Plant a Light Garden
List of items needed;
Dirt (or potting soil)
Lasagna (or cake) pan
Small slips of paper
Pens or Pencils
Birthday candles
At Imbolc, energy begins to return to the earth after long months of resting and
waiting. The light garden celebrates this feeling of potential in the air and
starts all of us thinking about our own potential to create and make necessary
changes. It reminds us of our own awe-inspiring ability (like the Earth’s) to
gestate new growth, abilities, and projects.
First, go outdoors and dig up some good rich dirt to fill a lasagna pan or
sheet-cake baking pan. (If you don’t have access to a yard, buy some potting
soil.) Then come back inside and sit in a circle with the dirt-filled pan in
the center. Take a few moments to think about what particular ideas, projects,
creative ventures, or changes you would like to manifest in the coming months.
Would you like to learn how to play a flute? Be able to paint with oils? Is
there a book inside you waiting to be written? Or would you like to start your
own neighborhood newspaper? Make your own clothes? Run a mile? Learn how to
drive? Ride a bike? Paddle a canoe? Both adults and children will come up
with lots of wonderful ideas. Then have each person write a few words about
each idea – or draw a picture of it – on a small slip of paper. Do as many as
you like.
Crumple the papers up into tiny pellets or seeds. Then, taking turns, plant the
seeds in the pan of earth. When all the seeds have been planted, each person
takes a small birthday candle and sets it into the dirt over the spots where
their seeds are buried. Place the pan on the altar where the seeds (and
candles) will lie waiting. After dark on Imbolc, light the candles and feel
their energy blessing your plans and hopes. You may save the dirt and seeds to
plant in your outdoor garden in spring.
List of items needed;
Dirt (or potting soil)
Lasagna (or cake) pan
Small slips of paper
Pens or Pencils
Birthday candles
At Imbolc, energy begins to return to the earth after long months of resting and
waiting. The light garden celebrates this feeling of potential in the air and
starts all of us thinking about our own potential to create and make necessary
changes. It reminds us of our own awe-inspiring ability (like the Earth’s) to
gestate new growth, abilities, and projects.
First, go outdoors and dig up some good rich dirt to fill a lasagna pan or
sheet-cake baking pan. (If you don’t have access to a yard, buy some potting
soil.) Then come back inside and sit in a circle with the dirt-filled pan in
the center. Take a few moments to think about what particular ideas, projects,
creative ventures, or changes you would like to manifest in the coming months.
Would you like to learn how to play a flute? Be able to paint with oils? Is
there a book inside you waiting to be written? Or would you like to start your
own neighborhood newspaper? Make your own clothes? Run a mile? Learn how to
drive? Ride a bike? Paddle a canoe? Both adults and children will come up
with lots of wonderful ideas. Then have each person write a few words about
each idea – or draw a picture of it – on a small slip of paper. Do as many as
you like.
Crumple the papers up into tiny pellets or seeds. Then, taking turns, plant the
seeds in the pan of earth. When all the seeds have been planted, each person
takes a small birthday candle and sets it into the dirt over the spots where
their seeds are buried. Place the pan on the altar where the seeds (and
candles) will lie waiting. After dark on Imbolc, light the candles and feel
their energy blessing your plans and hopes. You may save the dirt and seeds to
plant in your outdoor garden in spring.
