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 as the solstice and equinox change. Many witches, however, choose to celebrate the Winter Themstice (Imbolc) on February 1st, while astrologically it fell on February 4th this year (2022). 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. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love celebrations of light. I love lighting candles, cozying up to a warm fire, enjoying the crisp, cold air, the return of the cardinals and robins, and even the little bit of snow we sometimes receive here in Georgia. You can feel the Earth breathe a sigh as the days slowly lengthen, but Cailleach still rears her head, blasting the new buds with frost and chilling rain storms. To celebrate and honor this symbolism, I put together a simple, yet effective 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 while the black candle represents the darkness. The black candle is lower than the white candles, showing that light triumphs over the darkness this time of year. (Where did I get it: Dollar Tree 2017 & 2019; Cost: $5)
4. Berkano Rune- Berkano is the rune of new beginnings, rebirth, new life, plant life, wisdom, and sanctuary, all of which are characteristics of Imbolc thus making it the perfect addition to such an altar. It is placed front and center to represent these characteristics and draw them to my home. (Where did I get it: Blagowood; Cost: Won/Free (originally- $30 for set)
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 breakdown helpful, especially for those of you looking to create Instagram-perfect altars on a budget!
I hope each of you had a fantastic Winter Thermstice this year and may the rest of the year be just as bright.
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Soulfully lovely altar. I find that, perhaps more than any other sabbat, Imbolc is the one in which I feel like I simultaneously have a foot planted in two different seasons (though, to be fair, sometimes Ostara continues to feel much the same way too, if winter is not in a hurry to give up the ghost around these Canadian parts).
ReplyDeleteIt is almost always bone-chilling cold still here in early February and rare is the Imbolc where snow is not on the ground. So in that sense, it is still winter proper, yet I can feel the almost imperceivably subtle stirrings and shifts towards spring at the same time and like yourself, use sympathetic candle/fire magick to help guide the next season's path back into its rightful annual place.
I hope that you had a serene, beautiful sabbat and that more and more signs of spring make their presence known on your end with each new sunrise throughout Feb. and March.
Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life