storygnome

[storygnome]

[storygnome]

THE LOVE WITCH (2016) dir. Anna Biller

[storygnome]

[storygnome]

When life feels like this

[storygnome]

Altar Preparation

Today I’m preparing my altars to Dionysus and Hekate for the US Presidential Inauguration tomorrow. Notice I placed The Tower card on it as well. Trying to decide on which curse to read from my copy of the Greek Magical Papyri or if I should cobble together something myself…

Hail Dionysus Bringer of Madness, Hail Hekate Breaker of Chains ⛓️‍💥

[storygnome]

𝐈𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐜

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

What is Imbolc?

Imbolc is a festival that marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, occurring around February 1-2. Known as Brigid’s Day or Candlemas, it celebrates the first stirrings of spring and the return of light. The name Imbolc translates to “in the belly,” symbolizing new life, growth, and the creative potential that is awakening within the earth. It is a time of purification and renewal, where the energy of the earth begins to rise, bringing warmth and vitality to the whole world.

Imbolc is often dedicated to Brigid, the goddess of fire, healing, poetry, and craftsmanship. Brigid is associated with both the hearth and the forge, embodying the transformative powers of fire and light. As the days grow longer and the sun strengthens, we honor her influence in bringing fertility and growth to the land. The first signs of spring, such as the lactation of ewes and the appearance of snowdrops, are seen as blessings from Brigid, signaling that life is returning.

Imbolc is also a festival of light, a time to celebrate the increasing daylight through the lighting of candles, bonfires, and lanterns. As the earth begins to thaw and the seeds of spring stir beneath the soil, Imbolc offers a space for spiritual growth and creative awakening. It is a perfect time to clear away the stagnant energies of winter, refresh the soul, and prepare for the vibrant months to come. The act of lighting candles not only honors the growing light but also serves as a reminder of the inner light within us all, waiting to shine brightly in the coming seasons.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Goddess Brigid

Brigid, one of the most revered deities in the Celtic pantheon, is also known as Lady of the Sacred Flame. She is the goddess of healing, fire, smithcraft, creativity, animals, hearth and poetry, Imbolc is her Sabbat, a time dedicated to honoring her influence on creativity and new beginnings. Her symbols are fire, poetry, lambs and fertility. Brigid is often depicted with a flame emerging from her head or a serpent coiled around her, representing the powerful energy she brings. She is also a goddess of protection, childbirth, women, blacksmithing and life.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

The Return of Light and the First Signs of Spring

Imbolc marks the shift from winter to the first signs of spring. Days start to get longer, and you can feel the earth beginning to wake up, even though winter isn’t completely gone. It’s the time when the sun starts to grow stronger, and we begin to see early signs of new life. During Imbolc, many light candles or bonfires in Brigid's honor, celebrating the return of light and the growing strength of the sun as the days grow longer.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Brigid's Cross

A traditional symbol of Imbolc, Brigid’s Cross is woven from reeds or straw and represents both protection and blessings. It’s believed to offer protection from fire and lightning, making it an essential symbol of Brigid’s influence. In Ireland, it was common to hang Brigid’s Cross on the rafters of homes to invoke her protective energy.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Brigid's Flame

According to legend, Brigid lit a flame on the hill of Kildare, pledging to keep it burning in her honor. This flame was said to burn continuously, symbolizing her eternal presence and influence over the cycles of life. The fire became a sacred symbol, tended by the Brigidine Sisters for centuries, representing not just physical warmth, but the power of creativity and healing.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Magic Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Moon, Venus

Season: Midpoint between Winter and Spring

Element: Earth, Fire

Time of Day: Dawn

Tarot: The Star, The Empress, The Ace of Wands

Colors: White, Light Yellow, Green, Gold, Silver, Lilac, Pale Pink, Purple

Herbs: Chamomile, Clover, Angelica, Heather, Basil, Bay Laurel, Willow, Rosemary, Milk Thistle, Coltsfut, Lavender,

Fruits: Orange, Lemon, Pomegranate, Apple, Pear, Blackberry (Brigid's favorite fruit)

