Brigid's Day Celebrating the Celtic Festival of Imbolc Saturday February 4th, 2006 at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve (Pre-registration required) In the middle of Winter each year, the Circle Sanctuary Community celebrates the ancient Celtic fire festival of Imbolc, which is sacred to the Goddess Brigid. It is a time of spiritual purification, reflection, and illumination. We honor Brigid, connect with Her symbols, and learn about Her. We kindle candles and make merry with feasting.

	Program Schedule
	10:00am Open for arrivals 10:30am Handfasting of Winter & Jamie: Connect with the power of Brigid as Bride in this Pagan wedding rite. 11:30am-1:00pm Brigid's Day Activities: Join Circle's Naturalist Reed Cockrell for a "Winter's Nature Walk"! Connect with Brigid as Goddess of Nature. Reed will be exploring the habits of both flora and fauna at the Preserve as it relates to this time of year. He also will be looking at differences in Nature now versus in high summer. Learn to make Brigid's Crosses with Rev. Windwalker! Whether you are a novice or accomplished weaver, this ancient tradition to Brigid is sure to please. Add a prayer ribbon to Brigid's Healing Hoop in the Temple Room. 1:30-2:30 Brigid, Imbolc, & the Psycho-Spiritual Wheel of the Year by M. J. Drake Spaeth, PsyD. The calendrical journey represented by the Pagan Wheel of the Year may be regarded also as a psycho-spiritual map of the evolution of the psyche or spiritual development in one's life. At the point of Imbolc, the figure of the Goddess Brigid is a powerful symbol of the kindling of new vitality, or germination of the seeds of new growth/transformation. Connections between Eastern concepts of the kundalini serpent fire and Brigid 's own more Western association with snakes and fire cast a bright >light of enhanced understanding of the significance of this archetypal process, symbolically portrayed at this part of the year. This workshop examines sources from Eastern and Celtic spirituality, as well as Jungian psychology , in a discussion of Imbolc as a pivotal point in psychospiritual development. Drake is a Circle minister, psychologist, & psychology instructor. 3:00-4:30pm Imbolc Ritual with Selena Fox: Honoring of Brigid and Her holiday of Imbolc with invocations, chanting, drumming, candlelighting, and meditation. 5:00-5:30pm Candlelight Procession to Brigid's Spring: take part in what is sure to be a magical experience to lay the healing hoops at the spring and to ask Her blessings for the future! Be sure to bring a candle (preferably white) in a windproof container. 6:00-7:30pm Brigid's Potluck Feast & Celebration 7:30pm Clean-up & Departures

	Items To Bring
	A contribution for potluck feast to feed at least two dozen people. If your contribution is to be served hot, it should be in a microwave or oven reheatable dish and not require more than 10-15 minutes of reheating, otherwise, bring it in a crock pot. Contributions that do not need reheating should be ready to serve. Fruit should be pre-washed and cheese pre-sliced. There is no kitchen space to prepare or cook contributions on site, but refrigeration space is available for storage. Please label contributions with ingredients and serving instructions. A plate, bowl, cup, and utensils for The Candlelight Feast. (optional) Personal snacks and/or a sack lunch for mid-day nourishment. (optional) If you can, bring something white to wear for ritual. For Ritual: A white candle and a secure candle holder. A drum or rattle. Candles to be blessed in the rite. (optional) Dried evergreen branches and wreaths from Yule to burn in the sacred fire. (optional) A Jar with lid or other container for collecting water from Brigid’s spring. (optional) A healing ribbon for each request for healing for loved ones and/or self. (optional) Winter weather gear if spending time outdoors Candle in a windproof container if attending the procession

	Registration
	Please register as soon as possible, and by February 2nd at the latest. Call (608)-924-2216 or e-mail (events@circlesanctuary.org) your registration to Circle office and include the full name, address, phone number, and e-mail of each person attending, and indicate if you need directions. You may also register online using our secure online registration form. Suggested minimum contribution for the day is $20/adult, $10/youth (ages 5-17), free for under 5 year. Payable at the door via cash or check. We plan to hold the event regardless of weather, but if serve weather occurs, call the Circle office the morning of the festival to hear a message regarding the status of the event.

More about Imbolc Traditions
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/imbolc.htm