Presently, snow lays deep and heavy, a blanket that warms the earth but rarely us humans. For many of us, winter is far from over. Its crystalline beauty and dark hours filling our days for at least a few weeks longer.
In this world of sub-zero temperatures and slippery sidewalks, it can often be hard – at least if you live, as I do, in an area that experiences long, cold winters – to feel or see a sense of spring’s return yet.
Yet, the catalysts for this exciting happening are brewing. As she wears a mantle of white, deep inside Gaia’s womb, the seeds of spring are being nurtured.
Each day brings slightly longer minutes of daylight. The frozen ground is still to the eye, but beneath its surface, a microcosm of activity is happening that will help ensure fresh blooms, green grass, and food for humans and critter alike in a matter of months.
Imbolc – the first of the eight annual Pagan sabbats that comprise the Wheel of the Year – is rounding the bend again.
(Read more about the origins and meanings of Imbolc in my post on Dairy Alternatives and Menu Ideas for Imbolc.)
It will grace us with its presence on February 1st, a stirring and meaningful reminder that spring is not actually a million miles away at this point – even if it can feel that way sometimes.
Inspired by my dear friend Willow from the stellar witchery blog Flying the Hedge, who has long posted about her own sabbat altars, today I’m going to give you a tour of my Imbolc 2021 altar.
But first…
The Launch of Witchcrafted Life’s YouTube channel
Soooo, I did a thing this week. 😊
Every now and then, usually seemingly out of the blue, I get what I like to call a sudden surge of moxie when it comes to the internet.
A mighty force comes over me and my usually ridiculously shy, introverted nature receives a spark of extra boldness and extroversion.
These sparks are few and far between, but I’ve long learned it’s best not to ignore them for they can lead to some pretty incredible things in the long run. 😃
This time around, the spark placed on my heart the fact that the time had come to launch a YouTube channel to accompany this blog and my current social media accounts.
I could list a million and one reasons, many of which are solidly legit, why I could have ignored the spark, put it to the side, debated at length with it in my mind.
But I didn’t do that.
I didn’t listen to the fear or the trepidation. I didn’t even focus (too much) on the fact that I am not a huge fan of how my own voice sounds.
You see, I have a somewhat nasally sounding voice that is present in almost all of the women (of multiple generations) on the paternal side of my family. I also think my voice sounds many years younger than my age, though perhaps now that I’m in my mid-30s, that isn’t actually such a negative point any longer. 😄
Nope, instead, in the wee hours of the morning, having just set up my Imbolc 2021 altar a few minutes prior, I whipped out my cell phone and shot a short video of said altar.
Is this video award-winning quality? Lol, no, not in the slightest. But it real and sweet and the first step on this exciting new journey.
What can you expect from Witchcrafted Life’s YouTube channel?
Much like this blog (and my Instagram account), Witchcrafted Life’s YouTube channel is going to be a mix of posts pertaining to witchery and Paganism, as well as paper crafting and other creative pursuits.
It is possible that additional types of content might appear there as well, but at his early stage in the game, I’m letting things unfold organically and trying not to stress or over-plan things too much.
On my YouTube channel, I plan to post crafting related video tutorials, project shares, occasional hauls, happy mail, reviews, an array of witchy and Pagan related topics, and likely other things, too, as time goes on.
I would be honoured and sincerely grateful if you subscribed to Witchcrafted Life’s YouTube channel.
Thank you with a very grateful heart for doing so. 🙏🏻💗
I should note that this YouTube channel is not aiming to replace my blog or Instagram, but rather to accompany them and serve as an exciting additional way for me to share, support, teach, and hopefully inspire others all the more.
My Imbolc 2021 altar
(Further information about this altar…) I have multiple altars in my house. This one is located in what was originally designed to be a very small closet in the (likewise, quite small) room that serves as both my craft room and my primary witchy/sacred space.
This altar focuses on the Wheel of the Year, with a new set up generally being created for each sabbat (or, less often, for each of the four seasons).
It houses a mix of certain items that are mainstays on this particular altar, coupled with pieces that are swapped in and out for each sabbat or season.
