Set up a simple Altar. Place Salt i

Set up a simple Altar. Place Salt in a small bowl upon the Altar. Have a small doll on the altar, this symbolises the Goddess Bride (Brigid) as this Sabbat is dedicated to her (You may wish to make one specially, or use a child’s dolly). Have all the other items close to the Altar, so that you will have them on hand. Place the Elemental candles and mark out the circle. Take the bowl of salt, and walking deosil around the circle, sprinkle a little as you walk, saying:

“ With Salt I purify this circle,
may no harm enter within.”

When you have finished, replace the salt on the Altar. Take your Athame or Wand (if you do not own one of these ritual tools, you may use your index finger), and walk around the circle, in a deosil direction, imagining white light streaming out from the Athame/Wand/Finger to create a circle of fire. As you walk around a second time, imagine the fire growing higher and higher, spreading out under the ground as well. As you walk around for the third and final time, imagine the fire closing up over the top of you, and joining up under the ground to create a sphere. When you have finished, stand in the centre of the circle with arms up and say:


“I cast this magick circle,
that it be a boundary between this world,
and that of the Spirit realm.
As above [point to the sky],
So below [point to the ground],
the circle is cast!”

Walk over to the Northern candle, light it. Stand with arms outstretched, feet slightly apart, saying:


“Hail Guardian of the Watchtower of the North,
Element of Fire.
I call upon thee to guard and protect,
to lend your power to mine.
So mote it be!”

Repeat for the remaining Elements. Return to the Altar. Stand before the Goddess candle (a Silver/white candle), and light it. Stand with arms outstretched, feet slightly apart, saying:


“Holy Mother of the Earth,
Shining lady of the moon,
I call upon thee to assist and protect,
to lend your power to mine.
Welcome, loving Goddess,
into my circle.”

Stand before the God candle (a Gold/yellow/red candle), and light it. Stand with arms crossed over your chest, feet together, saying:


“Holy Father of the Sky,
Blazing Lord of the Sun,
I call upon thee to assist and protect,
to lend your power to mine.
Welcome, loving God,
into my circle.”

Imbolc is a time of the rebirth of the light. Winter is ending and the wheel is turning towards summer. Imbolc celebrates the return of the Sun, and of the God. It is traditional to light many candles or turn on every light in your house (even if only for a moment) to symbolise the returning Sun. Since Imbolc represents the returning of life, it is a good time for fertility. Take the Bride doll in your hands and hold it close to your heart. This doll represents the Goddess, so tell it all the areas of your life in which need help.

Imbolc is a time for new beginnings, so ask the Goddess for help in any endeavours you will be starting at this time. Now is a powerful time for blessings, purification, and “starting out new”. Celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring by writing a list of all the things you dislike about winter and a list of all the things you enjoy about spring. Wrap the Spring list around the winter one to symbolise spring taking over from winter to bring about all the things you enjoy.

You can now hold the simple feast, eat white foods, particularly dairy products as these are the sacred foods of Imbolc. Don’t forget to leave some as an offering to the Goddess and God which you should pour/crumble into the ground, to give back to Mother Earth. Thank the doll for representing the Goddess and put it back in its place.
When you are ready to end the circle, stand before the Goddess candle and say:


“Farewell O’ loving Goddess,
I thank you for your assistance and protection,
Both within this circle, and in my life.
I now bid you farewell,
may you go in peace and love.
Blessed be.”

Blow or pinch out her candle. Repeat for the God candle. Return to the Western candle, say:


“Farewell Guardian of the Watchtower of the West,
I thank you for your assistance within this circle.
I bid you now farewell,
may you go in peace and love.
Blessed be.”

Blow/pinch out the West candle. Repeat the above for each of the remaining Elements. When you have said farewell to the Northern Guardian, walk widdershins around the circle, imagining the white fire that created the circle retracting back into your Athame/Wand/finger. Walk around doing this 3 times, and when you have returned to the northern point again, put down the Athame/Wand and say:


“May the circle be open,
but unbroken”

It is done!