Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.

– William Arthur Wad

There are certain key factors that have moved the progress of human evolution along throughout the course of history.

Stone tools, discovering how to turn raw metals into all manner of implements and adornments, the shift from hunter-gather cultures to agrarian ones, and scores of others.

One of those, unquestionably, was humankind’s ability to create and control fire.

As quickly as a warm spark hitting tinder, we forever changed who we were as a species and, perhaps moreover, what we would be able to accomplish going forward when this capability was discovered and utilized.

Evidence from locations such as Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa points to our distant ancestors harnessing the power of fire for their own purposes about one million years ago. Both there and at a handful of other sites around the globe, it thought that the purposeful use of fire may potentially stretch back as far as two million – or more still – years into the past.

There are various theories and schools of thought regarding how and when we stopped viewing fire chiefly as a threat in our environment (i.e., a blazing wildfire headed towards your small communal group’s present living or hunting area) and realized that we could not only use it for such revolutionary concepts as cooking food, but that we could – with a small number of essential components – create it on demand.

The hominoids that are believed to have first intentionally used fire were Homo erectus.

It would be a good many generations and developments on the journey to our present species (Homo sapiens), however, before we branched out from fire on the ground to taming this mighty force all the more and creating ways to generate light (and by extension a measure of warmth) in smaller, arguably more controlled, iterations.

It is likely that relatively soon after our ancestors discovered and began to make fires, they created and used torches not only to start new fires or rekindle those that were waning but to light their way through the dark.

Conceivably, creating torches or similar means of transporting fire (for example, by “collecting” a flame on a piece of wood, dried planet matter, etc from a small bushfire) may actually have led to the creation of things like fires on the ground that could be used to help keep wild animals at bay, roast a meal, or warm chilled bodies that were never far away from the elements.

It is almost impossible to adequately stress just what a profound turning point in our species’ history taming fire and putting it to work on our behalf was. Had that not happened, it is exceedingly likely we would not be even a fraction as advanced on countless fronts as we were today.

Fire not only blazed a path forward for our forebearers, it quite literally lit our way straight on until the development of artificial light sources such as gas and electric lighting.

In the interim, we came up with concepts such as lighting various oils as a means to create small, contained fires that could be used more flexibly than stationary fires.

We put flame to reeds and rushes, sometimes combining materials such as these with sources of fat from animals, seeds, and plants (including creating a product called rushlights that were used for many thousands of years in various parts of the world).

In many respects, rushlights and their kin were the precursors to candles. Though the two were often used concurrently in various locations throughout history.

We are unlikely to ever know who made the first product that we would today readily call a candle.

Historians debate when candles blazed their way onto the scene, but we know that cultures such as the ancient Egyptians were using rushlights and oil lamps at least 5,000 years ago.

Meanwhile, a touch later on in human history, the industrious Romans are often credited with being the first to create candles with wicks.

They did so by repeatedly dunking or dipping materials such as papyrus into heated and melted beeswax or tallow.

It is important to keep in mind that numerous other cultures – from China to India to some of the indigenous peoples of North America – also developed candles or products similar to candles as well. (In China, for example, rice paper was a key comment in their early candle-making process.)

From the distant days of those cultures and numerous others onward, many societies around the world have continued to utilize candles.

Even today, when a sizable percentage of the world has at least one form of artificial lighting in their home, a good many of us still adore, buy and/or make, and use candles for myriad different purposes.

The Pagan sabbat of Imbolc will soon be upon us again.

While it is safe to say that candles are a mainstay for many who observe the sabbats all throughout the year, perhaps no other sabbat is, in the Western Hemisphere, more associated with candles than Imbolc.

Yule, its immediate predecessor is another heavily candle-focused sabbat, as is Samhain at the end of October. Again though, it is Imbolc that is perhaps most closely linked to candles.

As I talked about in my recent Elegant Winter Meets Spring Colour Palette Imbolc Card post, though Imbolc may transpire when winter is still going strong in many locations, it is a celebration of renewal, rebirth, light, warmth, and the journey to spring’s majestic return.

Even many of the colours – white, cream, ivory, yellow, orange, and gold – linked to Imbolc relate back to the traditional colours of candles and of flames the world over.

At the beginning of February, those who observe Imbolc often chose to focus on the importance of light and warmth in our world.

We may live in homes that are heated by things such as electricity, coal, gas, and wood, but we are not so far removed from nature that we cannot appreciate the profound importance of light and warmth in the ever-turning Wheel of The Year.

In this post, beyond the brief overview of the role of fire in the development of our species, we are going to take a peek at what candle magick is and then delve into an extensive list of books on the subject of candle magick.

What is candle magick?

Humans have involved candles, rushlights and the like in religious and spiritual contexts for thousands of years.

Whether to light temples or churches, to burn offerings to deities, in ritual ceremonies or for various other reasons, something called to our ancestors to hold the power of a flame in great reverence and to combine that with the respect (and sense of awe) they often held for the gods, goddesses, or source of Spirit that they believed in.

Much as we do not know with exact certainty when the first candle was invented, it is as good as impossible to speculate when candle magick burst on the scene.

That said, it too almost certainly dates back for thousands of years.

As with many components of witchcraft, today’s candle magick may share points in common with that of earlier humans, but we cannot make any solid claims that the two were unwavering the same by any means.

Candle magick is one of the most commonly employed, best-loved, and easy to utilize forms of magick.

So much so, in fact, that candle magick has frequently been the first type of purposely undertaken magick utilized by many who are new to areas such as Wicca and Witchcraft.

Candle magick is inviting. It can also be peaceful, zen-like even at times – as can be the act of burning candles in general (aka, both inside and out of a magickal capacity).

Candles are an extraordinary representation of the Elements, as each is present in a candle’s form and function.

Fire, the most obvious of the Elements involved with candles, is there in the initial spark, the burning flame, and both the heat and light generated by candles.

As well, fire is one of the most powerful representations – and in some instances, literal forms of – transformation. This in turn is often the catalyst for important changes, personal growth, achieving our goals, and many other positives that we are well served by throughout the course of our lives.

Air, that most ethereal of Elements, enters the picture via the oxygen that is needed to both keep the candle lit and, if blowing it out, to extinguish it when the time comes to do so.

Earth, stable, ancient, malleable presents itself via the wax – as well as the wick (particularly if it is made from a natural material).

Lastly, while the Element of water might not be the first that one associates with candles, it too joins the team and is represented by the melting wax (a solid rendered in liquid form by the addition of heat) as well as utilized, in some instances, to put out a candle’s flame.

In addition, I personally feel that Spirit / the divine is present in candles as well. It is there in the history of this important source of light and warmth. In the connection to deities and Source that countless cultures and belief systems have long associated with candles (and fire in general), and in that enchanting element of mystery and magick inherent to candles the world over.

At its core, candle magick really just requires one or more candles, a heat source to light them with, and a specific intention or desired outcome that you wish to have come to fruition.

Beyond that, one can utilize candles for endless purposes when working magick.

They can be anointed with oils and/or herbs and/or spices (cinnamon, for example, is a much loved warm or “fiery” spice on this front), combined with small crystals (chips, tiny stones, etc), woven into colour magick, utilized as offerings, situated on one’s altar or other sacred space, used to represent fire as a whole, placed in windows to light the way for ancestral spirits, the fae, and many others, as well as being a common component on sabbat tables – including during dumb/silent suppers.

Some who employ candles in their magickal workings believe that candles used in such a context should be snuffed or doused out (with water) instead of extinguished with one’s breath. The logic behind this is that you may risk blowing away the intentions and/or energy of the spell that you have just undertaken.

I feel it is up to each practitioner of candle magick to determine if they sense this holds true for them personally or if they are okay with blowing out spellwork candles.

Candle magick also has the wonderful benefit of being a form of witchery that can be done quite discreetly. This may be particularly important to those who reside in environments where they want, or need, to keep their craft private.

After all, countless millions of people – a sizeable percentage of whom are not witches or Wiccans – the world over enjoy burning candles for a wide array of reasons, so this act is not overly likely to arouse suspicion in many types of settings.

In addition, one can involve candles as part of their meditation practise or for fire divination (for example, carromancy, which is divination involving melted wax), and you can even use a candle’s flame as a method of scrying.

I have a theory that part of the reason why we as a species have not parted ways with the use of candles even in the (glowing) face of artificial light sources is that there is something inherent to us as species that enjoys – and perhaps even needs – to retain the ability to create and safely keep fire in our homes.

Witches, Wiccans and others of our ilk are no different on that front and it is not the least bit surprising to me that candle magick is one of the most popular types of magick in the 21^st century.

Other components contribute to its widespread use as well. For example, many of us grew up in environments where candles were routinely utilized – be it decoratively, functionally or both.

We may associate candles with special occasions and settings. For example, the candles on a birthday cake, the small votives or tealights we ignite and place inside carved jack-o-lanterns, or elegant taper candles set out for a romantic dinner.

Candles are readily available in many parts of the world and while some high-end luxury brands cost well into the three figures apiece, many others can be had for less than the cost of a Starbucks coffee (and everywhere in between those two points).

As well, candles have a perpetual sense of mystery to them.

Even though in the modern era we understand the science behind how candles and fire in general work, they still continue to have an air of the unknown and of things both of and beyond this realm.

Indeed, in some respects, candles are liminal entities. The small space separating the flame and wax is an in-between realm that works as a conduit between the magickal worker’s intentions and the solidity of that desire (hopefully!) manifesting into being.

Naturally, candles are adored by countless individuals across the world. And while they are by no means the sole domain of witches, Wiccans, and Pagans, those of us who identify as such do often have quite the propensity for candles.

And, by extension for candle magick and candle spellwork.

In addition to the ways mentioned above to take candles beyond their basic state, one can also carve signs, symbols, words, numbers, and signals into the wax of candles before setting them alight.

Candles can be used (employing the utmost of fire safety at all times) to concentrate, cleanse, and symbolically burn away or banish unwanted elements from one’s world.

So long as safety, speaking of such, is employed (including keeping lit candles away from flammable materials, kids, and pets if there is even a minute chance that injury and/or the uncontained spread of fire could occur), there is pretty much no right or wrong way to work candle magick.

You can purchase small candles that are often called chime candles or spell candles in a multitude of different colours, use the largest pillar candle your town has for sale, create your own candles, source local beeswax offerings from artisans in your area, pick up a wide array of candles from dollar stores, shop for endless varieties (and scents!) of candles online, receive candles as gifts, and more.

As well, there is no shortage of candles on the market today that are specifically sold as “spell candles”. Premade creations that have been crafted with the intent of using them for a specific kind of spell or other type of magickal working. For example, love spell candles, money spell candles, good mojo spell candles, sea magick candles, and many others.

There are also zodiac sign-specific candles on the market, too, such as those from the immensely popular Etsy shop, The Madam Phoenix. Just as there are candles pertaining to things such as the sabbats, moon phases and esbats, different planets, ancestor work, chakras, handfastings, and various other witch/Pagan-centered purposes.

Much as with other types of candles geared towards witchy folks, places such as Etsy, metaphysical shops, Instagram and TikTok sellers, and in-person public witch/Paganism centred gatherings can be great places to find spell specific candles.

