Pagan Portals - Breath of Spring: How to Survive (and Enjoy) the Spring Festival by Draco, Melusine

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Witchcraft & Wicca

Pagan Portals - Breath of Spring: How to Survive (and Enjoy) the Spring Festival

Name: Pagan Portals - Breath of Spring: How to Survive (and Enjoy) the Spring Festival
Price: 13.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 4.6 (2 reviews)
Author: Draco, Melusine
ISBN: 9781803411880

Draco, Melusine

Reader rating

4.6

(1 reviews) 133 sold

$13.00

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Unearth the ancient magic of Imbolc, where light returns and the earth awakens.

This insightful guide delves into the rich origins of Imbolc/Candlemas, exploring its roots in European pre-urban agricultural rites. It traces the re-awakening of the "Old Lass" and the veneration of goddesses like Brigid, Fornax, and Persephone, whose stories intertwine with the return of light and fertility. Discover how these ancient observances, from crafting effigies to lighting bonfires, seamlessly merged with Roman festivals and later transformed into Christian traditions like Candlemas, offering a vibrant tapestry of seasonal celebration.

Key themes

Ancient Spring Rites Goddess Lore Unveiled Tradition & Transformation

Historical context

This work sits firmly within the modern pagan and Wiccan tradition, specifically focusing on the seasonal Wheel of the Year and Celtic-European folk magic. It bridges ancient pre-urban agricultural rites with contemporary spiritual practice.

Draco, Melusine

📚 all books by this author (25) →

Difficulty

●● Moderate

Fans will love it

Gwynne for Brigid lore · Starhawk's ecological spirituality · Phyllis Curott's seasonal guides · Ronald Hutton's historical works

🌙 Witchcraft & Wicca

🏛 Moon Books 📅 2023 📖 96 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781803411880

Fun fact

Draco's 'Breath of Spring' masterfully weaves historical scholarship with practical insight, offering a nuanced understanding of Imbolc's diverse heritage. It shines in connecting ancient agricultural rites to modern celebration. While not a spell-based grimoire, it's an invaluable addition for anyone desiring a deeper, historically informed spiritual practice, bridging the past and present of seasonal paganism.

📝 Description: Pagan Portals - Breath of Spring: How to Survive (and Enjoy) the Spring Festival

Candlemas/Imbolc is the re-awakening of the Old Lass within Old Craft belief and also coincides with the Roman Candelaria and Fornicalia - a spring corn festival celebrated in honour of Fornax, goddess of ovens, and observed by each ward of the city. All this merging of primitive origins and rites, belonging to the European pre-urban agricultural culture, meant that it also commemorated the search for Persephone by her mother and the festival of candles symbolizing the return of the Light. So it continued to be performed until the Christian era, when it was transformed into Candalmas in AD494. In pre-Christian times, Imbolc observance began the night before 1st February, and celebrants prepared for a visit from Brigid into their homes by crafting an effigy of the goddess from bundles of oats and rushes. The clothed effigy was placed in a basket overnight, and the day was celebrated by burning lamps and lighting bonfires in tribute to her. Traditions from both the pagan celebration and the Christian observance of St. Brigid's Day can be found in the modern Imbolc festivities - while celebrants sometimes make a Brigid's Cross out of reeds, as well as a Brigid corn doll or effigy.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This title offers a compelling look at Imbolc’s pre-urban origins, effectively tracing the lineage from ancient European rites to modern Wiccan practice. However, it may not suit readers seeking strictly historical academic rigor or those uninterested in goddess-centric theology. The narrative focuses heavily on mythological intertwining rather than practical spellwork, which might disappoint seekers of immediate ritual instructions. While the exploration of Brigid and Persephone is engaging for fans of comparative mythology, skeptics of esoteric traditions may find the tone overly reverent. It stands as a strong resource for those already invested in the Wheel of the Year who wish to contextualize their Spring celebrations within a broader historical framework.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking to deepen their connection with the returning light of Imbolc will find this guide invaluable for understanding the festival's deep agricultural roots. It appeals especially to those interested in goddess veneration, offering a vibrant tapestry of how ancient observances merged with Roman festivals and later Christian traditions. Those who enjoy crafting effigies, lighting bonfires, or exploring the figure of the 'Old Lass' will appreciate the seamless blend of history and ritual. It is perfect for practitioners wanting to enrich their Spring Festival celebrations by uncovering the magic behind Candlemas and the re-awakening of fertility deities like Persephone and Fornax.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you seek to deepen your connection to the Wheel of the Year, understand the historical layers beneath contemporary spring festivals, or enrich your Imbolc practice with ancient wisdom, this guide is an essential companion for your journey.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This title offers a compelling look at Imbolc’s pre-urban origins, effectively tracing the lineage from ancient European rites to modern Wiccan practice. However, it may not suit readers seeking strictly historical academic rigor or those uninterested in goddess-centric theology. The narrative focuses heavily on mythological intertwining rather than practical spellwork, which might disappoint seekers of immediate ritual instructions. While the exploration of Brigid and Persephone is engaging for fans of comparative mythology, skeptics of esoteric traditions may find the tone overly reverent. It stands as a strong resource for those already invested in the Wheel of the Year who wish to contextualize their Spring celebrations within a broader historical framework.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Imbolc stems from ancient European pre-urban agricultural cultures, marking the re-awakening of the earth and the anticipation of spring's fertility.

The pre-Christian observances, rich in symbolism of light and renewal, were eventually assimilated and transformed into Candlemas in AD 494 by the Christian church, often incorporating elements like candles and the veneration of St. Brigid.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Ancient Spring Rites

Explore the profound agricultural origins of Imbolc, linking it to European pre-urban cultures. Delve into the practices of early communities who honored the earth's re-awakening, celebrated the bounty of the harvest, and commemorated the vital role of goddesses like Fornax in ensuring fertility and sustenance for their people.

Goddess Lore Unveiled

Uncover the powerful feminine deities central to spring's renewal. From the mysterious 'Old Lass' of Old Craft to the revered Celtic Brigid, the Roman Fornax, and the Greek Persephone, this book illuminates their myths and rituals, demonstrating their enduring influence on seasonal observances and the return of life.

Tradition & Transformation

Witness the fascinating evolution of pagan spring festivals into modern celebrations. The book meticulously traces how ancient observances, such as those for Brigid, merged with Roman ceremonies like Candelaria and Fornicalia, eventually transforming into Christian Candlemas. It highlights the syncretic nature of spiritual practices over centuries.

💬 Quotes from the book

“The re-awakening of the Old Lass within Old Craft belief is not merely a seasonal shift, but a profound resonance with the Earth's very pulse.”

“From the humble bundle of oats to the sacred bonfire, each ancient custom whispers tales of light's triumphant return.”

📜 Historical context

This work charts the lineage of spring festivals, from pre-Christian Celtic Imbolc's agricultural renewal and the goddess Brigid. It traces Roman rites like Candelaria, honoring light and fertility, and illustrates their seamless transformation into Christian Candlemas in AD 494, showcasing humanity's enduring need to mark light's return.

📚 Glossary

Imbolc
Fornicalia
Brigid's Cross

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do you personally experience the 're-awakening' described in spring festivals, and what rituals, ancient or modern, help you connect with this energy?
Reflect on a time you witnessed a tradition (pagan or otherwise) transform or merge with another. What does this reveal about human spirituality and adaptation?
Consider the role of light in your own spiritual or seasonal practices. How can you more intentionally honor the 'return of the light' during the spring season?