Imbolc Festival


	Imbolc Celebrate the Celtic Goddess Brigid Friday, February 1, 2008: Brigid's Night Saturday, February 2, 2008: Brigid's Day Imbolc Festival at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Barneveld, Wisconsin It is Midwinter, when the chill winds blow around us and bare branches reach toward the clear bright sky. Yet, the promise of Spring draws near as the days lengthen, animals awaken, and hope fills us. Imbolc is a time of illumination, reflection, and purification. We honor the Goddess Brigid now, looking into Her Well for guidance, clarity, and portents of peace in the days to come. Join us as we celebrate this ancient festival, connecting with the Goddess and each other. More about Imbolc Traditions & the Goddess Brigid http://www.circlesanctuary.org/pholidays/imbolc.htm

Program Schedule

	Friday, February 1: Brigid's Night Shamanic Intensive with Selena Fox 7-10 pm Join us for this special evening for adults focused on Shamanic work with the Celtic Goddess Brigid for inspiration, healing, transformation, & spiritual growth.
7 PM	Arrivals and Meet & Greet
7:15 PM	Circle of Welcome & Intro to the Intensive
7:30 - 8:15 PM	Brigid Altar Magic: Creating, activating, & working with an altar to deepen connections with Brigid, Celtic Goddess of inspiration, healing, and transformation. Bring a long-burning white candle to donate to Brigid and Her altar at this festival time, plus a personal candle (any color) in a votive glass that will burn for at least 2 hours.
8:30 - 9:30 PM	Brigid Inner Journey: This shamanic journey for communing with the Goddess Brigid includes invocation, attunement, alignment, inspiration, healing, transformation, thanksgiving, & return. Bring a journal & pen for noting messages at journey's end. Bring a cloak or a blanket to symbolically wrap yourself in.
9:30 - 10 PM	Interpreting Messages from Brigid: Guided journal writing, followed by group discussion.
	Saturday, February 2: Brigid's Day Imbolc Festival 10 AM - 7 PM Join us for a day of celebration of Brigid & Imbolc. Open to adults & youth.
10 AM	Open for arrivals. Resources Shop open. Self-guided visits to Brigid's Spring.
11 AM - Noon	Brigid Magic with Brigid Crosses: Brigid Crosses symbolize the power of the Celtic Goddess Brigid and the Sacred Sun. In this workshop, Selena Fox demonstrates some of the sacred ways of working with Brigid Crosses -- such as a ritual tool for directing spiritual power, focal point for meditation, symbol of Imbolc, home blessing charm, and personal amulet. This workshop will conclude with a demonstration of making a Brigid's Cross by Moonfeather. If you have one, bring a Brigid Cross to work with during this workshop. Some Brigid Crosses will be available for loan to participants. Some materials will be available for participants to make their own crosses during the break that follows the workshop.
Noon - 12:30 PM	Snacks & Social
12:30 - 1:30 PM	Magic of Brigid's Fire: For centuries, a sacred fire was tended by Pagan priestesses and then Roman Catholic nuns at Brigid's holy site at Kildare in Ireland. The tradition of this sacred fire has been revived with the rekindling of the fire in the late 20th century. The magic of Brigid's Sacred Fire at Her ancient place of power is alive and spreading worldwide through the use of transmittal candles and attunement rituals. Bring at least one taper candle (any color) to turn into a Brigid's Fire candle by kindling it from a candle kindled from Brigid's Fire at Kildare. If you have visited Kildare & been part of the Fire magic there, bring photos and other mementos to pass around and/or a tale to tell. If you have a Brigid's Fire candle kindled at Kildare, bring it along for the kindling of Brigid's Fire at the start of the workshop. Workshop facilitated by Selena Fox, with Tales of Kildare & Brigid by Jean of Storylore and Michael McDermott of Black Earth Institute.
1:30 - 2 PM	Break
2 - 3:30 PM	Brigid Healing Ritual: Invoking and working with Brigid of Oak, Swan, Sun, Spring, & Spirit for healing self, others, & the planet. Facilitated by Selena Fox, with music by Celtic bard Michael Doran. Bring a personal candle to kindle. If you have one, bring a Brigid's Cross to use to direct healing to those in need.
4 PM	Brigid Imbolc Bonfire: Gather outdoors at our Bonfire Circle for our annual Imbolc Burning of the Yuletide greens to symbolically celebrate the turning of the Wheel of the Year toward Spring. Bring rhythm instruments to play and, if you have them, some dried evergreen sprigs from Yule to cast into the fire.
5 PM	Candlelight Brigid's Day Potluck Feast Bring an already prepared potluck dish to contribute to the feast.
7 PM	Clean-up & Farewells


	Registration

	Advance registration is required for Friday night's intensive. Advance registration is also required for overnight lodging on Friday night at the Circle House. Advance registration is requested, but not required for Saturday's festival. Friday night intensive: Space in this special evening is limited - pre-register as soon as possible to guarantee a place. Suggested minimum contribution is $10/person. All proceeds go to Circle Sanctuary and are tax deductible. Friday overnight lodging: Some overnight lodging space will be available in the Circle House for those taking part in both Friday night and Saturday events. Bring your own sleeping bag, air mattress, and pillow. This lodging must be arranged in advance -- register by January 30. Donation $15/person, includes breakfast. Saturday: $20/adult & $10/youth paid on-line in advance; $30/adult & $15/youth at the door. Children under 5 years are free.


	Items To Bring

	Friday night intensive: White candle (any type, but long-burning) as an offering for Brigid and to left on the altar for use on Friday & Saturday. Personal Candle (any color) in a votive glass - needs to last at least 2 hours. Cloak or blanket to put around you for the journey Journal or notebook and pen for writing messages Friday overnight lodging: Bedding - sleeping bag or blankets, pillow, and if desired, air mattress or other cushion. Towels & toiletries Saturday festival: White candle (any type, but long-burning) to leave as an offering on the Brigid altar. Personal candle (any color) to burn in the ritual. At least once taper candle (any color) to turn into a Brigid's Fire candle during the workshop. Brigid Cross, if you have one, to use in the workshop & ritual. Snacks (crackers, cheese, veggies, dip, fruit) for midday snack table (optional). 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. Wear something white or gold to the ritual. Dried Yuletide greens to burn in the bonfire in late afternoon. Drum or rattle, if you have one, to play at the bonfire. Brigid images & symbols (optional) to be energized on the altar for later use at your home.