While some types of candles are, objectively, better suited to certain kinds (and durations) of spells, by and large, there are no set-in-stone rules. It is often the intention brought to, and energy created/strengthened during a magickal/spiritual working, that matters more than the colour, size, scent, etc of a given candle.

Indeed, many witches and Wiccans keep a healthy stock of neutral coloured candles (such as white or cream) on hand to use both in situations when they are specifically desired and for those when one might not have a certain colour or type of candle to hand.

White and cream colours are viewed by many as being universally acceptable for nearly all types of candle magick.

Beyond that, those wishing to engage in candle magick may want to pick up an array of different colours, including – but not limited to – pink, red, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, black, silver, and gold candles.

Multicolour candles can be great too, especially if all of the colours they house correspond to the magickal working and desired outcome of one’s candle magick spell.

Many creative souls sell handmade candles, including plenty aimed at witches, Wiccans, and Pagans. Sites such as Etsy, various online and real-world metaphysical stores, and some craft fairs can all be excellent places to source candles that have been created with magickal folks squarely in mind.

Most, understandably, cost more than your average dollar store, big box, grocery store, or chime candle. The candlemaker needs to not only cover the cost of the materials involved and their time/labour, but to make a reasonable profit in the process.

Whether mass-produced or handmade, many people prefer to use plant-based and soy-based candles. These types of candles are sometimes more environmentally friendly (and potentially – though not always – contain less undesirable chemicals such as parabens and phthalates) than certain other types of wax such as paraffin.

Beeswax is another naturally sourced material that is popular for spellwork and witchy candle-related purposes in general.

Understandably, those who are vegans or otherwise prefer not to use candles made from animal-derived sources will want to forgo genuine beeswax candles.

Ultimately, you do not want to break the bank when buying candles. It can be lovely to splurge on candles made from high-quality ingredients, but at the end of the day, a plain white $1.00 votive candle can work every bit as effectively in a witchy context as a scented $50.00 wood wick soy candle.

And on that note, if you are sensitive to scented candles, opt for unscented ones or those that you have not experienced negative reactions to in the past.

By the same token, if you are sensitive to the burning of even unscented wax, LED candles can be used in some instances in lieu of wax candles.

Naturally, however, LED candles do have their limits in terms of candle magick. For example, they do not (or at least, they should not!) generate enough heat to burn anything involved with a given spell such as bay leaves or small pieces of paper.

On the plus side, they carry much less risk of fire, often have batteries that long outlast the burn time of a wax-based candle, and do not generate any smoke or discernible heat.

Another point in favour of candle magick is that it can be undertaken quite quickly in many cases and in turn, the outcome of one’s magickal working may make itself known fairly speedily as well.

Not always, of course, but certainly at times – especially if the spell pertained to something quite immediate.

Before beginning a candle working, it is generally a good idea to cleanse both the space that the working is being carried in out as well as the candle itself.

If you made the candle from scratch, the latter may be unnecessary, as far fewer hands – and in turn, other peoples’ energy, will – have come in contact with that candle. Though you can do so all the same either way. There is rarely such a thing as over-cleansing when it comes to magickal workings.

Given the widespread availability of candles, the fact that plenty are available for very reasonable prices, and the love that witchy folks tend to have for things with a sense of mystery to them, it is no surprise that candle spells rank amongst the most popular types of magick practiced in today’s world.

In turn, it should not shock many folks to learn that a decent number of books about candle magick have been penned over the years.

Most of these books delve into the spiritual significance of candles, ways to involve them in your magickal workings, and provide various candle magick spell recipes for readers to either follow to the letter or use as a jumping-off point for their own take on a certain spell.

In the spirit of Imbolc (and its Southern Hemisphere partner, Lammas) – when candles are lit to symbolically represent the sun and its radiant light – let’s take a gander at a considerable number of the books that have been written to date on candle magick.

Naturally, as with most lists of books, I am not claiming that the following selection includes every title on candle magick ever created (be it in English or any other language). And, of course, it stands to reason that more will hit the shelves in the future.

Candle magick is such a beloved and frequently used element of many witches’ and Wiccans’ practices that it is highly unlikely interest in this type of magick is going to be snuffed out anytime soon. (Pun intended. )

Candle Magick Books

Like a lot of us who came to witchery in the latter decades of the 20th century or start of the 21st, I cut my teeth in regards to candle magick largely based on personal experience, nuggets of how-to wisdom gleaned from various books on witchery and Wicca, and in the earliest years of the 2000s, Raymond Buckland’s now-classic offerings on the topic.

Other early entries in the field included D.J. Conway’s “A Little Book of Candle Magic” and Phillip Cooper’s “Candle Magic: A Coveted Collection of Spells, Rituals, and Magical Paradigms“. Both of which remain wonderfully informative and solidly useful decades after they were first released.

The sphere of books about candle magick and candle spells has grown considerably since I was budding witchingly. Today, those looking to learn the fundamentals or explore more about the topic now have a fantastic selection ready and waiting to meet that need.

Below you will find a roundup of a good many books on candle magick and candle spells. Most are still in production, but the small handful of them that are not can often be found for sale secondhand on sites such as Amazon, Thrift Books, and Better World Books.

Advanced Candle Magick: More Spells and Rituals for Every Purpose

A Little Book of Candle Magic

Candle Burning Magic

Candle & Fire Magic: a Practical Guide Book to Rituals, Spells and Divinations

Candle Magic: A Coveted Collection of Spells, Rituals, and Magical Paradigms

Candle Magic for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Discover the Secrets of Candle Spells and Rituals to Attract Healing, Abundance and Love in Your Life

Candle Magic for Beginners: Spells for Prosperity, Love, Abundance, and More

Candle Magic for Beginners: The Simplest Magic You Can Do

Candle Magic for Beginners: Tips, Tricks, and Candle Spell Secrets for Love, Prosperity, and Abundance in Life 

Candle Magic the Basics: Transform and Manifest Your Life by Utilizing the Power of Fire

Candle Magic: Working with Wax, Wick, and Flame

Exploring Candle Magick: Candles, Spells, Charms, Rituals and Devinations

Fire Magic

Lighting the Wick: An Intuitive Guide to the Ancient Art and Modern Magic of Candles

Magical Candle Crafting: Create Your Own Candles for Spells & Rituals

Mastering Candle Magick

Pagan Portals – Candle Magic: A Witch’s Guide to Spells and Rituals

Practical Candleburning Rituals

The Big Book of Candle Magic

The Big Little Book of Magick: A Wiccan’s Guide to Altars, Candles, Pendulums, and Healing Spells

The Book of Candle Magic

The Book of Practical Candle Magic

The Candle Magic Spell Book: A Beginner’s Guide to Spells to Improve Your Life 

The Candle Magick Workbook

The Enchanted Candle

The Witch’s Book of Candle Magic: A Handbook of Candle Spells, Divination, Rituals and Charms

Wicca Candle Magic

Wicca Candle Magick

Do you know of any other candle magic/magick books that are not listed here? If you do, please feel free to share them in the comments below and I will update this post to include your suggestions.

By the same token, I will keep my eyes open for future candle magick and candle spellwork books and aim to add those that I encounter to this list as well.

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

(The fact that this line comes from a gospel song called This Little Light of Mine is not lost on me. I believe that one can enjoy and appreciate music of all kinds, regardless of their spiritual path and though an ardent witch, I have long enjoyed this beautiful Christians tune.)

Candle magick is a welcoming, versatile, effective, and often enjoyable form of witchery.

It does not have to give your wallet a workout, can be done (weather and setting permitted) both indoors and outdoors, taps into humankind’s long-standing utilization of fire for a wide range of purposes, has a great deal of versatility to it, and can be a very welcoming way for those who are new to spellwork to cut their teeth, so to speak, in this area.

Though it is, of course, not necessary for witches and Wiccans to undertake candle magick or to otherwise use candles in any capacity, a good many of us delight in doing so.

We could scarcely imagine our practice without at least a few basic candles at the ready. Just waiting for their moment to quite literally shine in a magickal context and to, in the process, keep the age-old act of utilizing fire in spellwork and/or spirituality shining brightly.

This Imbolc, why not treat yourself to a new candle, book on candle magick, or the materials required to make your own candles?

Or, simply take some time to gaze at a lit candle and reflect deeply on what the remainder of winter + spring’s upcoming return mean to you, your life, and your own beautiful spiritual path.

May you each have a glowingly warm and wonderful, Imbolc, dear friends!

Is Imbolc the sabbat that you most associate with candles? Do you involve candle magick in your practice or otherwise use candles in a spiritual context?

The post The Big List of Books About Candle Magick + What is Candle Magick? appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Yet, in many corners of the world, it began, two, three, or perhaps even as many as four months ago (I have, for example, experienced snow in September while living in certain parts of Canada) and that can mean that we are already more than a little eager for spring to return.

Alas, save for those lucky folks in some particularly warm and/or mild climates, we need to exert saint-worthy patience for a bit longer.

However, as entrenched into the bone-chilling heart of winter as many of us are, subtle signs of spring’s impending return are – or will soon be – perceptible again.

Not trees in bloom, perfectly tender asparagus and delectably sweet little strawberries perceptible, but the forebearers to those kinds of seasonal changes and many others that will greet us as winter takes its bow and exits stage left.  

In the 2 years and a couple of weeks that Witchcrafted Life has been online, I have penned 1 – 3 dedicated posts a piece so far for each of the Pagan sabbats. Such posts have focused on things such as the history, traditions, associations, correspondences, colours, foods, herbs, plants, animals, crystals and so forth of each of these sacred days.

You can bet your favourite winter scarf that I won’t stop writing those kinds of posts anytime soon.

However, as one of the guiding inspirations for this blog’s creation was to not “merely” share some posts that focused on paper crafting and others on Paganism/witchery, but to combine the two on various occasions, that is what I am planning to do more of throughout this year (and beyond!).

There have, of course, already been a handful of posts that combined both.

However, starting this month, I am on a mission to create and blog about at least one craft (be it paper or otherwise) project for each of the year’s Pagan sabbats throughout 2022/2023.

Ideally, continuing to do so on a fairly regular basis beyond then as well.

The first sabbat to transpire after the New Year, Imbolc (aka, Imbolg), is rapidly approaching again and as such I decided there was no better time to get the ball rolling on my roster of sabbat-focused projects than with an Imbolc themed creation.

Elegant winter meets spring colour palette Imbolc card

Much as with the seasons themselves, there are certain colours that are broadly associated with each sabbat.

Those which are – in the Northern Hemisphere – often ascribed to Imbolc include colours that echo both winter’s chill and the inaugural glimmers of spring’s upcoming return.

Fire, light, and sunshine are integral components of many an Imbolc celebration. This often leads to colours such as white, yellow, bronze, gold, and red being connected with Imbolc.

Others with strong ties to Imbolc include (but are not limited to) cream, pale pink, green, light blue, brown, grey, and silver.

As I envisioned the card at the heart of this post, I knew that I wanted to utilize a colour palette that tapped into both the dark heart of winter and the jovial, far more lighthearted (as a general rule) nature of springtime.

