Sparkling silver
Glistening from the green
Light reflected, darkness gone.

Cedar
Tall and mystical
Coated with the dew
What is your story?
What is your song?

Help me
To see and know
The shimmering soul.

The light returns as we honor Imbolc, February 1, a Celtic fire festival that marks the coming of light after the long dark of winter. We are but a reflection of nature and nature a reflection of us. As nature changes, we change, a part of the mystery of life. But are we a willing part of this change, the flow of existence that allows nothing at all to stagnate. Even in resistance, change occurs. The flow of the great stream of life plucks even the most embedded ones from the darkness of it’s banks to propel all through it’s waters of light. Resist too much and you drown!

Fire is transformational as it burns away and purifies. As the heavenly purifying agent, it lightens and lessens the burdens of life as well as enlightens and forges the molten silver of our spirit into the alchemic gold of our soul. Mastery of fire is the realm of the shaman, the mystic, the one that is the religious leader, sans the dogma and doctrines of fear, par excellence.

Are you resisting? Are you holding on to “something” that needs to be purified and let go? The following may help you heal and is a Fire Releasing Ritual from our book, Holy Blood Holy Heart:

SUNSET RITUAL

Prepare yourself as you would for a special ritual. This ritual is preferably done outdoors, but can also be done indoors in a fireplace, if necessary. Build the fire ahead of time in a very respectful manner, in a spiritual way. Include prayers while you are building the fire—ask the fire to take away your hurt and help you release the past. Be sure to include this statement as part of your prayers.

(You will need herbs or incense for smudging/purification, perfume and/or scented oil, honey and olive oil for the fire, and a small piece of wood for your release and forgiveness.)

Do a fast or modified fast before this ritual.

Conduct this ritual at sundown after washing/showering and dressing in different clothes than the ones that you wore during the day.

One hour before sunset, sit alone and be in silence. Do deep and slow breathing to relax yourself and to put you in the present moment. You may also invite one of your spiritual guardians to come and join you for this ritual—you will know if one comes to be with you by feeling its presence. For the rest of the hour be in silence and focus on releasing the past issue or situation—forgiving and letting go. During this time put a symbol or word(s) on the piece of wood that expresses the past issue or situation, and also a word or symbol that expresses your forgiveness. If you are not quite sure what your past issue is, but you feel an emptiness, put a symbol of this emptiness and a symbol or word of forgiveness on the piece of wood.

Purify the area with herbs or incense, and do prayers asking for release and forgiveness of your past issue, then light the fire, and sit and wait. After the fire burns for a few minutes, with words of offering, love and power pour some of the perfume/scented oil, honey and the olive oil onto the fire as a gifting to the spirit of life and the spirit of the fire.

Let the fire burn for a while. When you feel the time is right, approach the fire. Just be in the moment and trust your heart, and you will know the right time. Approach the fire in a counter-clockwise manner, accompanied by your guardian if one is with you for this ritual. Kneel beside the fire, and with total love, power, focus, and powerful intent, put your "past and forgiveness" piece of wood into the fire. See and feel the release! If you can put your hands near the fire, draw the healing and forgiving heat into your hara chakra. Then draw the heat into your heart chakra. And finally, draw the heat into your third-eye chakra. Bless, thank, and love the fire, and this experience. Bless, thank, and love your guardian if one is with you. Then return to your seat in a clock-wise fashion.

To end the ritual, approach the fire and offer a prayer of closure. Give the fire a gifting of the honey and some of your smudging herbs or incense. Bless, thank, and love this experience.

Make sure the fire is totally out. Return the site to the original (even better) state. Return to your home, shower/wash once again and stay in quiet until bed, then sleep and dream.

March 2002