While in most parts of the Western Hemisphere the sunny season is still picking up plenty of steam and will be around for at least a few more weeks, the Summer Solstice marks the point on the calendar after which the days gradually grow darker again for the next six months.

If the Pagan sabbats were light switches, Litha (which, north of the equator, corresponds with the Summer Solstice) would be the one that flicks off the light.

Half a year later, as the chilly season is hitting its stride, Yule, lovingly turns the light back on for us.

Though it can be strange to think of The Winter Solstice/Yule as a time of light and warmth, December plants the earliest seeds for the spring, summer, and autumn ahead – each of which will house its own distinct proportion of daylight.

Litha is a merry, upbeat, and beautiful sabbat. It might not be quite as youthful as Ostara and Beltane, but it is far from advanced in age either.

In the classic archetypical viewpoint that aligns parts of the year with human age cycles, come Litha, the Goddess has reached firmly reached the mother/mature stage of her life and the God his father/mature point as well.

Whereas some view the Summer Solstice/Litha as the start of summertime proper, many others – including no shortage of ancient and traditional cultures – see it instead as the halfway point of summer.

This is why another common and much-loved name for the longest day of the year is Midsummer.

The Summer Solstice occurs on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, this time around and is, scientifically speaking, the astronomical first day of summer.

I do not have a dog in the proverbial fight regarding whether one wishes to view Litha as the start, middle, or really, any other point of summer.

One’s feelings on the matter often pertain to things such as the weather patterns in their area, their spiritual path, and, in some instances, their profession.

For example, most teachers and professor sI have spoken to over the years about this topic views the Summer Solstice as the start of summer in their (text)books.

Whereas those who hold jobs that see them spending most or all of their working hours outdoors tend to land more in the Litha as Midsummer camp.

The bigger picture is what matters more and that is in observing, honouring, and celebrating the shifting seasons, (north of the equator) the hottest slice of the calendar, and the longest day of the entire year.

As a number of you have emailed and DMed me asking if this Litha would be the one to house a list of craft projects pertaining to the Summer Solstice, I am more than happy to oblige and bring you just such a selection several days in advance of the next Neopagan sabbat.

The majority of these projects were not actually created with the sole intention of being for Litha. However, each of them – to borrow a great expression from the UK – works a treat on that front and is an ideal match for the balmy days of Midsummer.

Should you be meeting this periodically occurring Solstice/Equinox/Sabbat craft series for the first time or if you would like to revisit prior entries, thus far, you can do so for the following sabbats.

–Ostara

–Beltane

–Mabon

–Yule

In the past, I have discussed many aspects of Litha in posts such as 12 Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice Indoors During Covid-19 and 15 Essential Oils That are Perfect for the Summer Solstice.

If you are new to the concept of Litha or would simply like to read more about this sunny season sabbat, I highly encourage you to check out both of those entries.

In addition, before we hop headfirst into an inspiring selection of 35 wonderful Litha craft ideas, let’s take delve a little further into what Litha is all about.

Is Litha the start or middle of summer?

As touched on above, while astronomically speaking the Summer Solstice is the start of summer, it is up to each person to decide whereabouts on their personal calendar they opt to view as the start of this season.

Living in Canada, where snow has been known to fall during every month of the year and spring has often scarcely begun before it has no choice but to pass the baton to summer, I lean more towards Litha being the start of summer.

And yet… I firmly view the next Pagan holiday – Lammas / Lughnasadh – at the start of August as the inaugural fall time sabbat. Therefore, in a matter of speaking, Litha does become Midsummer by default.

No matter what, it is safe to say that Litha is a sunny, upbeat sabbat with no shortage of reasons to celebrate its return.

Other names for Litha

In addition to the name Litha, the Summer Solstice has long been known by and/or associated with various other special occasions that transpire in the same general time period.

Therefore, amongst others, the Summer Solstice and/or Litha are also known as Vestalia, Alban, Thing-tide, Gathering Day, Sun Blessing, Whit Sunday, St. John’s Day, and Whitsuntide.

Most of these terms are rarely used anymore in the 21st century. However, is useful to know them, all the same should you encounter these alternative Summer Solstice names in the course of reading or otherwise studying history.

And on a similar note, Litha is classified as being one of the four “Lesser Sabbats” (aka, “Low Holidays” or “Low Sabbats”).

Lesser sabbats are cross-quarter festivals that occur between the four “Greater Sabbats” of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas (with the other three Lesser Sabbats being those that also correspond with a solstice or equinox; thusly, Ostara, Mabon, and Yule, respectively).

Litha correspondences, Litha symbols, and Litha meanings

Broadly speaking, by this stage in the year the growing season – both wild and guided by humans – is well underway.

Many baby animals have been born in recent months and plenty still will come into the world between now and early autumn.

Though some crops have already been harvested or are on the cusp of being gathered, plenty of others are still hard at work growing to the best of their abilities.

They will be plucked, sorted, and sent to market at the tail end of summer and straight on into the golden days of fall.

Litha is a time to relax and savour nature, all that you have accomplished since last Yule/Winter Solstice, and to let the sun’s radiant light shine brightly on the plans, goals, and dreams that you may hope to achieve between now and the shortest day of the year in December.

Some of the most popular and beloved Litha correspondences and Litha symbols include the following:

-Litha symbols: The sun, sun wheels, sundials, fire including balefires and bonfires, torches, cauldrons, swords and daggers, athames, spirals, spinning wheels, candles in Litha colours, the Goddess in her mother/mature phase, the God in his father/mature phase, faeries and other wee folk, phoenixes, merfolk, the moon (as the Summer Solstice corresponds with the start of the astrological season of Cancer, which is ruled by the moon), stars, cleansing waters, sacred wells, seashells, feathers, and a wide array of flowers.

-Litha colours: Red, fuchsia, coral, salmon, peach, orange, yellow, gold, green, aquamarine, turquoise, vibrant blues and purples, tan, woody browns, gold, brass, bronze, silver, and white.

-Litha animals: Birds, butterflies, moths, dragonflies, fireflies, bees, ants, horses, cows, buffalo, wolves, bears, deer, lions, cougars/mountain lions, lizards, snakes, marine animals, and bats.

-Litha crystals and stones (amonst others): Sunstone, yellow apatite, citrine, pyrite, yellow fluorite, honey calcite, yellow topaz, amber, clear quartz, rose quartz, jasper, diamond, ruby (July’s birthstone), tiger’s eye, rhodonite, peridot, jade, malachite, aventurine, blue lace agate, ruby tourmaline, red beryl, carnelian, howlite, opal, and moonstone.

-Litha metals: Gold (including rose gold), brass, bronze, silver, and platinum.

-Litha foods: Fresh fruits (including berries, melons, and stone fruits, fresh vegetables (such as lettuce, tomatoes, corn, radishes, green and yellow beans, zucchini, and peas), potato salad, edible flowers and wild greens, dandelions, olives, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, limes, bread, cookies/biscuits, graham crackers, oatcakes, pies, pastries, cakes and cupcakes/fairy cakes, mead, ale, wine, ice tea, mint tea, lemonade, limeade, orange juice, grapefruit juice, fruit punch, milk (including non-dairy milks), sun tea, butter, cheese, cream and whipped cream, eggs, meringues, custards, frozen desserts (including ice cream), marshmallows, honey, honey cakes, olive oil, sunflower seeds, sunflower seed butter, popcorn, corn based foods such as tortillas, saffron, chives, lavender, mint, lemon balm, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, paprika, chili powder, chili flakes, seafood, poultry, grilled foods, and spring water.

-Litha herbs and other plants: Lemon balm, heather, mint (all types), basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, bay leaves, dill, sage, fennel, chicory, purslane, lavender, orange blossom, rue, yarrow, borage, summer savory, tansy leaves, lemongrass, elderflower, mugwort, vervain, lotus, roses, jasmine, honeysuckle, meadowsweet, calendula, red and white clover, dandelion, marigolds, chamomile, mistletoe, St. John’s Wart, moss, ferns, hemp, and flax.

-Litha flowers: Roses, marigolds, daisies, honeysuckle, wisteria, peonies, dahlias, lilies, jasmine, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, sunflowers, poppies, and wildflowers.

-Litha trees: Oak, Elder, fruit trees, linden, rowan, holly, Japanese maples, willow, hazel, laurel, and olive trees.

-Litha incense: Citrus fruits, berries, peach, mango, vanilla, sage, rosemary, cedar, pine, honeysuckle, jasmine, rose, lavender, verbena, patchouli, frankincense, myrrh, ylang-ylang, cinnamon, and mint.

Litha oils: See my list of 15 Essential Oils That are Perfect for the Summer Solstice, while also taking your cue from the many entries in this section that are available in essential oil form.

-Litha altar ideas: Draw from the many entries in this section when decorating your altar for Litha.

In particular, you may wish to include representations of the sun and/or moon, sun wheels, spirals, swods/daggers/athames, cauldrons, flowers, oak leaves, mistletoe, (garden) seeds, herbs, seashells, sand, candles in Litha colours, items pertaining to divination, floral garlands or crowns, Litha foods, dried slices of citrus fruit, objects relating to dragons and/or faeries, and crystals that suit Litha especially well.

Litha element: Fire (though all of the elements shine abundantly throughout the Litha season, very much including the element of water which has extremely close ties to the Cancer season).

-Litha planet/celestial object: The sun

-Astrological signs that correspond with the Litha season/Midsummer: Cancer and Leo (Leo season also corresponds with Lammas at the beginning of August).

-Litha goddesses: Alectrona/Electryone, Sol/Sunna/Sunne, Bast/Bastet, Freya, Beiwe, Aine, Flora, Ekhi, Brigit, Étaín/Édaín, Olwen, Aurora, Diana, Eos, Habondia, Persephone, Hepa/Arinna, Selene, Fotuna, Saulė, Amaterasu, Shemesh/Shepesh, Magec, Uelanuhi, Yhi, and Gnowee.

As well as the Goddess/Divine Feminine in her pregnant/motherly form.

-Litha gods: Ra, Sopdu, Inti, Huitzilopochtli, Tonatiuh, Savitr, Pan, Lugh, Apollo, Helios, Surya, Mithras, Belenos, Hathor, and Freyr.

As well as the archetypes/God personifications of the Holly King, the Oak King, and the Greenman.

(Note: These are not exhaustive lists of sun-related deities that would be a natural fit for the Summer Solstice. For a more thorough compilation, check out Wikipedia’s list of Solar Deities.)

As with each sabbat that comprises the modern Neopagan Wheel of The Year, Litha is not without its fair share of meanings and attributes that are closely associated with this poignant annual event.

Some of the most widely acknowledged Litha meanings and attributes include the following:

-Balance

-Harmony

-Abundance

-Revitalization

-Vitality

-Light

-Divine energy

-Youth

-The prime of life

-Advancement

-Divination

-Psychic abilities

-Dreams

-Growth

-Hope

-Prosperity

-Charging (crystals, candles, witches jars, magical tools, card decks, spiritually meaningful jewelry, etc)

-Fertility

-Healing

-Nurturing

-Caregiving

-Self-care and self-love

-Gardening (including faery gardens)

-Art and creativity

-Walking and hiking

-Remembrance

-Equality

-Family

-Nature

-Singing and chanting

-Dancing

-Drumming

-Solar energy

-Fire and fire magick

-The fae

-Dragons

-Harvest

If you are working magick at Litha, the entries above can each be excellent jumping-off points for your spells, rituals, blessings, prayers, ceremonies, and related activities.

35 stellar summer solstice crafts, DIY projects, and home décor ideas for Litha

1. Felt Midsummer Crown: Floral crowns are a timeless way to celebrate the abundance of blooms and greenery that calls the sunny half of the year home.

Fashion a Midsummer crown from felt that will last long after even the heartiest of summer flowers has gone into hibernation once again and enjoy wearing it or displaying it in your home.

Either way, it is a treasure of a creation and one that you will surely look forward to connecting with Summer Solstice after Summer Solstice.

2. How to Make a Pentagram Herb Dryer: Preserve the season’s choicest and most beneficial herbs with this fantastic DIY pentagram hanging herb dryer, which easily doubles as Pagan/witchy decor whether it is in use at the moment or not.

3. Felt Mermaid Dolls: One of my oldest and dearest online friends is a fabulously creative soul who makes the absolute sweetest felt and fabric creations.

I thought of her immediately when I spied this summertime perfect sewing project post that guides you through how to make adorable little felt mermaids.

These cutie pies are fabulous as toys, home decor pieces, party (or wedding) favours, or to give as gifts to all of the landlocked mermaids in your life.

4. Clay Pot Toadstools: Delightfully simple to make, these adorable clay pot toadstools are just the thing to inject a serious hit of whimsy into any garden (very much including faery gardens).

You could also use them as indoor decor, too, and there is no stopping you from including one (or more) of these darling handmade toadstools on your Litha altar.

5. Sun’s Out Crochet Drink Coasters: Celebrate the majesty of summertime sunshine with these vibrant yellow crocheted sun-shaped coasters, which could easily be used for many other purposes as well.

Place them under candle jars, adorn your altar with them, string a row together to make bunting, hang one in the window to honour summer’s warmth – the possibilities are nearly endless!

6. How to Make Cute Washcloth Teddy Bears: Far more adorable than fierce, these precious little washcloth bears are a great way to pay homage to one of the animals most closely linked to Litha/Midsummer (plus they make terrific gifts for baby showers, tea parties, hostesses, and anyone else you think would enjoy a cuddly washcloth teddy bear).

7. Dehydrated Citrus Gardaland DIY: Often associated with the winter holiday season, slices of dried citrus fruit can just as easily and effectively be utilized at other times of the year as well.

Two of my personal favourites are Imbolc and Litha, where, in both instances, glassine-like wheels of dehydrated lemons and oranges do a superb job of representing the sun.

Thankfully, making your own dried citrus fruit is not terribly tricky and once you have whipped up a batch or two, you can put them to work in a wide array of ways. Including, should you wish, this awesome dehydrated citrus garland (that would look amazing drapped across or hung over your Litha altar).

8. How to Make a Beaded Suncatcher: If ever there was a (Northern Hemisphere) sabbat that suited suncatchers to a tee, surely it would be Litha.

A handful of pretty beads, a crystal or charm, clear beading thread, and a key ring (or other suitable ring) are all you need to create your own captivatingly gorgeous suncatcher(s0 that will help you enjoy the season’s vibrant light all the more.

9. Gorgeous Free Dragonfly Cross Stitch Pattern: Soft, summery hues, beautiful blooms, and a trio of dazzling dragonflies combine to make one seriously lovely cross stitch pattern that doesn’t cost you a dime (though you may need to spring for the materials involved).

10. Decorated Mid-Summer Candles: How delightful are these lively patterned and beautifully hued DIY decorated candles?

A cinch to whip up, one need only reach for plain candles and either wax sheets or candle paint are all you need to whip up your own Summer Solstice perfect candles (two other similar candle decorating approaches would be to use melted candle ends or wax crayons in much the same manner).

11. Peach Bellini Sugar Scrub: Few fruits – and this is saying a lot considering how many of them are in their prime during the sunny season – sing with the heart and soul of summer more than peaches.

Having spent much of my youth (and no shortage of my adult years, too) in one of North America’s largest peach-growing regions, I have a particular soft spot for this scrumptious fruit and, in turn, just about anything that is peach-scented.

Should you melt for this lush fruit as well, why not give yourself a peach field pampering session by making a batch of your own peach bellini sugar scrub and putting it to good use in the tub anytime you are in the mood to savour the unmistakably beautiful aroma of this beloved summertime staple.

12. Cardboard Tube Grasshoppers: Despite their ubiquitousness with summer in many corners of the world, it is surprising how infrequently crickets and grasshoppers appear in summertime art, crafts, and home decor.

This sweet, very easy-to-make craft- which is terrific to create with kids – utilizes a humble cardboard tube and some pipe cleaners to make an adorable grasshopper that can you can either have leap around the house or park in one spot all summer long.

13. How to Transfer Photos onto Stones: Pretty much since I have been able to walk, I’ve been collecting little treasures (rocks very much included) from nature wherever I go.

If you do the same or just happen to have some suitable rocks (likely, quite literally) sitting around, why not turn them into impressively lovely works of art by transferring photos onto stones?

And should you happen to be a fellow Pagan/witch, this would be an awesome technique to use when making everything from altar decor to amulets.

14. Cherry Pompom Keychains: While the actual cherry growing season is but a few brief weeks or months in most parts of the world, when you create one of these super fun cherry pompom keychains you can keep the spirit of this delicious summertime classic going strong the whole year through.