Imbolc is often viewed as being the first spring sabbat, even though it is housed at the start of February.

As with many sabbats, solstices and equinoxes, this perception stems in no small part from the days when our ancestors lived in tremendously close proximity with nature and the perpetual ebbing and flowing of the seasons.

Whether for hunting, planting crops, being able to dig into the soil to set posts or lay bricks for new homes or myriad other happenings, the seasons dictated and shaped a great deal of how civilization has unfolded.

Early February does not usually have the warmth or greenery of Ostara or Beltane, but it is far enough away from the Winter Solstice to afford it the title of spring’s unofficial start.

Or, if you personally feel that it is simply too deeply buried in wintertime proper still, then Imbolc serves as a midway wintertime sabbat celebration that embraces elements of the present season and the one that lies ahead in near equal measure.

The colours used on this card tap into both winter (black, grey, and white) and early spring (grey, white, and green).

Much like Imbolc itself, they serve as a reminder that it will not be too much longer until the world rouses from its wintertime slumber and slips into its springtime finery once again.

In addition to the colours themselves, this card represents the seasonal duality of Imbolc by the presence of both snowflakes and greenery (the bloom bedecked branches/vines).

Given that the snow in our backyard is still up to my knees and may very well rise higher again before winter officially throws in the towel, this chilly season component is one that I – like many of us – associate closely with Imbolc.

Yet even as I light a flock of twinkling candles, invoking both literal and metaphorical warmth and light back into the world once again, I am already daydreaming about the lush foliage and life-affirming properties of spring. These too are honoured come the year’s first sabbat.

I find the colours at play on this card to be very soothing and peaceful. They are not as bleak as the harshest days of winter, yet nor are they as vibrant and breezy as those of, say, late spring or early summer.

Much like Imbolc itself, they are comforting and ancient, a marriage of two seasons that is, in fact, the precursor to the death of one and the rebirth of another.

Products used to make a festive black, grey, green, and white Imbolc card

-White or off-white (which is what I used) subtly textured or smooth cardstock

-Sage/light green cardstock – Soft Tones Cardstock from Paper Accents

-Dark (pine/forest/hunter) green cardstock

-Grey cardstock

-Black cardstock

-Green metallic cardstock – Foil Cardstock Paper from Recollections (Michael’s brand)

-Grey plaid paper – Christmas Festive Ornaments Paper from Carta Bella

-Pine tree print border strip of paper – Christmas Border Strips Paper from Carta Bella

-Fir/pine bough patterned paper (used in the center of this card) – Christmas 4”x4” Journaling Cards from Carta Bella

-Ornate circle die

-Snowflake border die (or a similar snowflake border punch)

-Two-part snowflake die (a single layer/part snowflake works just as well here, too)

-“Blessings” word die (or letter dies, stamps, stickers, wood veneer pieces, or rub that can spell out the same word)

-Small vine/branch with flowers die

-Fir/pine branch die – Fall Foliage Dies from Spellbinders

-Off-white and grey flat back adhesive pearls – Opaline Designer Half Pearls from Basic Grey

-Black and green enamel dots – Green Fields Enamel Dots from Alte & New

-Dark green ink – Memento Dew Drop Northern Pines Ink from Tsukineko

-Black and white tiny letter stickers (product not named but from the Stickah brand sold at Dollarama)

-White or off-white embroidery thread (very thin crochet thread could also be used here)

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

How to make an elegant winter meets spring Imbolc card

Start by making a card base from either white or off-white cardstock.

Cut a piece of green metallic cardstock slightly smaller than the card base. Adhere.

Cut a piece of black cardstock slightly smaller than the green metallic cardstock layer. Adhere.

Next, cut a piece of the grey plaid Carta Bella paper so that it is slightly smaller than the width and about 60% off the height of the previous layer. Attach it to the top portion of the black cardstock layer, as shown.

Cut a piece of sage/light green cardstock so that it is slightly smaller than the width and about 40% of the height of the black cardstock layer. Attach it to the bottom portion of said black cardstock layer.

Die cut (or punch out) a border strip with three good-sized snowflakes from black cardstock. Use white or off-white embroidery floss to stitch through the edges of this piece (alternatively, you can use an opaque white pen or marker to hand draw stitching instead).

Adhere in the center bottom of the sage/light green cardstock layer. Top the center snowflake with an off-white and grey pearl embellishment.

From the Carta Bella Christmas Border Strips Paper cut out a pine tree border strip and adhere it roughly 2/3^rd to 3/4^th of the way down the center of the card layers that you have constructed so far.

Using both sage/light green and white/off-white cardstock, die cut two nesting snowflake shapes. Place the smaller white or off-white piece inside of the larger green snowflake piece. Adhere to the sides in the top 1/3^rd of the center panel of the card, as shown.

Top the center of each white inner snowflake with an off-white and grey pearl embellishment.

Use the Spellbinders fir/pine bough die to cut two branches from each the sage/light green, dark green, and metallic green cardstocks.

Starting from the darkest to the lightest colour, arrange these bough pieces around the edges of the center of the card, allowing them to overlap a bit with the snowflakes and the pine tree border strip. Adhere.

Die cut two flowering branch/vine pieces from black cardstock and another two from grey cardstock. Top the black pieces with the grey ones, off-setting them a little so for an added sense of dimension. Adhere both pairs together and then atop the center of the fir/pine bough area that you just created.

Using the Alte & New enamel dots, adhere green and black dots on the flower portions of the flower branches/vines, as shown in the photos throughout this post.

From green metallic cardstock, die cut an ornate circle shape. Using pop dots, foam squares, or another dimensional adhesive, adhere this circle to the center of the card front.

Cut out the winter foliage (with a dark grey background) piece from the Carta Bella 4”x4” Journaling Card paper, then this piece into a circle shape. Adhere it to the green metallic layer from the previous step.

Next, use the small white and black letter stickers to spell the word “Imbolc”, alternating between light and dark green cardstock, adhere and then fussy cut out each sticker so that it has a very thin border around it from either of those two cardstocks.  

Repeat the cardstock process again, this time alternating colours so that if the letters were first backed with light green paper, their second border (backing) layer is dark green and vice versa.

Arrange the letters in a playful slightly uneven (from one another) manner in the top portion of fussy cut circle created in the previous step.

Use the “Blessings” word die to die cut three identical words, one each from sage/light green, dark green, and white/off-white cardstock.

Arrange these layers starting with the sage/light green, then the dark green, followed by the white/off-white so that all three layers are slightly off-centre from one another for an added sense of depth.

Adhere the layers together and then beneath the “Imbolc” letter stickers.

Use three sizes of matching coloured off-white or white adhesive pearls to create a frame/border around the top and bottom portions of the fussy cut green paper piece, as shown.

For the final step, use three sizes of black Alte & New enamel dots to adorn the top corners of the grey plaid paper layer and three sizes of green Alte & New enamel dots to adorn the bottom corners of the sage/light green cardstock layer.

And just like that, you have a sophisticated, wonderfully seasonally appropriate handmade Imbolc card to send off or present in person to someone special.

Alternatively, if you use a different sentiment this same design can be used for various other wintertime (or summertime if you are south of the equator) events as well. For example, Yule, Christmas, New Year’s, winter birthdays and anniversaries, just because and thinking of you cards, and even as a very heartfelt sympathy card.

One foot in winter, the other stepping towards spring

As with each of the Pagan sabbats, those who choose to observe them have free range over when they opt to do so. Nothing on that front is written in indelible ink and those of both Pagan/Wiccan/witchy leanings and otherwise that make the sabbats a part of their lives can do so whenever they desire.

That said, a good many of us opt to do so on either February 1^st or February 2^nd.

As a general rule, I lean towards February 1^st. As with each of the year’s eight beautiful sabbats, however, aim to encapsulate the sacred day itself with at least a few more days on either side. Thus, instead of “just” one day, Imbolc and each of its other sabbat siblings become mini seasons of celebration unto themselves.

I adore Imbolc and while that is, objectively, true for each of the eight sabbats that comprise The Wheel of The Year, there are some that I feel all the more pulled towards.

Imbolc, situated as it is as the counterpoint to Lammas six months later (on this side of the equator), is a cozy, soulful period that invites us to reflect on where we have come not only since January 1^st of the present year, but since this point last winter.

As well, it taps into the return of new life + gentler weather that will soon pop back up much like a crocus exuberantly bursting through a mantle of snow to soak in the year’s first warm rays of sunshine.

I do not hate winter (far from it!) and can scarcely imagine living somewhere that did not experience a frozen segment of the year.

Winter – much like fall – stokes the fires of my creativity, my energy, my productivity and much more in ways that spring and summer are not always able to do to same degree.

Many is the year that I have felt a splash of melancholy as winter breathed its last. However, those post-winter blues are rarely long-lived as the endearing vitality and breathtaking colour palette (to say nothing of the scents, tastes, and sounds) of spring dance merrily across the landscape once again.

Right here and now though, in our wee corner of Western Canada, the mercury sits below freezing, many local bodies of water have ice on them that is thick enough to safely skate or fish on, and there’s plenty more snow forecasted in the coming weeks.

Come February 1^st and in the days that buffer it on either side, I will embrace winter while it is still here. And at the same time, I’ll steer the rutter of both my witchy workings and life as a whole towards springtime.

Each season and sabbat is a gift, and Imbolc – with its emphasis on fresh starts, new life, and finding light in even the darkest times (aka, the middle of winter) – is no exception.

Just as the wording on this handmade greeting card states, with all of my heart, I wish you each a blessed and truly beautiful Imbolc. May it, in due time, unfold into a low-stress, high enjoyment spring for all of us!

Whether you observe Imbolc or not, what do you view as the unofficial start of spring? Which colours do you most associate with this point in the year?

The post Elegant Winter Meets Spring Colour Palette Imbolc Card appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

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!

The post Imbolc 2021 Altar Tour + The Launch of Witchcrafted Life’s YouTube Channel appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

And, generally, that is true. I started to have that train of thought myself when the idea for today’s entry hit me, then I had to laugh. Sure, I could hold off, but I’d be doing so for another four years!

You see, we’re just nine days away from February 29^th, which makes 2020 a leap year. And while I consider myself a patient soul, four years is just a tad too long to wait on such a fun, date-specific post.

So without further ado, let’s hop right into and get to working some Leap Year Magick!

Why do we need Leap Years?

Perhaps no other day is more mysterious, unique and even chic than February 29^th. It’s like that ultra-cool, super elusive celebrity – or relative – who only makes rare guest appearances once in a great while.

Yet what is a Leap Year and why do we need one?

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians (though I personally suspect even earlier societies took note of this fact as well) observed that it actually takes the earth a tad more than 365 days to revolve around the sun.

How much longer, you may ask? Roughly 1/4^th of a day per longer per year.

The earth circles the sun once, approximately, every 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 45 seconds. The technical term for the duration of the year when it is measured this way is a Solar Year or a Tropical Year, which astronomers measure beginning on the spring equinox.

Hence, in the context of the current Gregorian calendar that much of the modern world uses, we need leap years to help ensure that earth’s revolutions and our calendar itself remain in synch.

