|
|
|
|
Brighid's Imbolc Garden
Associated to Place:
AncientWorlds >
Celtia >
Eire >
Leinster >
Cill Dara >
articles
-- by
1
Featured February 1 , 2009
Featuring the plants associated with Imbolc
Imbolc is a very special occasion for herbalists because this is Brighid's time of the year. She is the patron of healers as well as smiths, poets and brewers. She is also the goddess of hearth and home. If you don't know Brighid, let me tell you a few things about her.
Some of her nicknames are Keeper of the Flame, Spark of Wisdom and Bright Arrow. From this you can see that Fire is her element. This goes with the fires of Imbolc, when we start to see the first signs that warmth is returning to the land - the days are getting longer, and if you look closely you may see catkins starting to bud on the branches of the willows and other trees. One of Brighid's plants is the crocus. Why? Because this is one of the first flowers to pop up around Imbolc time. Sometimes on Imbolc, the crocuses in my garden have even poked their heads up through the snow, along with hellebore flowers and snowdrops. They have an important message to deliver - Spring is coming! Another one of Brighid's plants is coltsfoot which is also among the first plants to bloom in the spring. You may have noticed coltsfoot flowering on wooded hillsides or beside the road. Sometimes their yellow heads are mistaken for dandelions but it's much too early for dandelions yet. Coltsfoot is a good medicine plant because its leaves can make a tea that is soothing for coughs. Rowan and oak are two trees that belong to Brighid. Oak is hers because there is a sacred site in Ireland at Kildare where Brighid is supposed to have lived. Kildare in Irish is "Cill Dara" which means "church of the oak". Brighid's fiery arrows are said to be made of rowan wood, and in some legends she carries a rowan wand. In the Celtic lands, mothers hang a cross of rowan over their babies' cradle and recite a prayer to Brighid for protection of the children. The red berries of rowan are called Caora Teine ("fire sparkle") in Irish. Last but not least, the blackberry is another one of Brighid's plants. I'm not sure why this is, except to guess that maybe since she is the patron of blacksmiths, she might have been the first one to use blackberry leaves as the cure for burns. There is a remedy for scalds using blackberry leaves, and it also involves the numbers 3, 9 and 27 which are all Brighid's numbers. Just imagine Brighid the healer dipping nine blackberry leaves in water from her sacred well and then putting them gently on a smithy's burnt hand, while saying to each leaf three times (27 times altogether): "Three ladies came from the east, One with fire and two with frost. Out with fire, in with frost! " On Imbolc, I honor Brighid by decorating my altar with crocuses and snowdrops. I offer acorns too because they are the seeds of the oak, and Imbolc is seed time. The new moon of February is the best time to plant seeds. This year the new moon is on February 25th. The new moon in the fertile sign of Pisces gives seeds a jumpstart of good energy. If it's still too cold to sow your seeds straight out into your garden, you can still start some indoors on the new moon. The easiest herbs to start from seed indoors are basil, catnip, sage, thyme or any mint. Fill some recycled containers - empty yogurt cups, plastic containers from the grocery produce department, egg cartons, or whatever else you can think of - with potting soil. Follow the directions on the back of the seed packet for planting. Keep the soil moist by misting lightly, but don't let it stay soaking wet. And don't forget, when you plant your seeds think of your wishes for spring and summer and plant them too, so that they will sprout and grow with your herbs. Another way to celebrate Imbolc, Brighid and Seed Time is to make a seed cake to enjoy at the sabbat feast or to share with friends. Here's one of my favorite recipes. 4 cups flour 2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons caraway seeds 2 cups butter, beat until creamy 8 eggs 1 grated nutmeg Separate the egg yolks from the whites. In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Add sugar and mix well. Beat egg whites and add, then beat yolks and mix in. In another bowl, mix together the flour, nutmet and seeds, then beat into the wet mixture. Pour into greased cake pan to bake at 425 for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. May the Bright Arrow light your path with love and warm the seeds of your dreams! |
Courtyard
~ Table of Contents ~
Feverfew
Lavender Ladybugs Thyme Bay Laurel Mint Answers to Spring Equinox Quix Dandelion for Spring Tonic Fiddleheads Nettles for Spring Daffodil Quiz Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: THE SACRED OAK Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: VERVAIN Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: MARIGOLDS AND MAIDENS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08: THE CHARM OF IVY Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: GREEN WHEAT EARS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: FLAX BLOSSOMS Beltaine Treasure Hunt '08 - GARLIC Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: EGLANTINE Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: Magical Fern Seeds Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: BOX SPRIGS Beltaine '08 Treasure Hunt: APPLE Holly Crocus Cure for Fairy Stroke Cure for ElfShot Cure for Flea Infestation Cure for Giggling Fits Hemorrhoid Remedy Flatulence Itching Love Spell Cure Warts & Carbuncles |