Beyond what I shared in this short video tour of my altar, let’s delve into some of the Imbolc correspondences at work on this altar.
Imbolc correspondences
With my wand, besom, and athame, I formed the shape of a triangle in the middle of the altar.
These sacred magickal tools are ones that I use all throughout the year.
Triangles are considered to be one of, if not “the”, strongest and most powerful shapes.
After the year we just collectively endured, I felt like I needed to fortify both my Imbolc altar and my life + witchery all the more this sabbat.
As well, triangles are intimately connected to the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water), which – along with spirit – I make a point to specifically recognize and honour at the sabbats.
Triangles are also comprised of three sides or parts, with three being an extremely powerful number in witchery – not the least of which comes via the archetype of the triple goddess.
Spirit, is honoured here in multiple ways, with the aged silvertone metal pentacle offering plate in the middle of the triangle being one of the key ways on this altar.
Birds appear on this Imbolc altar in multiple forms.
Two owls (owls are rife with magickal and spiritual connections such as clarity, the ability to see and survive in dark times, the ancients, ancestry, wisdom, strength, and the darker half of the year) appear on my Imbolc altar.
One in the form of a beautiful transparent ornament filled with glittery “snow”, the other sweet little owl figurine.
Both of these items are gifts that I received over the years from cherished family members (who know that I have an unending love of owls and things that depict them), so they mean all the more to me.
Atop the ceramic bell on the righthand side of the altar sits a sweet little blue jay.
Blue jays are smart, focused, hard-working animals. Spiritually, the can represent many things, such as commitment, fortitude, bravery, assertiveness, faithfulness, opportunity, resourcefulness, and making the best of whatever life hands you.
If those aren’t traits and approaches we can be served well by at present, I don’t know what are!
Last summer, while on a nature walk with Annie, I found the partial remains of a bird that had clearly been struck by a vehicle. Most of the poor dear had been completely obliterated, but one of its wings remained intact and I immediately felt a strong inner voice telling me to bring it home.
After properly cleaning and decontaminating it from any possible parasites, I held a vigil for the bird’s lost life, promised this part of its earthly body a safe and loving home, and have been working with the wing in various witchy ways ever since.
In the deep, icy cold heart of winter here in Canada, we don’t tend to see a ton of different animals. However, amongst those that we do, birds, deer, and foxes are some of the most common.
Deer are not directly represented on my Imbolc altar this year. Foxes, however, are in the form of an adorable little vintage fox figurine.
Much like owls, foxes are an extremely magickal and spiritual animal who have been revered, honoured, and sometimes even worshiped since time immemorial.
Foxes can represent a wide range of things such as cleverness and intelligence, strength, agility, guidance through tough times or decisions, privacy and secrecy, and a connection to liminal times and periods, such as dusk or just before dawn, as well as the periods surrounding sabbats and shifts in the seasons.
In terms of colours for my Imbolc altar this year, I opted primarily for shades of white, silver, grey, blue, and earthy brown.
These hues are ones that directly represent those that fill our snowy Canadian landscape at the moment, and which I personally associate a great deal with Imbolc.
Magickal correspondence for blue include: Serenity, stability, peace, hope, patience, stillness, devotion, truth, honesty, and healing.
Magickal correspondences for white include: Peace, hope, acceptance, strength, possibility, newness, honour, beauty, versatility, and timelessness.
Magickal correspondences for silver and grey include: Introspection, serenity, acceptance, history, ancestors, femininity, the moon, intuition, openness, and creativity.
Magickal correspondences for brown include: Grounding, stability, strength, dependability, resourcefulness, nature, and home.
These colours appear throughout the items on my altar, including the candles, crystals (clear quartz, sodalite, desert rose, and moonstone), the ribbon and charm on handle of the besom, the crescent moon ornament, and various candleholders.
Candles are a must for me on just about any sabbat altar I construct, but are an especially apt addition at Imbolc.
Yule helped to start the ball rolling on the return of longer periods of daily sunlight, but it is at Imbolc that we really begin to focus on the returning light and the ways in which it will help to generate spring’s rebirth.
