TEMPIO DI SARASWATI

Festa della Purificazione

Imbolc or Candlemas is a Sabbat that celebrates the midwinter and the return of the sun. As the days begin to get longer, it is tradition for every candle or lamp in the house to be lit for a little while welcoming the return of the Sun. Reverence of the snow is also a part of this celebration. Some symbols or tools to have for present for ritual include a representation of a white flower, snowflake, or snow in a crystal container if available. An orange candle annointed in musk ,cinnamon, frankincense or rosemary oil can be used to sybolize the renewing energy of the Suns rebirth. For a festive meal for the Sabbat dairy foods are good since Imbolc marks the festival of calving. My suggestion would be a mexican meal, since spicey and full bodied foods in honor of the Sun's rebirth. Candlemas is also a time of light, creativity and dedication.

A Candlemas Poem

Night of lit white candles

darkness turned into light

"everything she touches changes"

feast of waxing flame

fire of heart and hearth

fire on the mind

flickering of spark

quickening of air

warming into inspiration

thawing in her innocence

snow into desire

"she shines for all of us

she burns within us all"

sipral heat of life

"she shines for all of us

within us all she burns"

the fires to create

"she shines in all of us

she burns us all within"

awakening arising is her need

"she shines for all of us

she burns within us all"

Her candle is our only source

-From Diane Stein's book "Casting the Circle"