✨🌱IMBOLC🌱✨
✨🌱BREAKDOWN🌱✨
&
Imbolc
Imbolg
Oimealg
The Feast of St. Brigid
Brigid’s Day
Bride’s Feast
Ground Hog Day
Imbolgc Brigantia
Imbolic
Disting
Lubercus
Candlemas
Candlelaria
the Snowdrop Festival
The Festival of Lights
the Feast of the Virgin
February Eve
is typically held on February 1st through until sundown of February 2nd
symbolizes the half way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox
is a Celtic/Gaelic holiday
is another Celtic fire festival
hearth fires are often re-lit, especially using the Yule greenery, as keeping this too long invites the fae folk to stay in the house beyond their welcome.
Imbolc celebrations took place in honour of the goddess Brigid! This goddess was considered one of the most powerful Celtic gods.
REPRESENTS:
spring
fertility
fire
creativity
poetry
healing
crafting
and so much more!
She is the daughter of Dagda, one of the oldest Celtic gods In some representations.
Brigid in some stories has two sisters both also named Brigid, it’s thought among many that this is meant to represent the goddess in different forms or points in life (personally I love this aspect of them because not many gods actually do age thought the stories and legends. They’re are a few others but I just think it’s cool little thing to note)
it was often found that Brigid’s crosses were made from wheat stalks at this time of year and exchanged and hung in the home to protect from fire damage.
⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸
SOME FUN WAYS
TO CELEBRATE
🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️
having a fire this could be as nice as having a bonfire or as simple as leaving a tea light in a bowl outside for them!
for Brigid, you could write intentions on paper and throw them into the fire,
a simple meditation with a candle would be amazing for this day!
You could even make making Brigid a crosses out of pipe cleaners or paper if you have little ones you want to include in the festivities.
Maybe burn some candles in the imbolc colours which are white,pink,red, yellow, green, brown.
if you wanted to indulge in some classic imbolc type food typically it would be dairy products, spicy food or lamb! And Something that would’ve been stored over the winter, smoked meats, dried fruit and nuts!
Often times Candles are placed in windows to welcome the spring and spring cleaning and household purification rituals are common.
this is really just a quick breakdown of this witchy holiday and a few suggestions! Your celebration doesn’t have to be grand or spectacular either I’ve had imbolc where all I’ve done was change the altar cloth to a flowered one! I’ve also had imbolc a filled with ritual and magic! It’s all up to you how to celebrate the day, it’s about welcoming in the spring energy! Releasing that which serves you no more! Even spring cleaning can be associated with imbolc!
If you’d like to check out more imbolc correspondences you can do so by clicking HERE
Follow for more
Leslie Vigil on IG
Some tips I’ve learned along my path.
✨Make a vision board on Pinterest with things you want!
✨Be grateful! There are so many things we can be grateful for, so write it down or say it in your head/out loud
✨I prefer not using specific time like “…by Tuesday” etc. Use “in divine/perfect timing” instead. The Universe is always working to get you want you desire, so trust that everything will come at the right time when you are truly ready for it!
✨Scripting is very powerful and fun way to manifest! Don’t forget to write in present tense (I am, I have…). Do not use I want, I need etc.
✨Connect with the moon and do new moon rituals! New moon is the best for new beginnings and setting intentions.
✨When asking for money, use the phrase “money comes to me by happy means” or something similar. You need to be specific, because otherwise you could receive money through some bad accident or something unpleasant.
Tips for Manifesting PART 2
After a rough couple months of mental health, all my wards and shields kinda… fell by the wayside. Since I’ve been putting them back up, I thought I’d offer a general explanation of how I do it.
Basically, I use a form of sympathetic magic to reduce the toll my wards take on me. Otherwise it has to be an obnoxiously complex multi day process. Since this works just as well, I don’t see the point in putting myself through that.
So clearly it comes in handy if you have limited energy reserves, but it’s also useful if you have issues visualizing. I’ve included another method to make this work specifically for folks with visualization issues.
Supplies
All you need is a few writing utensils in assorted colors and some paper, or an image editing program. It doesn’t need to be a fancy one, you can literally do this in Paint if that’s what you’ve got.
