Goddess Speak Sanctuary of Solace Newsletter - February 2024

“Groundhog found fog. New snows and blue toes. Fine and dandy for Valentine candy. Snow spittin'; if you're not mitten-smitten, you'll be frostbitten! By jing-y feels spring-y.” ― The Old Farmer's Almanac

February Dates of Interest:

Black History Month!

• Feb. 2 - Groundhog Day/Imbolc Celebration on Zoom/In-Person (click button to RSVP!)
• Feb. 4 @ 12:00pm - Magick Brew Coffee Social
• Feb. 5 – Lantern Festival
• Feb. 9 @ 2:59 pm - Super New Moon in Aquarius
• Feb. 9 – National Pizza Day
• Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day/National [Organ] Donor Day
• Feb. 16 - Sin City Witches Lupercalia!
• Feb. 17 @ 6:00pm - ICS Presents: Ye Olde Magick Shoppe
• Feb. 18 @ 1:00pm - Pagan Pride Day LV Planning Meeting
• Feb. 18 @ 12:00pm - Solitary Pagans Haven Coffee Meetup
• Feb. 21 – Feralia – an ancient Roman Day of the Dead
• Feb. 21 - Mardi Gras!
• Feb. 24 @ 4:30 am - Micro Full Snow Moon
• Feb. 24 @ 8:00am - UUCLV Food Pantry
• Feb. 24 @ 6:00pm - Pagan/Occult Movie Night Presents: The Rocky Horror Picture Show!
• Feb. 29 - Leap Day!

“February: The month where even the groundhog comes out of hiding to predict the weather. If a groundhog can face its shadow, so can you!” – unknown

~ Imbolg & Brighid ~

An Editorial by Priestess Novaembre (Candace Kant)

Imbolg is the second spoke on the Wheel of the Year. It is celebrated on February 2nd. This is the first festival after winter solstice. The word “Imbolg” is a Gaelic word meaning “in the belly.” It celebrates the new lambs who are born now, and the first stirring of spring in the womb of Mother Earth. It is a time of blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It is spelled either “Imbolg” or “Imbolc.” You will also sometimes see it referred to as “Oimelc” or “Oimealg.” The festival is also called Candlemas, Brighid’s Day, La Feill Bhride, Feast of Flames, Festival of Ewe’s Milk, First Light and Feast of Lights. This is an earth, agricultural, and pastoral festival, as opposed to the solstices or equinoxes that are solar festivals. This is one of the four Celtic fire festivals but at Imbolg the fire is a small flame. Now the Goddess energies move from those of Crone to Maiden. We celebrate the beginning of spring and the return of the sun. Themes of this festival are purification, and Initiation, the invincible flame. The Goddess is a new hope.

Weather Prognostication: Brigid’s Snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather – this is the origin of Ground Hog’s Day. A windy Christmas and a calm Candlemas are signs of a good year.

It is traditional at Imbolg to light every lamp in the house at sunset or just after ritual, if only for a few moments. Or, light candles in each room in honor of the Sun’s rebirth. Home hearth fires are put out and re lit. A besom is placed by the front door to symbolize the sweeping out of the old and welcoming of the new.

• Symbolism: Purity, Growth and Renewal, Fertility, Dispensing of the Old and Making Way for the New.
• Symbols: Besoms, white flowers, Brighid’s Crosses, ploughs
• Colors: red, white, orange, pink, yellow, green, brown
• Foods: Dairy Products, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, poppy seed cakes, muffins, scones, breads, peppers, onions, garlic, raisins, spiced wines and herbal teas.
• Incense: Rosemary, Frankincense, Myrrh, Cinnamon, basil, bay, wisteria, violet, vanilla.
• Herbs: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets and all white or yellow flowers.
• Stones: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, onyx, turquoise.

