My first pagan celebration photo shoot this year

 After a tonne of planning I actually managed my first photo shoot in over 6 months, I only managed 2 last year and really hope to manage a handful of short shoots this year based on my plans here. The main thing that has held me back and slowed my progress is my health, but I am trying extra hard to plan in advance and have short photo shoots where I can rest and take my time.

I have wanted to produce a set of images based around the pagan wheel of year celebrations and associated characters, such as the well known Green man, as a personal project as I have an interest in paganism. There are 8 seasonal celebrations over the course of the year, starting with Imbolc - hailing the beginning of spring. Each of these celebrations have a lot of stories and elements connected to them, usually with several characters, often symbolising the progression of the seasons in various ways. I hope to incorporate as many key elements as I can into each photo shoot, so telling the story through images as best I can with props and locations if I can. For some I will adorn headwear or other accessories with items  that are connected.

 Imbolc heralds the beginnings of spring, occurring on the 1st -2nd of February. It is a time to let go of the past and welcome new beginnings. The original word Imbolg means "belly" which makes sense, as the earth is expectant with new life, in creatures and plants, with more light and warmth.

Model is Northern Redheadz on Instagram with make up by Faces by Lulu

I made the headwear specially for this photoshoot. Creating the central piece from clay, then painting it with snowdrops, a hare ( there are other stories involving a hare), a tree of life and a symbol of the triple Goddess. It is adorned with flowers - some which I pressed last year, white feathers,  (as swans are connected to Imbolc also) Leaves, a Celtic pendant, dragon flies, an owl and tree, all of which I made out of clay, other bird feathers and moss etc.

Part of celebrating Imbolc involves creating an alter compromising of various associated items such as Snowdrops or other early spring flowers. For me I will have my headwear to go with my snowdrops - not that I practice any ritual, I simply celebrate nature and the changing seasons. There are several lovely stories/folklore/legends involving Snowdrops and Imbolc ( or whatever different cultures call their own beginning of spring celebrations).

In Romania there is a festival known to be celebrated over 8000 years apparently where men tie red and white entwined threads around snowdrops and give them to women in their lives, celebrating male and female strengths. There are many lovely tales in lots of cultures where drops of blood result in snowdrops emerging too.

These images contain my interpretation of the Goddess Brigid, the Goddess of healing, poetry, crafts, metal smithing , fire and the sun, the triple Goddess in her maiden aspect who is one of the main characters involved with Imbolc, as well as the Green man in his Oak guise.  
 Colours that are usually linked to this event are white and green, so I chose a green outfit, Brigid is known for her green mantle ( cloak). In this first image we have the Goddess Brigid with Snowdrops - I did not pick these, they were kindly given to us by a gardener who was around during our shoot after we explained what we were doing.

In the background you can see a "Clootie" which is tied to a tree, these were often left as offerings on trees, near a well where possible - however I could not find a well nearby. We were hoping to shoot near water instead but that will need to be completed in a part two at a different location some time.

These next photos is Brigid with the eternal fire, as she is the Goddess of fire, often celebrated by the hearth fire too. ( the fire went out in some and I have not had time to add fire in just yet)

I wanted to add more magic, so added one of my old photos of Castlerigg stone circle in the background of one version.

These ones below also feature Brigids cross which can be made of grasses/ rushes etc but we had to improvise here. The crosses are thought to be connected to a pagan symbol but have also been used in Ireland, connected to stories of St Brigid. They are said to symbolise protection and are often hung over doorways, windows and hearths.

We also used white/green candles on her stone "alter" as candles are used by many in this tradition/ritual/celebration to celebrate both light and fire. Again our flames were blown out so I still need to get around to adding flames properly to the candles but didn't manage a good job in time to post these for Imbolc.

As Brigid is the Goddess of  healing, fertility, creativity, arts, crafts, metal smithing, poetry and much more, I want to also create more images in the future with her healing, in a forge, with baby lambs or other associated animals. I did manage an image of her reading poetry as a start, but ran out of energy, time and opportunities for creatures etc. So I will plan a part two of Imbolc, hopefully amongst spring flowers, with lambs and near water. I also plan to photograph the Green man in his Oak guise chasing away Jack Frost as part of the celebrations and have my headwear made, but still to sort costumes, plus I need to recover from this shoot first as its wiped me out even 5 days later. I must do a shorter shoot next.

Offerings are traditionally made in various ways, such as oats or porridge and milk, which are often poured into the earth or into water.

 

 The Green man (spring) in his Oak guise chases Jack Frost (winter) off. I will hopefully get around to shooting this element, but for now I took advantage of my lovely  models partner being present . Luckily he was happy enough to wear the outfit and pose too. 

The green man headwear is actually two pieces, both made by me, mostly out of clay and faux leaves plus moss. The horns are on a headband with acorns, pine cones and moss. The mask is tied on separately.

Models Northern Redheadz and A Rose imagery on Instagram

Make up by Faces by Lulu

I look forward to completing this set for Imbolc, maybe this year, or maybe next year as I find it takes a long to to recover from a photo shoot.

 Below is my favourite edit from this set so far, not quite the welcoming spring image I initially had in mind but I see it as the Goddess Brigid under the moon, ushering more light and warmth forth for the brighter dawn to come.