finished, write your thoughts on your piece of paper. Place the paper in the cauldron and light it to release your thought to the Elements and the Goddess. While the paper is burning say the following:
Great Mother Brighid
Watch over your daughter
Let your water heal me
Let your wind inspire me
Let your fire warm me
With your blessings and protection, I go in peace.
Drink from your chalice and offer blessings.
If you would like to make a corn dolly, now is the time to do that. As you are braiding continue your thoughts on what you want to manifest. When finished, open the circle.
Release the Goddess and the Elements
Great Mother Brighid, your growing light is increasing all around me. Thank you for joining me tonight. Hail and Farewell. Extinguish the candle in the center.
Spirit of the North, the earth is beginning to show new life. Thank you for joining me tonight. Hail and Farewell. Extinguish the candle in the North.
Spirit of the West, the rivers are rising and the water is warming. Thank you for joining me tonight. Hail and Farewell. Extinguish the candle in the West.
Spirit of the South, the days are growing longer and the sun is providing much needed warmth. Thank you for joining me tonight. Hail and Farewell. Extinguish the candle in the South.
Spirit of the East, there is a hint of March winds swirling around blowing in new life. Thank you for joining me tonight. Hail and Farewell. Extinguish the candle in the East.
The Circle is open but remains unbroken.
Blessed Be!