|
 Of the
second month Amergen sings: "I am a lake upon a plain." Many ancient peoples had stories of floods in which water was both honored as a life bringer and as a destroyer. Water was seen as something that "escaped" from the realms of the gods.
In many of the stories it seemed to be a female who was involved when water would through some disaster, come to the land bringing growth and abundance though turbulence. Probably the most famous version of this myth in Celtic tradition is the Irish story of the Well of Segais. Growing around this well were nine hazel trees of wisdom, whose nuts fell into the water and gave it the quality of divine illumination, much sought-after by those seeking this wisdom. Only the owner of this well and his three cupbearers were allowed to approach the well. Then the goddess Boann desired to drink from the well herself, to increase her power.
She came to it secretly, but the well exploded flooded the land, flowing to the sea as a river, later named Boyne, which has been thought to contain her spirit ever since. While in this story, Boann appears to be a tragic victim, in reality she became the nurturing, life-enhancing Land-goddess of the people.
Imbolc occurs during this lunar cycle and the goddess, Brigit has been given honor at this time. The conjunction of fire and water, which appear to be polar opposites, are actually the main symbols for fertility and healing. Brigit kindles the fire in the earth as well as being the life-giving power of the sun, but she is also the one who sends the rivers and springs out to the land.
Because of this she is seen as the mistress of Fire and Water, and as such bringer of fertility to the Land. "Fire in water", the fire symbolism of Imbolc is placed within a period of time seen as surrounded by water in the form of great floods. This last, long stretch of winter is usually seen as a time of heavy rains and snow. Because the sun is beginning to offer longer periods of light and warmth, frost is no longer holding fast to the depths of the soil, but rather melting and seeping into the earth, giving texture to the land, making it ready for the new growth about to emerge.
It is this "quickening" that soon gives us the early first signs of spring, bulb plants pushing themselves up into view. For us that means a season to thaw out our spirits, warming ourselves a bit, thawing from the winter's cold darkness, preparing for our own growth.
So, in the movement of this cycle's energy, we first become aware of the growing water of emotion, feeling its pressure upon our quiet, in-dwelling spirits, and find ourselves yearning to begin a time of conscious manifestation. Then at the Full Moon, we may allow the well to spill over and watch them cover the land. From this we may observe Amergen's "lake upon the plain" which as it does with the land, loosens our hearts and spirits, bringing us a period of fertile growth and possibility.
It is time for us to thaw, release our frozen spirits and find rejuvenation in the fertile, life-bringing waters.
All on a plain there stands a lake,
A magic mirror doth it make;
And gathered on a wintry night,
Ye may behold a wondrous sight.
For in that lake reflected are the Lady Moon and Morning Star;
Across the sky they journey on, And to her son she sings this song.
Cradled in my loving arm,
Your dream unmarred by fear of harm,
Swift be your ride in the heavenly Boat,
As on the Milky Way we float.
Where turns the Crown of the Northern Wind
A silver island shall you find
And on that isle a castle white
Wherein is peace and calm delight.
Inside that castle's silver wall
There stands a dark majestic hall,
And in that hall a Lady fair,
The end of all desire is there.
So slumber deep thou Heavenly Twin,
And so thy journey soon begin;
For they who in Lobe's flames will die,
Shall rise again, I promise thee.
On the earth, in the air, Through the fire, by the water,
I am BREADTH, the fourth month's daughter
© Chris Carol 1979.
© 1948, 1966 by International Authors N.Y.
Also
called mountain ash, quicken.
Small delicate Goddess tree found in mountainous areas as well
as gardens.
Like elder, it is a witch tree and is often planted as a
guardian. It's moon symbolism with creamy white flowers in spring and
brilliant red berries in fall, it is easy to see.
A traditional way of protecting a house or barn was to cut two
twigs from a rowan tree you had never seen before, tie them into a
cross with red wool and weave it into a diamond shape between the four
arms. Rowan wands are used not only in magic but to drive horses and
cattle and ward off evil influences.
In the autumn, this elegant tree looks most colorful with red
and gold leaves.
The ancient people called it LUIS. (Gentle Arts of Aquarian
Magic, Marian Green, pg. 192)
Also
called "Delight of the Eye".
Gender-masculine, planet - Sun, Deity - Thor, element - fire,
powers - healing, psychic power, success, color - red, animal - duck,
known to sustain and extend life (Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Herbs).
Because
the Rowan gives special insight or foreknowledge, it can be seen as a
tree of protection against enchantments.
It provides forewarnings for things outside ourselves of which
we are not aware.
The L
indicates that you are to look within and seek for the insight
necessary to overcome your problems.
It lets you know that the inner vitality necessary to this
insight is available, if you know how and where to look.
The Luis describes a vast sea of flooding vitality waiting to
be tapped. Take heart,
any destruction you encounter will only be temporary.
The challenge of the Rowan is the avoidance of being overly
influenced by forces outside yourself.
You may encounter inner feelings of doubt, and you may tend to
be overextending yourself.
Oh Rowan
tree Oh Rowan tree thou'lt aye be dear to me
entwined
thou art wi' mony ties O' hame and infancy
Thy leaves
were aye the first of spring,
thy
flowers the simmer's pride
there was
na sic a bonnie tree in a' the country side.
Oh Rowan
Tree
How fair
wert thou in simmer time, wi'a'thy clusters white;
How rich
and gay they autumn dress, wi' berries red and bright!
On thy
fair stem were mony names which now nae mair I see,
But
they're engraven on my heart, forgot they ne'er can be.
Oh Rowan
Tree
We sat
aneath they spreadin' shade, the bairnes round thee ran,
They pu'd
they bonnie berries red, and necklaces they strang;
My
mither,
oh ! I see her still, she smil'd our sports to see,
Wi' little
Jeannie on her lap, and Jamie on her knee.
Oh Rowan
Tree
Oh! there
arose my father's pray'z, in holy ev'ning calm,
How sweet
was then my mother's voice, in the Martyrs' psalm!
Now a'are
gane! we meet nae mair aneath the rowan tree,
But
hallow'd thoughts around thee twine o' hame and infancy.
Oh Rowan
Tree
|
The red
berries of the Rowan, or Mountain Ash were historically used to lure birds into
traps.