BRIGIT

Within Gaelic culture Imbolg is clearly a veneration of the pre-Christian Goddess Bride or Brigid, and most of the recorded customs of this festival center upon Her. She was worshiped by the Celtic people for over 1500 years and as a Goddess long before the Roman invasion of Britain and the birth of Christ. The Celtic Goddess Brigit, or Brighid, is an Irish Goddess of poetry, healing, smithcraft and midwifery. She is one of the great mothers of the Celts. She is the keeper of the sacred flame, the guardian of home and hearth. She represents inspiration and creativity. She is said to have been born at the exact moment of day break. She rose with the sun, Her head radiant with rays of luminous light, associating Her with ascended awareness, enlightenment, new beginnings, sun beams and warmth. She is an all-encompassing aspect of the Divine Feminine, reminding us that our own True Potential is beyond measurement. She is dedicated to the rediscovery and remembrance of our Divine Power. She is a triune goddess, meaning she is three in one. Her three sister selves as “Lady of Healing Waters,” “Goddess of the Sacred Flame,” and “Goddess of the Fertile Earth.”

As “Goddess of the Fertile Earth”, a fertility goddess and a patroness of domestic animals and crops, she is the “Bringer of Prosperity” through the abundance and wealth of the land, Her green mantle is associated with the green fertile earth and the wealth of wellbeing.

As “Lady of Healing Waters, Wells and Springs,” many wells in Ireland have been dedicated to Her and the waters are believed to be blessed and healing. Combining the solar light of Her birth with Her healing waters, the sparkling light dancing on the water is believed to have spectacular healing qualities, especially for the eyes. She is also associated with divination – Her wells are portals to portend the future, windows through which to gain guidance and insight. As Goddess of Healing and Midwifery, she helps women and animals in childbirth, as well as the birthing process of our creative projects.

As “Goddess of the Sacred Flame,” the Eternal Flame of Life, the Flame of Inspiration, and the Flame of our Creative Consciousness, She brings luminous, bright, fiery energy that is the energy of creation, the creative power of our consciousness and the creative power of all that is. Her sacred flame brings inspiration and ignites our calling to create. She is also associated with the fire of the forge and the fire of the hearth, bringing the blessings of warmth and light to the home. She is also Lady of Literature, Goddess of Creative Expression, Luminous Muse of the Poetic Voice and as such is the patroness of poets, writers and bards. She is a muse, allowing our creative energies to flow freely. We share our power of creation with the Divine Essence – we are an aspect of the Eternal Flame of Inspiration and we are always aligned with divine inspiration. She reminds us of the power we have with our words, and encourages us to use our Empowered Voice, aligning our words and thoughts with affirmative language. She encourages us to speak our Truth. As a goddess of poetry, she also governs divination and prophecy. The fires of inspiration as demonstrated in poetry and the fires of the home and the forge are identical. As a fire goddess, She is also a warrior goddess and protectress of Her people. She shields those who call upon Her from harm, being kept within Her protective embrace.

A perpetual fire was burned for Her in Kildare, Ireland. The shrine was located near an ancient oak tree and was thought to have been a college of priestesses who were committed to thirty years of service, after which they were free to leave and marry. The first ten years were training, the next ten were spent tending the sacred wells, groves and hills of Brigid, and the last ten were spent teaching others. Nineteen priestesskkes were assigned to tend the perpetual flame of the sacred fire of Brigid. Each was assigned to keep the flames alive for one day. On the 20th day, Brigid herself kept the fire burning.

When Ireland was Christianized, the dedication of the people to Her was so powerful that the Celtic Christian Church adopted Her as a saint, St. Brigid, and the Roman Catholic Church followed suit. She is a patron saint of Ireland, along with St. Patrick. A Christian convent eventually was built upon the site of Her shrine. It continued the tradition of learning and culture and was instrumental in preserving much ancient learning and literature during the Dark Ages. The perpetual flame was kept burning. The abbess was considered the reincarnation of the saint and each abbess took the name Brigid upon investiture. The convent was occupied continuously until 1132 C.E. with each abbess having a mystical connection to the saint. In 1132 Dermot MacMurrough wished to have a relative of his invested as the abbess. Although popular opinion was against him, his troops overran the convent and raped the reigning abbess to discredit her. After this Kildare lost much of its power and the fires were finally put out by King Henry VIII of England during the Reformation. He dissolved the convent in the 16th century and destroyed the abbey. In 1993, Sister Mary Minehan, a Brigidine Nun, relit Brigid’s flame in Kildare. It continues to burn today.

