#rain makes corn corn makes whiskey. etc. rain is a good thing…..

[livvyofthelake]

“where’s the whimsy??” it is in IZOMBIE. the show that just gets better with every episode… liv’s about to eat HOCKEY BRAINS and major and don e are on a road trip with a kidnappee in their trunk while peyton deals with zombie racism and ravi and clive get sooooo excited to see hockey liv….. this is the best show ever….

[imperfectadventures-blog]

Praise God So Much

So it’s day 3 of my Ugandan adventure and the first day I’ve had access to spotty internet. Saturday afternoon I hopped on a 16hr flight to Dubai. I sat next to a man from India who spoke about 10 words in English. From his hand gestures and few words I learned that he has 3 sons, he likes whiskey (his wife yelled at him when he asked me to help him order some), and he has throat cancer (the reason his wife yelled at him). 

A couple hours before we landed, the airline fed us breakfast -- and immediately after we landed it was dinnertime in Dubai. My body was so confused. In Dubai I met Lauren for the first time. She’s from Ohio and is joining me for the next 8 days here in Uganda. Thankfully, we thought ahead and planned out a meeting place in the airport since neither of our phones worked once we got there. We didn’t have time to explore the city much, but we did venture out to get some incredible Lebanese food.

The next morning, Lauren and I were off again on a 6hr flight to Entebbe, Uganda. Unfortunately, the wifi wasn’t working on the plane for us, so we couldn’t contact Janet (the head honcho of Chayah & our ride) to let her know that we were delayed more than an hour. When we finally got all 350lbs of luggage out of the airport, Janet (who had been waiting for 3+hrs for us at the airport) and her driver, Luis, started the journey back to Chayah. The airport in Entebbe is only 79 miles from Chayah, but the trip can take 2-6hrs depending on how many times you get stuck in “the jam”. We got stuck in all the jams, so needless to say, when we arrived at Chayah at 9pm Uganda time (10hrs ahead of CA) we were exhausted. Stepping out of the van, we were bombarded with hugs from all the kids which made the long journey completely worth every moment.

It’s so good to see all the kids, moms, and cooks and hear their joyful laughter. Our first full day at Chayah, we went to downtown Jinja in the morning and shopped for food and muzungu items. Muzungu is the Ugandan term for a white person, although it technically means “English speaker”. You can’t imagine what a Ugandan market looks and smells like until you experience it for yourself, but here’s a couple pictures that might give you an idea.

After our market adventure, we went back to Chayah to eat lunch, rest, and do tie-dye with the kids. About 20 minutes into tie-dying we practically had a monsoon. I have never seen so much rain in my life! So 25 of us huddled on the brown tile porch, attempting to finish what we started. Almost on queue, when the last shirt was finished, the rain let up a bit. Uganda is a tropical country on the equator and its people are used to moderate, warm weather so the Ugandans were freezing during all this. We brought all the kids inside Janet’s living room. Since the power was out, we gave them books to read and played card games until it was time for the nightly devotion. The way they worship the Lord is beautiful -- they sing and dance like no one is watching and praise God with a humble gratefulness that is unmatched by anything I’ve seen. As they say here in Uganda, “Praise God so much.”

Day 3 we learned what Ugandans do with their corn (maize). We took 6 giant sacks of maize to a grinding machine and spent a couple hours waiting for it to become flour. They use it to make a dish they call posho (a gummy potato-like substance). Then Lauren and I went to a restaurant with wifi to have some sense of connection to our world back home for a little bit. We left at 5pm and you would not believe the jam we hit! After waiting in the van for 20 minutes, Janet, Lauren, and I decided to take our chances on walking a little ways to get a boda-boda. A boda is a little motorcycle that taxis people, among other things (like moving couches, carrying live chickens, etc). After the first half mile, we realized the whole bridge was shut down on both sides because there had been an accident. So we continued to walk until after 2 miles, we caught some bodas up the hill for the last half mile of our trek. What a day...

I’m so grateful to be here with the Chayah family and for all the ways God has provided for this adventure. From donations of books, backpacks, school supplies, toiletries and money to the money refunded on Lauren’s and my plane tickets, God has been with us every step of the way.

[elixbeiste]

Guidance 37 - 10 Country/Summer Songs about open space/sunshine/etc

Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces - She needs wide open spaces / Room to make her big mistakes

Justin Timberlake - Can’t Stop The Feeling! - 'Cause I got that sunshine in my pocket /Got that good soul in my feet

Noa - Space - Gimme wide open space / With the sun and the rain in my hair / And the wind in my face

Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine - The sun is on my side. / Take me for a ride. / I smile up to the sky. / I know I'll be all right.

