30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 26 Imbolc

For day 26 of our 30 Days of witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge we're talking about Imbolc! Imbolc is a time for renewal, growth and more. Situated halfway between Yule's winter solstice and Ostara's spring equinox, we celebrate this Sabbat on February 2nd.

Held around the world, Imbolc is also known as Candlemas and is a time for recognizing and honoring the awakening of the world in preparation of spring. Imbolc symbolizes the maiden aspect of the crone. Brigid comes high the on the list because the Celts Goddess of  of fire and smithcraft held sway over the bonfire that lit the way for the awakening of the Goddess, ripe with spring to return from the underworld, sleeping until Brigid returns.

It is a seasonal reminder that the animals hibernating in the winter are waking from their slumber. mating to bring the bounty of spring begins. This is our anticipation of spring and the awakening of a dormant words. I've written a small amount more on Imbolc in the past.

Correspondences for this Sabbat

Deities (across all pantheons)

• Brigid
• Aradia
• Aengus Og
• Aphrodite
• Bast
• Ceres
• Cerridwen
• Eros
• 'Faunus
• Gaia
• Hestia
• Pan
• Venus
• Vesta

Colors

• Red
• Light Green
• Silver
• Pink
• Brown
• Yellow

Stones

• Amethyst
• Garnet
• Onyx
• Bloodstone
• Ruby
• Turquoise

Herbs Plants & Spices

• Angelica
• Basil
• Bay Laurel
• Blackberry
• Celandine CAUTION: Poisonous
• Heather
• Iris
• Myrrh
• Tansy
• Violets
• All white or yellow flowers
• Willow trees

Food and Drink

• Pumpkin seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Poppy seed cakes
• Muffins
• Scones
• Breads
• All dairy products
• Peppers
• Onions
• Garlic
• Raisins
• Spiced wines
• Herbal teas
• Chives
• Curries
• Honey
• Lamb

Animals

• Robins
• Sheep
• Lambs
• deer
• badgers
• groundhogs
• phoenix
• dragons
• Other firebirds of legend

Spells

• Cleansing Rituals
• Purification Spells

Ways to celebrate this Sabbat

• Make St. Brigid's Crosses from reeds
• Hold a bonfire.
• Ritual cleansing, especially long baths imbued with herbs or flowers.
• Make and anoint candles.
• Make homemade butter.
• Leave buttered bread out for the faeries.
• Clean your house top to bottom and perform a blessing.
• Knit or crochet a wool scarf or other garment.
• Be sure to burn the invitational holly from Yule at your Imbolc celebration to wish house fairies farewell. If the fairies stay they can cause mischief all year!