Imbolc Ceremony on the River
I am delighted to invite you to our next Women's Gathering to celebrate the Celtic festival of Imbolc, along with the Chinese New Year of the Wood Snake, and the season of Aquarius.
Imbolc marks the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, celebrating the first signs of spring, such as the arrival of the spring flowers - crocuses, snowdrops and daffodils, the lambing season, (Imbolc translates as 'in the belly'), lengthening days, and the return of fertility to the land.
In pre-Christian Irish mythology, Brigid is a goddess of poetry, healing, smith craft and fertility. She is often depicted as a triple goddess, embodying three aspects: inspiration, healing, and the forge/smith craft.
This triad symbolises her dominion over creativity, transformation, and sustenance.
Brigid's associations align perfectly with the themes of this festival -
Fertility and Renewal:
Brigid is connected to fertility, symbolising the awakening of the earth as it prepares for the growing season, as well as being protector of childbirth and midwifery.
She is also associated with livestock, particularly sheep, which are integral to Imbolc due to the start of lambing season and the availability of fresh milk.
Fire and Light:
Brigid is linked to fire and hearth, symbolising warmth, protection, and transformation. Bonfires or candles are often lit during Imbolc to honour her and signify the return of light after the dark winter.
Water and Healing:
Many sacred wells are dedicated to Brigid, and water rituals often form part of her veneration. Imbolc celebrations sometimes involve blessings or rituals at these wells to invoke her healing powers.
Inspiration and Creativity:
As a goddess of poetry and the arts, Brigid inspires creativity, making Imbolc a time for renewal not just of the land but also of the mind and spirit enhancing our inherent beauty.
"A woman-loving definition of beauty supplants desperation with play, narcissism with self-love, dismemberment with wholeness, absence with presence, stillness with animation. It admits radiance: light coming out of the face and the body, rather than a spotlight on the body, dimming the self. It is sexual, various and surprising. We will be able to see it in others and not be frightened, and able at last to see it in ourselves."
- Naomi Wolf
Our venue is a beautiful houseboat on the river overlooking the iconic Albert Bridge. Cadogan Pier was built in 1841 and is a landmark structure. The Pier was rebuilt in 1875 to accommodate Albert Bridge that has been recognised as one of London's most beautiful bridges.
You'll find a warm and welcoming space to connect, reflect, and rejuvenate. Your womb will enjoy the gentle undulations from the water's movement beneath us.
Please bring a yoga mat if you have one, a cushion to sit on, and a blanket or shawl. Dress warmly. You may like to bring a small offering for our communal altar which you will take back home with you at the end of the ceremony.
Prepare a song or poem to share if you wish.
There will be organic vegan soup, bread and salad served after the ceremony. Feel free to bring any sweet treats, cake, or chocolate to share afterwards.
Schedule
1pm Prompt arrival requested at Cadogan Pier. You will be escorted to the boat from there
2.30pm Opening Circle Imbolc Ceremony including meditation, somatic practices; breath work, yoga, voice activation, singing / chanting, free flowing movement, a seed-sowing ritual, art making and relaxation.
4.15pm Food
5.00pm Departure
Please leave ample time to reach our venue. There will be no admittance of latecomers after 1.30pm.
If you would like to stay on for an extra special treat, Michael Stanton will be holding a Song Ceremony from 6.15-9.00pm
Michael is a dear friend who I have worked with over the years. He is a wonderful medicine musician and experienced space holder offering musical ceremonies, space to sing and pray together. Michael holds regular events in Bristol where he lives. He is a music / guitar teacher and record producer who works with many of the stars of the medicine world including Ayla Schafer, Susie Ro, Julia Gelpke, Alix Thorpe, Adrian Freedman, Moshe Halperin and many more.
It has been many years since we last collaborated in London and our magical retreats in Devon, so I am really looking forward to sitting in circle with him for his beautiful Song Ceremony from 6.30-9.30pm. This will be open to all genders. You may invite your friends.
Tickets are from £20-30.
Book Michael's Song Ceremony here
If you need to pay a bit less please reach out for a discount code.
To book the Women's Gathering please keep reading -
Our current economic systems often encourage us to prioritise profit and scarcity, fostering a belief that only a few are entitled to access meaningful resources and opportunities.
By offering this workshop on a sliding scale, I hope to challenge these ideas in a small but intentional way. I trust you to honour the value of this experience in a way that aligns with your situation, and I am truly grateful for your willingness to engage in this reimagined approach to exchange.
Generating: For those of you with comfortable financial means to contribute more, I am deeply appreciative of your generosity which assists in making this accessible for those who may otherwise not be able to attend.
Sustaining: Your contribution helps to sustain me and my family and our living costs. I am grateful if you are able to enroll at this rate.
Supported: I invite people with leaner financial means to enjoy these events at a reduced cost and am delighted you can join us.
Generating £65.00
Sustaining £45.00
Please arrange a bank transfer to
Erika Tourell 00888109 20-91-79
or via PayPal @erikatourellyoga@gmail.com
If the cost is still too much of a stretch for you, drop me a line and we can work something out.
I am very much looking forward to sitting in circle with you.
Reach out if you have any questions. My number is 07720576173.
Please note - You will be given the gate codes to enter the pier in the morning of our gathering.