Katrina & The Waves - Walking On Sunshine - I'm walking on sunshine / And don't it feel good

Pharrell Williams - Freedom - Mind, use your power / Spirit, use your wings / Freedom

Luke Bryan - Rain Is A Good Thing - Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey / Whiskey makes my baby, feel a little frisky

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun - Here comes the sun, and I say / It's all right

The Who - The Song Is Over - I'll sing my song to the wide open spaces / I'll sing my heart out to the infinite sea / I'll sing my visions to the sky high mountains

John Anderson - Where I Come From - Where I come from, it's wide open spaces, / Hills and hollers, spirits running free / It's in your blood, just like the sun's up in the sky

[agnosticanimist]

Holidays I Observe/Celebrate

Taken from my sh!tty Book of Shadows, here's a list and summary of the holidays I attempt to celebrate. 

KEEP IN MIND: These are holidays that I personally celebrate, they are described as I personally see them, and the celebrations mentioned are the ones that I personally observe. There are no “right” or “wrong” ways to celebrate a holiday, even “culturally important” ones. Everyone celebrates them differently, some people don’t observe certain traditions, and that’s okay. If you celebrate differently than I do, that’s okay!  I can already smell the hate and annoying responses I’m going to get because of this but whatever let’s get started!

Putting a keep reading because holy farts this post was SO LONG!!!

New Years Day 🆕

January 1st --- A celebration of the new year. Usually celebrated by staying up the night before until midnight, then toasting a drink to luck and prosperity before going to bed. Lunch and/or dinner are usually comprised of black-eyed peas, greens, mashed potatoes, and cornbread.

Feast of Fools 🎭

January 6th --- A day to mock authoritative power, the church, religion in general, and the government. Mock ecclesiastical rituals are performed, a mock king/pope/bishop is elected, and drinking, dancing, and singing occurs. It's a day to laugh at that which is taken so seriously the rest of the year.

Chinese New Years 🐉

New Moon between January 21st and February 20th --- (I’ll update this part later!!!)

Imbolc 🏠

February 1st --- Marks the first day of spring. Celebration of hearth and home. Activities include making St. Brigid’s crosses, making bride’s beds, making priapic wands, lighting candles or bonfires in the snow, and eating pastries and dairy products. 

Valentine’s Day 💝

February 14th --- A day to express your romantic love to those whom you love, usually by giving them a love note/card or a Valentine. Other gifts include roses, stuffed animals, chocolates, etc.

Mardi Gras ⚜

3 Days before Ash Wednesday --- Traditionally occurs 3 days before Ash Wednesday (which occurs 46 days before Easter). Activities include parades, throwing beads, eating good food, wearing masks, singing/playing music, dancing, and drinking.

White Day 💮

March 14th --- Usually celebrated in Asian countries, White Day is a response to Valentine’s Day. On Valentine’s day, women are the ones expressing their love to men. On White Day, men who received love are expected to return it, oftentimes with gifts triple in value to the gift they were given. Common gifts include white chocolate, white lingerie, cookies, etc. (Slightly sexist, but hey, a second day to spoil my partner with love is a-ok in my book!) 

St. Patrick’s Day 🍀

March 17th --- A day to celebrate Irish culture and heritage. Activities include wearing green (and pinching those NOT wearing green), listening to traditional Irish music, and feasting on things such as roast, potatoes, greens, cornbread, whiskey, beer, and/or cider. A common tradition is “wetting the shamrock” where a clover is placed at the bottom of a shot glass that is then filled with alcohol. The shot is gulped down, and the clover goes with it, or alternatively is tossed over the shoulder for good luck.

Ostara - Spring Equinox 🌱

March 19th-22nd --- Ostara, the inspiration for Easter, is a celebration of new life, birth, fertility, growth, etc. Celebrated by planting seeds, starting gardens, planting flowers and trees, etc.

April Fool’s Day 😜

April 1st --- A day of pranks and jokes that I hate to death but also still celebrate for some reason..?

Easter 🐇

1st Sunday after the Full Moon --- Activities of celebration include painting and hiding boiled eggs which are collected in baskets, feasting on shepherd’s pie and carrot cake, eating candy and treats in the shapes of rabbits and chicks, etc.

