Backyard to the Universe
Small Group Ministries
SMALL
GROUP MINISTRY
IMBOLC:
AWAKENING
Opening
Words: From Essene Book of Days, February, Tuesday
Meditation
How
strong in me is my need to grow
To
expand
To
meet the promise of the coming spring.
There
is a joy in me that carries me onward
From
the physical being
To
the awareness of the cosmic ocean of Love
In
which I dwell. May I be blessed
To
share this joy with all beings,
In
whatever way I can.
Check
In: How are you today?
Topic/Activity:
Imbolc
(IM bulk) is the Celtic celebration either at the beginning of
February or at the first local signs of Spring,
or the awakening of the earth. Imbolc is the festival of the day of
Bridgit. She is the Celtic goddess of the maidens who rules over the
movement outward from winter to springtime. The ewes were giving
birth, the nodes that become buds are signs of changes from the
winter to spring. Imbolc is traditionally a time of weather
prognostication,
and the old tradition of watching to see if serpents or badgers came
from their winter dens is perhaps a precursor to Groundhog
Day
– and to see how long it will be before spring is fully
realized.
Winter,
in the spiritual cycle of the seasons, is a time of introspection and
regeneration, a time of finding inner peace and love and wholeness
during earth’s time of rest. Spring is the time when we
‘awaken’ to share this wholeness with others so that it
becomes even more available to us.
What
do the beginning signs of spring mean?
What
is the power in the changing of the seasons, especially between
winter and spring?
What
transformation is going on in you as spring approaches?
What
power do you have within yourself to grow?
Share
a story about how you are growing.
Likes
and Wishes: How was the session for you?
Closing:
From Essene Book of Days, February, Thursday Blessing (slight
adaptation)
I
pause to honor
The
overlighting stream of wisdom
That
guides each living thing on its journey…
That
journey is my journey…
And
that wisdom is alive in me
As
it is in the highest of beings.
As
I grow in spiritual maturity,
I
see that this wisdom is always available
To
the extent that I have prepared myself to receive it.
Rev.
Helen Zidowecki, January 2008