If we didn’t add an extra day into the calendar every four years, we would lose about six full hours from our current calendar each year.

That might not seem like too big of a deal at first glance, but over time, the missing hours would quickly compound into days and weeks. In fact, it would only take a hundred years for the Gregorian calendar to end up about twenty-four days short! (In other words, the better part of a full month.)

The extra day – which is technically called an intercalary day – that we require to help keep our calendar system working effectively is tucked onto the end of every fourth February, as February is the shortest month of the year.

It is generally believed that the ever-industrious Roman general Julius Caesar was the first person to introduce the concept of a leap year into the calendar system, though the process involved with the frequency of said leap years would take many hundreds of years more to develop more closely into that which we now use today in the 21^st century.

And did you know, those who are born on February 29^th are known as Leaplings? These folks only get to technically celebrate their February 29^th birthday every time a leap year appears, but many opt to observe it on either February 28^th or March 1^st on leap year-less years.

February 29^th is a liminal day

Occurring as it does once every four years, February 29^th is a rare day. It exists, that much is true, but the fact that it does so on such an infrequent basis makes a highly charged, unique and powerful day that exists both in situ and betwixt the realms.

It is a liminal time, not completely unlike periods such as those surrounding Samhain and Beltane, respectively, when the veil is especially thin.

February 29th is a day and time on the edges and periphery. A brief period of once-ever-four-years time that quickly transforms into the more commonplace occurrence of March 1st.

What kind of magick should you do on the Leap Year?

Any kind your heart desires! Though, that said, now is a phenomenal time to set long-term spells, manifestations, and plans into place.

Some examples of these kinds of long-term magickal workings include the following:

-Banishing work.

-Beginning a new journal, Book of Shadows, Grimoire or other personally meaningful spiritual or magickal related record.

-Breaking bad/negative/unwanted habits.

-Bringing your deepest, most poignant dreams into reality.

-Burry, in either a more literal or a figurative or representative way, aspects of your life, magick practice, and spiritual journey that no longer serve you well or which are holding you back from blossoming in the ways that you need and want.

I am especially fond of doing banishing work involving written messages or intentions and burying them outdoors at either 4 am or 4 pm on February 29^th (the hour of four-o-clock corresponding to the fact that leap years generally transpire once every four years).

-Committing yourself to thoroughly learning a subject, art, technique, etc that pertains to your magickal practice.

-Engaging in long-term shadow work.

-Fertility magick.

-Health, wellness, and fitness-related workings and goals.

-Launching new projects, such as a business, blog or website, volunteer endeavour, or doing home renovations.

-Long-term goal setting, specifically if you have any goals or plans that may take up to four years to complete (though this is not mandatory and shorter, though still significantly lengthy goals can be set into motion now as well).

-Love magick to help you find, if desired, a long-term partner (you can also perform friendship magick to help bring new long-term friends into your life as well – keep in mind that love magick does not have to strictly be romantic by any means; plutonic love is highly important in most peoples’ lives as well).

And speaking of love and romance, historically, in certain parts of the world – particularly in Ireland, was an old tradition that women could reverse the standard practice of the day and, on February 29^th, ask their beloved to marry them instead of waiting for their honeys to do the proposing (as seen in the vintage image above).

-Planting/starting a new garden or a brand new section of an existing garden.

-Starting something new that will require one or more years of your life.

-Workings pertaining to courage, tenacity, bravery, and fortitude.

Shorter-term magick for the leap year

With February 29^th being such a relatively rare day, it is an ideal time to engage in magickal workings of any length.

If you’re feeling drawn towards shorter-term magick and spiritual undertakings, here are some useful suggestions that you may wish to put into practice specifically on the last day of this February.

-Astral projection and lucid dreaming.

-Courage magick to help you do something that you’ve been struggling to muster the gumption needed to undertake.

-Curse and hex breaking (or placing, if that’s up your alley).

-Doing twelve-month tarot and oracle card spreads to help provide you with a clearer picture of your life over between now and next February.

-Ethically gathering/sourcing natural materials from the outdoors to use in your witchy workings for the coming year.

-Finding lost objects. February 29^th is “hidden” for a few years at a time, when it reappears, jump at the chance to use its powerfully unique energy to aid you in locating missing or lost items.

-Hedgeriding.

-Negative energy reversal work.

-Protection and invisibility/cloaking magick.

-Realign – or begin realigning – areas of your life that may be off-kilter, out of whack, topsy-turvy or otherwise not aligned as you’d ideally like.

-Seeking spirit allies, both animal and non-animal related.

-Shamanic work (done respectfully and mindfully of the traditions and beliefs of the culture whose practices you are enacting or drawing inspiration from).

-Strengthening psychic abilities.

-Take a leap of faith in yourself, your abilities, a new job, someone you trust, a new opportunity – just about anything, really. If ever there was a day for such a leap, February 29^th is definitely it!

-Work with the current astrological chapter of the year, Pisces, a water sign, and the twelfth sign of the zodiac (the annual cycle of which begins anew with Aries, which generally begins on or right around March 20th).

-Working with the faery folk in your immediate area and letting them know that you’re thinking of them at on this naturally enchanted day.

Are leap years lucky or are leap years unlucky?

Some people, both inside and out of the Pagan and witchy world, believe that February 29^th is a wonderfully lucky day.

Just as, others – perhaps more so in the past – such as the Scottish and Greeks of yore, saw it as an unlucky date. Indeed, the Greeks thought it was unlucky to marry point blank during a leap year, but especially to do so on February 29^th itself.

I’m always leery of dubbing a particular date as being inherently lucky, but can’t help thinking that the rarity and charged liminal energy of February 29^th lends itself to potentially increasing one’s luck, good fortune, and all-around positivity on that specific date.

Leap year magickal correspondences

Generally speaking, a lot of the correspondences that apply to February 29^th are ones that hold true for the month of February as a whole.

As well, you may find that things and correspondences which are especially rare or hard to come by – much like the rarity of leap years themselves – feel right for your workings and sacred space on this special day.

The following is a list of magickal correspondences for February:

-Trees: Cedar, pine, rowan, cypress, and laurel.

-Herbs, spices, and flowers: Hyssop, bay leaves, anise, myrrh, sandalwood, frankincense, pine needles and pine resin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ylang-ylang, mint, rosemary, balm of Gilead, sage, thyme, basil, tansy, wisteria, jasmine, heliotrope, palmarosa, lemon balm, primrose, heather, snowdrops, and patchouli.

-Colours: White, blue, violet, purple, grey, light yellow, pale green, pink, red, brown, silver and gold.

-Crystals and stones: Clear quartz, diamonds, rose quartz, citrine, amethyst, fluorite, silver, pyrite, angelite, aquamarine, ruby, garnet, jasper (including dalmatian jasper), ammolite, bloodstone, turquoise, black tourmaline, onyx, and selenite.

-Animals: Sheep, cows, foxes, rabbits, hares, bears, deer, otters, groundhogs, prairie dogs, eagles, robins, owls, chickadees, blue jays, and unicorns.

-Gods and Goddesses: Brigit, Kuan Yin, Diana, Eros, Persephone, Aphrodite, Demeter, Venus, Selene, The Muses, Mars, Pan, Boann, Shakti, Branwen, Parvati, and Bast.

Nature spirits: The fae, including faeries who are connected to the home, one’s property and garden.

-Foods: Those associated with Imbolc and the end of the winter, with an emphasis on warm spices, fresh citrus fruits, grains, seeds, breads, potatoes, and most types of fresh and dried green herbs.

-Magickal supplies: Candles, salt, dried herbs (including those listed above), tools made out of silver and silver-tone metals, altar tiles, crystal wands, and ogham runes.

-Elements: Air and water, though fire is an important element for February as well, particularly as it relates to Imbolc.

-Astrological sign: February 29^th falls during the time of Pisces, whose ruling element is water. Pisces is ruled by Neptune and is represented by a fish.

A leap year spell to help you get over hurdles in your life

What you’ll need

-A large bay leaf (use more than one leaf if needed) or another type of dried leaf that is suitable for writing on

-An environmentally friendly writing material, such as Natural Earth Paint or vegetable ink, or if that is not possible, a permanent marker in the colour of your choice (I’d suggest picking one that aligns with the intentions behind your spell)

-Optional, an eco-friendly offering to leave in the area where you perform the working outdoors. Things such as lovely rocks, attractive leaves, springs of herbs, and pieces of fruit are often good choices.

How to perform this spell

Select a natural spot that safely allows for you to throw something into it without damaging the natural environment. (I CANNOT STRESS THIS POINT ENOUGH – PLEASE BE SUPER SAFE!)

This could be a small hill, a river, a gully, an abandoned/no longer used well, or another suitable spot in your area.

If possible (though it is not imperative), prior to 4 am on February 29^th, gather the materials listed above and visit the spot you’ve selected. Ensure that you are dressed warmly, if the weather is less than favourable.

Arrive at the spot a little before 4 pm (if possible), take several deep, soothing breaths in and out, and focus on your surroundings. As you do so, think about an area in your life that you’ve been struggling to overcome or more past.

This could be just about anything. From ditching an unwanted habit to working up the courage to ask for a raise at work to finally standing up for yourself with your in-laws.

Once you clearly know what you’re focusing on, write the name of that issue on the leaf or leaves that you brought with you. A single word or just a few words will likely suffice here, no need for lengthy paragraphs in such a small space.

Hold the leaf (or leaves) in your hands and (if doing so is safe in the area that you’re visiting) close your eyes. Focus your energy on the leaves and envision the strength that you need to overcome this issue in your life entering your body, as you transfer the energy, fear, stress, anxiety, and so forth from yourself that may be holding you back into the leaf or leaves.

Safely approach wherever you are going to throw the leaf/leaves. Right before you toss this trouble away from yourself, say the following words (or ones of your choosing):

“I am projecting that which holds me back away from my body, my spirit, and my life. I tap into the energy of this liminal, rare leap year day and ask that it help give me the courage and strength to overcome this hurdle that I’ve been dealing with once and for all. So mote it be.”

Scrunch up the leaf/leaves and throw them away from you. As they weigh very little, they may not travel far, so you might have better luck dropping them, rather than throwing them.

Step back, take a few more deep breaths, and concentrate on the natural energy of your surroundings, as well as that of February 29^th. When you feel ready, thank the environment and Leap Year for assisting you (if you brought an offering to leave, do so now) and carry on with the rest of your day.

What does the leap year mean to modern witches and Pagans?

Like so much in our individual practices, this will vary from person to person. For some, it may just be an extra day at the end of February. For others it is a time to engage in long term magickal workings, take chances and proverbial leaps in our lives, focus on the magick of a day whose presence is only felt and experienced once every four years, and celebrate the rarity of February 29^th.

I get downright giddy when we get treated to an extra day. It feels so deliciously secretive – even if most people know about leap years. Perhaps then, it is one of those secrets that we wear on our sleeves. They’re private, but not as concealed as we might have the rest of the world believe.

Whatever the case, I’m on board with the leap year big time and am delighted that the idea for this post struck me just in the nick of time (and that I jumped on the opportunity to pen it when I did).