Beltane 🔥

May 1st --- Originally celebrated by casting protection spells onto cattle who were headed out to summer pastures, today it is a celebration focused on protection of the self. Bouquets of primrose, rowan, hawthorn, gorse, hazel, and marigold are made and hung over the doors or windows of a home. Maypoles are danced around with colorful ribbons. Massive bonfires are lit and feasts are held.

LGBT+ Pride Month 🌈

The Entire Month of June --- A month to celebrate lgbt+ identities, such as lesbain, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. Notable days for me are June 3rd: Bi pride day, June 5th: Pan pride day, and June 23rd: Androgyne pride day.

Litha - Summer Solstice ☀

June 19th-22nd --- These mark the longest days of the year. Protective amulets are made out of rue, rowan, and basil tied together with white or gold ribbon. They’re kept until the next Litha, when they’re burned and a new amulet is created. Other activities include picnics, making flower crowns, and dancing/singing around a campfire. 

America’s Independence Day 🎆

July 4th --- Celebrations include barbecues, grilled foods, lemonade, pool parties, American patriotism, and shooting off/watching fireworks after dark.

Tanabata 🌠

July 7th --- (There’s so much lore about this holiday that I’m going to leave out because this post is already so long.) Essentially, it’s an Asian (more specifically, Japanese, or the version I celebrate hails from Japan) holiday centered around two lovers who get to meet only once a year (the 7th day of the 7th month). On the day of their meeting, you can write down wishes on tiny strips of paper and tie them to trees/bamboo, which are burned at midnight to release the wish into the universe in hopes that it will come true. Also it’s bad luck if it rains on Tanabata because the lovers can’t meet.

Lammas/Lughnasadh 🍞

August 1st --- The first harvest of the year. Feasts of breads, grains, and beers as well as bonfires are common. Activities include making corn dollies, wicker men, making crowns of wheat/corn stalks, creating/decorating staves, wands, and besoms/brooms, etc.

Cherokee National Holiday 🐦

1st Monday in September ---  An annual event celebrating Cherokee heritage and culture, held each Labor Day weekend in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The theme of the celebration changes each year, but activities include a two night inter-tribal pow wow, stickball, Cherokee marbles, horseshoes and cornstalk shoot tournaments, softball tournaments, rodeos, car and art shows, gospel singings, the annual Miss Cherokee pageant, the Cherokee National Holiday parade, and the annual "State of the Nation" address by the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Mabon - Autumn Equinox 🍁

September 19th-22nd --- The days and nights are equal in length. A time to wear your finest clothes and spend time with your family. This is the second harvest of the year. Activities include offering tributes to nature for the harvests, making wine, gathering dried herbs, walking in the woods, and decorating burial sites with acorns, leaves, and pine cones. 

Halloween 🎃

October 31st --- Inspired by Samhain and celebrated on the same day. Activities include carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, wearing costumes, going through haunted houses, riding hayrides, and giving/receiving treats like candy, popcorn balls, and little plastic toys. 

Samhain 👻

Sunset of October 31st - Sunset of November 1st --- Marks the beginning of winter. Feasts inviting the spirits of dead loved ones to join are held. Offerings to fae and spirits are given. Masks and disguises are worn to hide from evil entities. A time to honor the dead, be they kin, friends, or pets. 

Dia de los Muertos 💀

November 1st & 2nd --- A time to celebrate the dead. Activities include tidying up or decorating graves/burial sites, creating shrines/altars to the dead or deities connected to the dead, leaving offerings like sweets and marigolds to the dead, painting your face to look like a calavera (a skull), dancing and singing to honor the dead, feasting on pan de muertos, etc. Meant to be a joyful but still respectful celebration of those who have passed on.

Thanksgiving 🍠

4th Thursday in November --- A time to gather with the family over a meal and express thankfulness for what you have. A traditional feast includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and more.

Yule - Winter Solstice ❄

December 19th-22nd --- The longest nights of the year. Activities include toasting to trees with spiced cider, creating/lighting a yule log, decorating with ivy and holly, kissing under mistletoe, and enjoying a feast of pork dishes, eggnog, turkey, spiced wines and ciders, cookies, and cider-soaked caraway cakes. 

Christmas 🎄

December 25th --- Inspired by Yule, celebrations include caroling, giving/getting presents and gifts, decorating a Christmas tree, making snowpeople, eating gingerbread cookies and candy canes, watching parades, watching sports, watching ballets, and feasting with friends and family. 

