Welcome Spring! Workshop to celebrate
the Festival of Imbolc An Gairdin,
Portumna, Co Galway Saturday 29th
January 2011 In the Celtic Year, Imbolc is
celebrated on 1st February. It marks the start of Spring and is also
the festival of Brigid, Celtic goddess and Christian saint. Brigid was known as
the protector of hearth, home and land, and as patron of healing, poetry and
crafts. In this workshop, we gather to
celebrate the fertile energy of the earth, the return of the Light and the
increasing strength of the sun.
The three months of winter are now past. While we are still living with darkness and it is still
cold, each morning and evening we see extended daylight. The early buds are already appearing on
the trees; shoots from bulbs are visible above the earth and beneath the earth,
life is stirring. In ancient times
Brigid was revered as the one who banished Winter by bringing back the light of
the sun and releasing the waters that may have frozen over Winter. Imbolc is known as the Festival of Awakening,
when the life force that has been resting over winter starts to awaken. In the natural world, the period of
rest has brought about renewal and regeneration. In our lives, we too, as part of nature are responding to
the return of the Light. We can
feel small stirrings within - messages from our soul of new beginnings that may
beckon; awareness of our deep desires and hopes and the steps we may wish to
take to bring these to fruition.
This is a time for listening to the awakening of these dreams and
yearnings and for attuning to our inner wisdom, which can prompt us to the
direction that we may need to take.
In the workshop, we will use movement,
ritual, the weaving of Brigid’s crosses, time in nature and times of reflection
to connect to the energy of Imbolc and Brigid Time: 10.30
a.m. - 1.00 p.m. Registration:
An Gairdin 09097-41689
