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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It’s yet again the transformative, emotional, and highly energetic time of the year, where we welcome in the notorious Mercury retrograde. Despite the fact that Mercury retrograde is an occurrence that happens multiple times each year, it never seems to fail to stir up the same old feelings of needing to bunker down and lie low for a few weeks. This is because, unlike planetary retrogrades, Mercury’s reversed influence can make our lives do a complete 180-degree turn, which can cause some difficulties in our communication, career development, and relationships.
However, while Mercury retrograde tends to get a bad rep for its ability to completely change our lives, it can also be an excellent time to complete tasks, work on creative projects, as well as do some inner workings. With that said, today, we’re going to talk all about Mercury retrograde, what it is, and what you should and should not do during it.
As we transition out of the warm nights of August, we steadily begin making our way through the abundant month of September, welcoming with it the many transitional properties of the autumn season. However, September isn’t just a welcoming period for the autumn itself, but for the second of the three harvest festivals of the Wheel of the Year, known as Mabon. Mabon, also known as the autumn equinox, is the sabbat that marks the time of which day and night are equal, when we gather our crops once more and enjoy the last bit of warmth before the cooler months take over. On a deeper level, Mabon also has many powerful energetic transitions taking place, which can push us to seek change, deeper spiritual connections, and inner wisdom as we approach one of the most symbolic days of the year.
With so much going on energetically, it can be hard to know the best ways to celebrate the energy of the season and fully welcome it into your space. So to help you out, in this article, we're going to go over everything having to do with the divine autumnal sabbat of Mabon. From its history to its correspondences, traditions, and a few ways you can celebrate it today, let’s dive into everything you need to know about this powerful sabbat.
As we welcome in the cooling harvest month of September, we make way for a transformative period of energetic change as we work to create better balance in our lives. We kick off this autumn month in the sign of the practical and goal-oriented Virgo, shifting our focus towards progression on our goals. This will provide the signs with some initial direction and clarity, which will help us to start the month feeling positive and rejuvenated. However, Mercury, the planet of communication and knowledge, will also be lurking in the background this month as it prepares to go retrograde for the third and final time this year, pushing us to do some inner reflection as we begin to work through stirred emotions. This could also bring about mental fog, miscommunication, and misunderstandings with partners, coworkers, and loved ones, so be prepared for some potential rough patches throughout the month.
Towards the end of September, on the 23rd, we will then shift into the partnership-focused Zodiac sign of the Libra, which will turn our attention towards family, friends, and community as we continue to grow and strengthen relationships as well as our own independence. We will also reach the Autumn Equinox the day before this, on September 22nd, which is considered to be a truly divine time of balance, inner reflection, growth, and gratitude as we prepare for yet another change of season into a calmer, more stagnant time of the year. This is also the time of which the veil between our world and the spirit world is growing increasingly thin, upping our intuitive abilities and connection to the other side. For this reason, be prepared for some deeper spiritual movements to occur this day, as it is an incredibly significant time of year for magical workings.