OH IT’S FINALLY DONE THANK THE MOON!!!

This list is subject to change/edit at any given time.

[cravingforwords]

In Which Arthur Ketch Regrets His Life Choices

Author: Willow Ravenwright Word Count: 1,139 Rating: PG for some Adult Situations Disclaimer: Supernatural and all it's characters, locations, etc. are the sole property of Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. Entertainment. It is being used without permission and no intent is being made to copyright any material herein.

Summary: Written for the SPN Hellatus Week 01 Challenge. Prompt: “It's 8:30, I have a hangover, and you're annoying me.” While on a Hunt in Kentucky, Emily Winchester brings back a bit of Moonshine. It hits Mr. Ketch in the backside. Hard.

********* He had absolutely no idea of the time. Only that he could smell the beginnings of blessed coffee in the small motel room they had rented for a couple nights just outside the city of Lexington. Bothersome spirit had been troubling the local mountain people.

“It's a case,” Emily had said. And Ketch, not wanting to argue with her, had agreed.

In some ways it was boring –  in others it was an interesting lesson in the American method of Hunting. These people of the mountains were suspicious and quick to believe anything having to do with the supernatural and, by token, were open - mouthed and open - handed. They were a good, honest, generous people.

In short, they put the British Hunter on edge. Emily Winchester, however, seemed to be very much at her ease among them, asking pointed questions over mason jars of sometimes questionable liquid. She was always careful to be polite and thank the people for whatever they chose to set before them. She was kind, compassionate, and a determined Hunter.

The next evening, they were on the side of the highway where the spirit was said to be causing trouble. Apparently it was a small item that had tethered him to Earth, and once it had burned (Ketch had been given the honor) the people wouldn't be troubled again.

The family of the deceased had gifted the young Winchester with clear liquid, and a finger to their lips. With a knowing nod, Emily stashed the mason jar in her large black duffel, and said they should be getting back. Ketch had thought it looked like water, but there must be a reason why it had to be done on the sly.

“Whatever is that?” he finally asked as Emily sipped carefully out of a cheap plastic cup back at the motel room.

“Corn liquor. Moonshine, Arthur,” she grinned, pouring him a small amount, “here, try a bit. Sip it slow. It's heavy proof, even for you.”

Sniffing and catching the distinct scent, he then swallowed at the clear liquid. And then subsequently choked a bit, making Emily laugh.

“I -told- you. Moonshine is strong stuff. Not like your fancy bottles of scotch and bourbon,” she said, saluting him with her glass as she took another swallow.

“Did that man...”

“...brew it himself? Yeah; it's an old tradition. Some people can do it legally now, others choose to keep it under the radar. Like that man. He was nice. Some of his best, I think,” she replied, setting the glass aside for now.

“How do you drink that filth?” inquired Ketch, whose palate was far more accustomed to the finer things in life.

“Very carefully,” was Emily's response as a warm glow settled into her belly.

“I see,” was his very careful response.

Time passed lazily on. Mick didn't have a Hunt for them right away, and he had contacted his so-called supervisor more than two hours ago. As there was little to do except drink the swill Emily had been gifted, he chose to take her measure.

Emily Winchester shared some of the features of her brothers. Her hair was dark, with green eyes that could be soft as jade or hard as emeralds. He liked the aesthetic of her, of the way her hands were so capable of death, and yet delicate and likewise capable of patching a nasty wound. Just as she had done about a week ago on a Werewolf case. He'd been a little overly cocky and been tagged in the leg. Emily had quickly patched the wound. Thankfully it had been claws and not teeth.

Granted, she had used whiskey, a sewing needle and nothing near medical grade thread, but she had persevered and had given him the rest of the bottle to numb the pain of the procedure.

He liked her body, all compact and muscle, lean and firm from many years on the road. And yet there was a softness in her too; something that sometimes showed him she was more than just a Hunter. She was a woman too. She had a beautiful body; Arthur would have to be blind not to notice the curve of her breasts and the angle of her hip.

Reaching for the mason jar, Emily's hand curled around his own, and her green eyes were trained on him, as if taking his measure for herself.

“This is a remarkably stupid idea,” she said, her gaze intent on him as her fingers relaxed.

“Something tells me you're rather used to stupid,” he murmured, a smirk quirking his mouth as he moved in to kiss her.