As well, we turn to the light and heat of things like candles, oil lamps, and bonfires as meaningful representations of the inner light and strength it can take to power through another long winter.
In terms of crystals, I incorporated the following four stones into my Imbolc altar:
–Clear quartz: Each of the elements, the soul, energy, psychic abilities, light working, protection, clarity, tranquillity, harmony, versatility, strength, healing, positivity, abundance, hope, banishing negativity, and balance.
–Moonstone: Water (which we have plenty of in the form of snow and ice in early February), ancient wisdom, spirituality, abundance, clarity, personal growth, insight, giving, peace, nighttime, serenity, timelessness, femininity, mothering, child birth, new beginnings, and, naturally, the moon.
–Desert rose selenite: Earth and air, grounding, aligning (including of the chakras), dreams, light working, harmony, fortitude, creativity, stability, newness, past and future lives, insight, safety and security, wisdom, creativity, awareness, deepening one’s abilities, motivation, and bolstering self-esteem and positivity.
–Sodalite: Water, intelligence, psychic abilities, equality, trust, clarity, intuition, perception, emotional balance, calming, restfulness, meditation, bolstering self-esteem and self-acceptance, and restfulness.
These stones were selected first and foremost for their properties and meanings, which I feel align well with Imbolc as well as the current troubled times our world is enduring. Their colours have the lovely added bonus of working well in the context of winter and Imbolc.
I will conclude this tour of my Imbolc altar by mentioning the gorgeous circular wooden Wheel of The Year plaque that rightfully nabs the limelight here.
It was purchased about four years ago from a fantastic European seller of handmade magickal, altar, and ritual products called Pandora Witch Shop.
I cherish the eight-times-a-year act of literally turning this circle, or wheel, to align with the next sabbat. And cannot recommend picking up one of Pandora Witch Shop’s offerings for yourself highly enough, if the idea of doing so resonates with you as well.
Imbolc (and Lammas) blessings from my heart to yours
Whether you observe Imbolc or not (which, it is important to note applies primarily to the Northern Hemisphere, as many Pagans and witches who live south of the equator celebrate the first of the harvest sabbats, Lammas, at the beginning of February), it can be beneficial to take some time to celebrate the start of February.
We’re not quite through winter yet, but we’re not at the start of this chilly season anymore either.
February 1st is an excellent time for grounding, balancing work, goal planning (or checking on how your current goals are doing), embracing coziness, savouring the peacefulness that winter can impart, new plans, and beginning to prepare for spring.
On the new plans front, I’d say the launch of Witchcrafted Life’s YouTube channel definitely qualifies! 😃
I’m elated about this new start and look forward to hopefully sharing many fun, informative, and inspiring videos there with you as time goes on.
From my heart to yours, happiest blessings for a serene, beautiful, regenerative, and very safe Imbolc season, dear friends! 🕯️💛🕯️
How beautiful! I love your Wheel of the Year, the bird wing, and the awesome heart plate. Totally right up my alley. I hope you and your husband have a wonderful, cozy Imbolc. Ours may actually be cold here in Georgia. The last couple of days have been very warm, but with the recent rains came some cooler temperatures. My lawn is already mostly green again. Lol! I can’t wait for the day I can leave Georgia behind for somewhere that actually has seasons…
Thank you very much, my sweet friend – and a big thanks again, too, for helping to inspire this post (and video) via your own awesome altar share blog posts.
I can imagine how strange it must be to not experience four distinct seasons. While spring and fall often speed by in the blink of an eye here (for example, it’s not uncommon to go from -20C to +30C in the span of just a few weeks in the spring), we do technically experience each of the seasons in this area. I’d feel like some of my closest friends were missing from my life if that wasn’t the case and really am sorry that you don’t get the full-on versions of the seasons in Georgia.
I second your hope that you will be able to relocate to an area one day where each of the seasons makes itself known and visible throughout the year.
Many hugs & wishes for a cozy, safe, and deeply blessed Imbolc.
