myramysticmoon

[myramysticmoon]

Celebrating Imbolc as a solitary practitionner

You'll find that some of these ideas wander a little outside your typical Imbolc rituals, as I've included many of my own experiences alongside your more traditional practices!

Baking sweets or bread! Oatcakes, honey cakes, scones, herb bread (bonus points for use of rosemary), and lamb are among my favorite Imbolc dishes. Anything herb, oat, dairy, or honey is typical.

Cleaning your home, coupled with cleansing of the rooms and objects of your choice.

Make yourself a nice cup of tea! Lavender and chamomile tea are staples. Bonus: sweeten it using honey and milk, both traditional ingredients of the season.

Learn about the Goddess Brigid! I'm a heathen, but I've always found it rewarding and fulfilling to learn about other mythologies and deities of other pantheons! You'll find the myth of Brigid is tightly intertwined with the celebration of Imbolc, and understanding one leads to a better understanding of the other.

Decorating with white, blue, red and gold! Lambs, the moon, corn dolls, fire, brooms, sunwheels, eggs, candles, and snowdrops are imagery associated with this celebration.

Work with the moon, or with a moon deity that you worship.

Making or decorating candles, and crafting Brigid's crosses.

Enjoy a glass of milk! Feel free to flavor it using honey, blackberry syrup or leaves, chamomile, or elderflower! (Important note: elder flowers, not berries or other parts of the elder plant, which are poisnonous when uncooked.) Bonus points if you enjoy an apple alongside it! I've taken to making apple quarters to eat when night has fallen on February 1st.

Make a list of elements of your life that you would like to see "grow"! What are your current ambitions? What projects do you want to see bear fruit?

Start a knitting project, or learn how to knit! Making a cloak, referred to as Brigid's mantle, is a common way to honor the Goddess Brigid.

Visit a local body of water, especially springs! They are the perfect spot to notice the end of winter, when their ice begins to melt. It's common practice to make pebble offerings to bodies of water, in order to thank the earth for its gift of sweet water.

Make an offering to the faerie folk (for example, milk and biscuits), or start learning how to work with them.

Acquire a new house plant, or even better: sow a seed for a new plant to grow in your home!

Work with the element of fire, for example, by practicing fire-based magic, by lighting candles in the house, or by lighting a bonfire/hearth fire.

Play calm music, especially harp music!

Appreciate the quiet and calm of nighttime, for example, by leaving your home in the dark once the sun sets, and lighting it up with nothing but candles as a symbol of the returning sun.

Reading or reciting poetry! Especially poetry pertaining to the night, winter, spring, nature and the like. Feeling inspired? Why not try writing some poetry yourself!

First picture Second picture: Spring by Ruth Sanderson

[myramysticmoon]

[myramysticmoon]

Had to take a few snow pictures before it all melted! There is something magical about the light outside in the snow. The junco page from my book, Ornithography. It’s a symbol of the winter ❄️

[myramysticmoon]

2025 Witches' Calendar

For all my witches out there, here’s a handy list of the 2025 dates for the solstices, some commonly-referenced holidays, full and new moons, and special astronomical events. I’ve listed my sources at the bottom.

Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed and check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what special events will be visible in your area.

On a related note, readers are encouraged to create their own seasonal calendars, holidays, and observances based on your local biome and personal preferences. Enjoy!

Solstices, Harvests, Quarter Days, Some Common Dates

February 1-2 - Imbolc / Candlemas / High Winter

March 20 - Spring Equinox / Ostara

April 30-May 1 - Beltane / May Day / Walpurgisnacht

June 20 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer / Litha

August 1 - Lughnasadh / Lammas / Summer Harvest

September 22 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Fall Harvest

October 31 - Samhain / Halloween / Final Harvest

December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Full Moons

January 13 - Wolf Moon ♋

February 12 - Snow Moon ♌

March 14 - Worm Moon ♍ (Lunar Eclipse)

April 12 - Pink Moon ♎

May 12 - Flower Moon ♏

June 11 - Strawberry Moon ♐

July 10 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑

August 9 - Sturgeon Moon (aka Corn Moon) ♒

September 7 - Harvest Moon ♓ (Lunar Eclipse)

October 6 - Hunter's Moon (aka Blood Moon) ♈

November 5 - Frost Moon (aka Beaver Moon) ♉ (Supermoon)

December 4 - Cold Moon ♊ (Supermoon)

* The full moons in September and October are almost EXACTLY equidistant from the Autumn Equinox this year, so whether you'll have a Harvest Moon in September or October depends on where you live!

New Moons

January 29 ♒

February 27 ♓

March 29 ♈

April 27 ♉

May 26 ♊

June 25 ♋

July 24 ♌

August 23 ♍

September 21 ♍ (Seasonal black moon, second new moon in Virgo)

October 21 ♎

November 20 ♏

December 19 ♐

Special Celestial Events

March 14 - Worm Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

March 29 - Solar Eclipse

September 7 - Harvest Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

September 21 - Seasonal Black Moon / Solar Eclipse

November 5 - Frost Moon Supermoon

December 4 - Cold Moon Supermoon

(Check the DarkSky Placefinder to see what will be visible in your area!)

Mercury Retrogrades (in case you need them)

March 14 to April 6

July 17 to August 10

November 9 to November 29

Happy Witching!