Only in his most private moments did Arthur Ketch ever imagine seeing the pale skin beneath her clothing, of the runes that gave her a shimmer when the light touched them. Only when he was alone after seeing her for the first time, small and determined and brave, did he ever imagine his hands roaming across planes of skin, learning her body by touch. And he certainly had never imagined how she would touch him in return, as if she were just as hungry for the contact as he had been.

And yes, they were both amazingly under the influence of that Kentucky Moonshine. But it didn't seem to matter as they lazily made love at three AM, her sighs and little moans the only music he needed as they lost themselves in each other.

As he woke that next morning, he reached for her and, as part of him expected, she was nowhere to be immediately reached. But the smell of coffee told him everything. And if he knew anything from spending this time with her, it was that Emily Winchester adored her coffee.

“Mmmm; morning,” she said as she noticed his eyes opening. Sitting up in bed, he groaned and rubbed his temples. The smell of coffee was under his nose almost instantly. Black. Apparently she noticed a lot more than he actually thought she did.

“C'mon,” she said to him, wrapped up in his discarded shirt from last night, “drink up. It'll help until we can get some water in you.”

Glancing over at the little motel clock, Arthur gave her the most annoyed look he was able to at her cheerfulness.

“It's 8:30 – I have a hangover – and you're annoying me,” he mumbled, but nevertheless accepted the coffee and allowed himself to enjoy the look of Emily wearing his shirt as she made a quick call on the motel phone.

“Apparently the diner down the street serves breakfast. Courtesy delivery here. Coffee. Nice, greasy breakfast, and you'll be right as rain,” she assured him.

“I'd settle for aspirin and another twelve hours' sleep,” he muttered as he drank the coffee.

“Nope. Gotta move; something about a Wendigo up in Montana.”

“I. Hate. Wendigos...”

[tipsycad147]

Pisces February Imbolc – A New Beginning

By shirleytwofeathers

Celebrated on February 2nd, Imbolc or Imbolg, (pronounced “IM-bulk” or “EM-bowlk”), also called Oimealg, (“IM-mol’g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word “oimelc” which means “ewes milk”. Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders.

It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the centre point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid’s snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth.

The Maiden is honoured, as the Bride, on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo’gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo’gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterwards at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen.

Brighid’s Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is place by the front door to symbolise sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honour the re-birth of the Sun.

Another traditional symbol of Imbolc is the plough. In some areas, this is the first day of ploughing in preparation of the first planting of crops. A decorated plough is dragged from door to door, with costumed children following asking for food, drinks, or money. Should they be refused, the household is paid back by having its front garden ploughed up.

In other areas, the plough is decorated and then Whiskey, the “water of life” is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the plough and in the newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.

As with all the Sabbats it is a time to celebrate the changes in the land around us. It is important to be outside to see, feel, smell, and appreciate the way that nature is changing, to pay our respects to the Gods and to seek their guidance for the coming season.

You can either take a walk to a favourite place, where you will be able to appreciate the changes around you, or as this is a time of new beginnings, it can be interesting to take a new route. Whichever your choice, take with you a small amount of spring water, or collected rain water. As you go, take care to notice the signs of new life and growth and wherever you see new shoots, buds, or leaves sprinkle a few drops on the plant and give thanks to the Goddess.

If you should come across a well or a spring, take the time to make an offering to the waters within. If you have finished the water you brought then your offering should be something which will not contaminate the water in any way. Where a tree grows close to this water you can also tie a single hair to one of its branches and ask for a Blessing for yourself or someone close to you.

If you should be lucky enough to pass grazing land look out for the first lambs of the year. If you see your first lamb of the year on this day you can make a wish.

As this is a time of new life and growth, it is appropriate to plant bulbs or flowers or to sow seeds. However, you will need to use your judgement and some local knowledge to decide whether to actually do so at Imbolc or whether to wait a week (or several) until the last frosts have passed. Of course seeds can often be started indoors and planted out a month or so later.

A word of caution here – if you are unlucky and your seedlings or plants fail, try not to read anything ‘significant’ into this. Unless and until you are an experienced and seasoned gardener, or unless you naturally have ‘green fingers’ you are quite likely to have a less than impressive success rate the first few times.

If you don’t have access to a garden, you can always choose an indoor plant to nurture. Many of the herbs that Witches use in their Magic, as well as their kitchen, will grow quite happily on a window sill. Rosemary and lavender are perhaps the two most useful, as well as having a pleasant scent all year round.