♥ Autumn
Interesting reading the symbolism of the stones and colors. Looking forward to watching your u-tube channel.
You are such a kind soul, Donna. Thank you wholeheartedly. I’m huge on correspondences, properties, connections and all that kind of good stuff, and just love discussing these topics in some of my blog (and Instagram) posts. It means a lot to know that you enjoy reading about these subjects as well.
Wishing you a relaxing, wonderful start of February!
♥ Autumn
Thank you for the tour of your Imbolc 2021 altar, and explanation of all the symbols I am largely ignorant of. I also had a quick peek at your YouTube channel. It was lovely to hear your voice. Well done, I would never have been able to achieve this technically, and I might even be more shy and introverted than you! xxx
Thank you deeply, sweet Ann. Your kindness always hugs my heart and uplifts my spirit.
I totally understand. Putting myself out there – even “just” in voice form pushes me miles beyond my comfort zone. I think it’s vital that we do things that push us and help us to grow sometimes though, so I’m working through the nerves, self-consciousness, butterflies and so forth, being brave, and going for it on YouTube.
Hopefully, in time and with experience under my belt, I’ll feel more at home creating video content – especially since I do really enjoy the act as a collective whole and am grateful to have another platform on which to connect with others who share some of my passions.
Thank you again, my dear friend. Wishing you a peaceful, safe, and very happy February!
♥ Autumn
Hello Autumn!
I immediately subscribed to your channel and I can’t wait to watch your video.
Your altar is beautiful! So many things on it I love and can relate to are the moonstone, fox, the heart plate.
You are going to be fabulous on your channel.
Sending you blessings and light,
Tambra Nicole
You are thoroughly awesome, dear Tambra. Thank you very much for your support and encouragement straight out of the gate. That means a tremendous amount to me. 🙏
I definitely have a great deal to learn as a YouTuber (both in terms of the technical side of creating videos and the on-screen side as well), and was nervous as the day is long to put myself out there like this, but sense in my heart that the choice to launch a YT channel now was the right one for me. I’m really excited to learn + grow my skills and confidence as YouTuber in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Abundant blessings from my heart to yours for a serene, safe, wonderful February,
♥ Autumn
Yay! Even introverts (like us) can stretch and grow! Kudos to you for the courage to venture into YouTube.
Thank you SO much, my wonderfully kind and supportive friend. Absolutely!!! It might take more moxie for us to go beyond the borders of our comfort zones sometimes, but that certainly doesn’t mean that we can’t – or shouldn’t – do so.
I’ve always enjoyed a good challenge and the opportunity to grow, both of which YouTube is already allowing me to do even at this most embryonic of stages.
Thank you again, Ally. I hope that you have a very safe, relaxing, happiness filled February.
♥ Autumn
What a lovely inspiration Autumn! Your altar is magnificent and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour on your You Tube channel.
When I first heard you speak, I was stunned by how much alike we sound. Literally, like we were from the same family.
Living in the forest edge, I see many of your same visitors, but was shocked to see a barn owl 🦉 for the first time. I’ve heard it, but not seen it until now. Soft furry Owls are sitting on my winter mantel now.
Beautiful post and congratulations on your youtube channel. Well done, my friend!!
My treasured friend, thank you for the blessing of your heart-touching comment.
It means so much to me to learn that we have similar-sounding voices. I’ve not heard yours yet and so was not aware of that fact. We keep discovering so many wonderful points that we share in common! Who knew though something as intimate as the sound of our voices would be one of them. I feel all the closer to you having learned that. 💗
Who knows, maybe we are very distant relatives – anything is possible! 😃
Thank you for sharing about your owl sighting. That sounds breathtaking! To date, I’ve only spotted them twice here where we currently live, as they like to hang out way up in the higher branches of the evergreens on our property. Each happened at night, was very brief, and left both me and Annie utterly spellbound. Hopefully you and I will both spot more owls in person as 2021 unfolds. 🦉
Huge hugs & the warmest of wishes for a serene, blessed, and beautiful February,
♥ Autumn
Oh, good for you for being daring and impulsive and letting yourself be out there! I very much enjoyed looking at your altar, as the turning of the season caught my attention this morning when I noticed that the plum trees have buds on them – there are even some little pink flowers starting to appear!
