Imbolc is a pagan holiday which celebrates, not Spring, but rather, the
promise of Spring. It is also the sacred day of
Brigid the Bright, Celtic Triple Goddess of healing, creative handiwork and (most importantly for today's post)
poetry.
The
Imbolc Cyberspace Poetry Slam has been celebrated for quite a few years now by many pagans around the blogosphere. On February 1st or 2nd, people post a favourite poem written by themselves or by another so that, collectively, a vast internet web of poetry is woven to honour Brigid, the Goddess of Poetry.
This year I'm posting a devotional poem that I found somewhere or another several years ago. I'm afraid I don't know who the author is. Possibly the poem may be based on a traditional Celtic blessing. Either way, it's charming and I offer it to all of you as an Imbolc gift as we await Spring --
The blessings of Brigid be about you,
on your going out,
and on your coming in;
in the name of She
who blesses each doorway;
in the name of She
who calms the waves;
in the name of She
who brings us safely home.