Imbolc Blessings!

We start to see the odd blue sky now. The murky grey skies of December and January will soon be behind us.

Yesterday was Imbolc. The Sun has now moved into Aquarius, and this is the cross quarter sabbat marking the midway point between Yule (Winter Solstice) and Ostara (Spring Equinox). It is a festival celebrating the blessings of hearth and home, a festival welcoming the light that was promised to us at the Winter Solstice.

We celebrate the awakening of the Earth, and the potential this awakening has for manifestation. We move away from the slumber of winter, where we focus on rest and regeneration, and look instead to energetic activity and productivity.

Imbolc is a day for weather divination. If the weather is “bad”, it is considered that a “good” summer is on its way. The Cailleach, the divine hag, gathers her firewood for the rest of the year on Imbolc. If she wishes winter to last longer, she will ensure the day is bright and sunny, so that she can gather more wood. If the weather is foul the Cailleach is still sleeping, and winter is nearly over.

Hope you had a blessed Imbolc everyone!

What did you do to celebrate? Do you celebrate Imbolc, or do you hibernate for a bit longer and concentrate on spring celebrations at Ostara?

NEXT - Imbolc Magick: 40 Correspondences 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Ashwell Sacred Spring 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Beltane 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Leicestershire Chambermaid

Spell: Cloutie Spell for Justice

A cloutie, or clootie, is a strip of rag or cloth. You may have heard the saying “Ne’er cast a cloot til mey’s oot” which means don’t shed any clothes before May is over (and the Hawthorn has blossomed!) and summer has arrived.

Clouties are usually found at Cloughtie Wells; which are sacred wells and springs, usually with a tree beside them. The pieces of cloth are usually dipped in the holy water and then tied to the tree, as part of a healing rite, with prayers offered to the spirit or goddess of the well.

Cloutie Spell to Obtain Justice

This spell by Ann-Marie Gallagher is designed to be an Imbolc spell to be carried out as part of your Imbolc celebrations, but you could carry it out any time you are in need. It’s not a spell for revenge, but to redress balance when an injustice has occurred.

You will need:

A charcoal disc in a fireproof dish

Matches or lighter 

A teaspoon of Myrrh

One white candle 

One purple candle 

Thirteen strips of white cotton cloth 

A dead branch, propped up

A tree where your spell will remain undisturbed for as long as possible

Instructions:

Light the charcoal disc and sprinkle on the Myrrh.

Light the white candle saying “Brigid is here.”

Light the purple candle saying “And justice will come.”

Speaking your anger, fear or despair at the injustice you wish redressed to each strip of cloth, seal them by passing them separately through the incense smoke.

Hand them loosely on the dead branch and placing your hands on the topmost twig say:

“Brigid, pity this branch

For it is as dead as my enemy’s cause.”

Go out to the tree, and as you tie each cloutie loosely to its lower branches, say:

“May the earth hear me in the roots of this tree,

May the air carry my cry,

May the sun take up my plea,

And the moon decry it,

For with Brigid on my side,

My cause is carried.” 

NEXT - Spell: Personal Spell for a Difficult Situation
NEXT - Imbolc: 40 Correspondences
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Ashwell Sacred Spring

Imbolc Magick: 40 Correspondences

A blessed Imbolc everyone! And to those in the Southern Hemisphere a blessed Lughnasadh.

Imbolc is about half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, and this fire festival celebrates the very first stirrings of Spring. This period of growth, gestation, and birth makes it a time of new beginnings, and for me personally it often feels like the beginning of the year, trumping Samhain (the Witches New Year) and January 1st.

When I think of Imbolc I think of the blue skies and sunshine that are now (occasionally!) making an appearance, as opposed to grey skies. We have brighter days with a noticeable change in light quality, and with that comes a change of attitude.

It is a time of magic and transformation; and of hope: the return of the light we celebrated at the Winter Solstice is now confirmed. The Sun is returning!

Magickal Correspondences for Imbolc:

Stones:

Amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, onyx, ruby, turquoise

Plants:

Angelica, basil, bay, celandine, crocus, heather, iris, snowdrop

Colours:

Brown, light green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow

Foods:

Cheese, cream, garlic, honey, milk, sunflower seeds, poppyseed cakes, pumpkin seeds, wine

Symbols:

Brigid’s cross, corn dollies, dish of snow, flowers, ploughs, snowdrops, sun wheels 

NEXT - Blessed Ostara! 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Lesser Celandine 

NEXT - Flower Magick: 52 Floral Magickal Correspondences

Media Appearance: Witchology Magazine - Sun Biscuits for Yule

Witchology Magazine - New Issue!

Perfect for a little bit of Solstice Magick, find the recipe for my warming Sun Biscuits in the latest issue of Witchology Magazine, print copies now available.

The “Transformation” edition, celebrating new beginnings, is packed full of spells, interviews, rituals, recipes and other festive ramblings for the period Yule to Imbolc.

Digital copies coming soon!

Head over to @witchologymag on Instagram to stay up to date with all the latest news and updates, and go to www.witchologmagazine.com to order your copy.

Pagan Holidays: Imbolc

A blessed Imbolc everyone!

Imbolc is about half way between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox and celebrates the first stirrings of Spring.

This period of growth, gestation, and birth makes it feel like a time of beginnings, and so for me it feels like the beginning of the year, trumping Samhain (the Witches New Year) and January 1st.

I have chosen today’s bright blue sky for my #witchwithme Imbolc submission, as when I think of Imbolc I think of the blue skies and sunshine that are now (occasionally!) making an appearance.
We have brighter days with a noticeable change in light quality, and with that comes a change of attitude, as well as feelings of rebirth and renewal. It is a time of magic and transformation; and of hope: the return of the light we celebrated at the Winter Solstice is now confirmed. The Sun is returning!

NEXT - Imbolc Magick: 40 Correspondences 

NEXT - Imbolc Blessings! 

NEXT - Spell: Cloutie Spell for Justice