The Oimlec Ritual of the Clann na Fhaoil-Choin consists of three parts: the Men's Ritual (men only; conducted outdoors), the Women's Ritual (women only; conducted indoors) and the Group Ritual (everyone; conducted indoors). These separate rituals represent (in order) the return of the third-function God of the Land, the return of Brighid (the Goddess of the Land( and the subsequent welcoming of Brighid.

The Men's Ritual is derived from a custom found in Scotland, taken from the following sources: The Carmina Gadelica and The Silver Bough.

The tradition of the making of the Brighid's Bed and Brighid's doll is an old tradition. This particular scenario is from Scotland. A more detailed explanation can be found in the appendix of the Carmine Gadelica.

The transfer between Cailleach and Brighid is an re-enactment of the Cailleach going to the Well of Youth on the eve of Imbolc. In the bushes, next to the well, she lies her black rod that she has used to bring death to the land. As the sun begins to rise, the Cailleach washes her face in the Well of Youth and is transformed into Brighid. The black rod has now turned white.

Materials List

Preparations:

Prior to the ritual, corn dollies and Brighid's crosses should be make using corn husks. The Brighid's doll should have been started but not completed.

The Brighid's Ribbons (lengths of red ribbon) should be set around the doors and windows of the home. Traditionally, Brighid will bless these ribbons as she enters the house when she returns.

As guests arrive, they should take their food dish to the Hospitaller in the kitchen, where they will be given a small Brighid's doll to take home. This is symbolic of the old customs of girls carrying Brighid's dolls to various homes when asking for food for the Imbolc feast.

Each male should bring a gift to place in the Brighid's bed for honoring. Gifts can be handmade items, bought items, money or Brighid's crosses.

A fire should be lit in the outdoor cauldron, the serpent wand should be wrapped in a number of corn husks equivalent to the number of men present and participating, and the indoor cauldron should contain water.

Participants List

Men's Ritual:

The men gather in a circle on the north side of the fire with the tallest person nearest the fire then descending in height deosil around the circle. THE RIGH, standing as the returning third-function God, stands in the last spot of the circle.

Beginning with the tallest man, each man removes one husk from the serpent wand while imbuing the wand with their own energy. When he removes the husk, he passes the wand to the next person and proceeds to the fire. He throws the husk into the fire and moves to form a column leading to the south. This continues around the circle until ending with THE RIGH. THE RIGH removes the remaining husk(s): the serpent has now completely shed its skin and is ready to return from the otherworld.

With THE RIGH looking down the column, the men lock alternating hands with each other. It should look like this:

The men in the column now begin a soft chant of:

Winter Remain! Winter Remain!

THE RIGH, as the third-function god, begins his journey from the otherworld into this world moving south from the fire between the two columns. As he moves down the column, he breaks the hands apart.

When each man's hands have been freed, he changes his chant to a loud chant of:

Spring Return! Spring Return!

Each man then falls in behind THE RIGH who leads the procession to the door of the house where the women's ceremony has been taking place. At the door, the ELDEST MAN walks to stand beside THE RIGH. After the men's ritual is completed and the porch has been turned on, the ELDEST MAN knocks upon the door and is greeted by the Eldest Female. He requests entry so the men might honor Brighid.

Women's Ritual:

The women present are divided into two equal groups by age -- the Younger and the Older.

WINDS shall greet the winds:

(lights incense)

(faces east)

I greet the purple winds of the east, the place of sacred energies. May you bring us protection.

(faces south)

I greet the black winds of the south, the place of battle. May you bring us strength.

(faces west)

I greet the brown winds of the west, the place of death. May you bring us learning and knowledge.

(faces north)

I greet the white winds of the north, the place of music and prosperity. May you bring us poetry and plenty.

ANCESTORS greets the ancestors:

(faces west)

I call from the high road down the lowroad to our ancestors and beckon you to come forth. I call to you and request your presence. May you meet us here at the crossroads and join us in our ceremony.