15. Salt Dough Sun Plaque: As returning readers of this sabbat craft series may have noticed, salt dough lends itself marvellously to each point that comprises The Wheel of The Year.

In this instance, it is utilized to make an eye-catchingly lovely sun-themed plaque that, if stored correctly, should last you for many years to come (and which makes for a fantastic Litha altar decoration).

And fear not, if -like me – you must avoid gluten or are crafting with/for someone who does, it is entirely possible to make gluten-free salt dough that works every bit as well as the original version in the context of most salt dough crafts.

16. Easy Paper Plate Lemon Slice Bunting: Paper plates are an underrated craft supply item if you ask me. As this stylish DIY lemon slice bunting proves, there is no end in sight to what paper plates can do in the hands of creative individuals (in fact, the website that this tutorial hails from is devoted entirely to paper plate craft – how cool is that!).

17. DIY Underwater Seashell Candles: Many a long year ago, I managed a location of one of Canada’s most popular home goods stores called Stokes. It never failed to delight me as I watched certain items fly off the shelves. Back then (we’re talking roughly twenty years ago now), one such item was jelly candles.

Also known as gel wax candles, these eye-catching candles are fun, versatile, and can easily be made at home with the right supplies.

And while I cannot speak to how well they sell these days, based on the number of tutorials I have seen online for DIY jelly candles over the years, it is safe to say that they continue to have a loyal following.

Should you wish to try your hand at making some gel wax candles during the sunny season, may I suggest this beautiful version that utilizes real sand and seashells to create what surely must be one of the most summertime perfect forms of lighting ever devised!

18. Cute Painted Bottlecap Ladybugs: Those who were alive during and are old enough to remember the 1990s, may well recall the vogue for bottlecap crafts and jewelry that wove its way throughout that decade.

I was instantly reminded of this trend the moment I spied these darling little painted bottlecap ladybugs, which are a cinch to create and turn into magnets, papercrafting embellishments, jewelry, hair accessories, tiered tray decor, and more!

19. How to Make a No-Sew Fairy Doll: There is cute and then there is no-sew fairy doll cute!

Whether you create a single fairy friend or a whole garden’s worth, these delightful little handmade fairy dolls are a fantastic way to celebrate the strong connection between the fae and Midsummer.

20. DIY Sun Wheel Garden Decoration: If you are looking for an eye-catchingly terrific way to celebrate and honour the sun at Litha, this generously sized sun wheel may do the trick superbly.

You could also utilize the same general design approach to make a smaller version, should you wish to display or hang a DIY sunwheel up inside your home instead of outdoors.

21. Strawberry Acorn Magnets: Combine one of the spring + summer’s most beloved fruits with one of the fall’s most iconic natural treasures, stir some craft paint into the equation, and you are well on your way to making a shortcake’s worth of these super sweet little strawberry acorn magnets.

22. DIY Dollar Store Beehive Candleholder: Which sabbats (or months of the year, if you do not observe the Pagan sabbats) do you associate most closely with bees? For me, I would say that August takes top billing, but June and July are certainly close on its heels.

Bees are by far one of the hardest working members of the animal kingdom and their diligent activities have long helped to ensure plants and flowers the world over have been able flourish.

Shining the (tiny) spotlight on bees at Litha is a wonderful way to celebrate the natural world during the Summer Solstice season.

This darling DIY beehive candleholder is a great way to do just that without breaking the bank – meaning you’ll have more leftover in your pocket to pick up some delicious artisan honey at your local farmer’s market.

23. Lavendar Shower Steamers without Citric Acid: The shower time equivalent to bath bombs, shower steamers are surprisingly easy to make, infuse your wash with dreamily pretty aromas, and also make for fab handmade gifts (especially for those who have a shower stall, but not a bathtub at their residence).

This wonderfully in-depth tutorial guides you through how you can make lavender shower streamers that utilize one of the season’s most iconic and beloved plants. Plus, you can also use the same general recipe to make other types of essential oil-infused shower steamers as well.

24. DIY Pompom Watermelon Wreath: If you’re keen to whip up a bevy of your own pompoms and are a fan of watermelon-themed decor, this super charming wreath may be just the thing to jazz up any door or wall in your home summer after summer.

25. Citrus Stamped Tea Towels: I don’t know about you, but personally I can never have too many linens on hand in the kitchen and adore – as many people do – rotating seasonal ones throughout the year.

This delightful and very easy DIY project turns lemons into stamps and creates chic, beautiful tea towels that are works of art unto themselves.

26. Sea Glass Wind Chimes: Whether you are fortunate to live near the ocean or daydream about doing so, these awesome DIY sea glass wind chimes are a creative, beautiful way to bring one of the (modern) beach’s most resplendent treasures into your indoor or outdoor decor.

27. Herb Candle Rings (or Mini Wreaths): Gather up one or more of your favourite Midsummer herbs, a small embroidery hoop or wreath base, some thread, and a pair of scissors, then set to work creating this timelessly lovely Litha herb candle ring that makes for a fantastic altar decoration or way to imbue a sense of the season all the more into a centrepiece.

28. Maple Seed Dragonflies: When I was growing up, one of the houses that my family lived in for a few years had a magnificent, multi-decade old maple tree in the centre of its small front yard. My siblings and I enjoyed connecting with this tree in various capacities the whole year through, one of which was deftly twirling maple seed pods between our fingers to launch them into the air as “helicopters”.

To this day, anytime I spy maple seed pods on the ground, I think of the many hours spent engaged in this sweet, simple, entirely free outdoor activity as a child.

Now, as an adult, I love looking for ways to utilize maple pods in my crafting and home decor (and have been known to still send a helicopter or two up into the sky every now and then ).

If you or any of the little ones in your life enjoy doing the same, these elegant maple seed dragonflies are such an attractive way to do just that while honouring one of the season’s most adored insects in the process.

29. Sunflower Kissing Balls: Though they are most commonly associated with Christmas, kissing balls can just as easily be enjoyed throughout the rest of the year as well.

This delightful version sees them rendered in (faux) sunflower form for a piece of home decor that is bright, seasonally perfect, and sure to be a fun talking point when you have summertime guests over.

30. DIY Lavendar Stars: Fresh stalks from one of the most universally enjoyed plants and some slender ribbon are all you need to create these thoroughly beautiful lavender stars (which Pagans/Wiccans/witches may opt to see and use as summertime pentagrams).

31. Oyster Shell DIY Candles: Humans have been using shells as vessels for light-emitting products (such as oil and tallow) for thousands of years.

This fabulous contemporary project utilizes oyster shells as the containers for hand-poured candles that tap into the spirit of the sea, mermaids, tropical getaways and so much of what makes the ocean perpetually easy to adore.

32. Cherry Pie Food Amigurumi Crochet Free Pattern: There is no need to heat up the house further during the summer in order to bake a cherry pie when you can bust out the crochet hooks instead and whip up this adorable amigurumi version that does indeed look good enough to eat!

33. How To Make A Burlap Horse Head Wreath: Like countless others throughout the course of time, I absolutely LOVE horses and just about any craft, piece of art, or home decor item starring them.

I was not one of those lucky youngsters who had a horse or was given riding lessons (heck, I barely got a My Little Pony ), but I was fortunate all the same to engage with horses on a few occasions while I was growing up.

Horses – much like their farmyard companions, cows – are closely associated with Litha/Midsummer, and I can think of few more beautiful or creative ways to honour this majestic creature come the Summer Solstice than by making and proudly displaying this stunning burlap horse head wreath.

34. Quilted Strawberry Coasters: Keep furniture surfaces protected from the inevitable condensation that stems from refreshingly cold summertime beverages by sewing up a set of these sweet, charmingly lovely quilted strawberry coasters.

35. Air Dry Clay Sun Disks: Fun fact, air dry clay is one of my favourite mediums to work in. It is extremely versatile, readily available both online and off, does not require a kiln (or even an oven), and can be used to create countless types of handmade craft and decor projects.

Plus, IMO, it is a very user-friendly material that need not intimidate newcomers and which is also a great product to use when crafting with kids.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice by putting air dry clay to work in this cheerful DIY sun disk project that creates artistic pieces which can be used and enjoyed all sunny season long (and/or anytime you wish to focus on solar energy or solar deities).

PS: These lists of Solstice/Equinox/Pagan sabbat craft ideas and decor inspiration posts do not contain recipes. One day, I would like to launch a similar multiopart series that puts the spotlight on recipes that suit each of these special days to a tee as well.

In the meantime, though, I recently came across this gorgeous recipe for Lemon Pine Drizzle Loaf from Scottish blogger Rosie from Everything Looks Rosie that struck me as being endlessly perfect for Litha and so I just knew that I needed to include it here. (The general concept of this lovely loaf cake can be rendered in other iterations, too, such as gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and low carb, should you need/desire to forgo wheat flour and/or animal products.)

Ditto for her elegantly delicious Lavender Creme Brule, which would be a sublime way to cap off any spring or summertime meal.

Litha: the longest day and the shortest night

It is easy to focus on the fact that the Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and in the process forget that as a result this sacred day also houses the shortest night.

These two points, which will reverse order come Yule (and which are, in fact, doing just that right now south of the equator, where many Pagans/Wiccans/witches in that hemisphere will soon opt to observe Yule), are unique to this day and this day alone each year.

It will be some time before we start to see a major decline in the number of daylight hours that illuminate our lives. When that point comes, we know that summer is getting ready to bow out and give autumn its due place in the eternal parade of the seasons.

I find there is a heightened sense of energy and vitality that emerges at the Summer Solstice – as though the universe is working overtime to charge our internal batteries which are often severely depleted by the colder months.

When I think of summer, I recall my youth and the sense of freedom that the dog days housed. Not just from school (which, bullying and a few teachers who will remain unnamed aside, I generally adored), but from the weight of winter’s chill as well.

Long hours of daylight meant afternoons that spilled into evenings spent at the beach, the water at the lake vying with that of a warm bath.

Night swimming – as the REM song of the same name states – “deserves a quiet night” and while the evenings were not always silent by any means, the noises that comprised their soundtrack only helped to cement the memory of backstroking under the moonlight.

Summer can be a challenging season, no two ways about it, but there is also endless reasons to fall all the more in love with it each year as well.

This season all but begs us to use each of our senses to the best of their abilities. There are brilliant sights, enchanting textures (from warm sand to the ticklish fuzz of a peach, gooey roasted marshmallows to lanky blades of grass beneath our bare feet), incredible scents and tastes, and no shortage of memorable sounds.

Think water splashing, warm evening breezes rustling through picturesquely green leaves, crickets serenading us with their nightly choir performances, squawking seagulls, fresh peapods being crisply snapped open, travelling fun fair rides operating late into the night, upbeat voices floating through the sunny sky, kids ringing bicycle bells, line-dried linens flapping merrily in the breeze, the iconic song of the much-welcome ice cream truck, and the unmistakable slip-slop of sunscreen being rubbed on one’s skin to name a but a few.

The crafts and décor ideas above tap into these sensory delights of summertime as well, reminding us even in the moment itself of the pleasures, gifts, and blessings of the growing season. Of vitality, hope, and – with any luck – at least three or more months until the first snowflake comes tumbling down again.

My birthday falls almost precisely between Litha and Lammas, and so both of those sabbats are all the dearer to my heart.

Naturally, you need not have a “cake day” during this period of the year to adore the Summer Solstice/Litha.

As with each rotation of the year’s mighty wheel these wonderful days, those that lie ahead of them, and the comfort that comes from knowing that no matter what life throws our ways, the seasons remain a steadfast constant, are there to be celebrated by one and all.

Springtime proper arrived mighty late here this time around and it remains anyone’s guess as to how long summer plans to set up shop.

No matter the duration, summer will propel us onward to autumn, the heart of harvest time, and all the tantalizing joys of the year’s next chapter.

Right here and now, though, there are summer fruits to be topped with lashings of pillowy whipped cream, games of frisbee to be played, concerts in the park to attend, and a whole slew of new sun-baked memories to be made throughout the coming summer months.

Happiest Summer Solstice and Litha wishes to each of you, my dear friends!

Let us all raise a glass of our favourite perfectly chilled beverage to that fact and to all that makes summer so unforgettably wonderful!

Are you planning to celebrate Midsummer this year? Which of the Litha/Summer Solstice projects featured in this post would you most like to try your hand at making?

The post 35 Stellar Summer Solstice Crafts, DIY Projects, and Décor Ideas for Litha appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

However, that doesn’t mean that I am not a huge admirer of many people and their wonderful work.

In terms of authors who write about Pagan/witchery/earth-based spirituality topics, high up on that list ranks Maia Toll.

For more than a decade now, my husband and I have run a free new book email notification service called AnyNewBooks.com that we founded back in 2010. (It generates important income for us via sponsors and affiliate programs.)

Virtually every week since then, a not-insignificant portion of my working hours have been spent compiling the lists of new books that we email out to subscribers (at present, we send out more than 300,000 emails per month).

The lists that we pull our selections from come via Amazon (US) and in the eleven going on twelve years since we launched Any New Books?, I have had the pleasure of seeing many thousands of new book releases each year.

Naturally, I keep a keen eye out for titles pertaining to my many diverse interests – those relating to my spirituality very much included.

I knew the moment, back in 2018, when I first caught sight of author Maia Toll’s inaugural book, The Illustrated Herbiary, that this was not your run-of-the-mill title.

Shortly thereafter, I was able to purchase a copy and it took a mere few lines in to have my suspicions confirmed.

From the tremendously lovely illustrations by artist Kate O’Hara to the deck of oracle cards included at the back of the book to the personable, inviting, knowledgeable way the author wrote, I was hooked.

And based on the roughly 1,800 reviews (nearly all of which are glowingly positive) that this book currently has on Amazon as of March 2022, it is safe to say that many others instantly fell in love with Maia’s warm, wonderful writing as well.

In the time since The Illustrated Herbiary was released, Maia has penned three more books.

The Illustrated Bestiary, The Illustrated Crystallary, and, most recently, Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion.

In addition, larger-sized decks of the oracle cards included at the back of each of Maia’s books are also available for sale. They are printed on sturdier paper than those that come with her books, so if you plan to use one or more of Maia’s decks quite often, you may wish to invest in those high-quality decks. Which are as follows:

–The Illustrated Herbiary Oracle Cards: 36-Card Deck of Bewitching Botanicals

–The Illustrated Bestiary Oracle Cards: 36-Card Deck of Inspiring Animals

–The Illustrated Crystallary Oracle Cards: 36-Card Deck of Magical Gems & Minerals

Plus, you can now purchase images from some of Maia’s work in puzzle form as well (as a big jigsaw puzzle fan, you can imagine how much my eyes lit up when I heard about that!).

If you or someone in your life adores jigsaw puzzles, you’ll want to check out the following three offerings based on Maia’s books.

–The Illustrated Herbiary Puzzle: California Poppy

–The Illustrated Bestiary Puzzle: Monarch Butterfly

–The Illustrated Crystallary Puzzle: Garden Quartz

As 2021 began to wind down, I was contacted by a publishing rep and asked if I would be interested in reviewing Maia’s latest book.

Already a big fan of her earlier works (of which, thus far, I own two – The Illustrated Herbiary and The Illustrated Beastiary, respectively), I was honoured by the offer and replied with a very resounding, “Yes, please!”.

In addition, I suggested that I interview Maia by email and then weave that chat into my book review blog posts. Happily, it was then their turn to respond enthusiastically.

Before delving into the coven’s worth of questions that I asked Maia, I am going to provide you with my thoughts on her most recent release, Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion.

Please note that while I was provided with a complimentary copy of that book and three decks of Maia’s oracle cards (visible in many of the photos throughout this post), all thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own and would not differ in any way, had I purchased those items myself.

Book specs:

Name: Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion: A Guided Journey into the Mystical Rhythms of the Natural World, Season by Season

Author: Maia Toll – Connect with Maia on her website | Instagram |Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Page count: 192 pages

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Binding: Hardcover

A passionate look at the year as viewed from a nature and spirituality-based standpoint

Let me begin by saying that, while the content housed within the pages of Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion is bound to find favour with many witches, Wiccans, Pagans, and the like around the globe, it is an inclusive title that can be enjoyed by those from a wide array of spiritual paths.

As many of my blog posts attest to, I have immeasurable love of, and appreciation for, each of the eight Pagan sabbats that comprise The Wheel of the Year (TWOTY) – just as I do, the year’s annual seasons.

I literally get giddy as a new season approaches, no matter which one it is! And by the same token, often feel a touch of melancholy as we bid farewell to a departing chapter of the year.