I encourage you to look for ways to tap into the energy, strength, unique qualities, and hurdle busting properties of the leap year on this special day that we won’t experience again for another four years.

What are your magickal plans for February 29^th?

The post Leap year magick, correspondences, and a spell for February 29th appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Famous the world over for its snow, Canada certainly lives up to that reputation in most parts of the country – our wee woodland corner of British Columbia included.

As I pen these words, more than three feet of accumulated flakes are calling our backyard home and there are banks around the neighbourhood that come up to the second-floor windows on some houses.

Yes, it’s winter proper still around these parts and that got me thinking about one of my favourite magickal ingredients to gather when we’re squarely in the season of the Oak King and summer’s radiance seems lightyears away: graveyard snow.

What is graveyard snow?

As its name implies, graveyard snow – or cemetery snow – is snow that has been collected from a burial ground.

In order to do so, you will need to have access to a public graveyard or cemetery, gloves or mittens to keep your hands safe and warm, a waterproof and leakproof receptacle to carry your snow home in (unless you plan to work with it in situ), and possibly a small shovel, spade or other type of scoop to gather the snow with.

If you’re only collecting a small amount of snow or your gloves are waterproof, you may be able to easily put the snow into your bucket, container, etc with your hands.

Depending on the layout of the cemetery you’re visiting, you may be able to gather snow from the ground, the tops of headstones and other types of grave markers, low hanging tree branches, shrubs, statues or monuments, and gates or fences surrounding the cemetery itself.

When is the best time to collect graveyard snow?

This is largely a personal choice and there is no objectively “best” time to collect graveyard snow.

You may wish to do so on a day whose correspondences tie into those of your magickal workings. On a sabbat (such as Yule or Imbolc – or even, depending on when snow starts falling in your area, on Samhain), a particular stage in the moon’s cycle (I’m especially fond of working with cemeteries and materials collected from them during the full and dark moons), or at a time of the day that is conducive to the spell or ritual that you’ll be using the snow for.

When taking anything from nature, be it graveyard snow or otherwise, it is always a lovely and appreciated gesture and sign of respect to leave a small offering. This can be anything from a stone to springs of herbs, leaves you’ve gathered to fresh or naturally dried, preservative-free fruit.

How does graveyard snow differ from graveyard dirt?

Graveyard dirt, a much beloved and fairly commonly used material in the workings of many witches, hoodoo workers, and various other magickal folks is dirt from the ground of a graveyard.

It is employed in myriad types of working, including witches balls and bottles, protection, guarding, strength, luck, prosperity, finality, cursing, and death related spells and rituals, as well as times in the year when the veil is at its thinnest (such as Samhain and Beltane).

Graveyard dirt is believed to be imparted with many important qualities, energies and essences, including those from the departed who were laid to rest in that cemetery.

It is a sacred material and one that should always be gathered with the utmost reverence, respect, and consideration both for those laid to rest in the cemetery and for the natural environment/ecosystem of the cemetery itself.

Graveyard dirt is a fascinating topic unto itself and one I’m that sure I will cover here on Witchcrafed Life in greater depth in the future.

Aside from the rather obvious point that one is snow and one is dirt, graveyard snow differs from graveyard dirt because it is typically charged more with the magickal properties of snow firstly and a fainter – one might say “echo-like” quality of the general surrounding where it fell secondly.

As well, generally speaking, graveyard snow is easier to take without fear of having someone say something unwanted to you while you’re in the process of gathering it up. (Though that possibility is there anytime you’re removing anything from a cemetery.)

Magickal properties of snow

Snow is a wonderfully magickal natural material and one that, in a lot of cases, you may have access to for multiple months in a row if you live in an area that gets quite cold.

A literal form of the Element of Water, snow is ideally suited to workings pertaining to that element and to the elemental beings associated with water called undines.

It is also great for cleansing, purifying, consecrating, freezing or halting (something unwanted or unneeded), rejuvenating, preservation, and banishing work, to name but a few excellent used for it.

Snow itself is already charged to a degree by the fact that it sits outside under the sun and moonlight. You can charge it further, either in its solid or liquid (melted) form by imbuing snow with your intentions and intentionally placing it in the path of the sun or moonlight.

Specifically, you may wish to charge it under a new, full, or dark moon – such as those that occur either on or closest to a sabbat. I adore gathering and charging snow during the Yule and Imbolc seasons, respectively.

If you’ve gathered snow (and/or ice or icicles) that fell during a snowstorm or blizzard, keep in mind that the snow will be charged with the energy, intensity, and strength of storms and storm clouds.

You can keep snow that you’ve gathered in suitable containers (such as glass jars with lids) for quite some time. It can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for later use throughout the year. I adore using snow gathered at Yule in some of my Litha workings.

Bringing the extreme of one season into that of another in a magickal context is a powerful and meaningful way to honour both, remind ourselves that the Wheel of the Year is ever turning, and to unite the energies of two sabbats that are on opposite ends of the calendar from each other.

The magick of snow is a wonderous thing! Snow helps to create light in the dark heart of winter. It is strong and powerful, yet ethereal and temporary at the same time (save for in extremely cold climate such as at poles and atop certain lofty mountains).

How to use graveyard snow in your magickal workings

You can utilize graveyard snow in most instances of snow magick, but given the energy of where it was collected from and the connection to the other side that anything from a graveyard stands to have, you may wish to use graveyard snow for darker, heavier, or more serious spells, rituals, cleansings, and other purposes.

The following are some ways of using graveyard snow in your magickal workings.

(Note that the snow is generally melted before being used.)

–Anoint yourself with melted snow. Ensure that the snow is clean and free of debris (run into through a coffee filter, cheesecloth, or linen napkin first if needed). Apply it to areas of your body that need rejuvenating, help with healing (do not apply snow to any type of injury or wound that would be harmed by cold or water), cleansing, unblocking, freezing of negative habits (for example, to your fingers if you wanted to “freeze” nail biting in its tracks), or as a general energy field pick-me-up during the sluggish days of winter.

-Apply melted snow as a protective barrier around your doors and windows. Lightly spray or dab melted snow to these areas, asking for protection and safety for your home itself and all who reside within. Ask that anything or anyone who may wish you or your home harm be frozen in their tracks before they reach your threshold.

–Bless your sacred space with melted snow. If you can do so while further snow is falling outside at the same time, this helps to bless both the inside and outside of your sacred space with the strength, energy, protection, and timeless beauty of snow and winter (or summer, if you live south of the equator).

-Build a snowman or other snow figure (for example, that of an animal you connect with on a spiritual level) as a protector of your property. Draw symbols, sigils, or words (or tuck pieces of paper or bark with such things on them) into your figure. Ask that it, and the strength of winter’s fortifying chill, help to guard your home and keep it clear of unwanted visitors or troubles all season long.

-Cleanse your crystals with (clean) melted snow. Those that you associate with darker workings, death, rebirth, protection, winter, Yule, Imbolc, and even snow itself (for example, snowflake obsidian) are all crystals that can benefit in particular from a lovely snow cleansing.  

-Cleanse yourself during a snowfall at a graveyard. If you’re able to visit a cemetery while it’s snowing, consider utilizing that opportunity to allow the snow to cleanse your spirit, bless you with the clarity and strength of winter, and energize your magickal mojo this winter. (Naturally, be safe and always wear weather appropriate clothing when you’re out in the snow).

-Create a snow altar. If you’ve gathered enough snow or are using a mix of graveyard snow and snow on your own property, you can create an outdoor altar. This altar will be temporary and anything placed on it that you wish to preserve needs to be water-safe or waterproof.

-Create a focus charged cleansing spray with snow as the primary component. Add other ingredients that work for your needs, such as herbs, essential oils, salt, mini pinecones or pine needles (for additional winter energy and the magickal properties that these natural materials house), or water-safe crystals or stones.

Use the spray to cleanse your home, the inside of your vehicle, your (water-safe) magickal tools, your candles, stone or crystal runes, or your clothing (again, ensuring it will not be damaged by water).

I like to cleanse my winter boots, coats, scarves and gloves with protection focused melted snow cleansing water to help keep me safe, warm, and guarded against the more dangerous elements of wintertime during the icy cold months.

–Draw sigils in the snow. The choice of sigil(s) is up to you and will relate to your workings, needs, and the fact that most things drawn in (or made out of) snow have an inherently temporary nature to them.

–Include snow in a ritual cleansing, banishing, releasing, or purification bath. While it would take a great deal of melted (and warmed!) snow to fill a bathtub, you can easily add a cup of snow to your bathwater. You may wish to charge and/or bless the snow first, though this is a personal choice.

–Let snow help to melt your troubles away. Gather some snow and focus the intent of something you’d like to clear your mind or life of into the snow. In a calm setting, light some candles and/or incense and concentrate on the bowl of snow, channeling what you’re looking to rid yourself into the snow as it melts. Once the snow has melted, dispose of it outdoors away from your property, if possible.

–Melt snow and use it in a spell jar, bottle or vile. Combine it with other ingredients that are relevant to your magickal needs. For extra charm and beauty, biodegradable glitter, if it is suitable to your spell or other type of working, can be a really lovely addition to these kinds of jars.

–Provide an offering of snow on your altar (indoors or outdoors) or other sacred space that you use for your magickal workings. If you work with deity and are in need of assistance, guidance, strength or support this winter, consider researching gods and goddesses associated with snow and inviting one or more of them to assist you, leaving a snow offering for them in the process.

As the snow was collected from a cemetery, it can make for an especially apropos and respectful offering to place on an ancestor altar or to otherwise offer to your ancestors and/or any other entities, spirits or beings from the other side that you presently work with.

–Save some snow to use when you plant your spring garden. If you’re a gardener or otherwise grow fresh herbs, flowers, tomatoes, etc, consider storing some melted snow to use as a blessing and strengthening helper of winter on its successor season, spring, when you plant the seeds of your garden for this year.

-Water scry with melted snow. Scrying in its multitude forms is one of my personal favourite forms of divination. Water scrying, especially when it applies to studying and discerning meaning in the ripples and movement of water is technically called hydromancy.

It is a wonderfully accessible form of divination that only needs a suitable bowl or chalice, water (melted snow in this case), and the focused thought and attention of the person doing the scrying.

Use melted snow to scry during the winter months, particularly during the sabbats, esbats, and anytime you feel a sense of clarity is strongly needed in your life. Consider making note (such as in your magickal journal or Book of Shadows) of what presents or reveals itself to use during your scrying season.

Important note: while none of the magickal uses for snow listed above involve ingesting snow, if you opt to eat or drink snow, ensure that you gather pristinely clean snow and that, for safety sake, you boil it first.

If, even after boiling and cooling, the snow tastes off, chemically, or otherwise strange in any way, immediately stop consuming it. Your health and safety must always come first when working magick.

The versatility of graveyard snow

Much like snow in general, graveyard snow is a multi-purpose, wonderful magickal ingredient. If you have access to both snow and graveyard, it is well worth seeking out and utilizing.

