January 15, 2021
Imbolc is considered the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. It is recognized from February 1 – 2 and is also known as, Imbolg, Brigid’s Day, Oimelc or Candlemas. It’s a time to celebrate the recovery of the Goddess Brigid (It's pronounced “Breej,” or in some parts of Ireland, closer to “Breeds.”). Brigid is the daughter of Dagda and is one of the most well-known Goddesses in Irish Lore. Brigid is a Goddess that is usually celebrated and honored during Imbolc. She is a Goddess of the hearth, home, and inspiration. A protector of women and children and she is also associated with midwifery. The Goddess Brigid is well-connected to fire and encompasses all things to do with poetry, healing, and blacksmithing.
Imbolc is the first Fire Festival in the dark half of the wheel. This is a festival where we begin to see light and life returning to the earth. The Earth is being reborn with new life!
A Celtic originated holiday that is meant to focus on brushing off the cold and dark of winter days and welcoming the life-giving light and fertility of the sun. The celts celebrated around this time, the birth of new sheep and goats. In fact, Oimelc literally means “ewe’s milk”.
Imbolc is associated with fire and sun and also with divination, water, and life. Imbolc is the perfect opportunity to renew your devotion to your craft and/or to any deities. It’s a time of purification and of appreciation for the revitalization of the Earth.
Symbols of Imbolc
Food: Beer, cake, honey, seeds, dairy, garlic, onion, raisins, mulled wine, and breads
Colors: Red, white, pink, yellow, light green, and brown
Crystals: Amethyst, garnet, bloodstone, onyx, turquoise, and ruby
Herbs: Rosemary, lavender, jasmine, chamomile, bay leaf
Incense: Cinnamon, vanilla, jasmine, camphor, frankincense, and myrrh
Animals: Sheep, cows, goats, snakes, and swans
Here are a few ideas you can utilize to celebrate Imbolc:
Honor Goddess Brigid – Bonfires may be lit to honor the Goddess.
Set intentions with candle magick – invoke the energy of the fire elemental.
Make a Brigid’s Cross or Corn Husk Doll.
Explore and connect with nature – go outside and breathe in the fresh air, observe any signs of spring you might find.
Perform a cleansing ritual bath – using lavender and rosemary.
Use cinnamon; as this is the perfect, fiery spice to work with to connect with the energy of Imbolc. You could light a cinnamon incense or do some kitchen witchery to incorporate cinnamon!
Spells can include: Cleansing, growth, new starts and wishes.
Cleanse and adorn your altar using natural elements such as branches, antlers, white flowers, and acorns.
However, you choose to celebrate Imbolc, may it be filled with happiness and feelings of renewal and fresh beginnings.
Until next time, Live, Love, & Magick!
-Laurie Gouley, The Eclectic Green Witch
Try this recipe for Imbolc, it’s all done in one pan, so clean up is so easy!
Imbolc Ritual Cake
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (you can use gluten-free)
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
2 tbs. poppyseeds
1 tbs. zested lemon
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
Powdered sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking soda, and salt with a fork in an ungreased 9x9x2 baking pan.
Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the powdered sugar.
Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, and the top is golden brown.
Remove from oven and cool.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Makes 8 servings. Enjoy! Happy Imbolc!
Laurie Gouley
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March 06, 2023
The full moon is a powerful time each month that welcomes many different types of energy into our space. It is a time of enlightenment, new beginnings, power, and overcoming. While most known consider it to be a time of release, it is also a great time to connect more with yourself and find empowerment in your life.
From self-care to letting go, in this blog, we’re going to talk about full moon energy, and how you can use it to your advantage to make the most of its energy in uncommon ways, you may not have even considered.
February 08, 2023
The modern witch lifestyle has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, as more and more individuals seek to tap into the power of magic and spirituality. Meditation is a natural fit for the modern witch, offering a way to connect with the self, tap into inner wisdom, and unleash personal power.
Meditation has been shown to offer numerous benefits, including increased self-awareness, reduced stress, and improved emotional regulation. For modern witches, meditation offers a unique path to self-discovery and growth, helping to unlock the full potential of their spiritual practice.
In this article, we'll explore the basics of meditation for the modern witch, including techniques for self-discovery and growth. We'll provide practical tips and guidance to help you get started, and delve into the benefits of incorporating meditation into your modern witch practice. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer to the craft, this guide is designed to help you unlock the full potential of your magic and spirituality through meditation.
January 31, 2023
Moving into February, we welcome a new wave of balanced energy into our lives. It’s Aquarius season, baby, and that means it’s all about freedom and independence. Known as the water bearer, Aquarius season is often the time in which many of us undergo a lot of emotional healing and let go of old views of the world. This is also a powerful time for new ideas and brainstorming for the future, and can help us to find new ideas for how we wish to progress in our future.
Outside of the Aquarius, we also have other influences coming from other areas this month. Starting off, on the 11th, Mercury enters Aquarius, bringing expansion in our way of thinking that could invite an enlightened view of the future. Around the 18th, we enter Pisces season, bringing a deeper connection with our subconscious, emotions, and intuition, making this a powerful time of grounding and connecting deeper with ourselves. Lastly, around the 19th, Venus enters Aries, which is likely to allow the signs to take action in pursuing new love and help us to channel more confidence along the way.
All around, February is likely to be a powerful time of independence, enlightenment, increased awareness, and grounding. But, to give you a better idea of some energies that may be present around you this month, today, we're going to go over what energies and changes each Zodiac sign can expect throughout February and how you can adjust your life to make the most of them.