Since early childhood (years before I would first officially encounter the concept of TWOTY), I have felt as though each of the four seasons was more like two smaller seasons combined under the same header.

In some respects, I even viewed each individual month as a mini-season unto itself.

I am not alone in seeing and feeling that the year naturally divides itself into each roughly equal chapters: Early Winter, Late Winter, Early Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, and Late Fall.

You can well imagine then how delighted I was to see that in the Wild Wisdom Companion, Maia opted to present us with a look at a full year laid out in that very format.

Across the 192 pages of this gorgeously illustrated hardcover book (which was released in 2021), the author guides readers through the natural rhythms and cycles of the year.

She begins each chapter in an endearingly charming and whimsically creative way: by presenting us with a fictional conversation between the Sun and the Earth.

Each chat we are privy to presents a touching picture of how these two mighty celestial forces interact and the timeless dance that they enact so that life as we know it on this planet is able to continue onward.

I wholeheartedly loved this element of the book, just as I did many other things about the Wild Wisdom Companion.

In addition to the delightful imaginary conversations mentioned above, each chapter leads us through other factors that are presented for the year’s eight seasons.

These include an Element, an energy centre in the body, a plant medicine, an animal medicine (the presence of that term instantly reminded me of the book Spirit Animal Guides in which author Chris Luttichau uses very similar terminology), a crystal medicine, and three different seasonal symbols.

While some of the selections for each of these entries feel like a very natural fit, others are wonderfully unexpected. They help to prove a fun, fresh take on various plants, animals, mythical figures and so forth that are linked to each season.

In addition, beautiful quotes from other people are peppered throughout this book as well.

Though you might easily think that it would, the Wild Wisdom Companion does not specifically focus on the Pagan sabbats that comprise TWOTY.

However, the dividing points at which Maia has chosen to portion out the year do essentially correspond with each of the eight annual sabbats (those being Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, and Yule).

No doubt some readers will wish that there was more of a sabbat focus here. Yet, by not placing the sabbats in the spotlight Wild Wisdom Companion is able to become just that – a welcome companion – to a far broader spectrum of readers.

Instead of the sabbats, the year’s two Solstices and two Equinoxes are explored. These are astronomically determined points on the calendar that the whole planet experiences and thus they are an integral component of the human experience.

In her lovely introduction to this book, Maia states: “Wild wisdom is feeling in accord with the hawk flying overhead; it’s feeling sisterhood with the willows; it’s knowing that the stones are millennia older than humans and have much to teach about the passage of time. Wild wisdom is the sense of being in sync with the world around you, so much so that you feel safe and at home in your own skin. It’s a feeling we’re all looking for but very few achieve.”

She goes on to elaborate regarding ways to find or connect all the more with your own innate wild wisdom before sharing with us how she broke down the year into eight different segments, presenting that information as it applies to both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

In addition, Maia begins her year – when divided into eight parts – in Late Autumn.

A good many witches/Wiccans/Pagans feel that doing so aligns with their personal beliefs and their connection to nature (they don’t call Samhain the witch’s new year for nothing!), so that was a very welcome change of pace to observe in this book.

Throughout each season, Maia invites readers to journal and/or deeply contemplate their connection to some of the topics she addresses, as well as in regards to the seasons themselves.

If journaling is not your cup of tea (and it is 100% okay if that is the case), I feel that one can easily reflect on these topics in other ways, too.

For example during meditation, while sitting peacefully in nature, as part of spellwork, under the light of the moon or sun, or in just about any other way that feels right to you and your own path.

The Wild Wisdom Companion begins in late autumn, guides readers through an insightful, highly relatable walk through the seasons, and culminates with Early Autumn. Thus beginning the eternal cycle over again.

In fact, as you get to the final pages of this terrific book, Maia poses the question, “What if you stay right here and begin it again?”.

In doing so, she both invites and reminds of us the cyclical patterns of the seasons and the important place they hold in each of our lives.

It is a call to embrace the shifting seasonal tides all the more and to grow closer, in doing so, to Mother Earth herself.

Having experienced a whole year in a matter of hours or days (or longer), depending on the pace at which one reads this book, we are treated to the marvellous gift of a lovely deck of square-shaped oracle cards + one suggested spread for working with those cards.

Each of the double-sided cards corresponds with one of the various medicines or symbols that Maia presented us with throughout the Wild Wisdom Companion.

If one opts to work with those cards (and I highly suggest that you do, they are thoroughly lovely), this continuance between themes presented in the book and on the cards themselves is a great way unto itself to grow ever-closer to the seasons.

How Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion rates with me

This book weaves together powerful elements from each of Maia’s previous titles and opens us even more of her wisdom for us to learn from and, potentially, feel a sense of kinship with.

I knew back in 2018 when I read Maia Toll’s first book that she was a radiant beam of new light in the field of nature spirituality-based writing.

Four years on, I can tell you with unflinching certainty that not only has that light grown stronger, but it has helped to illuminate the paths of many thousands upon thousands of readers around the planet in the process.

I adore each of Maia’s books and card decks, returning to them time and time again throughout the year.

However, I must say that the Wild Wisdom Companion is my very favourite of Toll’s works to date.

I highly recommend this book to those both inside and out of the Pagan/witchy realm (and cannot help but feel that it is a title that many gardeners, nature lovers, and animal fans would delight in reading).

Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion is a well-written, intuitively presented, and extremely approachable look at the year and ways we can tap (all the more) into our own innate, incredible wild wisdom.

Working on a scale of 1 – 5, with five being the highest possible rating, I would give Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion 5 stars out of 5.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

An interview with educator, best-selling author, herbalist, and all-around lovely person, Maia Toll

Thank you with the deepest of appreciation, Maia, for sharing your time and knowledge with Witchcrafted Life’s readers. I sincerely appreciate it and cannot begin to tell you how much joy getting this opportunity to chat one-on-one with you means to me.

1. Welcome, Maia! It is a heartfelt joy and honour to chat with you regarding your latest book release – Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion – and Paganism in general. For those who are being introduced to you here today for the first time, could you please share a few points about yourself and where your passions lay most strongly at present?

Hi Everyone! I’m an author fascinated by the ways in which we can connect and learn from the natural world. Exploring the mystic has been a passion for me since I was quite young—for most of my life, I’ve been asking why are we here? And how can I be comfortable in this human skin?

These questions led me to an apprenticeship with a clinical herbalist and green witch in Ireland. That experience has informed who I have become in the time since. Like Autumn, I feel like there’s a deep bond between creativity and spirituality, so that’s a place from which I often dive into this work.

2. Wild Wisdom Companion is your fourth book to date. Is being a book author something that you long felt pulled towards becoming or did the desire and opportunity to do so develop more organically in recent years?

I have been writing since I was a kid. My first story was about a unicorn who got stuck in a bottle. I was eleven. As an adult, I would often joke that I was a writer without a story; I loved the process of writing—the peeling back of layers and the playing with words—but I didn’t have anything in particular to write about.

I had also made a rule for myself (I’m a Capricorn rising—creating, and then struggling against, rules is part of my nature) that I wouldn’t write a book unless I was bringing something new, and never before seen, to readers. It took a long while for me to get over myself and start sharing the way I see the world, even if I’m not the very first person to put those thoughts to paper.

3. What have you found to be the most rewarding and, conversely, most challenging aspects of being a highly successful author – and do you have any advice for those seeking to become first time authors in our sphere of Paganism/herbology/witchery and the like?

One of my personal goals when I started getting published was to meet other authors. Authors tend to be creative, thoughtful, widely read, and self-motivated, which is how I prefer my humans. I have two pods of authors I gather with regularly. Those get-togethers are key for my sanity, perspective, and general joie de vivre. Finding my people is one of the greatest rewards of this career path.

Just like any job, there is a myriad of challenges. Most of them are small obstacles, easily overcome. I try to get creative with the larger hurdles. Currently, I’m chewing on the way books are categorized. I believe that connection with the natural world, and the seasonal living it inspires, as well as exploring the mystical side of life are essential elements for being a whole human.

This way of looking at life nurtures creativity and helps you understand how to get through life’s rough patches. It’s much more universal than niche categories like “occult,” where I am often shelved, suggest. But which category should we highlight? Self-help? Nature writing? Spirituality?

It is an ongoing frustration that my books are shelved in a way that may keep people who would enjoy and benefit from them from finding them. And, truthfully, no matter what my opinion is, once the bookstores receive the books, they shelve them wherever they want, so my ruminations are rather pointless.

For first time authors, my number one piece of advice is write. Do the work, don’t just think about doing it. Writing, like most everything else in life, is a practice. The only way to get proficient is to put pen to paper. Once you’ve moved beyond thinking about writing to actually writing, remember that you’re writing for someone else to read. Who is your reader and what’s useful for them? What do you want them to know, feel, and do? Everything from subject matter to individual sentence structure should be crafted with the reader in mind.

4. Wild Wisdom Companion is a beautiful, eloquently penned ode to the timeless magic(k) of the seasons. I am an unwavering fan of all of your books and the wonderful sets of oracle cards they house, but must say, Wild Wisdom Companion is my absolute favourite.

Of these eight segments of the year, are there one or two in particular that you feel a particular connection to and/or affinity for – and is there one chapter of the year that you would describe as your seasonal soul mate? (Autumn is mine. )

The Wild Wisdom Companion is so many people’s favorite and I LOVE that. I’ve learned so much from writing each book and I would hope the newest one is always the favorite—that my growth as an author allows readers to go deeper with each new book.

Like you, autumn has long been my time of year. But a few years back we moved to a house in the woods. Living on some undisturbed acreage has given me a chance to lean into the entire wheel of the year in a fresh way. While I still love autumn, especially the quality of the light in the time between Samhain and winter solstice, I’ve come to adore late winter.

We have trillium, trout lilies, and some funny little ground orchids which pop up before the trees have leafed out. It is such a stunning time—the trees are still bare, letting me see through their branches to the mountains, but the ground is carpeted with leaves hiding little nodding flowers. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

5. What inspired you to write Wild Wisdom Companion? Was it a book you had long envisioned coming into being or one that sprang into being as a natural progression from your three previous titles?

This is a long (and rather tiresome) story! The short version: when I signed a contract for the book that became Wild Wisdom, it wasn’t meant to be a part of the series. Then, because the other books were doing so well, my publisher wanted it to be part of the collection. But the book I had written didn’t fit in. So, I rewrote it. Twice. And it still wasn’t right. By that point, I was exhausted and disheartened. So, I asked myself two questions:

1- If I were starting from zero, instead of trying to rejig an existing manuscript, what would best tie together the previous books? I kept thinking about a conversation with an editor who was not on my team but who was at my publishing house. We were chatting at a little wine and cheese get-together when I visited. She said, “You know, one thing you haven’t covered is time.” That comment stuck with me, and I kept chewing on it.

2- The second thing I asked myself was: what would be easy? I needed easy. I was pretty close to burned out.

A book focused on the wheel of the year was the answer to those two questions. I had been teaching on the wheel of the year for a while, so it wasn’t difficult to gather my notes and lessons and use them as a foundation. The book built up pretty quickly from there and voila! The Wild Wisdom Companion. 

6. What are some points that you feel the general public – and perhaps even some who are new to areas such as Paganism and witchcraft – would benefit from knowing about the Wheel of The Year and the perpetually vital role that it plays in the lives of all creatures great and small who inhabit our planet?

The pattern of the seasons, as they happen in more temperate climes, teaches us so much of what we need to know about the cycles of our own lives. When I’m working on a book and I’m frustrated, I ask myself where I am on the wheel: have I let go of what needs to go (autumn)? Am I gestating (winter)? Understanding where I’m at in my creative cycle lets me know what comes next and how to move forward.

This applies to other aspects of life as well. When I have birthed something new (spring), I know I still need to keep feeding it energy so it will flower (summer). When I’ve suffered a loss (autumn), I realize I might need winter’s hibernation to recover and heal.

Once you find this rhythm in your own life, you can look outward and find it in the lives of the plants, trees, and animals. It is a constant breath: inhaling energy toward you, exhaling energy out.

7. It is safe to say that the world has been through the wringer massively over the past two years due to the global pandemic. In the face of this profound ongoing challenge, what are some things pertaining to nature and/or self-care and spirituality that you feel people can do to help create a better sense of stability and wellness (emotional, physical, spiritual – or all of the above) again?

I wrote The Wild Wisdom Companion during the first tenuous months of the pandemic. Tuning in to the seasons got me through. And it’s still getting me through. Step out the door, feel the air, breathe. Our human world might be disrupted, but everything else is carrying on. Tune into that sensation.

8. How have you personally been faring during these tremendously difficult times? Have you found that they have deepened your connection to the seasons, the plant kingdom, the universe or any other facet of your spiritual journey?

The isolation from other people has been less difficult for me than most. Serendipitously, I moved to the woods a few months before Covid hit. Because I’m writing, I don’t have to go out to work. So, my days are synced to the natural rhythms. I’m getting to know this land, making friends with the trees and the creek, and working on my writing craft. Because this is what I was moving toward before Covid, for me, the inner work of the past couple of years doesn’t feel Covid related.

9. While Wild Wisdom Companion, much like your other titles, is apt to appeal to witches, Wiccans, Pagans and others of our ilk in general, I feel it is a very approachable and inviting book for all those who experience a strong connection to Mother Nature.

Can you please share a few easily doable, potent ways that just about anyone, regardless of their personal beliefs, can create or strengthen their bond with the natural world?

I love a practice that naturalists use called a “sit spot.” It’s simple, really: return to the same spot every day. Sit. Breathe. Observe. Be sure to pay attention to both the big picture stuff and the small stuff—the macro and the micro. Explore how to connect with the world around you. Try having a little dialogue in your head with a dandelion or singing to an oak. Play with what’s possible.

That’s it! Hone your powers of observation and connection.

10. At the time of this interview’s publication, we are sitting between the first two spring sabbats of Imbolc and Ostara. What are some of the key components/lessons/inspirations that you feel this wonderful point in the calendar, as the mighty return of new life and warm sunlight looms near again, can teach or remind us all?

This is a season when the energy is rising. The tiny cotyledons of the plants are reaching upward, sprouting leaves. I try to tap into that rising energy, letting it come up through the soles of my feet. And then I ask myself what do I want to grow? Sometimes I want to grow a feeling—like joy. Sometimes I want to nurture a new way of seeing the world. And sometimes I want to encourage myself to act, to bring something new into being, like a book. Our culture puts a lot of emphasis on this last one, on action. But I think the first two are equally as important.

Also, if you’re reading this and you aren’t comfortable with, or can’t relate to, words like sabbat, Imbolc, or Ostara, just leave the language by the wayside. I do, all the time. I try to think about the seasons in terms of their energetics, what I can feel in my body. In the Wild Wisdom Companion, I don’t us pagan names for the seasons because I don’t often use those words in my life.

The other day someone said Litha and I had to look up what that meant! I always try to choose words that mean something to me personally. So, I do use Samhain and Imbolc because, when I was studying in Ireland, those were the names my teacher used. I celebrated both Samhain and Imbolc with her and so those words have a resonance for me.

11. Your writing, the important messages it conveys, and the support it offers to others are all very special elements that – not unlike the magnificent illustrations from artist Kate O’Hara that are housed in your books and oracle card decks – speak to scores of people around the world.

What sorts of points do you find easiest to connect with your audience over – and are there things you have learned from them since starting your journey as an author that you did not know or (yet) fully appreciate before that point in your life?

In general, book writing happens at a distance. I sit and think and write in my space and then someone reads and reflects in theirs. I’m sure there are places in my books where readers nod along and feel resonant with what I’m saying, and other places where they think no, that’s not how I see it.

As the author, I’m not usually privy to these thoughts. Sometimes I’ll get to have conversations around this sort of thing at live events and, if you had asked me this pre-Covid, I probably would have had specific stories to share. But I have had limited contact for the past two years. I’m looking forward to once again being able to have robust conversations and share, back and forth, in person.

12. Rapid fire style… What are your favourite books that you are currently reading (or have recently read)?

Here’s my current stack:

Matrix by Lauren Groff

The Heroine with 1,001 Faces by Maria Tartar

The Awakened Brain by Lisa Miller

Still Life with Oysters and Lemon by Mark Doty

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Missing Witches: Recovering True Histories of Feminist Magic by Risa Dickens and Amy Torok

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

Three Simple Lines: A Writer’s Pilgrimage into the Heart and Homeland of Haiku by Natalie Goldberg

The one witchy must-read from the last couple years is The Once and Future Witches by Alix Harrow.