Anyone desiring fertility, health or creativity should invoke Brigit’s blessings. Along with the other traditions associated with Imbolg listed above, in the Highlands and Ireland a strip of cloth or ribbon is put outside your door on Imbolg Eve (Jan. 31) for Brigit to bless. This cloth represents Her mantle and can be used for healing throughout the year.

Names: Bright One, Lady of the Sacred Flame, the Flame of Inspiration, the Flame of Creative Consciousness, Bringer of Prosperity, Goddess of Fertility, New Growth and Birth, Patroness of Poetry, Healing, Smithcraft, Midwifery and Animal Care and Breeding, Goddess of Healing Grace, The Exalted One, Bright Arrow, The Powerful One, the High One. Mistress of the Mantle. Her name, Brighid, may be derived from Bhrati in Sanskrit which was an epithet meaning “exalted one.” The name “Britain” is a derivation of Brigit’s name. Britain was named for a Celtic tribe, the Brigantes, who worshipped Brigit and were the largest Celtic tribe to occupy the British Isles in pre-Roman times. The tribe originally came from the area that is now Bregenz in Austria near Lake Constance. Her worship spread from the continent leaving place names behind such as Brittany in France. The symbol of Britain, the goddess Brigantia or Britannia is Brigid in Her aspect as Goddess of Sovereignty or Guardian of the Land.

• Symbols of Brigit: Cauldron, fire, Brigit’s Cross, candles, forges, hearths, sunrise, sunbeams, springs, wells.
• Associations: Fire, hearth, forge, light, candles, sunrise, springs and wells, poetry, whistling, embroidery, arrows, bells, thresholds and doorways, sandstone rock formations (large monoliths like those at Stonehenge), St. Brigid’s Cross, cloaks, midwifery, corn dolls, the number 19. She is also associated with Oak trees, acorns, lambs and ewes, dairy cows, milk, spears and arrows, snowdrops, blackberries, ivy, crocuses, clover, heliotrope, heather. The serpent is also her symbol, especially the white snake.
• Colors: Green, white, black, red, yellow, blue.
• Animals: White, Red-eared cow, lambs and ewes, dairy cows, bees, owls, serpents (especially two entwined) and all hibernating animals (snakes, badgers, groundhogs).
• Plants: Dandelion, snowdrop, crocus, trillium, acorns and oak trees, corn, oat, sage, pumpkin seeds, heather, chamomile, broom, shamrock, rushes, straw and all field flowers.
• Incense: Heather, wisteria, violet, lavender, lemon verbena, heliotrope.
• Gems and Metals: Gold, brass, silver, carnelian, agate, copper, amethyst, jasper, rock crystals
• Day: Friday
• Time: Sunrise
• Offerings: Coins, fire, blackberries
• Inventions: whistling, keening, beer. She was noted for turning water into beer.

“Why, what’s the matter, That you have such a February face, So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?” — William Shakespeare

February's Lunar Spotlight

New Moon in Aquarius

Excerpt from: Dark Moon Pixie.com

The New Moon for February comes to us in Aquarius, the sign of the future, our hopes and dreams, and the sign of change. We're focused on what we hope and dream of, and we can be open to making changes that get us closer to achieving those dreams. We can work independently, but can also work well with groups and make new connections that are beneficial to us. We're excited about the future, and we feel like we're on a new road.

This is super strong now that Pluto is in Aquarius for this New Moon, and we're entering a whole new era. This is a huge time for change, but this isn't small change. It's huge, maybe life-altering at times, and normally that scares us, but with Aquarius, we're ready to go. The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all also moving to Aquarius or are already in Aquarius for this New Moon, so we're super focused on the future, our dreams, and changes, and we can take the action we need and make great progress quickly.

The sunset embers smolder low, The Moon climbs o’er the hill, The peaks have caught the alpenglow, The robin’s song is still. –John L. Stoddard (1850–1931)

February's Full Snow Moon

Adapted From The Farmer's Almanac

When to see the Full Moon in February 2023: Got your snow shovels ready? February’s full Snow Moon is a 'micromoon' and reaches its peak on February 5th. A Micromoon is when a Full / New Moon coincides with apogee, the point in the Moon's orbit farthest away from Earth. February’s full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 10:28 am; Sunday, February 5. For the best view of this Moon, look for it that night or the night before; it will drift above the horizon in the east around sunset and reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. The explanation behind February’s full Moon name is a fairly straightforward one: it’s known as the Snow Moon due to the typically heavy snowfall that occurs in February. On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver, who had visited with the Naudowessie (Dakota), wrote that the name used for this period was the Snow Moon, “because more snow commonly falls during this month than any other in the winter.”

