Shadow Magick for Imbolc

 Imbolc is coming up in just a few weeks.  It seems to have come up out of nowhere this year.  Maybe it's just getting older, but the last twelve months have flown by faster than any other time in my life. I kind of feel like I'm caught up in a great wind that's flying past me that I can't quite grab hold of.  Rather appropriate for this time of year.

One of the old Scottish tales of this time of year tells about the Callieach fighting tooth and nail to retain her power and to continue the rule of winter.  Of course, time turns on and winter must eventually fade and yield its power to the coming spring.  Seasons must change in their never ending cycle and so must we.  Imbolc is the perfect time to do a working to help yourself see what you are desperately hanging onto, what things whose time has come you cling to.  We've all had times when we've held onto an idea that's died - the ideal that can never be achieved, the job that wouldn't really make you happy, the untenable relationship, etc.  It's hard to let go of something you've made precious, sometimes its so hard you can't even see it.

Spell To See

Find a private place where you won't be disturbed.  Bring a small black candle, some incense (I prefer dragon's blood or copal), and a small bowl of water (the bowl should be reflective - either silver or black, and should have only a cup or so of water in it).

Begin by turning of the lights in the room.  Cast a circle if you wish (lately I've been doing most of my work without one) and light your incense.  If you have a particular deity or powers that you work with, ask it/them to help.

Sit down in front of your altar.  Make yourself comfortable enough that you can sit for a while, but not so comfortable that you'll get drowsy (I find it helpful to keep the room just a bit colder than normal).  Think for a few minutes about what you really want to accomplish.  Think about what you're actively doing to make that happen.  Out loud, say exactly what you're trying to do and state that you want to see the situation clearly and want to really SEE the effects of your actions and whether or not they're actually doing what you want them to.  Speak from the heart.  The most important thing is that you say what you really mean and that there's some emotional weight behind it.

Light your candle and place it somewhere where it will indirectly light your bowl of water (you shouldn't be able to see the candle flame when you look in the bowl).  Hold your hands over the bowl of water and concentrate on your goal.

Say, "Dark waters help me to see.  Show me the things that are hidden from me."

Open your mind and spend 5-10 minutes gazing into the water.  Pay attention to any shapes you see in the water and any ideas that come into your mind.  I find it helpful to cup my hands around, but not quite touching, the bowl.

After a few minutes you should get the sense of completion, that you've gotten all that you're going to get from the experience.  Then drink the water.

Give thanks to anything you've called on and make some small offering to the powers that be (I like to reserve just a bit of the scrying water with a drop or two of essential oil added for this). 

You might not get a clear answer right during the spell itself, but fragments should float to the top of your mind over the next few days.

Memories of Imbolcs past.

Happy Imbolc

Ah Imbolc, that strange time of year when winter is half over and yet the worst of it is often yet to come.  This has been an odd winter for me.  Normally I spend most of my winter in quiet introspection, fully appreciating the season.  This year I started running in the winter and so I've been unusually active.  On the one hand this is great because running gives me a solid hour or two of meditative time several times a week.  On the other hand, all this activity has thrown off my natural seasonal rhythm.  Without the depth of my normal introspective time I feel like I just haven't connected with the divine in anything but a surface way.

I have a very strong connection to my deity and normally take time to really commune with her.  It's in that communion time that I get messages and direction for what I need to do over the next several months.  That gives me a great sense of purpose and fulfillment.  Somehow, those times just got lost in the shuffle these past few months. My mind has been so overworked with thinking about my health, exercise, and all the other mundania that I'm surrounded with that I just plain forgot to carve out time that was solely sacred and nothing else.  Meditation and mindfulness are great, but they're no substitute for direct communion with deity.  I feel a bit like a shmuck. 

Well, this evening I'm going to go home, run, and then take some time to do *gasp* an actual ritual!  I'm going to turn off my phone, get kitted up, and actually do a full formal ritual.  I need meaningful connection in a big way.  Somehow, in the midst of learning new techniques and strengthening my understanding of metaphysics I lost track of the point.  It all boils down to this: all that matters is that which puts you in the sight of your god.