And if you’re into herbal medicine, Energetic Herbalism by Kat Maier should definitely be on your bookshelf.

Kim Krans’ The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck has been my go-to deck recently.

Crystals are in bowls and on shelves around my desk. I just reach for whatever my fingers want and hold it for as long as seems necessary. The thinking and analyzing part of my brain got over-used writing The Illustrated Crystallary so I’m in pure, unquestioning, intuition mode.

13. And last, but certainly not least… If you are able to divulge anything on this front, can you please tell us about your next book?

This is perfect timing because I’m just now able to talk about my next project! The Night School will be released August 9, 2022 and I am over-the-moon excited.

It was my first time writing in a narrator’s voice, instead of my own, and it was a blast. The Night School is for anyone who wishes they could go to a school for witches, wizards, or mystics. But it’s not fiction: the book contains the lessons you might learn were you to attend such an esteemed institution.

Thank you again, dear Maia. Not only for chatting with me and my audience, but for the extraordinary insight, care, passion, teachings, and – very aptly – wisdom that you impart to society. The earth is blessed to call you one of its own, and I know that your work will long continue to inspire, help and resonate with countless souls the world over.

Thank you, Autumn!

~*~*~*~*~*~

In closing, I would like to once again thank both Maia and her generous publisher for helping to put the wheels in motion for this blog post’s existence.

I am on the edge of my seat with anticipation regarding the forthcoming release of The Night School and hope, in time, to have the opportunity to review that title here as well.

Have you read Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion? How many seasons/half seasons does it feel most natural for you to divide your year into?

The post Author Interview & Book Review: Maia Toll’s Wild Wisdom Companion by Maia Toll 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.

A dusting of snow, like the most ethereal of glitter, elegantly wafted to the ground. It did not stick around for long, but its presence let all and sundry know that fall’s death knell had rung out across the land.

By mid-November, multiple inches were accumulating. For a while a few gentle reminders of autumn managed to hang on a wee bit longer. True to form for this area (and much of the country, for that matter) though, winter had in fact arrived more than a month before its official start date.

In the Western Hemisphere, that date (the Winter Solstice) falls on Wednesday December 21^st this year.

The Winter Solstice houses the shortest day and longest night of the entire year (these two appear in the reverse order on the Summer Solstice).

For many who opt to follow the Wheel of the Year, the Winter Solstice ushers in not only the beginning of winter itself, but also the Pagan sabbat of Yule.

I would venture to say that, particularly in contemporary times, no other sabbat is more familiar to the broader public sphere than that of Yule.

The words “Yule” and “Yuletide” are to this day still often used somewhat interchangeably with “the holiday season” and “Christmas” – as well as being another name for the Winter Solstice itself.

Case in point, we hear Yule sung about in numerous Christmas songs.

For example, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, in which appears the line, “We wish you the merriest, the merriest, the merriest Yule cheer.”

There is also “Cool Yule” (Louis Armstrong’s version is my personal fave), Deck the Halls (with its classic line, “troll the ancient yuletide carol”), and Cool Yule, to name but three more.

Last year we got in the festive Yule spirit – and put our craft rooms to especially good use – with a roundup of 50 Awesome DIY Yule Decorations and Craft Ideas You Can Make For the Winter Solstice.

This time around, I thought it would be a great idea to help celebrate Yule by putting it at the heart of the latest edition in Witchcrafted Life’s Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate the Pagan sabbats series.

If you are new to this series or haven’t had a chance to check out the other entries that have appeared as part of it so far, you can do so via the following three links.

–10 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Imbolc (post written for the site The Witch of Lupine Hollow, when I was a content contributor there)

–10 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Ostara

–15 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Mabon

Before we hop straight into our meaningful selection of 12 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Yule and the Winter Holiday Season, let’s take a moment to explore the history and significance of Yule itself.

A brief history of Yule

There is something cozy and beautifully timeless about the word Yule. Just as there is regarding the thoughts, memories, and imagery that Yule conjures up for many of people.

Yule does not have as many alternative names as some of the other Pagan sabbats that comprise The Wheel of the Year. That said, it is also known in English by such titles as Yulefest, Yuletide, Yule Time, and Yule Season.

The word Yule itself is a modern take on a handful of similar Old English words, including ġēol (which covered the traditional 12-day festival of Yule) and ġēoli, which indicated the month of Yule.

These words are thought to have even older etymological roots that stretch back to languages such as Old German, Old Norse, Icelandic, Norwegian, and Faroese, as well, possibly, as Old French.

Interestingly, the pedigree of the word Yule is not completely agreed upon and remains a point of interest and friendly debate amongst scholars and linguists alike.

The festival of Yule or the broader season of Yuletide is one that was historically observed by the Germanic peoples, including the Norse.

Yule is thought to trace its roots back to the concept of The Wild Hunt and to the powerful Norse god named Odin.

This god was, and still is for some, known by many different names, including Jólnir. This name translates to “the Yule one” in English.

As well, some of Yule’s roots are most likely planted in the Anglo-Saxon Pagan celebration known as Modranicht (an Old English word that translates to “Night of the Mother’s or “Mother’s Night”). This annual December event was held on or around December 24^th, the day we now assign to Christmas Eve.

Traditionally, Yule was an indigenous winter festival that was observed by a wide range of Germanic peoples. Early Yule celebrations transpired between mid-November and early January.

Even though Yule was subjected to Christianization, which attempted to sway it away from its Pagan roots, many older traditions refused to die out.

Some were revamped, but others appear to have remained fairly true to their pre-Christian origins. For example, the burning of Yule logs, as well as classic Yule goats and Yule boars, plus Yuletime singing.

Written records pertaining to Yule are known to exist dating back to at least the 4^th century CE.

Yule is also discussed in some of the classic Norse Sagas, including the Saga of Hakon the Good (in which is it stated that Yule was traditionally celebrated for three nights from Midwinter – aka, the Winter Solstice – onward).

As with a great deal of the past, the precise origins and elements that comprised early Yule celebrations may never be known in their entirety these days.

What is broadly accepted, however, is that Yule celebrations likely centered on the general time period of Midwinter (again, the Winter Solstice), included feasting and drinking, marked the return of days that would once again start to grow longer, and may have involved various forms of religious activities, such as sacrifice and ancestor veneration – plus that ongoingly popular and beloved classic, the Yule log.

As with the Summer Solstice and both the Spring and Fall Equinoxes, Winter Solstice celebrations were by no means confined to those of Central and Northern Europe.

Early peoples from around the world had long celebrated, honoured, and rejoiced in the shifting of the seasons, as well as the tilting of the earth’s axis that brings about the return of (literal) brighter days.

For example, the ancient Egyptians honoured the return of their sun god, Ra, in December and the same month would play host to the ancient Roman’s well-known celebration of Saturnalia. This revelry and merriment-filled event, which began around December 17^th, lasted for a week and honoured the god Saturn.

The name Midwinter itself is quite interesting, as – just as with Litha/the Summer Solstice’s alternative name, Midsummer – it speaks of a calendar and rhythm to the seasons that is not per se in direct keeping with our current mainstream versions.

Instead, the word Midwinter tells us at that for certain earlier communities, the third week of December (or the general Yule period itself) was not seen as the start of winter, but rather its midway point.

Some people still strive to live in step with these earlier seasonal lines, which add more weight to Imbolc (at the start of February) being viewed as the unofficial start of spring.

This short overview of the history of Yule barely scratches the holly and ivy-covered surface of this ancient wintertime festival. I hope, however, that you found it informative and interesting all the same.

If you are keen to learn more about the history, customs, folklore, and traditions of Yule, I highly suggest checking out the entries listed in my post Your Ultimate Guide to Books About the Pagan Sabbats. This roundup includes numerous titles that either focus solely on Yule or contain a wealth of knowledge about Midwinter.

Some themes and meanings of Yule

For both the ancients and many individuals to this day, Yule is a time to celebrate light and life.

The second half of December might not win any awards for the sunniest or warmest half of the year (north of the equator), but the Winter Solstice does mark the return of longer minutes of precious daily sunlight and that is well worth celebrating.

Hearty, resilient plants such as evergreens, birch, yew, oak, holly, ivy, and mistletoe (many of which have strong connections to the Celts of yore) help us to feel all the more connected to Mother Nature as darkness and frigid temperatures envelop our world.

These plants are amongst those that often manage to hold on and keep growing – or at least not wither and die off for the season entirely – during late fall and early winter. The depth of their verdant hues coupled with their festive connotations make them beloved classics for Pagans/witches and non-Pagans/witches alike.

Honouring light and welcoming longer days (even if we have to wait several more weeks still to really get a sense of this shift towards lengthier periods of daily sunlight) is an integral part of many peoples’ Yule celebration.

Candles, artificial light sources, and warming fires can all help to honour the sun and the invaluable role it has in sustaining life on this planet.

In much the same vein, we warm our bellies and spirits alike by turning to comforting, hearty foods during Yuletide.

Beloved favourites such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, allspice, cardamon, citrus fruits, baked goods of all kinds, root vegetables, a wide array of roasted dishes, sweets, punches, wine, ale, and eggnog are just some of the classic foods that are frequently enjoyed during Yule.

Just as they are for many during the Christmas and New Year season.

For those who follow certain Neopaganism traditions/paths, the archetypical legend of the age-old battle between the Oak King and the Holly King (each of whom is viewed in some traditions as being duel aspects of the male Horned God) is another cornerstone of Yule time celebrations.

Come Midwinter, the Oak King once again bests the Holly King and takes his rightful place on the throne from Yule until Litha/Midsummer. When, at that time, the two duke it out once more. Only that time around, it is the Holly King that comes out victorious for the summer and autumn-filled half of the year.

However, some belief systems see the two winners reversed, thus the Holly King rule supreme from the Winter Solstice onward to Litha.

Either way, these legends/beliefs help to remind us of the cyclical and ever-repeating nature of the seasons. They speak of ancient times when deities were often nature-based and the shifting of the seasons held a powerful magick to it that had not yet been demystified by a greater scientific understanding of the natural world.

In addition to representing the light and dark halves of the year, as well as that of the universe itself – to say nothing of things such as human nature and magickal workings.

It is not uncommon to see representations of either the Oak King or the Holly King appear in winter holiday season art and décor.

When we encounter depictions of the Holly King, he is often portrayed as proto-Santa Claus of sorts. A jolly, bearded fellow who may be wearing flowing robes and earthy, woodland-worthy hues. At times, he is also pictured with a group of eight stags – not unlike St. Nick and his famous team of reindeer.

His sparring partner, the Oak King is more apt to be pictured as the classic Green Man figure, though it is not unheard of for the Oak King to resemble an old-fashion style Kris Kringle as well.

Yule is also when some believe that the Goddess gives birth to the Sun and/or the Sun God. This birth materializes via the end of the darkening half of the year and the start of the lighter, sunnier half.

Midwinter is a time of opposites uniting. We acknowledge and honour both death and life, light and darkness. The past year and the present twelve months that lay beyond the threshold of January 1^st.

Colours associated with Yule overlap, not surprisingly, a good deal with those that have long been linked with Christmastime.

In the colours of Yule, one is greeted with a palette of green, red, burgundy, white, yellow, gold and silver, as well as grey and black.

These represent such things as wintertime itself, snow and ice, the battle between the Holly and Oak Kings, the rebirth of the sun, and the start of the lighter half of the year.

Much as it is for all eight sabbats that comprise The Wheel of the Year, feasting is strongly connected to Yule.

Some Pagans and witches create a Yule meal that shares much in common with a classic Christmas Day feast.

Others may opt for foods that represent their ancestry, their homeland, their particular branch of Paganism/Wicca, or ingredients that pertain to kitchen witchery that they are currently engaged in.

Gathering with loved ones, coziness (not to mention hygge), sharing folklore stories, singing holiday songs, burning Yule logs (or making the edible version of this classic Midwinter tradition), looking ahead to the return of spring, leaving offerings (be it for house spirits, the fae, deities, ancestors, or others), setting up and working with Yule altars, all things candle related, and finding ways to stay warm and well during the winter months are amongst the many different activities that can be enacted at Yule.

I am an ardent believer that you need not break the bank to celebrate Yule – or any holiday, festival, or sabbat or that matter.

After two years of living in a pandemic-filled world – which has also been rocked by countless other tragic events events as well throughout that time – many of us have tightened our purse strings more than ever.

Splashing out for Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year’s, or any other wintertime celebration may not be feasible. (And that is 110% okay!)

Even if we are blessed to have more wiggle room in our budget, we are under no obligation to allocate for the holidays.

The following list of ways to celebrate the Yule season has been handpicked with affordability, spiritual meaning, and enjoyment alike in mind.

12 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Yule and the Winter Holiday Season

1. Collect and record your favourite Yule/holiday season recipes: In this day and age, when it often seems like fifteen versions of every recipe under the sun are at our beck and call 24/7 thanks to the internet, it can be easy to accidentally forget just how wonderful it is to collect + use treasured recipes of our own or those belonging to loved ones.

If you are not already doing so, consider using this Yule season as a great opportunity to start recording your favourite and most important holiday recipes (whether they are used as part of your kitchen witchery or not).

You can do so either in analog (handwritten) or digital form. Passionate writer + paper crafter alike that I am, I favour analog recipe record keeping, but readily see the ease and appeal of doing so on the commuter or a phone/tablet app, too.

If you do not currently have many of your family favourites on hand, contact loved ones to ask for recipes that you believe they may have and will be willing to share with you.

Slipping a simple note into your holiday season greeting cards that is tailored to each person you’re requesting recipes from, such as “Growing up, your gingerbread cookies were one of my favourite elements of the holidays. Would it please be possible for you to share the recipe for them with me?” is often all it takes to receive the recipe in question.

In my experience, relatives will frequently include other favourites, too, and/or pass along memories associated with their recipes or of the holiday season in general.

If you have loved ones who might appreciate a copy of this family holiday recipe book, consider making additional copies to give as future Yule/Hanukkah/Christmas/etc presents.  

2. Decorate a Yule tree: Christmas trees are familiar to many people the world over and are a long-standing, beloved December tradition.

This year, why not decorate a Yule tree instead of, or in tandem with, a Christmas tree?

You can adorn your Yule tree however you please, though you may find it especially fitting to work with themes that relate directly to Yule itself.

This includes such things as candles (never have open flames on a tree; keep candles unlit or opt for LED-powered ones instead), suns, moons, stars, snowflakes, cinnamon sticks, dried citrus fruit, cranberries garlands, popcorn garlands, figures that represent the Oak and/or Holly King(s), poinsettias (always be careful when using real poinsettias, however, as they are very poisonous for cats, dogs, and many other animals), pinecones, Yule goat decorations, religious/spiritual symbols, ornaments with runes on them, crystals, and various animal ornaments such as deer, bears, and wintertime birds.

You could also place a miniature Yule tree on your altar or even turn a larger tree into a seasonal altar of its own – after all, there is nothing that says an altar has to be on a flat surface.

3. Go Wassailing at Yule: Wassailing is the precursor to the act of Christmas carolling, with roots stretching back to pre-Christmas times when some early Europen people would walk through their communities and fields around Midwinter singing, chanting, and hollering as a means to chase away any unwanted spirits that might be lurking there.

Over time, wassailing and the later act of carolling both came to involve going door-to-door singing festive songs.

Traditionally, wassailers and carolers would often be invited in to peoples’ homes or otherwise handed a hot beverage to help keep them warm and buoy their energy levels during a busy night of singing around the town or village.

If doing so under these ongoing pandemic times is something you and your fellow singers feel comfortable with, consider gathering a group of friends, coworkers, relatives, coven mates, etc together to go wassailing around a safe, well-lit part of your own town.

Agree upon a selection of anywhere from around forteen to twenty songs beforehand that you will sing during your wassailing session.

For a multitude of reasons, you may wish to stick with nonsecular holiday songs. However, if everyone involved is genuinely comfortable with it, religious entries are certainly okay as well.

You could also consider picking a selection of holiday/Christmas songs that are now in the public domain (and thus free of possible copywrite issues) and altering the words to create more Pagan/witchy/Yule-focused lyrics instead.

And the especially musically or writerly inclined can also create their own original Yuletide songs as well and share those with the group.

I would suggest a dry run or two at home in the days before your designated night of wassailing, to get a sense of how long your list of songs takes to complete, how everyone feels about it, and to make sure your voices will not run hoarse by the end.

Come the big night, go out early enough that most people are still awake (say, between 6 and 8 pm, for example).

Stroll through the neighbourhood close to homes (it is up to you and your group as to if you are comfortable knocking on doors, especially if you are not looking to receive anything in return for your singing) and let your festive notes dot the chilly winter air like musical snowflakes.