Vegetables: Leek, Potato, Carrot, Turnips, Garlic

Runes: Sowilo, Berkano, Algiz, Kenaz

Crystals: Carnelian, Amethyst, Garnet, Onyx, Ruby, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Milk Quartz

Trees: Rowan, Willow, Birch

Goddesses: Brigid, Demeter, Hestia, Vesta, Aphrodite, Ceres, Venus, Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aradia, Athena, Minerva

Gods: Faunus, Eros, Pan, Cupid, Aenghus Og

Dragon: Fafnir

Flowers: Snowdrops, Crocus, Daisy, Dandelion, Chicory

Animals: Lamb, Sheep, Cow, Deer, Groundhog, Hedgehog, Snake, Swan, Wolf, Bear, Boar

Magical Powers: Purification, Renewal, Creativity, Fertility, Awakening, New Beginnings, Hearth and Home, Healing, Hope, Inspiration, Cleansing, Protection

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Activities To Do:

🐑 Light candles or a bonfire to honor the return of the sun.

🐑 Make an Imbolc altar.

🐑 Rest and enjoy the midwinter season doing cozy activities.

🐑 Wear the colors of the season.

🐑 Cook or bake seasonal dishes, especially fresh bread, cheese, or other dairy products.

🐑 Make Brigid's cross.

🐑 Take a walk in nature and collect branches and stones to add to your altar.

🐑 Donate to animal shelters or send wishes for the animals born during this season, especially lambs.

🐑 Eat fresh bread or drink milk

🐑 Clean your house to invite new positive energy.

🐑 CREATE ANYTHING!! whether it’s art, crafts, edits or poetry.

🐑 Write the sigil of Imbolc somewhere visible to attract its energy( I usually do this on a piece of paper that I put on my altar or on my arm)

🐑 Take a bath with lavender or cinnamon essential oil

🐑 Read about the goddess Brigid

🐑 If it’s a sunny day, celebrate the festival of light by spending time outdoors and letting the sun purify you.

🐑 Do offerings for your deities

🐑 Dance to festive music, feel the joy of the season, and let your inner fire shine :D

🐑 Try spinning or crafting with wool to honor traditional Imbolc crafts.

🐑 Look for seasonal flowers like snowdrops or crocus and bring some into your home for decoration.

🐑 Plant seeds if the weather allows, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.

🐑 Do spells for fresh starts and set intentions

🐑 Worship Goddess Brigid or any deities you feel connected to during this time.

🐑 Read poetry to celebrate the creative energy of the season.

🐑 Make an Imbolc Magick Spell Jar

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Food and Drinks:

Dairy products (or vegetarian alternatives), like milk, cheese, and yogurt, freshly baked bread, muffins, waffles, blackberry jam, blackberry cakes (anything with blackberries), lemon cake, poppy seed cakes, biscuits coated in sesame seeds, dishes with bold spices, seeds such as sunflower, poppy, and sesame (for Imbolc seeds are very meaningdul), red cabbage, oats, butter, honey, garlic, scones, pancakes, crepes, pickles, cheese pie, oatcakes, bannock, mashed potatoes, colcannon, chili peppers, eggs, apple tarts, spiced nuts, roasted vegetables, hearty soups, grain-based salads, and citrus fruits, such as orange, lemon or pomelo). Don’t forget to make a wish while flipping your pancakes on Imbolc! <3

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

useful sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

gifs credit: Pinterest

Tip Jar🌲

[storygnome]

gochagia

[storygnome]

[storygnome]

Robin

[storygnome]

Oysters

[storygnome]

Shore pine

[storygnome]

“May this year be full of proud deeds and silly games, beautiful songs and hearty feasts, clever jokes, loving friends, and enough surprises to keep us on our toes.” - Bruce Goldstone, "A Gnome's Christmas"

(Suggested listening.)

As declared last year on this day, and the year before that, and the year before that - according to the book mentioned above, today is Edda Night. The very last day of the holiday season, and the start of the new year, for more "traditional" Gnomes (specifically the Poortvliet/Hyugen style ones).

