PRIEST: This is Imbolc... Brigit's day

This is the feast of the waxing light.
What was born at the Winter Solstice begins to manifest
The Lady, midwife to the infant year, now sees the Child Sun grow strong as the days grow visibly longer. It is a time of beginnings, when we select the seed we will later plant, nurture, and eventually harvest.
Now, I'd like everyone to ground and centre themselves... in the way that is best for you.
As you do, see yourself bathed in a white light, cleansing you and your area.

All now, mentally turn to the East:

Spokesperson for Air:

Powers of the East
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!

All now mentally turn to the South:

Spokesperson for Fire:

Powers of the South
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!

All now mentally turn to the West:

Spokesperson for Water:

Powers of the West
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!

All now mentally turn to the North:

Spokesperson for Earth:

Powers of the North
We bid you come
To witness our rite
And protect us!

All turn back once more to the East and in your own way, salute the East again [visualization.]

PRIESTESS: Now, let us all link together

Feel the earth energy welling up from the bowels of the Earth, our Mother
Feel it rise to our feet and up through our bodies
White light energy
Feel it flow through us and link us, one with the other
So finally we feel and see the circle of energy, the circle of power
binding us together and setting us apart
In a space not of this time, but of all times
Not of these places, but all places!
Blessed Be!

PRIEST: Sun King!

Horned One of animals and wild places
Joyously we ask you come!
All the land is wrapped in the chill of winter
The trees are bare and the air is cold.
Yet still our hearts are glad
For we know you have been reborn
And nurtured in your early days
By the gracious Mother Goddess,
Lady of all fertility.
We bid you welcome
And rejoice in your growing strength!
Hail Great God!
Hail and Welcome!

ALL: Hail & Welcome!

PRIESTESS: Hail Mother, from you the Sun once more does grow!

Hail and Welcome!

ALL: Hail Bride! Welcome, Lord of the Sun!

PRIESTESS: Welcome Lord! Share with us your warmth and light!

Hail and welcome in your new light!
Great Goddess, Noble Lady!
Known to the Celts as Brigit, Bride, Cerridwen, and more
Goddess of Light
Keeper of the sacred wells!
We gather tonight to honoor You, the Mother who has nurtured the Sun King
As the spring lambs are born and the ewes come to milk, as we sense spring itself so close ,
We bid you welcome, as we clear out the old and make way for the new.
Welcome Lady

ALL: Welcome and all Hail! Bride is come! Bride is Welcome!

PRIEST: Welcome, bright lady, spark of inspiration!

Welcome, Great Mother. Welcome and grow strong, Young Lord.
Welcome, Lady of Light! Nurture and help us as we grow!
Mother smile upon us and bring us Life, Lord shine down upon us and bring us Light!
Now, let us each concentrate on that which we need to "sweep out" of our lives.
Picture it as, with a new, clean broom, you sweep it away and it vanishes in the air.
And now, with ourselves cleansed, let us meditate on that we might wish
to plant for this year... the "seed" we will plant in the spring.
For, this is the time of choosing the seed and preparing for the planting.
Gracious Lady! Help us chose wisely the seed!
and now, with our seed selected and held dearly in our hearts,
it is time to thank the Lady and the Lord.
O Sun King, Horned One!
We thank thee for thy presence
Surely we feel your growing strength
In our heart of hearts and find joy in knowing
that as the sun grows, so do you!
We thank thee for teaching us that even in the depths of winter life grows!
Farewell, Lord, if you must go.
Though, gladly would we have you stay and rejoice with us.
Hail, Sun King!

PRIESTESS: Gracious Lady,

We thank thee for thy guidance, in selecting our seed.
Truly will we hold it in our hearts
Till the time of planting.
We thank thee also for teaching us the wisdom of cleansing and letting go of that which is no longer useful to us.
Thus do we heal of past hurts and grow in strength, even as does our Lord.
We thank thee, and bid you farewell if you must go, but gladly would we have you stay and rejoice with us!
Hail, Gracious Lady!
And now, we will let our circle sink back into the Earth once again.
For all that comes of the Earth, must surely return to Her.
But even as the circle departs,
know that we are still bound
By our love of the Gods and the Love between us.
Blessed Be!

ALL: Blessed Be

GUARDIAN: Farewell Lord and Lady. Depart our circle, but be always with us.

Blessed Be!

All now turn in your mind's eye once again to the East

Farewell, Powers of the East
We thank you for your attendance and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!

All Face South

Farewell Powers of the South
We thank you for your attendance and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!

All Face West

WATER: Farewell Powers of the West

We thank you for your attendance and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!

All face North

EARTH: Farewell Powers of the North

We thank you for your attendance and protection
Peace ever between thee and we!

Once more face East and mentally salute once again

2nd Guardian: The circle is open, but unbroken

Merry meet and merry part and merry meet again!

All: Merry Meet and Merry Part, and Merry Meet Again!

The Rite is ended, feast begins.

BLESSED BE.