You might even want to gather some from atop graves themselves and other portions of snow from different parts of the graveyard, separating the two and using the former in workings that pertain more to death, banishing, protection, spirit work, psychic abilities, hedge riding, astral projection, dreams, and ancestor work.

Whereas burial in a graveyard is generally quite long-lasting for most bodies, snow is a temporary visitor in our lives each year. The potent combination of these two factors and the energy that each brings to the table makes graveyard snow a stellar choice for witches and magickal workers of all sorts who are fortunate to have access to it.

The post How to Use Graveyard Snow in your Magickal Workings appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Imbolc (also known as Imbolg), is a meaningful and magickal point in the year. Rooted though it is in the heart of winter for plenty of folks around the world, Imbolc’s return helps to align us all the more with the journey towards spring. This road is one that quite literally comes about thanks to the power of light – specifically, sunlight.

Many of us honour, embrace and celebrate this fact at Imbolc by ensuring that candles are an integral part of our sabbat rituals, working and festivities.

Their warmth and light representing that of the sun, while also reminding us of a time in our-not-so-distant collective past when candles often played a vital role in helping people get through the long, dark months of winter (just as they still do, even in this age of electric lighting, for many in today’s world).

This winter, I started to feel Imbolc’s rejuvenating energy quite early on. Shortly after it made its presence known to me again, I decided that I wanted to create a handmade tag that acknowledged and expressed the importance of light at Imbolc.

Oversized “lit from within” candle tag

It’s been a hot minute since I last made a tag!

What better time, I thought to myself, than the year’s first Pagan sabbat to do just that again.

I began with a jumbo-sized premade tag base. You could easily create a tag yourself here instead, either with a ruler, pencil and scissors or with a metal die and a die cutting machine (or electronic die cutter).

This tag base measures 8.5 inches/21.5 cm tall and just over 4 inches/10.1 cm across/wide.

Paper crafting colour options for Imbolc projects

Numerous colours are traditionally associated with Imbolc. These include, but are not limited to, red, black, white, cream, pink, silver, blue, yellow, and gold.

Personally, I tend to associate each of the sabbats with the colours that are most prevalent in nature at the time that these special days occur.

Here in the wild woods of Western Canada, that means plenty of icy whites, muted browns, pale creams, faded blues, and the deep verdant shades of evergreen trees.

While blue and green did not make an appearance on this project, the other colours just mentioned – coupled with gold to further symbolize the returning light of spring – were used on this generously sized tag.

Some other possible colour combinations that could have looked lovely here, and which work great for Imbolc craft projects in general, include the following:

-Grey, silver, and white (and/or light blue)

-Red, black, and white

-Green, brown, and gold or brass

-White, silver, and pale pink

-Navy blue, white, and gold or silver

-Icy blue, white, and silver or platinum

-Brown, green, and cream

-Gold, red and white (or brown)

-Silver, red and pink

How to make the “lit from within” candle element of this Imbolc tag

Once I’d settled on my colour palette and selected the papers and cardstock that I’d be using for it, I went to work creating the star element of this tag: the glowing candle in the middle.

To do this, I first die cut a candle from cream colour cardstock. I then used Copic Ciao markers to outline the candle and the area that looks like dripping wax, as well as to colour in the flame.

Copics do tend to feather (bleed) a bit on ordinary cardstock, the one that I used here included. I wasn’t concerned in this instance, though, as I’d already planned to nestled the die cut candle underneath of some vellum.

While it is somewhat harder to see in these photos verses in real life, I placed the candle and yellow circle of paper on light grey and white snowflake print paper.

You can see this paper more clearly at the very top of the tag, as I used the same paper on that portion of this project as well.

I wanted the candle to look as though it was illuminating out into the world from a window, as snow fell peacefully outside. This is a scene that is very common to me all through the winter and which often occurs at our house on Imbolc itself.

If you do not have a candle-shaped die or access to a digitally equipped die cutting machine, some alternative options include the following:

-Stamp, colour and fussy cut out a candle-shaped piece.

-Pre-made candle die cut, sticker, or chipboard piece.

-Draw a candle yourself and then fussy cut it out.

-Cut out the image of a glowing candle from a photograph, illustration, magazine page, or similar.

-Print and cut out a digi stamp of a candle.

-Use clip art or dingbat font with a candle shape from your word pressing program or an online source. Print, colour (if it is not already coloured) and fussy cut the shape.

To help further convey the sense of a glowing candle, I die cut a small circle from golden yellow coloured paper and placed it behind the flame area.

Alternatively, you could easily use a circle punch, circle stencil, or freehand a circle shape instead.

Once my candle was assembled, I backed it against the snowflake print paper. I then dug through my stash for the creamiest coloured vellum that I had.

I specifically wanted the vellum to look aged and for it to give the candle a somewhat opaque appearance, again, as if one was viewing it through a snowy, frosty, or icy window.

I combined two different brown papers (one plain, one text print), positioning them at a horizontal angle both for visual interest and to represent the divide between the darker and lighter halves of the year.

I then die cut a lovely elongated/primitive style heart shape from the two brown papers. I backed this area with the cream vellum and placed my “glowing candle” beneath it, with the grey and white snowflake print paper behind the candle itself.

Next, I cut out a smaller frame in the same die cut heart shape and positioned in the aperture area. I specifically went with metallic gold cardstock in this spot as I wanted to further convey the sense of warmth and light that accompanies lit candles.

Embellishing an Imbolc tag

To further embellish this Imbolc tag, I selected some dimensional flowers, a curly branch/vine piece, cream coloured fabric leaves, and cute little painted white wooden snowflakes (one even has a tiny heart cutout in the center, which I chose because it complimented the die cut heart aperture here).

I also used a small sticker with the hashtag #blessed on it, as I feel Imbolc – like all of the sabbats – is a time of immense blessings and positive energy in our lives.

I freehand cut a notched-end piece of brown plaid paper and die cute a larger notched end piece from both gold metallic and brown cardstocks. I layered these two pieces together and topped them with some white Thickers letter stickers, which I used to spell out the word Imbolc.

Let’s face it, there aren’t exactly a lot of premade Pagan sabbat related paper crafting products out there. In most cases, you’ll need to create your own titles and sentiments for sabbat themed projects.

To top things off, I selected two shades (beigey-grey and light gold) of seam binding and a cute white and brown polka dot print ribbon, which I looped through the hole at the top of the tag.

Tag making tips and ideas from this project

-If you don’t have cream or ivory coloured vellum to hand, use white instead or apply a light layer of pale ivory or very pale grey, taupe or brown ink to the underside of your vellum to tint it (ensure the ink is dry before proceeding to layer the candle beneath it).

–Combine two or more papers diagonally, vertically, or horizontally to break up larger areas, add visual interest, and potentially use up some of your paper scraps in the process.

-Instead of wooden snowflakes, you could easily use snowflake-shaped die cut pieces, stickers, chipboard, resin pieces, flatback charms, or even cute little hand-cut snowflakes instead.

-And by the same token, if you didn’t want to use snowflakes, how about hearts, leaves, stars, or crescent moon shapes, sequins, enamel drops, rhinestones, metal charms, or other dimensional embellishments instead?

–Any shape of opening (aperture) that allows the candle portion of the tag to show could be used here. Circes, ovals, diamonds, triangles, squares, rectangles, stars, and snowflakes are just some of the possible options.

-While vellum works like a charm in this setting, alternatively, glassine, wax paper, cellophane, densely woven tulle or lace, sheer fabrics, acetate, and even tracing paper could be used instead.

-No gold metallic paper or cardstock? Use silver, platinum or rose gold metallic cardstock instead. Or how about white, silver, or gold glitter cardstock?

Or you could change the colour of your cardstock (starting with a white cardstock base) with gold embossing powder, gold glitter, gold paint, metallic gold coloured pencil crayon, gold leafing, gold Nuvo Glimmer Paste, or gold gilding wax instead.

–You could easily turn this same design into a card front instead, either with or without the actual tag component itself.

Likewise, you could use this elegant “lit from within” candle technique on scrapbook pages, mini albums (how gorgeous would it be on the cover of an album?), and many other types of paper crafting projects as well.

Create “lit from within” candles for other occasions

This candle works wonderfully for Imbolc – just as it would for other Pagan sabbats, particularly Samhain and Yule.

It would also be fantastic for a multitude of different occasions as well. These include:

-Birthdays

-Weddings

-Anniversaries

-Thank you wishes

-Get well wishes

-Sympathy wishes (including the loss of a pet)

-Support and encouragement wishes

-Supporting or thanking members of the military or police for their service

-Graduation

-Candlemas (February 2^nd)

-Valentine’s Day (what’s more romantic than candlelight?)

-Mother’s Day

-The 4^th of July

-Halloween

-Remembrance Day

– Hanukkah

-Christmas

-Kwanza

-New Year’s Eve

-Eid

-Diwali

Products to help you recreate this “lit from within” Imbolc tag

-Oversized tag base – I used a Ranger Ink Dylusions Media Tag

-Dark brown cardstock

-Light brown cardstock

-Golden yellow cardstock or paper

-Metallic gold cardstock or paper – I used Kodamaa Metallic Special Bright Gold Paper

-Brown and white text print paper – I used Respirer l’air de la Mer from Prima’s French Rivera collection

-Grey and white snowflake print paper – I used Beautiful from Bo Bunny’s Winter Wishes collection

-Cream, white or very light grey coloured vellum

-Candle shaped metal die (or use one of the alternatives suggested above)

-Circle-shaped metal die (or use one of the alternatives suggested above)

-Heart-shaped metal die (or use one of the alternatives suggested above)

-Banner die (or hand-cut a banner instead)

-White gel pen – I used Signo White Gel Pen (for the hand-drawn faux stitching detailing). Sakura’s White Gelly Roll Pen would be another good option

-White letter stickers – I used Rockabye Thickers from American Crafts (you could use die cut or stamped letters here instead)

-Brown and white or cream plaid paper – I used a piece of paper from the 6×6 inch Cider Woods Mat Stack by DCWV

-Various shades of brown ink for edging some of the papers and cardstock – I used Memento Dew Drop ink in Toffee Crunch, Rich Cocoa, and Peanut Brittle

-Markers of choice to colour the candle and flame with (you could also use pencil crayons, watercolour paints, acrylic paint, inks and a fine point ink applicator tool, Faber Castell Gelatos, gel pens, Distress Crayons, or another suitable colouring medium.

-Word sticker (optional) – I used the #blessed sticker from the Fall Market Element Sticker Sheet by Carta Bella

-Various dimensional flowers, leaves, and (optionally) vine/branch embellishment – for the branch, I used Leaf Spray 460867 from Recollections

-Wooden snowflake embellishments (or use one of the alternatives suggested above)

-Various colour coordinated ribbons and/or seam bindings or other trims of choice

-Dimensional foam, pop dots, or similar to elevate some of your layers

-Adhesive, such as a tape runner, of your choice (I often use my Scotch Tape Glider)

Other ways to use candles in your Imbolc papercraft projects

The snowy sky is the limit when it comes to ways of using candles in your Imbolc projects.