The Prep Work
For the sake of convenience (and also not publicly posting my actual house on the internet like a dingus) I’m gonna be using a random Sims 3 lot for this post. Say hi to our demo house:
We’ve got the house, so now we’re gonna map the place!
If your place is on its own lot, include the whole lot. I like to do this from a top down view so if I’m struggling I can go to Google Earth and get a reference.
But since I’m using the Sims for this demonstration I’m gonna just… shift the camera angle.
So, from here you’re going to mark off the property line, walls of the house, trees, gardens, paths, frences, decks, etc. Whatever you think is relevant.
It doesn’t have to be perfect or 100 percent straight, just enough you can tell what’s going on.
This is what I ended up with for the demo house:
So yeah, clearly it doesn’t have to be perfect, just close enough you have everything of importance covered.
This is a lot sloppier than I’d normally do it since it was like 5 AM and I wanted my bed, but it would still work because I don’t really do a ton with plants so the missing tree and chunk of garden aren’t a big deal to me.
(That said, be smarter than me when you’re doing this for realsies. Don’t do it for real when you’re about to drop from exhaustion.)
So, now you set up your external protections.
For this exercise I picked a fire based ward for the property line to incinerate malicious magic and deter anybody nasty, a ward filler that was inspired by Apollo and made up of golden arrows that will sap the strength of malicious magic and cause extreme discomfort to people with less than honorable intentions who got through the first ward, a fog based ward to slow/delay any intruders and to hold any magic that gets through the rest of it till it dissipates, and a sanitization ward at the front porch and the back deck because I’m an empath and don’t like taking residual crud from outside into my house.
You can set these up in a few ways, but I’ll be including one with visualization and one without so this doesn’t get any longer than it already is.
The Procedure: Visualization Edition
Drag your finger along the lines of the diagram and visualize the ward going up on that part of your property. While you do, focus on what you want your ward to look like, how it feels, what you want it to do, how strong you want it to be, where you want it how you want it to react to an attempted breach, etc. That’s it!
It’s still going to take energy, but the drain on your resources should be a lot smaller.
The Procedure: Not Visualizing Edition
So, this is a little more complicated but not too much so. You might want to make a few copies of your diagram (or take a couple pictures on your phone. Just in general replicate it a couple of times.) just in case, because you’re gonna draw your wards.
Grab some pens/pencils/markers in colors that correspond to your wards (or pick colors in your graphics program if you’re going the tech magic route)- elemental affinity, purpose, both, up to you.
Using my example wards, I ended up with this:
Since you’re not visualizing, focus on the intent as effectively as you can while you’re drawing, because you’re gonna speak (or think!) those suckers into existence.
Describe what you want it to look like, what you’d want it to do, how strong you want it to be, where you want it how you want it to react to an attempted breach, etc. All the same things you’d be visualizing if you were going that route.
If you’re confident in your art skills, you can save a bit of energy by not focusing as much on what you want it to look like and drawing a direct representation of your ward instead. (I’m not fantastic, so I’m sitting there adding stuff like “this red line is a wall of fire taller than the house” into my description. Still works!)
This is a little less energy efficient than the visualization method in my experience but it’s still heaps better than doing it all on a large scale.
So that’s the process! It’s the same deal inside your place, except instead of rocks, trees, and decks you’ll be marking windows, doors, and furniture.
Feel free to modify the method here however you see fit, and if you do I’d love to hear about it!
Not normally what I'd post, but let's just say every witch needs to know fire safety and effective methods.
Pierce my heart 🖤
Veiling (or head covering) is a spiritual practice that is found within nearly all world religions! Veiling is the act of covering ones head, partially or fully, with an article of clothing or hanging cloth. The type of veil or head covering varies from faith to faith. Also, everyone has different reasons for veiling. In general, it is a sign of respect to ones deities, to the self, and to the sacredness of the body. Vestal Priestesses of Vesta veiled before their goddess, Yoruba initiates cover their head for spiritual protection, Catholic Nuns veil for spiritual distinction and modesty, etc. Historically, women are more likely to practice veiling but there are many practices where men are also called to cover their heads. Veiling is for anyone and everyone who feels called to practice! 💐🌹
(Note, this is an amalgamation of different reasons why people veil. Not everyone shares these same benefits or beliefs. This is a generalization!)
