To-day is the Day of Bride,
The serpent shall come from his hole,
I will not molest the serpent,
And the serpent will not molest me.

The serpent will come from the hole
On the brown day of Bride,
Though there should be three feet of snow
On the flat surface of the ground.

Moonlight shining on the Quickening Tree, the heat and wax of sacred candles, the milk of ewes, Brigid’s blackberry, the sting of keening wind, and the last flutter of the Cailleach’s winter snow.

Black Pheonix Alchemy Lab, makers of esoteric perfumes, have released a special perfume oil in honour of Bride. Although I have no affiliation with the company, I can recommend their products from experience, and mention also that as they are all natural oils, can be burnt in a diffuser as an offering or a room scent.

It is always interesting to decipher their descriptions for the notes used. The Quickening tree is Rowan, popularly held to be Bride’s wood (although I’ve not found any original sources) and certainly sacred to the Gaelic Scots. Beeswax candles were blessed for Candlemas, and ewes milk is the possible origin of the term ‘Imbolc.’ Blackberry though? I wonder where they got that one from. I have never heard of Bride being associated with Blackberries, even in neo-pagan sources. The wind and snow sounds lovely, and almost hinting at Latha na Caillich.

Artwork belongs to Julie Dillon. You can find the perfume oil here.