Featuring, from top left clockwise: Tock Corrigan (main character of my comic "Tock the Gnome"), Maarten the Gnome (courtesy of my amazing Gnomish brother Mark Roloson), Serena Arclight (from "World of Warcraft"), Lisa the Gnome (from "David the Gnome"), famous wizard Bigby (from "Forgotten Realms"), and a Gnome of Terra (the world of the newest series from H.M. Barone).

Now that I do these yearly, it seems I always say something along the lines of "OUCH last year!!! Hope for next year? (weak thumbs up from the floor)" .....And that holds true, once again. But I do still believe that holding hope at all is a powerful thing, and there is still a chance for action - even if its small things, to bring the brightness, in spite of looming harm.

So.

Happy new year, dear followers, dear readers, dear patrons. Thank you for helping me keep it bright. Picturing you surrounded with light and warmth, wherever you are.

(And don't forget - now until the 17th, all new Patreon pledges and all prints at my shop are 25% off!! Pledge here - gift here - and browse prints here 💗 **Use code WF2025 ** )

~

Bonus art and stories ~ Prints, comics and more!

[storygnome]

Sigyn Dreams

Devotional sketchwork. I wish for a happier ending for my Goddess’s tale. 

Hail, Lady of the Constant Heart. Hail Sigyn.

[storygnome]

Oh goodness!! That is so incredible and beautiful!!

Followers of Brigid,

How did you understand that she was calling you? I think she might be, but I needed help differentiating between my impulsiveness and a true nudge, you get what I'm saying!

What are the signs? What's she like, what's your impression of her personality? I wanna know everything about her.

[storygnome]

💗💗💗 Recent devotee of Hers as well - and my experience so far has been very gradual. She came to me at Midsummer two years ago, in a meditation - and in flame form, to the point that I didn't realize it was Her at the time and spent time in worship and research of other Deities before it was made clear to me that it was Her (which was, again, a gradual thing. Like a very slow awareness, and suddenly the clarity of "Oh. It's You" after months and months and months of an impression I didn't fully grasp).

(I'm of Irish descent but in a way that like.... most of that has been lost, information-wise and traditions-wise, and She is such Big Energy and big history that it's taken me some time to get confident enough to take the hand She is reaching out - not that one needs to be of any specific descent to work with Her, obviously, I just had a lot of baggage in that area and apparently needed Her patience and grace, which She has given to me in spades.)

The only signs I've gotten from Her are of fire (again, in meditation/visualization), and that warm impression. And just like, a sureness that She is the right direction for me right now. Basically anytime I take the initiative to believe in myself and have self-confidence and assertive self-compassion, I feel Her there. And though She is a hearth-Deity and a healing-Deity too, the impression I've been getting from Her has been very much about Her role as Goddess of smithcraft/crafting in general/poetry (I'm a visual artist and a writer). I'm not sure what that's gonna look like moving forward, but what I feel from Her is very deep, and very patient.

And on that note, back when I was still gathering my confidence to work with Her, I did ask what She wanted from me and the impression I got at that point was to let myself take things - take my growing relationship with Her - slowly. Things have amped up between us recently (not exactly sure why, except that it feels like it's time. I must have moved through some sort of blockage!) but what I get from Her initial guidance, there, is that She is a comforting, resting, patient space and wants us to come to Her as we need to, however that looks. She gives that permission, and is so glad when we take it. I really feel that. I was reading other people's notes on their reblogs of this post and someone mentioned Her as the archetype of an Irish Mother - like expecting you to do your part, put the work in that is yours but is there cheering you on - and that really resonated with me too!! And last thing I'll mention is that since I've gotten serious about working with Her, I've gotten subtle, positive nudges from two of my existing Patrons as well (Sigyn and Persephone), and the energy around that feels so warming and reassuring.

So whatever reassurance you're getting as you reach out to Her more, and however your growing relationship with Her is developing, I say lean into it - and in my experience, She will be there for you 🌼

Followers of Brigid,

How did you understand that she was calling you? I think she might be, but I needed help differentiating between my impulsiveness and a true nudge, you get what I'm saying!

What are the signs? What's she like, what's your impression of her personality? I wanna know everything about her.

[storygnome]

Blessed Imbolc to all 🌟🕯️🤍🔥🌾