The crown of the head is, in many practices, believed to be the center of divine communication. It is the part of our body that is closest to divinity. As a result, many people veil in order to respect the sacredness of this connection. It’s almost as if placing a crown upon our head to symbolize our pure connection with our gods. It can also be a sign of humility and humbleness before divine. Veiling for divine devotion is often worn during rituals or worship but may not be worn for everyday use (this varies). This practice of veiling results in a closer, sanctified bond with our divinity.
Similar to the last point, the head is believed to be sacred. If the head is not protected, the rest of the body may suffer. Emotional empaths may be called to veiling out of a desire to protect their energy from the world around them. Full-body veils can also be worn for this purpose. It offers comfort, peace, and a sense of spiritual protection!
For many people, veiling is a way of “wearing their faith”. A clear religious habit (form of clothing) sets you apart from the rest of the world. Not in the sense that you are higher or holier than the world but in the sense that your life is lived in devotion. It is a reminder of the covenant you have made within your spiritual path. It makes your faith visible and tangible. My Muslim sisters often express that wearing their hijab creates a sense of unification and connectedness.
I’ve noticed a lot of people, especially women, express how empowered they feel when they’re wearing their veils. It can often garner a sense of respect and reverence. Sadly there are spaces where veiling (especially for muslim women) is met with judgement but, even when faced with criticism, it is an empowering practice. It forces the world to view us as more than bodies to be objectified. It adds a sense privacy that demands respect.
Wearing a veil is a reminder to the world but also to ourselves. When we wear a veil, we are wearing the tradition of our respective beliefs. It is a physical symbol that aligns us with our spiritual practice and reminds us of why we do what we do. I find that I am much more aware of my actions when I am veiling (for rituals and for everyday wear). There’s a sense of responsibility that comes with wearing a veil. It’s highly symbolic and we have to respect its importance.
For many, it is a reminder that we are forever blessed, protected, and empowered by our spiritual practice! It’s like taking up a mantle of power. For some it’s out of modestly but, for most, it’s an outward sign of the blessed relationship that we have with our respective spiritual paths! ✨✨✨✨ Thank you for stopping by! My askbox is always open for anyone who wants to learn more! If you are someone who veils, I would love to hear your reasons and experiences. I feel like there are so many misunderstandings about the purpose of veiling and I hope this post could shed some light! 💐 🌷 🌹 P.S anyone can veil, as it’s a part of pretty much every culture, but be mindful of the style of veil you choose! There are some styles that are sacred and should not be used unless you are a part of that religion/tradition. Do your research.
(Had to make a new version because tumblr messed with the gif on the original and won’t let me edit my own posts…)
As a spoonie witch, using magic to help regain my mental and physical energy has been extremely helpful. I decided to compile some resources to make life easier!
Mental reboost tea spell
Easy energy tea spell
Energy boost tea
Energy spell
Rejuvenating tea
Morning coffee spell
Lemon cayenne wakefulness potion
*resources for herbal interactions*
Spoonie spell for energy + Spoons spell
Rain energy spell
Electric charge spell (storms)
Solar charged spell
Energy boost spell
Pick me up energy spell
Full bloom spell
Energy bath
Energy shower scrub
Recharge yourself (with crystals)
Sun meditations
Motivation charm bag
Spell jar/sachet for energy
“I Shouldn’t Be Awake But I Have to Be” Jar Spell
Sigils for energy: [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X] [X]
What to do when witchcraft drains you
Spells and sigils for energy
Witchy things to do when you’re low on spoons
Simple spell work for low energy days
Rejuvenating witchcraft
Spoonie witch masterpost
Bedridden witchcraft series
Sick witchery
How to return to the craft
Links updated February, 2020 (please inform me of broken links via askbox)
HOME MAGICK SIMMER POT
to promote a happy, peaceful, prosperous, and protected home!
ingredients:
- water
- orange and lemon slices
- lavender
- rosemary
- juniper berries
- cloves
- cinnamon sticks
- mint
- vanilla
- bay leaves:
- intentions, sigils, runes, etc. written on them. (runes included: othila, berkana, wunjo, radio, algiz, sowelo, and laguz. sigils included: happiness, protection)
New Moon Rituals 🤍
@losillewitch on instagram
As the first proper Sabbat of the Spring and the (ostensibly, depending on your system) first Cross-Quarter of the year, Imbolc represents the time of the Wheel when the seasons begin to turn from winter to spring, snow and ice beginning to mely, and the first vestiges of life start to pop up from beneath the blanket of winter. (Your results may vary - I live in New England where everything is still metaphorically dead as doorknobs on February 1st!).