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2025

Calendar-12 - 2025 Moon Phases

Full Moonology - 2025 Full Moon Calendar

AstroStyle - All the 2025 Full Moons

Your Zodiac Sign - Astrology Calendar 2025

Old Farmer’s Almanac - Mercury Retrograde Dates 2024-2025

Sea and Sky - Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2025

DarkSky International - Dark Sky Placefinder for Stargazing

Patheos - 2025 Wheel of the Year Astrological Calendar

Image Source - How Stuff Works

=

If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, tune in to my podcast Hex Positive, or check out my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊

[myramysticmoon]

[myramysticmoon]

low effort witchy things ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ

first thing in the morning—take three slow deep breaths (air/sky) more grounding than immediately checking a phone

notice your feet on the ground taking root when you stand up for the first time of the day, take a little stretch (earth/land)

wash or splash your face to get alll the way awake. then chug a big glass. (water/sea)

appreciate any trees, plants, dirt, or clouds you see

place both hands on your heart to feel your own heat and warmth. feel your heart beating. “i am alive” (fire)

wear or carry a rock, hagstone, crystal, talisman, or amulet

in times of stress or dissociation, rub your thumb in small circles on the back of your other hand to ground and soothe. (clockwise for attracting an intention, counterclockwise for banishing)

color magic with clothing

add cinnamon, lavender, or peppermint to coffee according to intention if you don’t want to drink tea

stirring tea/coffee according to intention

sometimes i pick a little affirmation for the day— “may i forgive myself” “the universe is within me/the wild is within me”

visualization—inhale a bright light and let it fill your lungs, exhaling clouds of negativity

or create a shield with breathing. with each breath, imagine a bubble forming around your body, then your aura, growing with strength.

cleansing shower at the end of the day (intending it to cleanse my aura makes me more motivated to take one, idkw)

if taking a bath, add a dash of moon water

sniff lavender essential oil before bed

look at the moon, talk to it. remind yourself that it’s the same one your ancestors knew.

[myramysticmoon]

the trees you grew up with have not forgotten you. their branches still whisper your name in the breeze and their roots remember the paths your feet once traced through their shade.

[myramysticmoon]

You are a person who covers your counter space in clutter and inadvertently makes a shrine to a long forgotten god who shows up to thank you.

[myramysticmoon]

Witchcraft for the New Year

Correspondences and ideas:

Herbal correspondences 

Witchy (and practical) ways to start the new year

Cleansing and preparation for the new year

Quick things to do before the new year

New Year’s resolution alternatives

New Year’s Traditions (little things to do)

New Year’s Eve and Day Spiritual Practices

What to do for the new year as a spiritual person

Good luck traditions on NYE

Spells:

New Year’s Wishing Jar

A New Year Spell

New Year’s Blessing

New Beginnings Spell

My New Year Spell

End of the year spell

Candle Spell to Welcome the New Year

Sigils:

New year blessings

New year sigil set

The upcoming year is peaceful

For leaving behind what no longer serves you

For entering the New Year with clear mind, soul and general well-being

Tarot:

New Year’s Spread! (3 card)

Seasonal New Year’s Spread (4 card)

Tarot Spread for the New Year! (5 card)

New Year Spread (5 card)

New Year Tarot Spread (8 card)

New Year Tarot Spread (11 card)

The Yearly Spread (11 card)

New Year’s Spread (12 card)

New Year Tarot Spread (13 card)

The New Year (14 card)

Last updated December, 2023. Please inform me of broken links via askbox!

[myramysticmoon]

a rouge pipe cleaner.... escaped from the craft supplies

[myramysticmoon]

a meme that DEFINITELY needed improving. thank you all

[myramysticmoon]

all the moons of 2024

[myramysticmoon]

last cross-stitch project of the year: finished! this one took me a little over a day and I’m so happy with how it came out! the color-shift thread is gorgeous 😍

this brings my total to five finished pieces this year, though two of them were technically started last year lol

(pattern by FuzzyFoxDesigns on Etsy)

[myramysticmoon]

every winter solstice I am consumed with thoughts of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost...

[myramysticmoon]

Pagan holiday’s are fun cus no one can figure out if they should preface their holiday greatings with “happy” “merry” or “blessed”

[myramysticmoon]

Pagan holiday’s are fun cus no one can figure out if they should preface their holiday greatings with “happy” “merry” or “blessed”

[myramysticmoon]

For the Winter Solstice this year I made Wassail for the first time~

The recipe I used was simple and although it is non-alcoholic, a liquor of your choice could easily be incorporated in.

Ingredients/tools:

1 apple (I used Honeycrisp)

1/2 naval orange

8 cups apple cider

2 cups orange juice

1/3 cup lemon juice

4 cinnamon sticks

15 or so whole cloves, or 1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp ginger

1 tbsp brown sugar, optional

Large pot

Slotted spoon or metal sieve

Instructions:

Cut apple and orange into slices (I cut my apples horizontally to display the "star" in the middle).

If using whole cloves, insert cloves into apple slices (makes them easier to remov later).

Add all ingredients to pot and bring to simmer.

Let simmer for 30 to 60 min*.

Remove from heat and scoop or sieve out apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks and any loose cloves.

Mug up, garnish with a cinnamon stick if you desire, and enjoy.

*𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘵.

Storage/reheating:

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate. Lasts 5-7 days.

Reheat in the microwave, on a stovetop, or in a slow cooker.

Other ingredients to try:

Cranberries, cranberry juice

Pineapple juice

Cardamom

Star anise

Allspice

Mace

Liquor to incorporate:

Brandy

Bourbon

Rum

Sherry

Wine