Thank you deeply, my very sweet friend. I truly appreciate your support of this fun and exciting new online journey that I’ve embarked upon.
You are so lucky!!! It’s just incredible how much earlier in the year locations on the Island Lower Mainland often start to experience spring. Having lived on the Coast for the first few years of my childhood (and visited many times since), I got the chance to experience a longer springtime there – something that has rarely unfolded further north in BC for me (or in AB or ON for that matter, though, that said, some of the springs we experience while living in Toronto were decently long, which I really enjoyed). It’s not uncommon to go from -20 to +30 here in a matter of weeks – most of which will be rain-soaked in true spring fashion. 😄
All that to say, please enjoy those gorgeous pink buds for me, too, and know that I’m wishing you guys a safe, happy, relaxing, and very beautiful February.
♥ Autumn
Oh side note: I have those iron keys too I once found at a market! Anyway, I love that you are so engaged in your current passions (like starting a youtube!) How exciting for you! I just wanted to come on here and wish you a happy Imbolc! May you feel the light in your heart, the warmth of kindness, and the joy of gratitude this month in our first sparks of Spring. I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know my thoughts are with you today! Thank you for always inspiring me.
That’s awesome – we’re key twinsies! I picked my set up back, oh gosh, probably about twelve years ago now, from Black Creek Pioneer Village in Ontario. I’ve long been drawn to keys, especially antique ones and those that look the part, and really enjoy incorporating them into some of my altars and other spots throughout our house.
That is such a meaningful, touching blessing. Thank you wholeheartedly, my sweet friend. I likewise hope that the days grow lighter and sweeter for you as we begin to journey out of winter and into spring’s opening arms, abundant blooms, and sense of revitalization.
Immense hugs & blessings,
♥ Autumn
Congrats on the YouTube launch!
xoxo
-Janey
Thank you SO much, my dear friend.💗 I cannot overstate what an absolute (content creator) newbie I feel like at the moment – and the recovering perfectionist in me can tear my first videos to shreds in a heartbeat – but, that said, I’m really enjoying the process thus far. I adore learning new skills and gaining more confidence in my own abilities, both of which this exciting new online adventure will surely provide.
♥ Autumn
A Youtube channel, what a treat! Congrats on going live, dear. I’ve never made an altar, but make stilleben all year round that are inspired by the season or holiday. Have a lovely day, dear. ♥
Thank you so much, sweet Sanne. While I have certainly thought about launching an accompanying YT channel for this blog (and my IG) before, actually doing so was such an uncharacteristically on-the-fly decision for me.
As such, I’m giving myself a trial run period of a few months to see how things go, if I can continue to eek out the time/health/energy needed to create content on a regular basis, and how much I’m (hopefully!) enjoying it.
Aside from feeling like the biggest beginner of all time (and trying not to be too critical of the “newbie” quality of my first videos), I’m really enjoying the experience and definitely hope as things stand now to be able to stick with YT in the long-term.
♥ Autumn
Congratulations on the launch of your new YouTube channel and the informative tour video! And it was so lovely to hear your sweet voice.
I’m so technically challenged I haven’t made the plunge to create project videos of my cards. Maybe one day. 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you deeply, my wonderfully kind and supportive friend. 🙏
You’re absolutely right that it helps to have a bit of tech knowledge when filming videos to put up online. Thankfully though, one can start with very basic equipment and little to no video content experience and learn as they go.
I’m a relative newbie in this field myself and definitely have heaps upon heaps to learn, more confidence to develop in terms of speaking (to say nothing of actually appearing) on camera, and a ton to master on the video editing side of things.
Thankfully, I’m enjoying developing my skills on these fronts and am sincerely happy that I took the (rather on-the-fly) plunge to hop into the exciting world of YouTube. 😃
If you ever opt to do the same, know that I will be there cheering you and am always happy to try and answer any YT related questions you might have.
♥ Autumn