Imbolc/Winter Thermstice Altar 2021

This year you may notice some new names for the sabbats as well as some new holiday altars on the blog. Inspired by Alden's book, Year of the Witch, I am trying to rewrite my Wheel of the Year to be more in line with my beliefs and ancestry. The Wheel of the Year is largely a Wiccan construct and was not celebrated in its current form anywhere in the world. This doesn't mean that it's bad, it just means it's difficult for people outside of Europe, Canada, and the Northern United States (which have roughly the same climate being in the same biome and all) and of different ancestry to really connect with it. Furthermore, not all of us connect with the Celts, which is where many of these celebrations originated from, Imbolc included. I am currently writing a blog post that goes into more detail about how I am reconstructing my Wheel of the Year that will delve into this in more detail, so keep an eye out on that post to learn more about my reconstruction.

Imbolc or the Winter Themstice, whose history is sketchy at best, is and was a celebration of light. It marks the midway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, meaning that its exact date of celebration changes each year. Many witches, however, choose to celebrate the Winter Themstice (Imbolc) on February 1st. During this time, sympathetic magic is worked to coax the Sun to return and with Him the return of life on Earth. Candles were lit in mass as a result, bread was baked, and houses were cleaned to prepare for the return of Spring. With these themes in mind, I created a simple, yet effective, Winter Themstice altar.

1. White Candles- Imbolc, the Winter Themstice, or Candlemas is a celebration of sympathetic magic to coax the return of the Sun. The candles on my altar are for just that purpose, to sympathetically call back the Sun and to aid in His return. They also represent the inner flame that burns even during the darkest and coldest of times. Here in Georgia, we are coming to the coldest time of the year, yet life is still found all around us. I picked white candles to represent snow and renewal. There is white sand in the bottom of the lantern to also represent snow. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree 2017 & 2019; Cost: $5)

2. Tangerine Quartz and Green Aventurine- Being a time of hope, rebirth, and the return of the Sun, I decided to go with tangerine quartz and green aventurine on my altar. Tangerine quartz is a mixture of quartz and hematite which results in the rust color seen in the crystal. The union represents the unity of the Sun and Earth who together create life. Furthermore, being orange in color, tangerine quartz is considered a solar crystal, symbolizing the energies of the Sun. Green aventurine represents prosperity, balance, and the return of green sprouts. It is also a potent garden protector, making it the perfect addition to any Imbolc altar that includes seeds. (Where did I get it: Metaphysical Subscription Boxes; Cost: ~$6)

3. Bell- Bells are used for cleansing as well as to 'ring' in your desires. Being a time of spiritual and space cleansing as well as a time to call back the Sun, I felt the bell was the perfect addition to cover both of these aspects of Imbolc.  (Where did I get it: Metaphysical Subscription Boxes; Cost: $2)

4. Roses- Roses are one of my favorite flowers, representing love, passion, and unity, three characteristics or acts that bring forth new life. I placed two, small roses on my altar to represent the relationship between the Sun and Earth, whose love results in new life. This is also a time of lambing, which again comes from the unity of two individuals. (Where did I get it: My Garden; Cost: Free)

TOTAL COST: ~$13

Like my other altars, most of the items I use are found, made, or purchased for around $1, although if the items must be purchased by you, then the cost will be higher. I hope you find this sort of break down helpful, especially those of you looking to create Instagram perfect altars on a budget!

What are your plans for Imbolc this year? Let me know in the comments below!

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