And, naturally, you and your group may want to cap off your evening of lyrical merriment by returning home to a warm mug of the drink (also called) wassail, which was traditionally given to wassailers in the UK.

The wonderful cooking blog Yummy Healthy Easy has an alcohol-free wassail recipe that looks thoroughly delicious.

4. Work with stones and crystals for Yule: Many of us work with stones and crystals the whole year through. I am convinced, however, that crystals are sometimes reached for more often during the sunny months.

This winter, celebrate Yule all the more by integrating crystals that are well-suited to the snowy season into your spiritual/magickal practices.

The following is a selection of crystals and stones that are a good fit for Yule:

-Morganite

-Garnet

-Ruby (small, raw ruby pieces and chips are often considerably easier on the wallet than their polished jewelry industry peers)

-Red tiger eye

-Bloodstone

-Dragonstone

-Citrine

-Goldstone (including green goldstone)

-Pyrite

-Emerald

-Aventurine

-Malachite

-Galena

-Snowflake obsidian

-Black onyx

-Obsidian

-Diamond

-Selenite

-White howlite

-Moonstone

-White chalcedony

-Snow quartz

-White calcite

-Clear quartz

Some ways of working with crystals – be they the ones listed above or otherwise – during the Winter Solstice include placing crystals and stones around your Yule altar, peppering them throughout your festive décor, wearing them or carrying them (in a pocket or in a small pouch around your neck, for example) on you during the holidays, creating a Yule crystal grid, charging your crystals in the light of the Yule night moon, presenting gifts of your favourite Yule crystals and stones to fellow crystal fans, working with Yule crystals in some of your spells, and meditating with your Yule crystals during the holiday season.

5. Create your own Yule wrapping paper, gift tags, and/or greeting cards: While it is possible to buy Yule cards from various sources, including Etsy, if you are so inclined, it can be both wonderfully fun and especially meaningful to create your own Yule gift wrap and cards.

I would suggest starting with a versatile material such as brown mailing paper, butcher’s paper, or rolls of blank newsprint for the wrapping paper.

Stamp, hand draw, or paint desired Yule-themed imagery, such as candles, pentacles, pine boughs, holly leaves and berries, poinsettias, suns and moons, Yule logs, yule goats, or snowflakes. Allow images to dry completely before wrapping gifts.

Carry the same types of themes over to things like gift tags and greeting cards as well. In these two cases, you may have the abilitiy to computer generate and print out Yule sentiments and/or images as well, if that option appeals to you.

Consider using an extra special product or two, such as handmade paper, mulberry paper, metallic cardstock, glitter cardstock, velvet ribbon, festively hued baker’s twine, or winter/Yule themed charms to give your handmade paper crafts even more festive season loveliness.

6. Incorporate a Yule log as part of your Midwinter celebration: If you are fortunate to have a wood-burning fireplace, you can likely opt for the real deal.

If that isn’t the case – or in addition to an actual Yule log – consider making or purchasing a Yule log candle holder.

Here is a handy tutorial on How to Make a Yule Log Candle Holder.

If you are more in the mood for some festive sweet treats, then you may want to give Yule Log Cookies, Yule Log Cupcakes, Ice Cream Yule Log, or a classic Yule Log Cake – also known as a Bûche de Noël – a spin.

For those, like me, who cannot have or do not wish to eat gluten for any reason, here is a scrumptious looking Gluten Free Yule Log Cake recipe.

And, if like me as well, you also need to eat Low FODMAP, allow me to present this stellar Low FODMAP Yule Log Cake.

Those who partake in the Paleo diet are apt to swoon up a storm over this beautiful Paleo Yule Log Cake.

For low carb eaters who partake in dessert, this Keto Yule Log Cake is likely to be a big hit.

For those who do not, or cannot, eat animal products, this Vegan Yule Log Cake looks terrific.

And this recipe for Gluten-Free Vegan Yule Log Cake is just the ticket if animal products and gluten are both no-goes in your kitchen.

7. Reflect on what you are grateful for this year: It is safe to say that 2021 has not been a particularly easy or low stress year for a lot of folks (myself included).

We would be here until at least next Yule if I listed all of the global events that made this such a challenging year.

Instead of doing that, let’s take a few heartfelt, peaceful minutes this festive season to stop and give thanks for those positives, whatever their size or scope, that we were fortunate to encounter in 2021.

Find the good that shines like starlight in dark times, count blessings both known and unknown, and make a point of telling those you appreciate just how truly grateful you are for their presence in your life.

8. Get your home ready for the coming year: Either before, during, or just after the Yule season, if possible, take some time to assess your home and what you could do here and now to spruce it up, declutter, or otherwise improve your living space.

Yule, situated as it is on the precipice of a fresh new year is a superb time to tackle organizational, home repair, cleaning, and, weather permitting, yard work jobs.

Give yourself and, if applicable, those who live with you the gift of a cleaner, more organized home as you head into 2022.

I have been doing this for many years now and find that my autumn/early winter cleaning is generally more important (and larger) than my spring one, as I am especially eager to get our nest in the nicest shape possible as we hunker down inside for the new few snow covered months.

9. Make a Yule (or Christmas) kissing ball: While many of us are familiar with holiday season wreaths and springs of mistletoe suspended from ceilings and doorways, the classic Yule or Christmas kissing ball is less well known.

This centuries old tradition involves making a ball shaped decoration from wintertime greenery (real or artificial) and hanging it up in your home or workplace as a symbol of friendship, peace, respect, love, and blessings to all who encounter it.

You can jazz up your Yule kissing ball with other accoutrements, such as ribbons, tiny ornaments, pinecones, nuts in their shells, dried fruit slices, wintertime berries, cinnamon sticks, whole star anises, or candles (keep candles unlit for safety’s sake or use LED candles if you wish to light them).

Check out this great post on the blog A Pumpkin and a Princess for details on how to make your own DIY Christmas Kissing Ball.

And if making a kissing ball from scratch isn’t in the cards, but you are keen to decorate with one this year, check out Christmas tree farms and lots, nurseries, and florist shops for pre-made versions. Or, skip the real greenery and opt for a lovely little ornament, such as this gorgeous Mistletoe Kissing Ball Ornament by Ganz, instead.

10. Do as little work as possible: Tradition holds in some European cultures (particularly amongst the older Germanic and Icelandic peoples) that one is to undertake as little work as possible during Yule.

Instead, the emphasis is to be on family/friends, celebrating the holiday, and the meanings + messages that Yule holds for each of us personally.

If you are a in position to take things easy and not work (be it for a few hours, a day, or longer), give yourself that gift this festive season.

Consider taking a social media or full-on internet break, only responding to the most urgent or important of phone calls and text messages, and unwinding alongside the serenity of winter.

If you cannot step away from your work entirely, is it possible to carve out a couple of quiet hours one day to engage in peaceful activities that bring tranquility and happiness to your heart?

This can be something as low-key as taking a quiet nature walk through a snowy wood, curling up with a warm blanket and watching your favourite holiday season films, or ordering in dinner to spare yourself the work of cooking that evening.

11. Put together a Yule season playlist: Use your favourite music app or create a YouTube playlist of videos featuring songs that hold particular meaning and/or enjoyment for you during the holiday season.

Or write out your selection and use analog forms of music such as records, cassette tapes, and/or CDs to put together a list that you can assemble and play througout Yuletide.

You could opt for all instrumental and/or soft music or chanting songs. This can be especially lovely to listen to while meditating, engaging in ritual or spell work, as a way to help you unwind during the hectic holiday season, or even as a sleep aid when it is time for bed.

Revisit your festive song selection each December, adding or subtracting from it as desired so that you always have a meaningful Yuletide playlist that you adore at the ready.

12. Give freely in the ways that you can this Yule season: So often we associate the words “giving” and “holiday season” with presents that deliver a one-two punch to our bank accounts.

I am not opposed to giving gifts that you pay for, but I also believe that there is a good deal that some of us can give that costs little to nothing in terms of money.

For example, you can offer someone with young kids two evenings (or weekends, if you’re up for it!) of babysitting. You can make and take homemade treats (preserves, jams, breads, muffins, cookies, dried soup mixes, spice blends, pickles, salsas, etc) to neighbours and loved ones – always checking for food allergies, intolerances, dietary requirements and so forth first.

Some other ideas include:

-Walking someone’s dog for a few days

-Offering to housesit for a long weekend

-Teaching someone the basics of a skill you have mastered

-Hosting a clothing and/or home goods swap party

-Doing a holiday baking exchange with a few people

-Volunteering to foster a shelter/rescue pet

-Inquiring at your local community centre or place of worship if there are any jobs they need done during the winter months

-Shovelling snow for your neighbours (especially if they have medical challenges, are elderly, or otherwise unable to do so themselves)

-Making a quilt or blanket to donate to a local homeless shelter or mission

-Creating wintertime birdseed bells for a gardening or birding enthusiast in your life

-Offering to help someone declutter or do simple DIY jobs around their house

-Scanning and digitalizing a loved one’s printed photos

Or simply ask someone you care about what you could do for them that wouldn’t cost much (or anything), but would be a tremendous help.

Trust me, this gesture often means the world to people and can be every bit as helpful and appreciated – if not more so – than the majority of things you could purchase online or in a shop.

And while you’re at it, strive to get children, grandkids, or other little ones in your life involved with the concept of giving gifts that go beyond store-bought items and instead focus more on their own time and abilities.

I wish you the merriest, the merriest, the merriest Yule cheer!

Like many of us, I have quite the mixed bag of December and early January memories. Some great, some awful, some funny, some sad, some joyful, and plenty that are, well, simply what they are!

Along with a fair number – but certainly not all – of my fellow witches and Pagans, I opt to celebrate both Yule and, in a secular sense, Christmas.

Not unlike Samhain and Halloween, I see them as being akin to two sides of the same (icy cold) coin.

One is intimately woven into the fabric of my spiritual path, the other is laced with a lifetime of memories, traditions, cultural references, treasured activities, festive recipes, and delightful holiday season songs.

Okay, come to think of it, my Yule celebration includes all of those things at this point, too.

However, as a solitary witch, I observe Yule solo, whereas Christmas is shared with my (non-Pagan/witchy) husband and other loved ones.

When possible, I strive to celebrate Yule for at least twelve days. Finding meaningful ways to honour, celebrate, and rejoice in the magick and ancient energy of this potent chapter of the year.

Some traditions, particularly amongst the Norse/Heathens, have long viewed the twelve days of Yule as being mini representations for the twelve months of the year.

I adore this concept and find that it resonates deeply with my own Wheel of The Year focused path.

It was the concept of the twelve days/nights of Yule along with the classic twelve days of Christmas that determined the number of entries included in this very blog post.

I know that this time of the year is not everyone’s cup of wassail. I respect this fact and wholeheartedly understand how and why December can be a highly difficult month for some people.

Just as I do the fact that not everyone wants to be – or can be – as jolly as Santa come the dark, challenging days of December.

However the year’s last month unfolds for you and whatever you choose to celebrate (or not), know that it is my heartfelt wish that you have a safe, meaningful, and, hopefully, positive December.

May the ideas in this post help to inspire your own Yule and winter holiday season happenings, and may you have the very merriest of Yuletide seasons, dear friends!

Which of the twelve budget-friendly Yule ideas above appeals to you the most? What are some of your favourite ways to celebrate the Winter Solstice?

The post 12 Free and Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Yule and the Winter Holiday Season appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

I’m grateful to those who reach out and wish to seek my thoughts on a given subject, and try to reply to as many of the queries I receive as possible.

By far one of the areas that I receive the most questions about is book recommendations.

These inquiries tend, I find, to fall into one of several main topics. Amongst the most common are book recommendations for new witches/Pagans, spellwork, green witchery, kitchen witchery, the history of Paganism (as well as the history of witchcraft), coven work, and the sabbats.

Rare is the week I don’t get at least a few sabbat-related messages. Not all are seeking book recommendations, but a good many are and as a result, I’ve amassed an extensive list of books about the Pagan sabbats.

In a modern-day Neopaganism context, the eight main sabbats that some Pagans, Wiccans, and witches choose to observe are as follows:

Imbolc: On or around February 1^st

Ostara: On or around the Spring Equinox (aka, the Vernal Equinox), which falls between March 19^th and March 21^st

Beltane: On or around May 1^st

Litha: On or around the Summer Solstice, which falls between June 20^th and June 22^nd

Lammas/Lughnasadh: On or around August 1^st

Mabon: On or around the Fall Equinox (aka, the Southward Equinox or September Equinox), which falls between September 21^st and September 24^th

Samhain: On or around October 31^st

Yule: On or around the Winter Solstice, which usually falls on December 21^st or 22^nd

Note that these date ranges are for the Western Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere where the seasons are reversed, many chose to celebrate the opposite sabbat. For example, when it’ is Beltane north of the equator, it is Samhain in the southern half of the world and vice versa.

Depending on a person’s particular spiritual path, they may opt to observe other sacred dates as well, such as those pertaining to a particular branch of Paganism (i.e., Hellenistic Paganism or Slavic Paganism), to the traditions of their geographic location, and/or their ancestry.

And of course, some people do not feel drawn to observing some or all of these (or any other) Pagan sabbats, and that is totally okay as well.

As many witches, Wiccans, and Pagans do celebrate some form of these eight sabbats, however, and they hold a deeply meaningful place in a lot of peoples’ spiritual journeys, it is not surprising that folks are looking for Pagan sabbat book recommendations.

Personally – as you may have deducted if you’ve been following this blog and/or my Instagram account for very long – I madly adore and actively celebrate all eight of the Pagan sabbats that comprise The Wheel of The Year.

This facet of Paganism is integral to my practice and has the added bonus of making the year markedly more enjoyable and exciting for me (as a sabbat transpires roughly once every 6 to 8 weeks throughout each year).

I’m definitely a “sabbat witch”, if you will, and love each of these eight sacred days from the bottom of my heart.

Scores of others do as well and it’s no surprise that new witches, as well as those looking to deepen their knowledge of and/or connection to their spirituality, are keen to learn about the Pagan sabbats.

As I know that for every question on a given subject I receive, no doubt many others out there are thinking the same thing but don’t reach out ask, I’ve decided to start turning some of the questions about witchery and Paganism books that I receive into their own dedicated blog posts.

Not only will this hopefully help those searching for suggestions via Google or social media (including Pinterest), but it will allow me to quickly point people who query me about Pagan sabbat books to this very entry.

While I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that the following list encompasses every single book ever written in English about the Pagan sabbats, it is a rather extensive list of the current books on this subject.

No doubt new ones will come along in the future, and there are plenty of books on broader witchcraft and Pagan related topics that cover the sabbats to varying degrees as well (rare is the Paganism or Witchery 101 book, for example, that doesn’t provide at least a cursory overview of the sabbats).

This post houses a very extensive list and I hope that it will provide new and more experienced witches, Wiccans, and Pagans alike with plenty of appealing and informative reading options.

Pull up a cozy seat, a bevy of your choice, and your Amazon or Book Depository wishlist and let’s delve into exploring a broad range of Pagan sabbat books.

(Note: At the time of writing this post, a small number of these books are slated to be released later in 2021 or in 2022. The majority of titles are, however, in publication already.)

Llewellyn’s eight-book series on each of the sabbats

This series sprang to life in the 2010s and instantly became quite the darling of the Pagan sabbat book scene. These titles are jam-packed with tons of great information and useful ideas for celebrating each of the eight respective witch’s sabbats. And, I find, much like potato chips, it is really hard to stop at (buying) just one of these terrific titles.

Imbolc: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Brigid’s Day 

Ostara: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Spring Equinox 

Beltane: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for May Day 

Midsummer: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Litha

Lughnasadh: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Lammas 

Mabon: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Autumn Equinox 

Samhain: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Halloween 

Yule: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Winter Solstice 

Around/during the start of the 2000s, Llewellyn produced a similar eight-book series on the sabbats as well. It doesn’t look like they are still in publication, but they can be found quite easily on the secondhand market still, including from various used booksellers on Amazon. Here, for example, is a link to the Yule book from this series. 

In addition, various publishers put out annual witchcraft and/or Paganism related yearly almanac style books which are often rich in great information about the sabbats.

In particular, I recommend The Witches’ Almanac, as well as Llewellyn’s Sabbat Almanac (pictured above), The Witches’ Datebook Calendar and The Witches’ Companion, both of which are from Llewellyn as well.