ALTERNATIVE FEBRUARY MOON NAMES:

Names for this month’s Moon have historically had a connection to animals.

• Bald Eagle Moon or Eagle Moon (Cree).
• Bear Moon and Tlingit Black Bear Moon refer to the time when bear cubs are born. ( Ojibwe)
• Raccoon Moon (Dakota)
• Groundhog Moon (Algonquin)
• Goose Moon (Haida)

Another theme of this month’s Moon names is scarcity. The Cherokee names of Month of the Bony Moon and Hungry Moon give evidence to the fact that food was hard to come by at this time.

MOON LORE:

• As many days old as is the Moon on the first snow, there will be that many snowfalls by crop planting time.
• A halo ’round the moon means ’twill rain or snow soon.

"The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within." William C. Bryant

February Full Moon Magic:

Wigington, Patti. "Quickening Moon." Learn Religions, Sep. 13, 2021, learnreligions.com/quickening-moon-2562394.

In February, the nights are cold and we begin to feel a bit of cabin fever. This month's full moon is called the Quickening Moon, although in some places it's referred to as the Ice Moon, for obvious reasons. In other areas, it's known as the Hunger Moon. After all, this is the time of year when our ancestors began to feel the bite of winter in their bellies, sitting by a dwindling fire in the long dark night, wondering if they had stockpiled enough bread or meat or grain to get them through until spring

Correspondences:

• colors purple and blue
• gemstones rose quartz, jasper, and amethyst
• for tree magic into your workings and rituals - use rowan and myrtle for maximum effectiveness
• for deity work - Brighid, Aphrodite, Juno, and Mars are all associated with this time of year.
• for herbal correspondences - try adding hyssop, sage, and myrrh into your Quickening Moon rituals and spells.
• Finally, keep in mind that this month is associated with the element of fire.

Quickening Moon Magic:

This is a month when new life is beginning, but still lies dormant. Pregnant animals, due in the spring, begin to feel the quickening of their unborn young. The earth itself is quickening, as seeds and bulbs far beneath the soil begin their journey towards the light. We know these things are coming–and we know also that this is a good month to make plans for the future. We can dream and hope, and set goals for ourselves. Accept responsibility for mistakes you've made in the past, and move on. Magical workings this month should focus on personal achievements and advancement.

Try one or more of these for a bit of Quickening Moon magic this month:

• Plant some seeds in a pot of warm soil, to represent not just the new life that is beginning in the earth, but also the things you hope to achieve this year. If you're planning a magical herb or flower garden, select your seeds based on the needs of the coming seasons.
• Perform a meditation to do a bit of self-evaluation. Do you need to rethink the baggage you're carrying around? Maybe this is the year you make big changes? A bit of reflective meditation is a good way to gain focus not only on what you hope to achieve, but the path you'll need to take to make things happen.
• Do a winter full moon ritual, to to reflect on darkness of the season, and know that without it, there can be no light. Think about what brings darkness to your own life, and recognize that if you never faced the dark, you'd have far less appreciation for the light.
• This is a season of hearth and home. If you're someone who's crafty, get hands-on with your magic. Develop your skills and hone your talents, and channel that creativity into magical purposes. Try knitting a warm hat or scarf to wear for outdoor rituals, sewing a new altar cloth, crafting some jewelry that reflects your beliefs, or writing a song or poem honoring the gods and goddesses of your tradition.

Thanks to its proximity to Imbolc, the Quickening Moon season is a time of magical energy related to the feminine aspect of the goddess, of new beginnings, and of fire. It's a great time to focus on divination and increasing your own magical gifts and abilities. Take advantage of these concepts and plan your workings accordingly.