Imbolc marks the time when winter begins to seep away, when greenery first begins to poke its head through the stillness of the Dark Half of the Year, and, of course, themes of light abide throughout.
Neatly tucked between Yule (the Winter Solstice) and Ostara (the Spring Equinox), Imbolc is the transitory celebratory day positioned exactly between these two climes. Though "Imbolc" and Sabbats are typically associated with Wiccan tradition, secular & non-Wiccan witches can observe and celebrate these days as mathemetical nature festivals marking the turning of the year.
Imbolc Dates, 2022: Sunset February 1st to February 2nd
Associated Colors (for altars and decorating, etc): White, Cream, Light Blue (Periwinkle), Green & White, Silver
Symbols: Melting snows, evergreens, lights and candles, melting ice, & white flowers
Scents: Vanilla, Benzoin
Herbs: Angelica, Myrrh, yellow, white or blue Flowers, snowdrop, rowan, the first flowers of the year; to burn: basil, bay, benzoin, celandine
Colors for Ritual Wear: White
As a time of renewal and rebirth, these themes are key to any spellwork or ritualcraft engaged in on Imbolc. Though many might advise you that Sabbats are really days for celebrating and not a lot of heavy-lifting spellcraft ought to be done, I tend to disagree - especially, at least, when it comes to Imbolc and Litha. Here, Imbolc is the perfect time to state new beginnings and begin any cycles of renewal or rebirth you have in mind! The pull of the natural passing of the seasons (again, adjust as applicable here) is a magnificent tide for ebbing or renewal magics.
Other topics or purposes suitable for Imbolc include: Health, omen observation, animal kinship, safety, improving finances, awakening, light, fertility (not just literal - gardening or creative endeavors could fall under here), initiations and self-dedications, turning focus inward, centering power, and attending to the self.
As a big advocate for lavish feasts on Wheel days, Imbolc is a prime time for preparing seasonally appropriate food! Dishes or courses may include:
Dairy, milk, cheeses, creams and sour cream, peppers, onions shallots, garlic, leeks, chives, olives, raisins, breads, creamy soups, white wine, soy milk, cornbread cake, rowanberry wine, lamb, fondues, creamed spinach
Observing Imbolc Sabbat rituals (as appropriate to your traditions)
Wearing a crown of lights, or carrying candles/tapers, during invocations & rituals.
Renewing vows of magic, initiation, and dedication to the Craft, one's coven, etc.
Burning of the Yule Greens (for some)
Leaving buttered bread for the Fae who travel with the Lady of the Greenwood on Imbolc Eve (I personally Do Not Eff With the Fae but - for those who do!)
Place three ears of corn over the doorway for/to represent The Triple Goddess and leave til Ostara (for the Wiccans/Those Who Eff With the Triple Goddess in the room)
Cleanse your magic working area with rosemary or vervain
Walk in the snow (as applicable)
Light a candle in every room of the house, or all the lights, even just for a few moments, after sunset on Imbolc.
Take a bath of renewal
Meditate or inquire of your deities - there is a tradition amongst those who call upon a Goddess in the Wiccan fashion to inquire of them, then recieve their answer overnight on Imbolc during which no word must be uttered, which I admit is incredibly appealing (as someone who loves, loves, loves ritual!)
Imbolc is a wonderful time for peacefully looking inward and starting anew - I hope you find what you're looking for, and have a wonderful and lovely cross-quarter day! (Remember: If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, flip the Wheel - February 1st/2nd would be Lammas for you!)
Sources for this post include: Ann Moura, Deborah Blake, Scott Cunningham, Patricia Telesco, Titania Hardie, Ellen Dugan
[Part of the Let's Talk... Sabbat Series: Lammas | Litha | ]
The Wild Called Me Back.
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