Imbolc - First Rites of Spring

I don't know about anyone else but I always get an excited feeling in the pit of my stomach when Imbolc comes around.  It's the first rite of Spring, the gestational period of the Goddess.  Deep in the earth, the womb of the Mother, seeds are getting ready to burst into life.  It's such an exciting, invigorating time.  A time of new life and new light.

                                                  

I love that it's downhill to summer but it still seems so very far away, especially when it's -3 deg C outside...brrrr!  I shall be lighting some white candles on my hearth and inviting Brighid into my home, asking her to protect us from disasters such as lightning, storms or floods as well as keeping my family safe from illness.  It's time to make my Brighid's cross to be hung over the hearth.

For a while now I have been thinking about taking a step away from my Grove...since Beltane last year I believe.  And I've been trying to analyse why I suddenly decided a couple of weeks ago to take the 'plunge' so to speak.  Today it came to me....it's Imbolc!  It's a time for new life, new beginnings, it's also the gestational time where the fetus is resting and growing in the womb of the Mother ready to be born.  What better time to mark the stirrings of a new Spring in my life.  I can't wait to find out what has caused me to take this break from ritual within the Grove.  Well, one thing I have started this Imbolc, is this Blog.  I'm hoping that it will help me focus on my studies by giving me a sounding board, somewhere to launch my thoughts and opinions on esoteric/spiritual matters.

So, here we are, at Imbolc 2012.  May you all be blessed with peace, harmony, light, warmth and above all else, love!

Blessed Be!  /|\