Celebrating Imbolc can be as easy as saying a prayer or as complicated as doing an elaborate ritual. The thing to remember is that it be meaningful and done with intent. Remember also that the Imbolc season runs through the actual day of Imbolc until the Spring Equinox; if you miss the exact day, you haven’t missed out on celebrating. The following is a list of activities to do alone, with a partner, or with your child to honour nature and deity as we travel ever closer to spring.

Activities for Imbolc:

Create a family Imbolc altar, using the correspondences for Imbolc

Pick a God or Goddess that is traditional to the season, and create a page about him/her for your book of shadows.

Create an art journal page for your chosen deity.

Help your children create a poster about the season to display.

Create a feast using the traditional ingredients of Imbolc

Imbolc is a time of new beginnings. It’s also a good season for divination. Choose a form of divination you are interested in, and start learning how to practice it.

At sunset on Imbolc, light as many lights, lamps and candles as you can, to inspire the sun to shine and spring to come.

If you still have greens in your home from Yule, now is the time to add them to your ritual fire.

Leave buttered bread out in your home on February 1st to feed the faeries who are travelling on this night. Dispose of the bread in the morning, as the essence of the bread has been consumed. (This is especially fun for kids, similar to leaving cookies out for Santa.)

Create a door decoration containing three ears of dried corn, representing the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. Leave it up until Ostara.

Make a wand. Priapic wands (those topped with an acorn) are especially traditional.

Make dream pillows for each member of your home.

Take the kids out for a walk, and look for signs of spring: bulbs starting to come up, birds or squirrels out, grass starting to grow, etc..

The goddess Brigid is said to walk the earth on Imbolc Eve. Leave out strips of cloth outside to receive her blessing. The cloth is said to then contain the powers of healing and protection.

Rake the ashes in the hearth smooth before bed on Imbolc Eve. It is said that if the ashes are disturbed in the morning, Brigid has visited to give her blessings.

Make candles for the year.

Anoint your candles for the rest of the year with consecration oil. A simple, all-purpose anointing oil can be create with 2 parts frankincense essential oil, and 1 part myrrh essential oil.

Make a corn doll.

Create Bride’s bed (also known as “Brede’s bed, or Brighid’s bed). Bride’s bed is a small box or basket in which you place a cloth liner and a corn doll. Bride’s bed can be left on the altar throughout the festival or left out until Ostara. Between seasons, it can be placed in the home for protection. The attic of the house is a perfect spot to place the bed.

Spring clean your home and follow with a ritual cleansing or smudging.

Cleanse and reconsecrate your ritual tools.

Bless seeds that are headed for the garden in spring.

Do fertility work.

Cleanse and consecrate your gardening tools.

Do weather predictions (see box).

Cleanse and consecrate your divination tools.

Make and display Brigid’s Cross.

Help your kids make butter and discuss the importance of dairy on this sabbat.

Imbolc is a time of new beginnings; a great time to start new family traditions involving the sabbats and seasons. Whether you use the above suggestions or create something new, getting family and kids involved can make the sabbat even more meaningful and joyous.

Here are the Correspondences and Symbols for Imbolc

Other names for Imbolc:

Deities of Imbolc:

Symbolism of Imbolc:

Symbols of Imbolc:

Herbs of Imbolc:

Foods of Imbolc:

Incense of Imbolc:

Colors of Imbolc:

Stones of Imbolc:

Activities of Imbolc:

Imbolgc Brigantia (Caledonni), Imbolic (Celtic), Disting (Teutonic, Feb 14th), Lupercus (Strega), St. Bridget’s Day (Christian), Candlemas, Candlelaria (Mexican), the Snowdrop Festival. The Festival of Lights, or the Feast of the Virgin. All Virgin and Maiden Goddesses are honored at this time.

All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.

Purity, Growth and Re-Newal, The Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and dispensing of the old and making way for the new.

Brideo’gas, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brighid’s Crosses, Priapic Wands (acorn-tipped), and Ploughs.

Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.

Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.

Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh.

White, Pink, Red, Yellow, lt. Green, Brown.

Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise.

Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Making of Brideo’gas and Bride’s Beds, Making Priapic Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires may be lit.

Sources:

Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom.

Akasha Ap Emrys

The Real Witches’ Year

MagicSpells.in

Wicca.com

https://shirleytwofeathers.com/The_Blog/pagancalendar/category/february/page/4/