FAIRIES shall honor the fairies, while LAND circles around her offering tobacco to the land spirits. FAIRIES says:

(holds cup high)

To the fairy realm above the earth

(holds cup down low)

To the fairy realm below the earth. To the spirits of this land. May you accept this libation of milk and join us here tonight.

(pours milk over the stone)

The group looks towards the fire. Cailleach's Speaker says:

As the sea, sky and land are its legs, we look now upon the Cauldron of Creation. May Trinity, our Mother, and Bile, the Ancestor of Ancestors, be with us this night.

Cailleach holds the Cailleach doll from Samhain while Cailleach's Speaker approaches her. Cailleach's Speaker recites the poem "Farewell to the Cailleach".

The Younger Group of women completes the Brighid's Doll. The Cailleach doll is opened and placed in a bowl. A third of the Brighid's doll is filled with oats from the Cailleach doll. The rest of the Brighid's doll is filled with corn seeds and the doll is sewn shut.

The Older Group of women makes the Brighid's Bed. The bed is made using a wicker basket, which is lined with straw and cushioning as a bedding for the Brighid's doll and then decorated.

When the bed is completed, the Youngest Woman present hands the doll to the Eldest Woman, who place the Brighid's doll into the bed and places the bed in a position of honor in the room.

With the Brighid's doll in the bed, Brighid and Cailleach kneel on either side of a cauldron filled with water. On the ground to the right of Brighid is the White Staff. Cailleach holds the Black Staff as she approaches and lays it down on the ground to her right.

Cailleach cups her hands into the cauldron and washes her face with the first handful of water. She then takes a second handful of water. Brighid places cupped hands over the cauldron and Carol pours the second handful of water into Brighid's hands, who allows the water to flow into the cauldron. Brighid then takes the third handful of water from the Cauldron and washes her face. The Cailleach has now been transformed into the Land Goddess.

Brighid stands with her white staff and moves next to the Brighid's bed. Brighid's Welcomer recites a the Welcoming Poem to Brighid.

The Eldest Female goes to the door to outside and turns on the porch light to indicate that the women's ritual is completed.

After the men's ritual is completed and the porch has been turned on, the ELDEST MAN knocks upon the door and is greeted by the Eldest Female. He requests entry so the men might honor Brighid. She grants entry. The men and women assemble together in an entry area.

Group Ritual:

The Oldest Couple takes one end of the Brighid's girdle and steps through together. They then hold the girdle for everyone else to pass through.

Oldest Couple (Wife) says to the group:

This is Brighid's Girdle of rebirth. As you pass through, may you be reborn and renewed.

Brighid is the first through the Girdle, followed by THE RIGH. Once through, they each hold a candle facing each other on the "far" side of the girdle. The rest of the group then proceeds through the girdle and between the candles in a female-male-female pattern.

As each person goes through the girdle, Oldest Couple (Husband) (to the females) and Oldest Couple (Wife) (to the males) whisper a blessing of rebirth. As each person passes between the candles, THE RIGH (to the females) and Brighid (to the males) whisper a blessing of purification.

Next, THE RIGH and Brighid stand to either side of the Brighid's Bed. Brighid gives a brief explanation of the Brighid's bed:

Brighid of the Green Mantle, the lady of Spring, has returned from her journey in the Otherworld. Birthed once more into our world and into the land, this is the cradle of Brighid where she shall be cared for as she matures and grows, evident in the awakening of the land.

THE RIGH gives a brief explanation of the Snake Wand.

THE RIGH then lies the Snake Wand into the Brighid's Bed and invites each of the men to lay honorings in Brighid's bed.

THE RIGH begins followed by ELDEST MAN. As the line proceeds, Story Teller shall recite his tale of Imbolc, the Latha Fheill Brighid

After the last gift is laid in the bed and when the story is done, Brighid returns the blessing of the Land Goddess by giving her thanks to the people gathered.

THE RIGH then invites everyone to feast and drink.

After feast, the person who stood as Cailleach disperses the remains of the Cailleach doll and any lingering Cailleach energies.