Some other ideas would be to use papers featuring candle prints (images of the sun would be a great fit as well), stamp and colour candles on your project, adhere actual mini candles to your projects (such as birthday candles or chiam candles), use melted wax or melted wax crayons, create 3D candle-shaped projects, or use a candle themed stencil or embossing folder on your makes.

In general, themes of light, warmth, hope, prosperity, cleansing, renewal, fertility, love, comfort, strength, and renewal are natural fits for Imbolc.

Candles can help convey these messages and are a beautiful, classic symbol both of this sabbat and of wintertime itself (which, let’s face it, isn’t budging for many of us until at least March or April).

Bright blessings of Imbolc from my heart to yours!

Project share

Pin the image below – or any other in this post – to Pinterest, pop it into your Instagram Stories, post in on Twitter or Facebook, or share it anywhere else you wish to help yourself find it again and to inspire others at the same time.

If you make a project based on or inspired by this Imbolc tag – or want to share any of your other handmade crafts with me – please use the hashtags #WitchcraftedLife and #WitchcraftedLifeMakes on social media so that I can see your beautiful creations.

The post Lit from Within Candle Tag for Imbolc appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

Frequently observed on February 1^st, Imbolc is a traditional Gaelic festival which celebrates and honours the start of spring.

While in many parts of the world snowy weather is still out in full force and an event that gets the ball rolling on the coming season may seem a tad premature in early February, that is all the more reason why mid-winter is an excellent time for Imbolc.

Imbolc’s ancient past

In connection with Beltane, Lammas/Lughnasadh, and Samhain, Imbolc (or Imbolg, as it is also spelled) is one of the four Gaelic festivals that were observed throughout the British Isles by the ancients.

It is believed that the goddess Brigid was strongly connected to Imbolc, which is further evidenced by the fact that as Christianity spread across the area, Imbolc was reworked by the early church to become Saint Brigid’s Day.

If observed on February 1^st, Imbolc is immediately followed the next day by the Christian holy day of Candlemas (the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ) and by, on the same date, the more secular observance of Groundhog Day. 

While some of us might enjoy the good-natured fun of Punxsutawney Phil, the Christian observance of Candlemas is not something a great many contemporary Pagans and witches observe.

Yet Imbolc itself is a day to celebrate and give thanks for the longer hours of daylight that are gradually returning to our world.

This point is one of the first signs that spring isn’t quite as far away as the present icicle covered weather may have us believe.

Newness is an overriding theme at Imbolc. It relates to the lambing season, to the first stirrings of spring, to the prospect of brighter days ahead, and to making the most of the blessings of mid-winter.

Fertility, vitality, reunification, growth, optimism, fresh starts, hope, abundance, comfort, caring, light and love (including that expressed through the rejoining of the god and goddess at Imbolc) are just some of the themes and meanings that people have long imbued Imbolc with and derived from its happening alike.

These are all excellent points for the modern observer of Imbolc to incorporate into their magickal workings, spiritual practices, and daily lives.

Why is Imbolc associated with dairy foods?

Imbolc is deeply connected to themes of hearth, home and livestock. While far fewer of us today raise our own sheep, goats, and cows for dairy production, the connection to the calving season and to the historical significance that the return of spring had on the diets and daily lives of many earlier peoples ties dairy products to Imbolc.

Further, dairy was often a key source of vitamin D, something that the diminished sunlight fails to deliver in potent enough quantities to those living in more northerly parts of the world, including Ireland and Scotland, during the colder half of the year.

Thus dairy, which contains this vital vitamin, was one way to help to maintain healthy levels of vitamin D until spring and summer returned.

The modern dairy industry

To go even slightly in-depth into the workings, practises and atrocities of the modern dairy world is beyond the scope or intended key focus on this post.

It warrants mentioning, however, that the ways in which milk is generally obtained from cows, how the calves that are produced to trigger (or sustain) the production of cow’s milk are treated/dealt with, and what problems can accompany dairy products differs radically in many respects from how small scale milk production was often achieved in centuries past (particularly those before the industrial revolution and widescale shift towards city living).

I am not here, however, to judge or criticize those who opt to eat dairy. We must each make our own dietary and ethical decisions based on a myriad of factors, and this post is not about telling you why you may not want to eat/drink dairy products.

Instead, it suggests alternatives for those who cannot, or do not wish, to consume milk and other animal-derived dairy foods, whatever the reason(s) behind such a decision or dietary requirement.

Why bother with milk alternatives for Imbolc?

Firstly, I should point out that there are, of course, no hard and fast rules that say you “must” consume dairy – or any other specific type of food – for Imbolc. You can eat whatever your heart desires on this beautiful sabbat celebration.

Dairy and dairy alternatives are logical choices for this special day, however. They represent the calving season, as well as the bond between mother and baby (animals and humans alike)

In addition, milk and dairy-free alternative milks are often white or cream coloured, which corresponds with the snowy landscape that is common in many parts of the world in early February, as well as newness, peace, hope, and possibility. All themes that jive marvelously with Imbolc and the promise of spring’s return.

If you cannot, or choose not to, eat dairy, that does not mean that you have to forgo foods that pay homage to the meaning and historical importance of dairy at Imbolc and throughout the coming spring months.

Imbolc is a time for hearty foods that dig into our modern-day winter caches or which represents those held by the ancients.

Rich, filling, stick-to-your-ribs fare is a common theme at this time, as are warming/spicy foods that represent the returning light and increased temperatures of spring.

Although lighter menu options are no less appropriate for Imbolc, as well.

Reasons to choose dairy substitutes for Imbolc

There are numerous reasons why someone may not, or cannot, consume animal-based dairy products.

These include, but are not limited to, the following:

-Medical reasons: Including allergies, lactose intolerance, digestive disorders, and various other serious health issues.

-Religious or cultural reasons.

-Dietary reasons: Whereas some vegetarians (including lacto-vegetarians) will consume dairy products, others, and all vegans and plant-based eaters eschew animal-derived dairy products.

-Ethical reasons: Similar to the entry above, though there are some people who consume certain animal products (for example, meat, fish, or game they’ve hunted themselves) yet do not eat/drink dairy because of their personal views on the modern dairy industry, milk’s potential to cause health issues, or other reasons.

And, again, all vegans and strictly plant-based eaters avoid dairy in any form. Whereas not everyone on a plant-based diet may do so from a purely ethical standpoint (dairy avoidance thus being a by-product of their chosen animal product-free diet, which may be adopted for health, weight management or other reasons), vegans typically refuse to eat/drink any animal products on the grounds of ethical reasons.

-Unavailability of dairy products: Sometimes, a person may not have immediate assess to dairy foods where they live, simply be out of them at home that day, or have a food budget that does not allow for some/all dairy products at present.

-Dislike of dairy: Common as dairy products are, not everyone enjoys eating them, even if they are technically able to do so from health, diet and/or ethical standpoints.

12 plant-based milk alternatives for Imbolc

-Almond milk: For those who are able to eat nuts, specifically almonds, almond milk is a wonderful alternative to dairy milk for Imbolc, especially since nuts and seeds are often associated with this sabbat, housed as it is in the depth winter, when, traditionally, by and large, only foods could last for months on end were available to those in many parts of the world.

As well, almond milk is low in calories (roughly 30 calories per 240 ml of unsweetened almond milk), very low in carbs, and, I’ve personally found, one of the easiest alternatives to substitute for dairy when cooking and, especially, baking.

Magickally speaking, almonds have a rich history around the world and are associated with the element of Air, quite a few different gods and goddesses, and on the magickal working front abundance, psychic abilities, luck, love, banishing, fertility, hope, healing, prosperity, and clarity.

-Cashew milk: Someone of a newcomer on the mainstream alternative milk scene. It is generally creamy, somewhat earthy flavoured, fairly interchangeable with almond milk, low in calories (some brands are as low as 25 calories per cup) and carbs, and great, I find, for sweet and savoury dishes (especially those involving sauces, Asian and tropical flavours).

Cashews are linked magickally with love, communication, prosperity, career, travel, adventure, and stability.

-Coconut milk: A stable of many household cupboards, both in the homes of animal product eaters and non-animal product eaters alike. Commercially prepared coconut milk and its associated products, such as coconut cream, have become fairly easy to find in some parts of the world over the past couple of decades in particular.

Coconut milk is lovely, creamy, versatile, and a good alternative for those who cannot eat, or dislike the taste of, nut milks. It is, however, more caloric on a cup per cup basis than most other dairy milk alternatives, with pure coconut milk averaging around 230 calories per cup.

In addition to coconut milk and cream, coconut oil can be a great choice for Imbolc, used in place of dairy fats, such as butter or ghee.

Magickally, coconuts are linked with water magick, the moon and lunar magick, purification, travel, happiness, protection, summertime, and revitalization.

-Hemp milk: An increasingly popular alternative to dairy milk, hemp milk (which averages about 80 – 90 calories per cup) is a good source of plant-derived protein and while it does come from the same type of plant that produces marijuana, drinking hemp milk will not cause one to get high as it contains only trace amounts of THC.

Hemp has been a vital crop in various parts of the world for thousands of years, its fibres being used for everything from rope to paper, wicks to clothing. Magickally, hemp is linked to many of the same things that pot itself is, including grounding, visions, happiness, prosperity, peace, serenity, meditation, removing negativity, relaxation, healing, helpfulness, and love.

-Flax Milk: Earthy, mild and pleasant tasting, flaxseed milk is low in calories (25 calories per cup of some brands), low in carbs and fat, and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

On the magickal front, flax seeds are associated with areas such as physic visions and abilities, protection, hearth and home, guarding, protection (especially of babies and children), luck, interpersonal relationships, increasing the accuracy of divination, and weaving things into being/reality.

-Macadamia milk: A gentle, appealing flavoured nut milk, macadamia milk is somewhat higher in calories than almond and cashew milk (50 – 70 calories per cup, on average), but still lower than certain other dairy milk alternatives, such as coconut milk and hazelnut milk, respectively.

Macadamia nuts are connected magickally with areas such as protection, love, friendship, communication, and protection.

-Oat milk: Oat milk is similar in calories to (what is known here in Canada as) 1% milk, at about 130 calories per cup. It has around 2 grams of fibre and 4 grams of protein per cup and is a rising star in the dairy milk alternative field.

While delicious – and terrific in everything from hot cereals to baked goods – it is important to note that oat milk may not be suitable for some people with gluten sensitivities, gluten intolerances, and celiac disease.

Certain brands of oat milk are made from gluten-free oats, however, the risk of cross-contamination with gluten may still be present. In addition, not all celiacs (myself included) are able to eat gluten-free oats. One reason for this is the presence of a protein in oats called avenin which has a similar amino acid structure to that of gluten itself, which some with gluten sensitivities and celiac disease are sensitive to as well. If oats trouble you for any reason, then you’ll naturally want to opt for a different dairy milk alternative instead (I’m partial to almond milk myself).

Oats are a stellar choice from Imbolc from a spiritual and magickal perspective, as they have longstanding ties to the goddess Brigid. Corn dollies, for example, which are sometimes used to represent Brigid or the goddess/feminine divine in general, are a traditional part of Imbolc celebrations. Despite their name, they often created from wheat or oat straw, which makes oat milk an especially apt choice for Imbolc.