Books covering the whole Wheel of The Year

These titles offer thorough and informative looks at the eight Pagan sabbats that comprise the wheel of the year. Some are beloved classics, others are newer offerings that are sure to become much-adored books in their own right.

A Circle Of Stars: An astrological journey through the lunar and Celtic wheel of the year

From Earth Mother’s Womb Workbook: Simple Earth Centering Practices using the wheel of the year

Once Around The Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year

Rituals of Celebration: Honoring the Seasons of Life through the Wheel of the Year 

Rituals & Sabbats: Sacred Rites and Seasonal Celebrations

Sabbats: A Witch’s Approach to Living the Old Ways 

Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year through Earth-Centered Sustainable Practices

Sacred Earth Celebrations 

Seasons of a Magical Life: A Pagan Path of Living

The Celtic Wheel of the Year: Christian & Pagan Prayers & Practices for Each Turning

The Great Work: Self-Knowledge and Healing Through the Wheel of the Year 

The Hearth Witch’s Year: Rituals, Recipes & Remedies Through the Seasons

The Hedgewitch’s Little Book of Seasonal Magic

The Magical Year: Seasonal Celebrations to Honor Nature’s Ever-Turning Wheel 

The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year  

The Mystical Year: Folklore, Magic and Nature

The Noble Art: From Shadow to Essence Through the Wheel of the Year

The Provenance Press Guide to the Wiccan Year: A Year Round Guide to Spells, Rituals, and Holiday Celebrations 

The Simple Sabbat: Family Friendly Approach to the Eight Pagan Holidays

The Spirited Kitchen: Recipes and Rituals for the Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of The Year: A Beginner’s Guide to Celebrating the Traditional Pagan Festivals of the Seasons

The Wheel of the Year: One Year Workbook and Journal for the Pagan Festivals

(Note: This author, who is currently publishing independently, also has a series of books devoted to each of the individual sabbats. On Amazon, simply search for her name and the sabbat of your choice to find her title on that festive Pagan day.)

The Ultimate Guide to the Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations 

Turn of The Wheel: A Year of Modern Pagan Prayer and Praise 

The Zenned Out Guide to The Wheel of The Year

Wheel of The Year: Living The Magickal Life 

Wicca Wheel of The Year Magic 

Wicca Year of Magic: From the Wheel of the Year to the Cycles of the Moon, Magic for Every Occasion

Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals for Circles, Solitaries & Covens 

(Whose Pathos blog, Raising the Horns, I highly recommend.)

Year of the Witch: Connecting with Nature’s Seasons through Intuitive Magick 

(Ancient Ways: Reclaiming The Pagan Tradition by the same author is a stellar book as well.)

Books on specific Pagan Sabbats

Much like Llewellyn’s eight-part series devoted to each of the sabbats, various other titles have been released over the years that focus on either one specific sabbat or a portion of the sabbats. These are fantastic resources if you’re looking to add to your knowledge of, or be inspired about, certain Pagan sabbats in particular.

A Witch’s Halloween: A Complete Guide to the Magick, Incantations, Recipes, Spells, and Lore 

Beltane: The Ultimate Guide to May Eve and How It’s Celebrated in Wicca, Druidry, and Paganism

Celebrating Autumn Equinox: Customs & Crafts, Recipes & Rituals for Harvest, Sukkot, Mid Autumn Moon, Michaelmas, Eleusinian Mysteries & Other Autumn Holidays

Celebrating Spring Equinox: Customs & Crafts, Recipes & Rituals for Celebrating Easter, Passover, Nowruz, Lady Day, & Other Spring Holidays

Celebrating Summer Solstice: Customs & Crafts, Recipes & Rituals for Midsummer, Kupala, Ligo, San Giovanni & Other Summer Holidays

Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon 

Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Samhain to Ostara 

Celebrating Winter Solstice: Customs and Crafts, Recipes and Rituals for Festivals of Light, Hanukkah, Yule, and Other Midwinter Holidays

Llewellyn’s Little Book of Halloween

(Mickie has a wonderful, informative YouTube channel that is well worth following.)

Llewellyn’s Little Book of Yule

Midsummer: The Ultimate Guide to Litha or the Summer Solstice and How It’s Celebrated in Wicca, Druidry, and Paganism

Ostara: The Ultimate Guide to Spring Equinox and How It’s Celebrated in Wicca, Druidry, and Paganism

Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Christmas

Samhain Traditions: 13 Simple & Affordable Halloween Spells & Rituals for the Witches’ New Year

(This author runs a terrific Pagan/witchy blog called the Penniless Pagan that I highly recommend following.)

The Old Magic of Christmas: Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year

The Sacred Herbs of Beltane

The Sacred Herbs of Samhain

The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest

The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas

This post was last updated with one or more new titles on April 21, 2022

Books are a valuable resource, but don’t stop there!

As awesome as books about a given topic – in this case, the Pagan sabbats – are, it’s important to remember that there are many channels through which to obtain knowledge on a given subject.

In the case of the sabbats, some of these include blogs and websites (as well as social media), spending time in person with fellow Pagans/witches, joining a coven or grove, and through your own ongoing experiences with the Wheel of The Year.

While there are various traditions and important meanings associated with each of the sabbats, observers are free to interpret and experience the Pagan sabbats however they desire.

Learn from books such as those listed above, as well as other resources and experiences, but do not feel that you must follow everything they suggest to the letter.

And by the same token, please, please, please, do not feel obliged to observe each sabbat annually if you do not feel inclined or are, for whatever reason, unable to do so.

You are not a “bad” or “lazy” witch at all if you are not rolling out the proverbial red carpet and throwing yourself into OTT sabbat celebrations eight times a year.

If that is your jam, awesome, if not, equally awesome. There is a ton to be said for simple, meaningful sabbat happenings.

Indeed, I would argue that if a sabbat causes you a great deal of stress, worry, anxiety, or expense, you may want to rethink how you approach these special days. They are meant to be times of deep meaning, personal reflection, spiritual connections, and positivity, not something you dread more than going to the dentist.

As there will no doubt be future books penned about the witch’s sabbats, I will strive to update this blog post periodically with new titles that cross my path.

If you are aware of any Pagan sabbat books that I have not included here yet, please feel free to let me know about them in the comments below or via email.

And on that note, as I adore hearing from my readers, please do not hesitate to send your witchery and Paganism-related questions my way anytime.

Who knows, your query might just be the catalyst for a future blog post here!

Do you observe the Wheel of the Year? And if you do, what Pagan sabbat books are your personal favourites? 🕮

The post Your Ultimate Guide to Books About the Pagan Sabbats appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere who follow the Wheel of the Year, the Pagan sabbat of Beltane is upon us again.

Beltane focuses heavily on concepts pertaining to light (sunlight, bonfires, etc), a thriving growing season, love and passion, new life, embracing the liminal, the realm of the fae, and making the most of the sunny months of late spring, summer, and early autumn that lay ahead.

Beltane – which is generally observed on, or right around, May 1^st – ushers in the month of May and serves as the precise halfway point on the journey to the witch’s New Year of Samhain.

As the Wheel of the Year is reversed between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of the world, south of the equator, Beltane is observed at the end of October (when those in the north are celebrating Halloween and Samhain).

Like its fellow Pagan sabbats, Beltane is a poignant, beautiful annual event with ancient roots and plenty of modern-day observants.

Historically, Beltane was particularly observed in Ireland, Scotland, and elsewhere throughout the UK, and was one of the four primary Gaelic seasonal festivals (with the others being Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh, respectively).

However, it is important to remember that many other cultures (both inside and beyond the borders of Europe) have long standing traditions of celebrating the arrival of spring and/or summertime as well.

The traditional Gaelic celebration of Beltane predates the introduction of Christianity in Europe. As this new religion took hold across much of the European continent, Beltane gradually morphed into the celebration of Mayday.

Fortunately, though, many of the ancient traditions of Beltane lived on in Mayday activities, including dancing around maypoles and lighting bonfires.

(Speaking of maypoles, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fading Year’s recent posts about The Maypole Tradition in Ireland and The May Bush Tradition in Ireland, respectively.)

Interestingly, to the ancient inhabitants of Ireland (and various other parts of the world as well), Beltane was seen as the start of summer, not the midway point of spring.

Today, some modern Pagans, Wiccans and witches view Beltane in the same light, with others opting to celebrate it as the final sabbat of spring.

Interestingly, it is because Beltane historically served as a marker for the start of summer in some areas that one of Litha’s alternative names was, and still is, Midsummer (as, in these traditions, the Summer Solstice in June was/is seen as being part way through the summer season).

Of all the Pagan sabbats, Beltane is arguably the one most closely linked to concepts of (romantic) love, lust, and sexuality. Though, importantly, it is not essential to engage or connect with these themes or archetypes, if they do not resonate with you personally.

For some who follow earth-based paths, Beltane symbols the union (aka, handfasting) of the God and Goddess coming together each spring/summer.

Beltane is a marvellously apt time of the year to shift, or further concentrate, our attention on nature, green magick, herbology, fire and candle magick, seasonal kitchen witchcraft, the wild kingdom (domestic animals very much included), faeries, concepts of union and/or family, folklore and customs, and ways to help create a brighter future for ourselves.

If you’d like to learn more about some of the history, traditions, and foods associated with Beltane, be sure to check out my post 15 Excellent Pantry Staple Foods for Beltane and Their Magickal Properties.

Books about Beltane

Over the years, a handful of books have been written specifically about Beltane.

However, this number is relatively small and a list housing just those Beltane books alone would have but a scant few entries on it.

To flesh out such as list, what I’ve done is to round up a selection of 25 books pertaining to subjects that are especially well suited to Beltane and the sunny months ahead.

The following assortment of books delves into topics such as Celtic mythology, foraging, faery magick, and even witchy cocktails!

A fair number of these books pertain to nature, as the start of May is often one of the most pleasant and enjoyable times of the year to spend outdoors.

I sincerely understand, however, that not everyone is head-over-heels for the great outdoors, is able to safely access nature (be it for health or other reasons), nor lives in an area with a rich natural landscape.

If nature isn’t (or is currently unable to be, for whatever reason), your jam, fear not. There are other Beltane related books on this list that you may connect with instead.

As well, if you do love nature, but aren’t able to engage with it in all the ways you may like, remember that it is sometimes possible to connect with the great outdoors through various methods other than literally going outside.

These include such things as the types of items we include on our altars, working with crystals, magickal correspondences, visualizations, guided meditations, hedgeriding, connecting and working with animal spirit guides, arts and crafts, cooking and eating, stargazing, and by surrounding ourselves with (or wearing) nature-related items.

While some of the following books are, unquestionably, penned from a Pagan/Wiccan/witchcraft focused perspective, many are either more broadly spiritual or have little to no focus on anything pertaining to spirituality.

As such, I hope that both fellow Pagans and witches, as well as many of my other (non-Pagan/witchy) readers will enjoy the 25 Beltane related books showcased in this alphabetically arranged list.

25 books that are wonderfully well-suited to Beltane

Beltane: Rituals, Recipes, & Lore for May Day

Author: Melanie Marquis

Publisher: Llewellyn

From Llewellyn’s popular, informative, and highly enjoyable eight-part Sabbat Essentials series comes this in-depth look at Beltane.

In Beltane: Rituals, Recipes, & Lore for May Day readers are guided through the history of Beltane, as well presented with many different as modern ways to celebrate, honour, and delight in the sabbat that kicks off May and the sunny season ahead.

These include, but are not limited to, Beltane rituals, Beltane recipes, Beltane spells, Beltane correspondences, Beltane prayers, and Beltane divination.

As one of the few books on the market today that focuses solely on Beltane, this is a title you will want to add to your collection (or borrow from the library) if you’re keen to expand your knowledge of Beltane or just want to read up more on this joyful sabbat.

Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon

Author: Ashleen O’Gaea

Publisher: Llewellyn

One of a two-part series of books released in the 2000s by renowned Pagan author Ashleen O’Gaea, Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon delves into the sabbats that comprise the warmer half of the year and presents readers with a plethora of ideas that can be done as solitary witches or in groups, inside or outdoors, with children, and even, in some instances, with non-Pagans.

I love the idea this series. The concept of approaching the sabbats as belonging to either the warm or cold half of the year aligns with my own practices – just as I know it does with those of many of my fellow witches, Wiccans, and Pagans as well.

Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales

Illustrated by: Kate Forrester

Publisher: Chronicle Books

In the instantly engaging pages of Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales one finds sixteen stories that were translated and recorded by 19th and 20th folklorists, all presented alongside marvellous illustrations by Kate Forrester.

As a Gaelic/Celtic festival, Beltane is a superb time to delve into reading about some of Ireland and the UK’s most fascinating and compelling traditional tales of wonder, fantasy, and more than a wee bit of magick!

Crafting with Nature: Simple Creations Using Things You Grow or Gather

Author: Amy Renea

Publisher: Page Street Publishing Co.

If, like me, you are one of those people who always seem to come home from being outdoors with your pockets overflowing with found wild treasures, or who delights in growing plants and herbs to use you in your handmade creations, then this book is sure to strike a chord with you.

Crafting with Nature guides readers through 58 detailed tutorials and 44 quick-and-easy inspiration ideas, all of which utilize found or grown natural products to create a wide array of crafts that are every bit as practical and fun to make as they are beautiful.

Why not take a walk this Beltane, or pop out to your garden, and see what kinds of wildcrafted treasures you can find to make some of the projects in Crafting with Nature?

Cross Stitch for the Earth: 20 Designs to Cherish

Author: Emma Congdon

Publisher: David & Charles

As the (Western Hemisphere) sabbat that falls closest to Earth Day, Beltane is a superb occasion to marry witchery and Paganism all the more with subjects pertaining to the health, preservation, conservation, and future of our planet.

If you’re a fellow cross stitcher, one way you may wish to honour Mother Nature is with your stitchery.

While a cross stitch design is rather unlikely to save the planet unto itself, the important themes and messages conveyed in the 20 different charts housed in Cross Stitch for the Earth are beautiful, poignant reminders of just how vital it is that we act as responsible, loving stewards of our one and only planet.

Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk

Author: Morgan Daimler

Publisher: Moon Books

While, by no means, exclusive to the Emerald Isle, it’s safe to say that Ireland has one of the one of the richest histories in the world when it comes to faeries (fairies).

In Fairies: A Guide to the Celtic Fair Folk, author Morgan Daimler delves deep into the complex relationship between fairies and humans throughout the history of Celtic culture, while also exploring who these otherworldly beings are and how we can actively engage with them in the modern era.

In my opinion, few books are better suited to Beltane than this title, which combines Celtic history and fairies – two points with far-reaching ties to May 1^st – together in one thoroughly engaging read.

(If the subject of fairies resonates with you, I highly recommend checking A New Dictionary of Fairies: A 21^st Century Exploration of Celtic and Related Western European Fairies by the same author.)

Living the Faery Life: A Guide to Connecting with the Magic, Power and Joy of the Enchanted Realm

Author: Kac Young, PhD

Publisher: Mango Media

One of the most recent books on faery magick and spirituality to be released, Living the Faery Life is an enchanting, informative look at the world of the fae as approached through an array of different lenses, such as Paganism, Wicca, and even that of non-believers in faeries.

Many who do believe in the fae, or wish to honour the spiritual significance of the archetypes and history they represent, chose to incorporate working with these magickal beings into Beltane rituals, offerings, alters, spellwork and so forth.

 As such, a book on Faery Magic is an especially apt read as we head into the beating heart of spring and all the wonderous things – both seen and unseen – that it houses.

Nature Art Workshop: Tips, Techniques, and Step-by-Step Projects for Creating Nature Inspired Art

Authors: Allison Hetzell, Mikko Sumulong, Katie Brooks, and Sarah Lorraine Edwards

Publisher: Walter Foster Publishing

In Nature Art Workshop, four wonderfully talented artists show readers how to prepare and create a wide range of hands-on craft projects featuring manmade and natural components.

Amongst the projects in this gorgeous book, one finds Beltane perfect ideas such as a fresh floral crown and flower-adorned candles, as well as how to paint everything from stones to leaves, feathers to shells.

Many of these projects are not only a great fit for Beltane and the other sabbats (and esbats), but for use on one’s altars and in various magickal workings as well.

100 Things to See in the Night Sky: From Plants to Satellites to Meteors and Constellations, Your Guide to Stargazing

Author: Dean Regas

Publisher: Adams Media

As the weather warms up again and nighttime temperatures are apt to be a lot more bearable, venturing outside to explore the evening sky can be an enjoyable and meaningful way to celebrate both Beltane and springtime as a whole.

If you’re keen to search the heavens for exciting new (to you) celestial discoveries, or to better identify what you spy while gazing upwards, 100 Things to See in the Night Sky is here to help.

