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Officers
of Avalon |
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e-mail: webmaster@officersofavalon.com |
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To contact us: |
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Dispatches:
Volume 2 No. 1 Imbolc/Feile
Bhride/Brigid//Barri/Iddis-Thing 2008 |
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Dispatches: Official
Newsletter of Officers of Avalon |
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Be glorious! |
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“Februum,” from
which we derive the word for February, is a Latin word meaning “purification”
and “atonement”, thus this month is considered a month of cleansing. Juno Februa was the Roman Goddess who
presided over this month. Wiccans call February 2 Imbolc, which means “in the
belly.” It is also known as Imbolg,
Uimelc, Oimelc, Feile Bhride, Brigid, Brigantia or Candlemas. Many Druids call this festival Imbolc. The ODU calls it Oimelc. This is a Greater Sabbat on the Wiccan
calendar. It was named by some
“Oimelc” (“Sheep's Milk”) as it marked the beginning of the lambing season
for the Celts. Imbolc marks the
midpoint of the dark half of the year. At Imbolc household fires are put out
and relit. Imbolc often marks the
first ploughing and first planting of the year. Imbolc is a celebration of the first signs of returning life in
Spring. It was celebrated by the Celts
as being sacred to Brigid, a Goddess whose threefold aspect rules smith
craft, poetry, inspiration, and healing.
Hence one of the other names for this day is “Feile Bhride”, meaning
“Brigid's Feast.” Brighid is commonly
honored at Imbolc, which is indicated by the Christian observance named for
it: St. Brighids Eve. At Imbolc the fires of the smithy are
blessed by a woman acting on Brighid's behalf. |
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Update:
Officers of Avalon Supports Haitian Orphans In the
Samhain 2007 issue of Dispatches, I told you of how Officers of Avalon had
donated $250 to support an orphanage in Port Au Prince, Haiti. The money was used by ECOMM police
dispatcher Michelle MacRae (photo at left), who traveled to Port Au Prince
between 16 and 21 December, 2007, to bring gifts and Yule greetings to two
orphanages there. One orphanage is for
children 0—4 and the other for 4—14 year olds. Michelle did volunteer work at these
orphanages last March for Answered Prayers (
www.answeredprayers2.org) and decided to return for the 2007 Yule season to
help out again. Michelle sewed 100
Christmas stockings and got students in the kindergarden and grade 2 classes
at her children’s school to decorate them.
Michelle then canvassed family, friends and fellow ECOMM employees to
get each of these stockings filled with a new outfit and small toy. These stockings were handed out to the
orphans at a Christmas party on 19 December, 2007. When Michelle returned she shared
photographs of her trip with us, which you will find o the next three
pages. Officers of Avalon’s donation
helped Michelle to fill these stockings and pay for the transportation costs
to get them all to Port Au Prince.
“I’m sure that you are aware,” Michelle told me, “That Haiti is the
poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and there are many children in
orphanages in need of many things.” Avalon Cares supports
many other relief efforts like this one.
We’re showing the world what Pagans can do. |