Three Ways to Honor Imbolc

Welcoming the Promise of Spring;

Happy Imbolc, Southern Hemisphere Witches!

This is truly one of my favorite holidays in the Wheel of the Year. Imbolc marks the midpoint between the darkest days of the winter solstice and the blossoming of the spring equinox. In the Southern Hemisphere, this typically begins at sundown on August 1st and continues through the 2nd. While Yule and Ostara often feel like grander, more outwardly exciting celebrations, I'm personally drawn to moments of introspection, inner focus, and personal evolution.

Imbolc guides us toward transformation, offering witches the perfect opportunity to embrace a bit of spring cleaning in our lives and our magical practices. This clears space for all the growth and abundance that the coming warmer seasons will bring.

This shift from the quiet, dormant energy of winter into the bold, active seasons of spring and summer primes our personal energy for renewal. At this point in the year, the changing seasons naturally encourage us to make a fresh start, to release all the things from the past year that no longer serve us, and to plant the seeds of everything we wish to cultivate in our lives over the next year.

How to Celebrate the Awakening Season

There are so many beautiful ways to celebrate Imbolc! I like to observe the holiday in a few different ways, making sure to set aside time for myself while also connecting with my loved ones and community. Here’s how I’ll be spending my holiday!

Zesty Lemon & Herb Shortbread

When I think of holidays, I immediately think of food, which means this shortbread recipe is a cherished yearly tradition for me. I simply adore the combination of bright citrus and earthy herbs. Paired with the delicate sweetness of shortbread, it’s absolutely divine. Magically, lemon holds properties of cleansing and purification. It helps to clear blockages, dispel negativity, and encourage spiritual and personal growth. Thyme, on the other hand, is known as an attracting herb. It’s used to draw all kinds of good things into your life, such as prosperity, affection, bravery, and robust health.

What you will need:

• 1¼ cups all-purpose flour.

• ¼ teaspoon sea salt.

• ⅓ cup cane sugar.

• ½ cup softened unsalted butter.

• Zest of 1 medium lemon.

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice.

• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped.

Instructions:

1. Preheat & prep: Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Cream and combine: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped fresh thyme, mixing until well combined.

3. Form the dough: Gradually add the flour and salt to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined and a soft dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently roll it into a ball. Flatten the ball slightly, wrap it in plastic wrap or beeswax wrap, and chill the dough for 15 to 30 minutes until it is firm but still workable.

4. Roll and cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough until it's about ¼ inch thick. Use your favorite cookie cutters or a knife to cut out desired shapes. Carefully transfer the cookies to your prepared baking sheet. Keep any extra dough or cut-out cookies in the fridge until you're ready to bake them.

5. Bake: Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.

6. Cool: Remove your cookies from the oven and carefully transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy the sweet, zesty magic!

Prompts for Self-Reflection

I truly enjoy taking time to journal on holidays; it helps me center myself and observe how the shifting energies of the seasons influence my life. Here are a few questions and ideas to spark your thoughts on how you want your life to transform this season. Feel free to pick just one question that resonates deeply, or write about all of them to truly delve into how this holiday impacts you.

1. What feelings arise for you when you consider the ideas of change and transformation?

2. Is there anything within yourself or your life that no longer serves your highest good, and needs to be cleared away to make room for fresh growth?

3. What new intentions, habits, or life changes are you seeking to begin this spring? What kind of new beginnings are you calling into your existence?

4. For each of your new goals, write down one small, actionable step you can take. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture! This is a time for gentle beginnings, so give yourself permission to start this new growth slowly.

5. Take a moment to describe what true abundance would look like in your life. Don't limit yourself to only material abundance! This word can mean many things; remember to consider abundance in love, friendships, knowledge, your garden, or any area you wish to see flourish in the coming year. This reflection will help to prepare you to grow your abundance as the year progresses!

Sowing the Seeds of New Intentions

Imbolc often aligns with the time when many begin to sow seeds for their spring gardens. With this in mind, a seed-planting ritual is absolutely perfect for this holiday! We will use this sacred time to plant the seeds of change, inviting all those new projects, relationships, and dreams into our lives.

A note on green thumbs: If you're not particularly skilled with plants, this might not be the ideal spell for you. Accidentally ending the life of a plant that energetically holds your hopes and wishes might not bring the happiest results. If you're still determined to try it, choose a plant that's easy to keep alive, like an aloe vera plant or a spider plant. If you're not confident in your ability to work with seeds, you can also start with very young plants; the spell will need slight adjustments, but it will still be effective!

What you will need:

• A pen (a felt-tip pen will work best for writing on leaves).

• Bay leaves (one for each intention or dream you wish to manifest).

• Gardening soil.

• A small plant pot for each intention (or a larger pot that can house multiple, clearly separated plantings).

• Seeds of your choice (I love sunflowers, sweet peas, and marigolds for their vibrant growth, but any seeds you feel drawn to will work).

Before you begin: Check what your chosen plants will need. Do they require soaking before planting? Will they need lots of water or plenty of sun? Make sure you can provide the ideal environment for your plant to thrive!

This is a very simple spell, but it can lead to powerful results. Set up your ritual space in a way that feels comfortable and sacred to you—this could involve candles, calming music, a full altar, or simply a quiet corner for writing. Whatever you prefer will work.

Steps:

1. Craft your intentions: Sit with your bay leaves and pen. Write down clearly what you wish to cultivate and grow in your life. Focus on the positives! Remember, this is about what you want to EXPAND. For instance, if you want to become debt-free, focus on attracting wealth and financial freedom, not on "getting rid of debt," as you don't want to be "growing" debt!

   • Each intention will need its own bay leaf, and ideally, its own pot and seed. So, ensure you have enough supplies for everything you want to grow. Feel free to be detailed with your desires, but try to focus on the end result rather than dictating how you'd like to achieve it. This allows the magic to find the easiest path to your goal!

2. Charge the leaves: When you've finished writing, allow the ink to dry completely. Then, tuck the inscribed leaves under your pillow for the night to imbue them with your dreams.

3. Plant your desires: In the morning, it's time to plant! Gather your leaves, seeds, soil, and pots. Set up your planting materials somewhere easy to clean up afterward. Your seeds should already be prepared as needed (some might require soaking, scoring, etc.).

   • For each pot, fill it about one-third full with soil.

   • Hold a bay leaf and focus intensely on the corresponding intention for a moment.

   • Carefully place the leaf in the pot, cover it gently with more soil, and then plant a single seed on top of it.

   • Repeat this process for every bay leaf and intention.

4. Nurture your magic: Once you're finished, give all of your newly planted hopes and dreams a thorough watering and place them somewhere they can receive the appropriate sunlight.

   
   

These little seedlings will draw strength from your intentions and help to hold these intentions for you as they grow, serving as a living beacon of magic to help bring your wishes into reality this Imbolc!

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