This terrific field guide provides information on objects – both natural and manmade – that you can see in the sky at night, with or without a telescope. As some stargazing guides are geared towards being used with a telescope, it is a welcome treat to find that many of the entries in this book can be spotted without any special equipment being needed.

Rupert’s Tale: The Wheel of the Year – Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon

Author: Kyrja

Publisher: Schiffer

In this sweet, beautifully illustrated children’s book, a curious little bunny named Rupert sets out to learn why some people are gathering in the woods where he lives to celebrate at certain times of the year. As he does so, Rupert encounters woodland creatures and fairies who help to teach him about The Wheel of the Year.

Rupert’s Tale is a charming book about the sabbats that comprise warmer months and which serves as an excellent introduction (or further connection to) the sabbats for youngsters. Rest assured though, that its lovely premise, delightful illustrations, and Pagan message will appeal to plenty of adults as well.

The Perfect Afternoon Tea Recipe Book: More than 200 Classic Recipes for Every Kind of Traditional Teatime Treat

Authors: Anthony Wild and Carol Pastor

Publisher: Lorenz Books

It could arguably be said no other (non-alcoholic) drink is more closely linked to modern-day witchery than tea. Whether in true tea or tisane form, we witchy souls often gravitate towards teas and many enjoy making their own magickal blends from scratch or further enhance store-bought options.

Couple that point with the return of balmy weather, which often calls for lighter fare than the (sometimes) rich, heavy meals of the colder months, and one cannot help but find themselves in the mood for a tea party.

Now granted, during these challenging ongoing pandemic times, tea parties with lengthy guest lists may not be feasible, but a party can be any size – one person very much included.

Whether with a few loved ones, on your own, or for a much larger group, holding a tea party – or simply treating yourself to a traditional afternoon teatime spread – can be a great joy and a marvellous excuse to indulge in some extra special culinary delights.

If you are on the prowl for an excellent selection of teatime perfect recipes, then the photo-filled gem that is The Perfect Afternoon Tea Recipe Book is sure to be of abundant service and inspiration alike.

The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket

Authors: Marnie Hanel, Jen Stevenson, and Andrea Slonecker

Publisher: Artisan

A bevy of fantastic watercolour illustrations partners up with a charming and very tasty looking selection of outdoor dining recipes in The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration from Basket to Blanket.

In addition to scrumptious picnic menu ideas, this book provides readers with handy tip pertaining to planning a successful outdoor get-together, 99 uses for mason jars, lawn game info, and more – all of which are here to help you have some of the best alfresco dining experiences of your life.

Beltane is a superb time to embrace the picnic lifestyle. Why not pack up a basket or hamper of your favourite seasonal eats (imbued with kitchen witchery if so desired) and connect with nature as you toast to the return of picnic season?

In doing so, you may wish to bring an offering or two to leave for the local spirits or fae of the area where you’re picnicking.

(I should note that if – due to the pandemic or any other reason – outdoor picnics are not possible, you can still embrace the picnic spirit with a festive indoor meal instead. Red gingham tablecloth optional, but definitely a fun touch. )

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year

Editor: Fiona Waters

Publisher: Nosy Crow

There are certain books that are true works of art, Sing a Song of Seasons is one of them.

I own this book and have read it cover to cover multiple times, savouring and finding inspiration in every line of prose and each enchantingly pretty illustration (by artist Frann Preston-Gannon) that is houses.

This hefty tomb combines serene nature centered illustrations with 366 different poems – one for each day of the year (leap year include) – from some of the most gifted poets to ever pen a verse.

While not a Pagan or witchery book, I am delighted to report that the selection of springtime poems in Sing a Song of Seasons suit Beltane to a tee, just as those centred around the other seasons do for the remaining seven sabbats in The Wheel of the Year.

If you want to treat yourself or someone you care about to an instant treasure of an art-meets-poetry book, this stellar title is an ideal choice.

The Art of Edible Flowers: Recipes and Ideas for Floral Salads, Drinks, Desserts, and More

Author: Rebecca Sullivan

Publisher: Kyle Books

At just 80 pages, The Art of Edible Flowers is not a huge book. However, what it may lack in size, this book more than makes up for via the gorgeous photos and diverse, creative edible flower recipes that it contains.

Happily, gardens are often out in full bloom at Beltane and many grocery stores, health food stores, and specialty food stores now sell a selection of edible flowers (if you cannot find any in your area, try contacting a local florist to see if they sell food-grade flowers or know where you can source some from).

With recipes such as Jasmine and Green Tea Ice Cream (yum!) and Artichoke Flower with Borage Butter, this beautiful cookbook is apt to bring out the springtime kitchen witch in all of us!

The Backyard Herbal Apothecary: Effective Medicinal Remedies Using Commonly Found Herbs & Plants

Author: Devon Young

Publisher: Page Street Publishing

From Nitty Gritty Life blog founder Devon Young comes this recently released (2019) look at the diverse and appealing practical world of creating herbal medicinal remedies with common herbs and plants.

These are not rare, exotic, or exceedingly hard to find plants and herbs, but rather ones that can often either be grown at home and/or readily sourced in some natural settings.

Herbal medicine is the original medicine, and it is no surprise that as more and more people embrace traditional approaches to living and healing, we have seen a surge in the popularity of herbalism as of late.

If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge on the subject or widen your repertoire of herbal medicines this spring (or anytime!), then The Backyard Herbal Apothecary is here to help you do the job.

The Book of Candle Magic: Candle Spell Secrets to Change Your Life

Author: Madame Pamita

Publisher: Llewellyn

One of the most prevalent traditions and continuing themes of Beltane is that of light, sunshine, and fire, each of which celebrates the life-giving and sustaining blessing that is the returning spring/summer sunshine (and the harvest season it will ultimately help to bring into being).

As such, Beltane is an especially awesome time to work candle magick.

Enter, The Book of Candle Magic, a 2020 release that is teeming with candle magick related advice and tutorials, including how to make your own candles, how to perform candle readings, and various other ways you can weave candles into your magickal practices.

Whether at Beltane or any other point in the year, candle magick is one the most accessible and (I would personally argue) effective ways forms of witchcraft. As such, it certainly does not hurt to have a great body of knowledge on the subject like this book on hand when performing candle workings.

The Hidden Life of Trees: The Illustrated Edition

Author: Peter Wohlleben

Publisher: Greystone Books

This book is the abridged, photo-filled edition of author Peter Wohlleben’s beloved bestseller, The Hidden Life of Trees.

In The Hidden Life of Trees: The Illustrated Edition, readers are treated to some of this modern science writing classic’s highlights, along with a dreamily gorgeous selection of nature photographs that highlight Wohlleben’s desire to showcase the importance, majesty, interconnected relationships between, and diversity of, trees all the more.

With nature springing to life again, Beltane (and May in general) is an excellent time to not only connect with trees in person, but to deepen our knowledge surrounding these indespensible natural entities that help to sustain life on this planet as we know it.

The New Wildcrafted Cuisine: Exploring the Exotic Gastronomy of Local Terroir

Author: Pascal Baudar

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing

While humans have been trading and bartering with foodstuffs for many thousands of years now, originally, everything we ate as a species was either gathered, caught, or hunted for locally.

The sabbats are an especially well-suited time to look to this important aspect of our collective past and to connect all the more with the foods of our own immediate area.

In The New Wildcrafted Cuisine, wild food researcher Pascal Baudar uses the state of California, where he resides, to highlight a multitude of recipes featuring foods that are indigenous to this area of the world. In doing so, he inspires readers to look to their own backyards (perhaps quite literally in some cases) so as to see what foods and plants grown in their region can likewise be utilized and savoured throughout the year.

The Reason for Flowers: Their History, Culture, Biology, and How They Change Our Lives

Author: Stephen Buchmann

Publisher: Scribner

In the Northern Hemisphere, flowers and Beltane go hand-in-hand in many areas.

Thousands upon thousands of different flowers and flowering plants exist throughout the world. They have an omnipresent role in many of our lives and have served as everything from creative muse to healing medicine for humanity since time immemorial.

However, despite this fact, there is much we do not yet know or fully understand about how flowers function in nature, nor the complete extent to which life on this planet relies on them.

In The Reason for Flowers, pollination ecologist Stephen Buchmann takes on an intriguing, fact filled journey though the world of flowers and some of the many diverse ways that humans have long utilized these crucial natural treasures.

This book is just the ticket if you love flowers, are a gardener, work with flowers in a magickal setting, or simply enjoy a fascinating science-based read.

The Sacred Herbs of Spring: Magical, Healing, and Edible Plants to Celebrate Beltaine

Author: Ellen Evert Hopman

Publisher: Destiny Books

From the author of the much adored The Sacred Herbs of Samhain, comes the equally terrific book, The Sacred Herbs of Spring.

In this title, Ellen Evert Hopman explores not only the subject of Beltane (Beltaine) itself, but also details over 90 different plants and trees that can be harvest and utilized for magickal purposes at Beltane.

As well, readers are treated to instructions on how to perform various rituals that honour the traditional gods and goddesses of spring, in addition to information pertaining to springtime herbs that are useful for everything from working with faeries and elves to embarking on (hedgeriding) journeys to the Otherworld.

The Secret World of Weather: How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal, and Dewdrop

Author: Tristan Gooley

Publisher: The Experiment

These days, if we want to know what sort of mood the weather is likely to be in, many of us turn to an app on our phone or flip on the Weather Network.

Yet, for nearly all of human history, the weather was read, understood, forecasted, and worked with via traditional means and methods involving the natural landscape that people lived. Approaches to, and knowledge of, the weather were passed down generationally and/or within communities and were often vital to the survival of humans, animals, and crops alike.

If you’ve ever had a hankering to better learn how to interpret and understand the weather without the aid of fancy modern devices, then The Secret World of Weather is for you.

Given the often precarious nature of the weather in mid-spring (sunny one moment, torrential rain the next, windy a few minutes later… ), Beltane is a fantastic time to hone your weather reading abilities – as well as to work weather magick.

This book doesn’t focus on the latter, but it will certainly help you with the former and in the process you will likely be able to apply what you learn about reading nature’s signs to help you in your magickal weather workings.

The Skillful Forger: Essential Techniques for Responsible Foraging and Making the Most of Your Wild Edibles

Author: Leda Meredith

Publisher: Roost Books

As the natural world bursts forth with a slew of diverse and often highly delicious crops once more, you may be feeling the urge to forage.

Whether you’re new to this ancient art or have been foraging with the best of them for quite some time already, Leda Meredith’s excellent book, The Skillful Forger, is here to inform and inspire you as you venture forth to gather some of nature’s bounty for your own table (or other uses).

Beyond serving merely as a foraging identification guide, this book places an emphasis on the importance of practicing sustainable harvesting techniques, while also providing advice on how to gather, preserve, and prepare the foraged foods that you collect.

Whether for kitchen witchery, herbology, spellwork, or simply to feed yourself and your loved ones, foraging (of which I am a long-time practitioner myself) can be a beneficial, meaningful, practical, and spiritually rewarding activity.

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: What Birds Are Doing and Why – From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing

Author: David Allen Sibley

Publisher: Random House of Canada

In this delightful exploration of the life and inner workings of the bird kingdom, renowned avian expert David Allen Sibley answers some of the most frequently asked questions about the bird kingdom, covering more than two hundred species in the process.

Not only will you find a plethora of information about birds in What It’s Like to Be a Bird, but you’ll also be treated over 330 different bird illustrations by the author himself.

The natural world is alive and buzzing at Beltane, with birds being one of the most commonly seen and heard animals in our environments. Why not celebrate our winged friends all the more this spring by reading up on what it’s like to live the life of a bird?

Wild Magic: Celtic Folk Traditions for the Solitary Practitioner

Author: Danu Forest

Publisher: Llewellyn

Whether you practice Celtic magick, are yearning to do so, or simply wish to expand your knowledge on the subject, Wild Magic: Celtic Folk Traditions for the Solitary Practitioner is the book for you.

A detailed, fascinating title, this book guides readers on way to approach magick and witchery from a traditional Celtic perspective, delving into such areas as Celtic faerie faith, deepening your connection to the divine in nature, ancestor work, and connecting with the spirits of the land (aka, the genius loci).

In addition, Wild Magic explores areas such as ley lines and dragon lines, spirit paths, spellwork, wildcrafting, and no shortage of folk traditions from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

As a book about Celtic magick, this informative and enchanting title is an ideal reading choice for the traditional Gaelic festival of Beltane.  

WitchCraft Cocktails: 70 Seasonal Drinks Infused with Magic and Ritual

Author: Julia Halina Hadas

Publisher: Adams Media

If you enjoy a good tipple and are keen to weave some potent kitchen witchery into your mixed drinks, then WitchCraft Cocktails – which is bursting with breathtaking food photography – might be just the ticket.

Each of the sabbats is a joyous time in its own right. Arguably, however, some have an inherently lighter and more upbeat note to them.

Beltane leads the pack on that front and is a superb time, if one drinks, to raise a glass to this sacred day – and all the more so if you have imbued your glass with one of the magickal workings laid out in this delightful book.

Joyful Beltane wishes!

Which of these Beltane perfect books leaps out at you?

What are some of your favourite seasonal topics to read about in the spring?

Like many a witchy soul, I lap up books like it’s going out of style and know that I am far from alone on that front. Scores of Pagans, Wiccans, and witches – as well as countless other people around the globe – love reading and expanding their knowledge on an array of different subjects.

I hope that the selection of books highlighted in this post will introduce you to some new titles and give you plenty of inspiration and enjoyment both for Beltane 2021 and many future Maydays to come!

Wishing you a safe, serene, sunny, and splendidly blessed Beltane season, dear friends!

PS: If you are interested in having this list turn into the first in an ongoing series of posts devoted to books that are a great match for each of the eight different Pagan sabbats, please let me know in the comment section below.

The post 25 Books That Are Wonderfully Well-Suited to Beltane appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.

For many witches, Wiccans, and Pagans, the Summer Solstice – also known as Midsummer, though in many modern calendars and cultures alike, it is generally seen as the official start of summer, not the middle of the season – corresponds with the sabbat of Litha.

Because both the Summer Solstice and Litha are inextricably linked to the sun, so they are inherently connected with nature itself.

While certain rules regarding self-isolation are loosening in some parts of the world, and the number of businesses and public locations such as parks and beaches that are once again open is steadily increasing, a good many of us remain in self-isolation this month either by necessity/ordinance or personal choice.

My husband and I have opted to voluntarily continue sheltering at home throughout June, which means that I’ll be celebrating Litha right here on our property.

We’re fortunate to have a lovely little slice of rugged woodland for our backyard. And though it will play an important roll in my Litha celebrations, today I wanted to shine the spotlight on Summer Solstice activities that you can do indoors.

Regardless of the Covid-19 situation, not everyone has a backyard or easy access to a public park, forest, beach, etc..

You may be indoors on the Summer Solstice due to medical reasons, your job, caring for loved ones, personal choice, or an array of other reasons.

And, while for many of us witchy and Pagan folks nature is akin to oxygen for soul, not everyone goes gaga for the great outdoors – which is perfectly okay!

If it’s currently safe for you to do so, and nature is your personal jam, you can certainly involve the outdoor world in your Midsummer celebrations.

However, as the ideas in this post detail, it is entirely possible to celebrate the Summer Solstice without setting foot outside.

When is the Summer Solstice?

The Summer Solstice has a floating date and takes place each year between June 20^th and 22^nd.

This year, the Summer Solstice takes place on Saturday June 20, 2020.

The exact time of this year’s Summer Solstice’s occurrence will be 11:43 UTC, which equates to 2:43 PM PST and 5:43 PM EST, respectively.

This Solstice is one of two times in the year (the other is the Winter Solstice) when one of the Earth’s poles – the North Pole – is titled as closely to the sun as it possibly can be, thus making the South Pole as far as away from the sun as it can be.

This explains why the Summer Solstice is the day with the longest number of daylight minutes.

Hard as it is to believe, from the very next day onward, we gradually start to lose light again.

Thankfully, we won’t start to see or feel the impact of this in too many notable ways until summer starts to wind down and the beautiful season of fall, with its notably shorter hours of daylight, returns.

Are Litha and the Summer Solstice the same thing?

Although they frequently fall on the same day – and plenty of witches and Pagans (myself included) will sometimes use the two terms (as well as Midsummer) interchangeably, technically speaking, Litha and the Summer Solstice are not the same thing.

Well, not entirely at least.

