Imbolc (Candlemass) is one of the 8 nature based festivals that pagans celebrate – and it is said to be the time when the Winter Goddess who has kept her grip on the land loosens her hold, so that the ice melts and waters break and flow again. It is when the Goddess Bride (Brigid) `returns’ to the land. Her path is lit by candles, symbolising the return of light and warmth which is imminent. Bride is a Goddess of poetry, inspiration, healing, knot-magic and weaving. With her, she brings the gifts of 3 flames!
Here are some Indoor & Outdoor Open Rituals for Imbolc…taking place in London this week ..
1. Pagan Federation: London’s Indoor Imbolc Ritual
Thursday 29th January 2015. 7.30pm for 8pm start at Conway Hall.
Facilitated by Goddess Enchantment.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London.
Entry fee: £5 (for PF members & concessions), £6 for all others.
Time: 7:30 – 10:00 PM Arrive from 7.30 pm for pre-ritual socialising in the foyer. Ritual starts at 8 pm and usually concludes before 9 pm. Feasting and socialising follow the ritual until 10 pm.
HOUSEKEEPING: Please do not arrive before 7:30 PM. If you are early, please utilise one of the nearby pubs, cafes or gardens to sit and socialise in. Please switch off mobile phones before going into the ritual. No photographs or video are allowed during the ritual. Please bring a little food & drink to share during the feast after the ritual.
2. Outdoor Druid Imbolc ritual
Facilitated by The Loose Association of Druids of Primrose Hill
Sunday 1st February 2015. — 1pm start —
Venue: Hawthorne Grove at top of Primrose Hill (Primrose Hill, London NW1 8YH (entrance opposite Rothwell St),
Gathering time: 12.30pm onwards…for 1pm prompt start!!
Jeremy & friends provide a certain number of hard copies of the ritual..which is followed through out.. (many parts are read..so no need to memorise lots of words). Blessing of food & drinks follows then ritual continues into `closing ceremony’, and Astrology/ divination reading by a member there.
After Ritual, many attendees walk about 15 min to our regular pub for further drinks & socials
Info—-
We gather in the Hawthorne Grove between 12.30 & 12.45pm in order to select the concelebrants & to prepare the Site ready for a prompt 1 o’clock start.
Nearest Tube: Chalk Farm or Swiss Cottage
Nearest Overground: South Hampstead or Chalk Farm
Please bring a small contribution of picnic food & drink to share.
All are Welcome.
Celebrating the Three Druidic Freedoms: of Thought; of Speech; & of Association Called for by John Tollund in 1716, & assembled by Iolo Morgannwg in 1792.
DIRECTIONS
If you’re coming by tube to Chalk Farm,turn RIGHT on leaving the station & cross Adelaide Rd to get to Regents Park Rd into which you turn RIGHT (admiring the Banksy stencil graffiti of a uniformed maid sweeping dust under a wall) & go uphill to the cycle/pedestrian only bridge over a railway & turn LEFT over it.
Confronted by 3 roads take the middle one (still R P Rd) & continue past the trendy shops & coffee-houses full of minor celebrities as it curves very slightly to the left, until you reach the Queen’s Head pub on the corner opposite the gate into Primrose Hill.
Enter the Park thro’ this gate & take the steepest path in front of you to the top of the hill where you will find a viewing platform overlooking most of the old City of London to the South & East, & a Memorial to Iolo Morganwg.
To the WEST & just below the brow of the hill you will see a small copse of hawthorn trees which is where we meet. Do please come & join us & make yourself known.
And remember, we’ll be meeting up in the pub afterwards! 🙂
If you’d like to be alerted to when our next event will be, please “like” the page 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/LooseAssociationOfDruidsOfPrimroseHill
Please do note the caveat concerning photography listed in our “about” section describing the LADS meetings:
“Please contact us first if you would like to take pictures, and please be sure that you obtain consent first. Thank you”
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