In addition, oats are linked to prosperity, abundance, helping to harvest the seeds of your efforts, comfort, the sacred feminine, healing, nurturing, ancestry, support, fortitude, mindfulness, tradition, and both fall and winter.

-Quinoa milk: Quinoa has emerged, over the past decade or so, as a beloved and widely used super grain far outside of its native region of Lake Titicaca. It’s not surprising then quinoa milk would quickly spring into being at a commerical level and enter the dairy milk alternative sense as one of its fastest rising stars.

Quinoa milk has about 70 calories, 2 grams of protein, and 12 grams of carbs per cup. It is taste is generally mild, fairly neutral, a little earthy, a touch nutty, and great in both cooking and baking.

Magickally, quinoa is a handy grain (or grain-based milk) to utilize in magickal workings pertaining to strength, well-being, harmony, wholeness, clarity, serenity, stability, bonding, and abundance.

-Rice milk: Back in the day, when I first started adapting my diet for medical reasons, rice milk was one of the few dairy alternatives that existed in many parts of Canada (soy and almond were the other two biggies at that time). These days, as this list highlights, many other options exist, but rice milk remains popular and for good reason.

Rice milk has about 110 – 120 calories per cup. It is awesome for drinking as is, cooking, and baking; naturally subtly sweet tasting, and produced by a wide range of brands.

You can also easily make your own rice milk at home if you’d like (the blog Simply Vegan has a simple three-ingredient rice milk recipe, for example, if you’d like to give doing so a shot yourself).

Rice is one of the most abundantly eaten grains in the world and it has strong cultural and spiritual ties to, and for, many cultures around the world. Magickally, rice is associated with a number of different areas, including good fortune, love, fertility, wealth and money matter, abundance, tradition, stability, commonsense, stick-to-itness, keeping unwanted spirits at bay, wellness, blessings, mothering and motherly energy, and cleansing.

-Soy milk: Another long-time player on the dairy milk alternative shelf, soy milk is great for adding to warm beverages, drinking on its own, cooking and baking with. It is more caloric than some other milk substitute options, coming in at about 130 – 140 calories per cup. While I do not generally drink soy milk myself, my husband (who also eats a plant-based diet) loves frothing it and adding it to his daily coffee.

In terms of its magickal connections, soy is linked to many things and, much like rice, has been an integral part of many traditional cultures and diets, particularly in Asia, for thousands of years. Use soy in your magickal workings when you’re focusing on areas such as psychic abilities and awareness, protection, strength, balance, unity, creativity, newness, spiritual health and wellness, being flexible, and grounding.

In recent decades, we’ve seen an explosion in the number of non-dairy substitutes and alternatives hitting supermarket and health food store shelves in many parts of the world.

As well, more and more people are appreciating the cultural significance that non-dairy milks and the foods made from them have long had in the traditional diets of scores of different cultures.

If you wish to make your own dairy milk alternatives, recipes abound online and in various cookbooks nowadays that can help novice and veteran cooks like create healthy dairy-free milks at home themselves.

The act of doing so can be a wonderful way to incorporate further kitchen and hearth/cottage witchery into your Imbolc celebration.

It is also a terrific activity to get kids (and non-Pagan household members, too) who are old enough to help out involved with.

Of course, store-bought or farmer’s market sourced versions are great choices, too, and it is by no means essential that one creates their own non-dairy milk alternatives for Imbolc.

In addition to drinkable liquid forms of dairy substitutes and alternatives, there is an ever-increasing number of foods such as cheese, butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, yogurt, sour cream, mayonnaise, condensed milk, whipped topping, and eggnog available nowadays.

Such products can make for great options at Imbolc, either as standalone foods or to be used as ingredients in recipes for this festive Pagan occasion.

Other foods that are associated with Imbolc (and that make great Imbolc menu options)

In addition to dairy, and as we’ve discussed in this post, dairy-free milk alternatives, numerous other foods have both long-standing and more contemporary connections to Imbolc.

Many represent what was available to earlier peoples at this time of the year, long before the modern, life-changing invention of things such as refrigeration, global food transportation, and supermarkets were mainstays of most peoples’ lives in the industrialized world.

Some other tasty, meaningful options for Imbolc include:

-Bread: Especially breads with Irish (including Irish soda bread), Scottish, British or otherwise Northern European roots, those made with traditional recipes, and options that include one or more of the other foods listed in this post.

-Pancakes and crepes: The shape and colour (light golden brown) of pancakes and crepes represents the returning sun. Plus, both pancakes and crepes can include other foods on this list, such as dairy/dairy alternatives, eggs, oats, dried fruits, preserved fruits, warm spices, or certain root vegetables (carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc).

–Oats: Harvested in the golden sunshine of late summer and early autumn, oats, when properly stored, can keep well for many months.

Their connection both to the warmer months that we’re eager to usher into our lives again, as well as the traditional diet of the Scottish people, plus their pale, creamy colour and nutritiously rich composition make oats (as well as foods such as oatcakes) a natural fit for Imbolc.

Enjoy oats in oatmeal and porridge, cookies, muffins, crackers, breads, as a coating for other foods, cakes, smoothies, granola and muesli, crumble toppings for fruit dishes, dumplings, and numerous other recipes.

-Root vegetables: Onions, potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, garlic, beets, turnips, carrots, parsnips and other vegetables that, when properly stored, helped many of our ancestors to survive the long winter months when food stores and sources were often scarce and the threat of starvation could be a frighteningly real possibility.

-Preserved fruits and vegetables: Canned, tinned, frozen – you name it! Now is the time to put those tasty warm weather produce items that you preserved or purchased to good use.

-Dried and dehydrated fruits: From raisins to apricots, currants to dates, dried fruits are another food that tends to hold up well during the long months of winter. Their sweetness suits the optimism of Imbolc and their culinary abilities make them a tasty standalone treat or addition to other dishes spanning rice puddings to salads to baked apples.

-Dried legumes and pulses: Again, another traditional form of food preservation that helped generations past to endure the fresh food shortages of the cold half of the year. Lentils, especially yellow and orange varieties are a beautiful – and nutritious way – to represent the light, warmth and revitalized energy that we welcome back into our lives at Imbolc (chickpeas and hummus do the job there wonderfully as well).

-Rice and pasta: Hearty, versatile, easy to store and keep fresh, as well as often being vegetarian and/or vegan in their natural states (some pastas though, for example, include animal products such as eggs, milk or squid ink), these are wonderful ingredients to combine with dairy or dairy alternatives or enjoy as is at Imbolc.

-Warm spices and hot foods: Think cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, turmeric, curry, cumin, fenugreek, mustard, horseradish, wasabi, chili peppers, cayenne, paprika, lemongrass, and pepper (including white, red and pink peppercorns).

These are ingredients that bring much-needed pizzazz and warmth or heat to dishes, something that is often welcome in the dark heart of winter that Imbolc calls home.

Again, these are awesome options to help impart kitchen magick into your dishes and have the added bonus of often residing already in a witch’s herbal collection.

-Saffron: By far one of the most vibrantly golden yellow naturally foods that we can eat, saffron is a brilliant – albeit, somewhat pricey – option to include in your Imbolc dishes (though a small bit goes a long way, which can cut down on the cost per dish).

From creamy risottos to a silk pasta sauces, saffron – which is harvested from the crocus sativus, or saffron crocus – is a beautiful addition to your Imbolc menu.

-Nuts and seeds: Are you noticing a trend towards foods with long shelf lives, high nutrient content, and versatility?

Nuts and seeds often excel on that front. While the oil content in some does mean that you need to keep an eye on their expiration dates, in general nuts and seeds are hearty and relatively shelf-stable.

Both, but particularly seeds, are a mightly apt representation of the seeds from which countless new plants with soon grow again come springtime.

As well as symbolizing the agricultural process in general, renewal and rebirth, and the germination of new ideas, prospects, hopes and dreams that we can plant and nurture at Imbolc.

-Eggs: If you eat eggs, they are a sound choice for Imbolc dishes (as well as magickal workings and altar setups), as they represent new life, rebirth, faith, hope, and warmth. Their iconic colours of white and yellow also correspond excellently with the hues of both wintertime snow and the returning sunshine of spring.

-Honey: While some people (myself included) tend to think of honey as being associated more with Litha and Lammas, its long shelf life, warm gold and amber colours, health-giving properties, ability to be substituted for refined sugars in many dishes, and ancient history all make honey a natural partner for Imbolc.

Naturally, those who eat animal-product free plant-based or vegan diets, or who are unable to consume honey for medical reasons, will want to bypass its usage.

Interestingly, and excitingly, more “vegan honeys” are hitting the shelves these days.

Much like dairy alternatives, these products generally do not include any actual animal products or by-products and are honeys simply in name. Examples include Vegan Honae and Blenditup Bee Free Vegan Honey.

Additionally, you can make your own vegan “honey” from various commonplace ingredients, including apples, as this YouTube recipe for vegan honey demonstrates.

-Chocolate and cacao products: Store cupboard staples and beloved foods alike for many of us, chocolate and cocoa are terrific choices for Imbolc.

Their sweetness, richness and near-universal appeal make chocolate (both dairy and dairy-free versions) a great choice for the chilly days of Imbolc season, representing the pleasures of bright, warm spring days ahead.

These are just some of the possible culinary options that can help you to celebrate and honour Imbolc.

In addition, various herbs are strongly associated with Imbolc, these include basil, pine, dandelion, lemon verbena, tansy, bay, violet, angelica, blackberry leaves, and jasmine.

Dive into your favourite cookbooks, personal recipe collection, or online recipe sources (Raven and Crone has a lovely list of Imbolc recipes, for example) and let your creative juices flow as you mindfully put together an Imbolc menu – be if for yourself, two people, a group, your coven, or any other gathering – that helps to honour the first of the three springtime sabbats.

Imbolc is more than just what’s on the menu

As much as food can be a key component of our sabbat celebrations (and/or altars and ancestor or spirit ally offerings), there is more to Imbolc, of course.

This chapter of the year invites us to honour Brigid, the sacred feminine/goddess in general, to light a proverbial spark inside ourselves for the changes we wish to create in our lives, to cleanse and refresh ourselves and our homes, to reflect on what the heart of winter means to us, and to prepare for spring’s return.

It encourages us to be patient and remember that even the coldest winter will eventually pass.

Imbolc is an excellent time to lean into hygge, to use the dark nights as times of either peaceful rest or busy productivity, and to begin activity keeping an eye out for the shifts in nature that will facilitate spring’s return.

Whether you involve real dairy, dairy alternatives or neither of these types of food in your Imbolc happenings, this sabbat can be a time of warmth, rekindling, hope, positivity, and joy.

Bust out the candles, light a fire, create a new altar setup, whip up a festive feast or humble, hearty meal and activity look for ways to let your own inner light shine brightly as the current year embraces its second month and all that remains in store for us between now and the end of December.

Blessings of warmth, love, happiness and serenity to you at Imbolc and always, dear friends!

Note: This post is not sponsored in any way. My household purchased all of the food used in the photographs above. These foods are shown for illustrative purposes only.

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