• Take an Imbolc Cleansing Ritual Bath to clean the body, but also to cleanse the mind and soul.
• An Imbolc House Cleansing Ceremony is a good way to get a jump on your spring cleaning before the weather gets warm.
• Since this time of year is associated with fire, do a Fire Scrying Ritual to see what the coming months hold in store for you.
• Do some Lithomancy divination by combining symbols with your own intuitive powers. You can craft a set of divination stones easily following some basic instructions.
• Do a meditation to honor Brighid, the Celtic hearth goddess. She is associated with the crossroads and can be called upon when you need help making decisions or tough choices, particularly as they relate to domestic life.

“On the wind in February, snowflakes float still. Half inclined to turn to rain, nipping, dripping, chill.” ―Christina Georgina Rossetti

Craft Corner...

Make a Paper St. Brigid's Cross

From the Susan Gaylord website:

This is a very simplified version of St. Brigid's (or St. Bridget's) cross. The traditional one is made of rushes and has many more layers. This is just the first round but it contains the core of the pattern.

I used four strips of bagasse paper from India.

MAKE THE CROSS:

1. FOLD THE STRIPS OF PAPER:

• Fold each strip of paper in half.

2. FIRST STRIP:

• Hold the first strip vertically with the fold on the top.

3. SECOND STRIP:

• Hold the second strip horizontally with the fold on the left.
• Open it and and enclose the first strip by placing one layer on either side.

4. THIRD STRIP:

• Hold the third strip vertically with the fold on the bottom.
• Open it and and enclose the second strip by placing one layer on either side.

5. FOURTH STRIP:

• Hold the fourth strip horizontally with the fold on the right.
• Open it and enclose the third strip.
• Bring the layers together and thread them inside the layers of the first strip.

6. TIGHTEN:

• Gently tighten the weave and make the cross.

Blessed Imbolc!

“February. Where winter whispers it’s final verses and the promise of spring dances in every snowflake.” – unknown

The Kitchen Witch's Cauldron

~ Brotchán Foltchep ~

Brotchán Foltchep dates back to sometime before the 5th century (some claim as far back as 25,000 years) making it one of Ireland's oldest known and recorded soup recipes though it's exact age is debatable. In Gaelic, 'Brotchán' means 'broth' or 'soup' while the word 'Foltchep' translates as 'Leek(s)' so the name ' Brotchán Foltchep' translates as 'Leek Broth / Soup'.

This ancient Irish soup of broth thickened with oatmeal and the distinctive, delicate, slightly sweet flavor of leeks is the perfect soup to prepare as winter turns to spring. Hearty, healthy, and tasty, this soup makes the best of two of Ireland's hardy and most praised crops to make a spring soup to honor the Goddess, Brighid!

“The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within.” – William C. Bryant

“While it is February, one can taste the full joys of anticipation. Spring stands at the gate with her finger on the latch.” – Patience Strong

February Book Review

Imbolc:

The Ultimate Guide to Brigid, and Candlemas and How It’s Celebrated in Christianity, Wicca, Druidry, and Celtic paganism

By: Mari Silva

Explore the Festival of Imbolc!

Have you always felt drawn to spring?

Do you often feel drained during winter and rejoice when you see the first sign of spring?

Do you have a deep desire inside you to explore the festival of Imbolc?

This book is a dedicated guide to introducing you to the world of Imbolc. It’s not just about the most popular recipes, traditions, and rituals. It’s also about the spiritual importance of the season.

In this book, you’ll:

• Explore the historical origins of Imbolc and its relationship with Candlemas
• Understand how Imbolc connects to Brigid
• Learn where Imbolc fits into the yearly cycle
• Understand the relationship between Imbolc and our spiritual and psychological growth cycles and even our moods
• Discover how you can celebrate the festival and honor Brigid – from delicious recipes to beautiful rituals
• And much more!

If you’ve been feeling drawn to Imbolc and this book, your spirit guides might be trying to tell you something. This is your chance to add something new to your life.

About the author:

Mari Silva - If you want to learn about topics related to spirituality, then look no further. Mari Silva has made it her mission to share her extensive knowledge via easy to read books that you won't want to put down. So if you want to learn about psychic development, lucid dreaming, third eye awakening, or any other topic related to spirituality, then first check if you can't find that topic covered by Mari Silva. You will be happy you did!

Happy Reading!

February Laughs:

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