If you’ve been following my blog you’ve read my posts about Brigid (pronounced Breed), the Celtic Goddess of the hearth; healing arts such as music and poetry or, put simply, inspiration; and smithcraft, or the forge, i.e. fire. If you’ve ever offered a supplication to Mother Earth, you’re speaking to Brigid.
Source: Espressocomsaudade
Hmm, the only piece missing is the harp. I guess the early Christians didn’t care for music.
I won’t get into the Christian adoption of Brigid but, tell me, do you see any similarities between the Goddess and Saint Brigid?
Here’s an interesting tidbit, the perpetual flame burning in most early Christian churches is likened to Goddess Brigid’s fire.
The celebration of the Goddess Brigid corresponds with Imbolc, the halfway point between the solstice and the vernal equinox. For those of us following the pagan path, Imbolc marks the first day of spring, the day Brigid wakes from her winter slumber.
It’s a time of year I like to cast off the heavy coat of doubt and reaffirm my goals as I look to the future.
A time to clear out the old, making both your living space and inner space open to new possibilities, and since the new moon is upon us, it’s the perfect time to make a wish for wonder and light to return to your life.
I celebrated the day by purchasing a bouquet of tulips as an offering to the waking Goddess.
I also scratched the word Thank you into the top of a white tea light for the blessings coming my way. If you do the same, let the wick burn to the bottom.
To help give you inspiration with your Imbolc celebration, here’s a recipe for Baked Custard. Imbolc translates to mean ‘ewe’s milk’ because back in the day the lambs were calving, thus custard is a traditional food.
Baked Custard
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cup cold evaporated skim milk (or regular whole milk if you’re not counting Calories)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a mixer and beat for about 15 seconds, or until well mixed. Pour mixture into ramekins or custard cups. Place the ramekins into a baking dish, and fill the dish with hot water up to a depth of about ¾”. Bake the custards for one hour. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Dust with nutmeg before serving.
Imbolc marks a great time to revisit my goal of cleaning my office. I got waylaid and only succeeded in getting halfway through the project.
By the end of the week (fingers and toes crossed) I’ll be finished and then I’ll share what I learned about the Konmari Method and tidying a home office. Stay tuned.
Let’s see what’s up with my ducks. I took this video on Friday, February 1. The temperature was -10 F with a deadly windchill. I guess the word got out River Lady’s homeless shelter was open for business.
I’m going to leave you now. I hear the ducks calling me and I have a hankering for custard. I wish you a blessed Imbolc weekend: Light your fire, kindle your joy, celebrate the warming sunshine, and be true to your authentic self.
Blessed be :}
concordriverlady.com 