The Summer Solstice is an astrological event involving, as we just discussed above, the day when the North Pole is at the closest point it will be to the sun in the entire year.

Litha is one of many forms of Midsummer festivals or sacred days that have been held to celebrate the Summer Solstice throughout the course of time.

Today, Litha is celebrated by many contemporary witches, Wiccans, and Pagans as a way to honour and work with the longest day of the year.

Though as with each of the eight sabbats that comprise the Wheel of the Year, not all observers of Litha may opt to celebrate it on the exact same date as one another. Thus, for some people, their personal (or group) Litha celebrations may not transpire on the Summer Sabbat itself.

Various individuals and belief systems see Litha as a day that witnesses the eternal battle between light and dark in our annual cycle of life here on this planet (a fight which repeats itself on the Winter Solstice in December).

This is sometimes portrayed as a battle between the Oak King (who rules over the light-filled half of the year) and the Holly King (who has domain over the darker half of the year).

In short, the Summer Solstice refers to the longest day of the year, whereas Litha is a sabbat that corresponds with and is often celebrated on the Solstice, but which does not always transpire for all observers of the sabbat on the exact same day.  

Whereas plenty of people who are not witches or Pagans may choose to observe and possibly honour/work with the Summer Solstice on a spiritual level, relatively few individuals who are not of a witchy, Wiccan or Pagan persuasion are likely to observe this day as the sabbat that is Litha.

And as a fun, relevant fact, in case you were curious, the word “solstice” is an amalgamation of two Latin words. Sol, which means sun, and sistere, which means to stand still.

And just as the ancients looked upon the solstices as times when the sun may have seemed to stay or stand still for a little longer, so too can we opt to hold these days with reverence. Devoting some introspective time to honouring what they mean to the planet and to our own individual lives alike.

12 Ways to Celebrate Litha Indoors During Covid-19 (or anytime!)

The ideas presented below include some that are of a more witchy or Pagan nature, but all are open to anyone, regardless of their personal spiritual path or beliefs who may want to engage in them.

The Solstices are an ingrained part of the year which occur whether we make a point of celebrating them or not.

Observing the Summer and Winter Solstices (as well as the Spring and Fall Equinoxes), however, can be a highly meaningful way for us to feel an even stronger and more poignant connection to the changing seasons and to nature, whether we’re inside or outdoors.

1. While you might not be able to do so on the shores of a beach or heart of the woods, if you have access to a window (and an at least somewhat unobstructed view), you may be able to watch the sun rise on the Summer Solstice.

This seemingly simple act can be one of the most intensely meaningful and memorable. I love to watch the sun rise (and later, set) on Litha, often grounding myself first, practicing mindful breathing throughout, setting intentions, giving thanks, saying Pagan prayers, and sometimes even singing straight from my heart to the rising orb that has sustained life on this planet for millions of years now.

2. Cook, bake or eat foods that correspond with the colour of the sun and its light in their raw state.

Bananas, lemons, apricots, starfruit, mangos, yellow kiwi fruit, golden raspberries, eggs, corn and cornmeal, pancakes, yellow zucchini, yellow potatoes, yams, yellow peppers, chanterelle mushrooms, pineapple, yellow apples, yellow plums, yellow figs, yellow watermelon, yellow cheeses, yellow/golden cakes and cupcakes, honey, many different cooking oils, chamomile tea, mustard, turmeric, and saffron are just some possible – and delicious – yellow food options.

If you practice kitchen witchery, you may wish to select foods whose correspondences align with the overall themes – such as life, bounty, hope, love, fertility, abundance, and manifestation – of Litha/the Summer Solstice.

Just as you want to work kitchen magick while preparing your delicious yellow foods, stirring your intentions, desires, and magickally focused thoughts into your meals.

3. Use the return of summer’s sunlight and warmth as an ideal time to metaphorically burn away negatives in your life.

Much like how we tend to shed layers of clothing as the weather heats up, this point in the year is an ideal time to take stock of your life and actively look for areas that are no longer serving your well, which are holding you back, or that may be hampering you in other ways.

Engage in releasing, banishing, dispelling, grounding, and balancing spellwork and rituals during the season of Litha to help cleanse your life of negatives and better prepare yourself mentally, physically and spiritually for the dark half of the year that lays ahead.

4. Make a new magick wand. Various tools are associated with each of the sabbats. When it comes to Litha, candles, staffs, and wands in particular are closely tied to this sacred summer celebration.

Get creative and make a new wand using items you have on hand or can easily, and safely, access outdoors.

Create your wand in the days leading up to the Summer Solstice and consider consecrating, blessing and charging it with the rising sunlight on the Solstice morning (or at any point that day).

You may wish to create a wand that you use specifically on Litha and during the summer months or one that will be a year-round magickal tool for you.

In either case, utilizing colours (such as yellow, orange, red, green, white, and gold, as well as clear), crystals, and other materials that correspond with Litha and the sun can help to imbue your beautiful new wand with an even deeper connection to the Summer Solstice.

5. Burn candles! Bonfires have been lit at Midsummer since the time of the ancients and remain an important part of many Summer Solstice and Litha celebrations around the world to this day.

If having or attending a bonfire is out of the question this year, turn to the radiant energy, light and beauty of candles instead.

Now, I’m not suggesting, of course, that you gather up ever last candle in the house, place them side-by-side, and have an indoor bonfire. Goodness, NO!!! Please do not do this!!!!!!!

Instead, what I am proposing is that the twinkling flame of one or more candles can be used a meaningful and potentially magickal way of honouring both the sun (+ its warmth and light) and the traditional bonfires of the Summer Solstice.

While not mandatory, if you have some to hand, you may wish to burn candles in solar colours such as yellow, orange, and red that correspond all the more to the sun’s own colours and energy.

You can add further magick and intention to your candles by doing things such as anointing them with various oils/herbs/charged waters, carving sigils or other meaningful symbols or signs in the wax, and charging the candle before using in the sunlight on the Solstice.

As always, be sure to make safety your top priority when working with candles. Never leave them unattended or around curious pets or children. Burn them in appropriate candle holders and have an easily accessible source of water available in case any flames start to get out of control.

6. Make paper oak leaves to honour the Oak King. The mighty oak tree has a long and highly venerated connection with the Summer Solstice, as does the figure of the Oak King, who presides over the waxing half of the year leading up Litha.  

The Oak King is a folkloric representation of the warmer half of the year, which is usurped by the Holly King who in turn rules the waning half of the year until the Winter Solstice.

Fascinatingly, the Celtic name for Oak (“Duir”) means doorway. This is especially apt given that from this point onward, we will technically be entering the dark half of the year, closing the door on the lighter months that lead up to the Summer Solstice.

Whether freehand, tracing the real deal, using a die cutting machine, or with a printable oak leaf template, the Summer Solstice is an excellent opportunity to create a flurry of our own paper (or fabric/cork/felt) oak leaves.

You can use your homemade oak leaves as the paper for spellwork, as home décor, on your altar, create a wreath or wearable crown with them, make garlands out of them, involve them in crystal grids, use them to write down your favourite summer blessings or memories on, as place cards at a Litha meal, and much more! Let your imagination soar and have a delightful time crafting your own handmade oak leaves this summer.

7. Create a sun-filled summertime music playlist. Did you know that there are over two hundred songs in the English language that include the word “sun” (or some variation of sun, such as sunshine or sunny) in their title?

As this list of songs with the word sun in them attests, this is definitely true.

Why not create a playlist of songs that involve the sun and/or other summertime lyrics to pump up your mood, or conversely, to help you relax and unwind, this Litha?

If you’re a fan of dancing, swaying, or singing along to the beat, go all out and let your inner musical spirit soar. Summer is an inherently fun time of the year for many of us and music can help make it all the more so.

8. Honour your inner light. It is anything but a state secret that this year has been incredibly challenging for both the world as a whole and many individuals themselves.

It is completely understandable – and natural – if you’re feeling more drained than a bathtub right about now.

What are some simple, meaningful and enjoyable ways that you can honour your own inner light and allow it to shine all the more, (especially) if it’s been put on the back burner in recent months?

Litha, the longest day of the year is an ideal time to honour and nurture your inner light.

Permit yourself some self-care time, engage in an activity that makes your heart sing, create a list of reasons why you’re amazing, treat yourself to a favourite meal or activity, breath deeply, and know that no matter how dark life may get at times, your own inner sunshine is with you always.

9. Bake and decorate an edible version of Stonehenge. Not only is Stonehenge in the UK strongly connected to both ancient and modern Paganism, but it one of the most visited ancient sites in the world each Summer Solstice.

This year’s festivities have been shelved due to the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a hit of the magick and mystery of this sacred monolithic site into your own Summer Solstice celebration.

Why not try making a lovely gingerbread Stonehenge and (optionally) decorating it with things such as sugared flower petals, chocolate-coated sunflower seeds, sweet herbs and spices, candied citrus peel, and frosting in solar shades of red, orange, or yellow?

You could create your gingerbread Stonehenge as an offering, to use on your Litha altar, to enjoy as part of your Summer Solstice feast, to utilize in spellwork, or for any other reason that you fancy.

This is a fun activity for the whole family. If you have little ones at home, consider getting them involved and sharing some cool facts about Stonehenge and its historical significance as you bake and decorate your impressive Summer Solstice dessert.

10. Integrate a new spiritually meaningful activity into your life. Back in early January, I posted about 12 Ways to Live a More Magickally Focused Year. Now is a terrific time to take a few minutes and assess how you’ve been doing on the daily magick front so far in 2020.

It is also a great point in the year to start (or pick up) a spiritually meaningful activity, habit, or focus that you’ve been wanting to begin or reconnect with.

Let the longest day of the year shine its light on your life to help you see your deepest desires and drives that have yet to be fully addressed.

Which of these can you begin doing something positive about this summer? What skills would you like to learn? What areas of your life may need some TLC?

All of these things are excellent points to give mindful, focused thought and corresponding action to at Litha and straight on into the second half of the year.

11. Put together an energy bag. Select or make a pouch or bag in the size of your choosing out of a sheer, mesh/tulle, or other gossamer type fabric.

If sewing isn’t your – cough, cough – bag, but you want to make one from scratch all the same, I highly suggest checking our Silver Raven Wolf’s excellent tutorial on How to Make a No-Sew Magickal Bag.

You’ll want to fill your energy bag with items that pertain to the vibrancy, warmth, light, joy and sense of thriving life that the sun and summertime give off.

Examples of such items includes the following:

-Small candles in solar colours

-“Fiery” crystals and stones such as sunstone, yellow appetite, pyrite, orange calcite, carnelian, rose and yellow quartz, garnet, yellow aventurine, citrine, tiger’s eye, yellow tourmaline, and aragonite.

-Charms or pieces of jewelry in warm metals such as gold, brass, copper and bronze

-Beads, especially glass and crystal beads, in solar and other summertime colours

-Fresh, dried or artificial flowers (do keep moisture content in mind if using fresh flowers, especially if you wish to keep this energy bag for more than a few days)

-Dried herbs, dried herbs, dried seeds (including sunflower seeds), dried tea leaves, and/or dried or dehydrated summer fruits

-Small vials or other containers of beach sand

-Ethically sourced shells, sea dollars, sea glass, and other small items from oceans or lakes

-Ethically sourced feathers from birds that are especially active or visible during the summer months

-Small vials or other contains of glitter in sunny colours such as yellow, orange, red or gold

-A warm or “fiery” incense blend

-Pieces of dragon’s blood resin

Gather the items you wish to use, place them in your energy bag, charge your bag in the sunlight on Litha, bless or concrete the bag and its contents, and either use the mixture as part of spells workings, as offerings, on your Litha altar, or as a personal source of strength, energy and vitality throughout the summer months.

12. Do something pertaining to genealogy. Trees are one of the first things that I associate with Litha. I adore trees, working with tree spirits and energy, doing tree magick, spending time in the company of trees, you name it!

Save perhaps for small potted trees of the indoor variety, most of us don’t have a lot of branch filled friends under our own roof. One tree that we do have with us at all time, however, is our family tree.

Whether you’re a passionate family genealogist or would be hard pressed to come up with your grandmothers’ maiden surnames off the top of your head, there are activities pertaining to our family trees that nearly all of us can do.

You may wish to research branches of your family tree that you don’t know much about, speak with or even interview living relatives about your family history, frame and display treasured family photographs, create family trees stretching back 3 – 5 generations and give copies to your immediate family members as gifts (this site has over 370 different free family tree templates), record facts about your own life for posterity, or research the history of surnames in your family.

If you are adopted or otherwise do not have much (if any) information about your birth parents or ancestors, you could opt to work with the family tree of your adopted parents, if doing so felt right to you.

Or you could focus more on your own life instead, documenting facts about yourself and putting together a budding new family tree starting with yourself, any biological siblings you may have, and your own children and/or partner(s), if applicable.

You can also use this time to call upon, work with, provide prayers or offerings to, or otherwise engage with your ancestors, whether you know them by name or not. (As I’m very fond of saying, we might not always know our ancestors’ names, but, from the other side of the veil, they know ours.)

Litha and summertime are natural fits for family related activities of all sorts, so don’t be shy about making your nearest and dearest (be they living or departed) an especially meaningful part of the sunny season.

And a few additional ways to celebrate Litha indoors

I had such a blast compiling the twelve ways to celebrate Litha indoors for this post that as I was putting the finished entry together, I felt compelled to share a few more ideas.

These ways to celebrate Litha are not detailed to the same degree as the twelve listed above, as I feel they’re fairly self-explanatory.

Naturally, if you have any questions or would like me to expand on any of them, please do not hesitate to let me know in the comments below.

-If you have a piece of it leftover, burn the remnants of your Yule tree or other natural Yule season greenery (boughs, wreaths, etc). Inside the house, this is often best done in a woodburning stove or fireplace, or a large fire-safe cauldron. (Ensure that you have a working fire extinguisher at the ready.)

-Decorate and actively work with your altar for Litha. I really enjoy adorning my altar for Litha and often do so with fresh or dried flowers, decorations and images of the sun; sand, grass, leaves, various animal figurines, crystals in Litha related colours, and anything else that feels right to me in the moment.

-Do an oracle or tarot card pull or spread for Litha (such as this lovely example of a Litha Tarot Spread).

-Charge your crystals and/or other magickal tools of your choice in the sabbat sunlight to imbue them with the might and majestic energy of the longest day of the year.

-Leave offerings to the fae and/or otherwise work with or honour the faerie folk.

-Plant an indoor herb garden in pots or other suitable containers, ensuring that they’re able to get enough daily sunlight.

-Make a summer themed centerpiece for your Litha dinning table, altar, mantle, dresser, coffee table, or other spot of your choosing. The sky and your imagination are the limit when it comes to what to include.

Some fun ideas include fresh, dried or article flowers and/or leaves, seashells, sea glass, miniature beach toys, beads or charms, springs of lavender or rosemary, small figurines or toy versions of animals that you associate with summer, candles, glass pebbles (available from many craft stores, florist supply shops, dollar stores, and big box stores), small vintage linens or crocheted doilies, items depicting the sun, and fresh or artificial summertime fruits.

-Create a piece of art or another type of craft project that depicts or represents the sun. Bless and imbue it with positive, radiant energy and display it on your altar or elsewhere in your home to enjoy throughout the summer – or all year long, if you fancy.

These are but a few more ideas regarding what to do on Litha and how you can celebrate this beautiful summertime sabbat when you’re indoors.

Naturally, if such is feasible for you at the moment, you can carry out some of the activities listed in this post outdoors or bring your completed projects with you when you go outside.

The Midway Point in The Wheel of The Year

That is precisely what Litha/the Summer Solstice is, and as such, it has a unique advantage of being able to pull from the strength of the earlier sabbats in the year, and to help propel us onto those that still remain.

Many see the next sabbat in the Wheel of the Year, Lammas/Lughnasadh, which transpires in early August, as the first of three harvest festivals and, in some respects, the very earliest start of autumn.

Thus, Litha is the main summer sabbat and its position as such enables us to truly celebrate and honour the present season.

No matter how much we may miss spring or love fall, summer is here and it deserves to be venerated and enjoyed.

Whether you spend the whole day inside, outside, or a combination of both, take time this year to reflect on what the Summer Solstice means to you, your life, and your spiritual journey.

Get creative, give thanks to the sun, have fun, and carve out some time to embrace the warmest season, starting with the Summer Solstice straight on to the third week of September, when we’ll once again say hello to the Fall Equinox.

What are your plans for the Summer Solstice/Litha this year?

The post 12 Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice Indoors During Covid-19 (or Anytime!) appeared first on Witchcrafted Life.