2020 - 2.02.02.2020 - Tara
Two - A protective number
In the preparation for the get-together many are picking up on the number Two connected to this Celebration.
The time of the First Quarter (Imbolg) is 01.41am on 2nd February 2020.
At 20 seconds past 8.20pm digital clocks will read 20.20.20: 02.02.2020.
Ideas put forward for the day included:
Drawing a circle on the ground and stepping through it, marking the transition into Spring.
Bringing rushes that people can make into Brigid's crosses.
Inspired by the number two - a protective number. Bringing a Brat Bhrid put out overnight to get the energy... the vision behind this being of Brigid leaning over the land and spreading her cloak over everyone. More information of the Brat is under the Brigid's Eve paragraph here - Bridget's Life, Wells and Customs
What actually happened....
The plan for Imbolg this year was to meet at the gate at Tara, see who turns up and “go with the flow”..
John and Susan were there and realised that we would be the only two…
While we were waiting for anyone else to turn up, a man hopped out of his car and came across to us, maybe he was going to join us?
But no, he had a gift, a lovely pendant with the 3 spirals – so appropriate for the day as Brigid is seen as the mother, maiden and crone – and this time of year it is the maiden’s time to emerge.
Made by him from an oak tree at the back of Tara, so we would always have a little piece of Tara with us.
Then he joined a group heading up to Tara, and somehow it didn’t feel that’s where we were meant to go.
We both decided to head to the well, where we felt a real feeling of peace and “being in the belly”, sheltered from the wind and surrounded by the higher ground.
I had left out my brat Brid overnight and put the water from the tray holding it into a jar and with a sprig of rosemary blessed ourselves before we started.
We lit two candles, and some incense (notice the little bird formed by the smoke in the photo below), read out an invocation and stayed for a while in silence.
Threshold invocation for the festival of Imbolg by Caitlin Matthews. Midwife of mystery, open the door, In warmth and brightness you will arrive. |  |
We opened the gate and blessed ourselves with the water.
Two beautiful green plants were growing inside the darkness of the well which reminded us of the new life and buds opening at this time of year.
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Then we were joined by Bernie Mac who read out an appropriate piece about believing and having faith in yourself. So the two became three, which seemed appropriate and we went off to get a nice warming bowl of soup. The heavens opened as if to bless us and the land, and then the blue sky was visible again.
Really lovely feeling from the day. Even though the hill was packed, with cars all the way down the road, no one came to the well…
Susan
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 | Song of Imbolg I am the unopened bud, and I am the blossom, |
Global Spiritual Wheel
For those tuning into the seasonal energies, a non-denominational, universal lattice of spiritual inter-connecting love.
comments and photos from Martin in Galway / Navan, Bernadette in Navan and Tara, Susan in Faughart, Nora and Louise in Peak District, Derbyshire, Loreto sends a prayer from Meath.
Martin in Galway
| Pluiriní Sneachta as Ghaeilge or Snowdrops. One of the first flowers of spring and brave and bold enough to defy the frost, snow and cold, just like Brigit who defied her fathers authority, her social norms to become a world changing leader. |  |
 | Lus an chrom cinn as Gaeilge or the daffodil. Another welcome spring addition to the garden heralding, with its sun yellow head, the arrival of longer warmer days. A symbol of hope that Brigidine forces are circulating once again, animating life. The upward and downward pointing petals reminding us of the fire within and the fire without. Brigid, a keeper of the eternal flame would indeed enjoy this blossom. |
| Bhrat Bríde. Traditionally a cloth is put out on St. Brigits eve and during the night the cloth is embued with Brigit's healing energy as she blesses it with the morning dew. The Bhrat is kept as a token of healing. |  |
 | Buddha does Brigit At Tara Celebrations we often combine traditions to evoke a sense of spiritual wholeness in the observer or participants. Here Buddha is wrapped in a Brigit's mantle symbolising balance in yin and yang, promotion of the middle path, healing gentleness and compassion. |
| The five pointed star, a symbol of the divine feminine with the head in the heavens, the arms outstretched and the feet on the ground is another good pagan and/or mystical symbol for Brigid. Here she stands over the emerging bunches of pluiríní sneachta. |  |
Eilish in Navan planted all these pluiríní sneachta timpeall an labyrinth beag sa ghardín. Go deas.
They were taken from old Randalstown house before Tara mines covered the area in a tailings pond. Eilishe's conservation in action. Maith thú
Bernadette's snowdrops in Navan and some on Hill of Tara
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Susan was watching the moon on Brigid's Day and then visited Faughart where St. Brigid's Well is in the graveyard.
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Snowdrops in Nora's garden and in Louise's, both in the Peak District.
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St. Brigid's Prayer from Loreto M. and a mandala from Louise that echoes Martin's 5 pointed star.
Read more of Louise's blog on Mandalas here - Mandalas in the Landscape
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