A Hearthcraft Guide to Imbolc

Imbolc is the quintessential hearth and home holiday.  The goddess most closely connected with this time of year is Brigid--the goddess of crafts (including smithcrafts), poetry, hearth, home, and healing.  It is a time for strengthening family ties.  In the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, the Goddess nurtures the Sun King as he grows strong.  It is a time for cleaning both house and soul.  Ultimately, Imbolc is a time of possibilities.  Anything can happen with the coming of spring . . . or at least it feels that way.  This is the time to think about those rapidly approaching possibilities in our lives and to prepare ourselves.  Think about "planting" in all its forms--perhaps you are starting a new relationship, a new job, a new phase in your own life.  Now is the time to plant the seeds for success to come out of those new beginnings.  Whatever adventure you are embarking upon at this moment, this is the perfect time to begin it.

The History & Myths

Brigid did not suffer the same fate as other Pagan deities at the hands of the Catholic Church.  Though they tried to entice, threaten, and force her followers to abandon their worship of her, they ultimately had to canonize her and include her celebrations as Christian holidays.  (Imbolc in the Catholic faith is called Candlemas.)

That she was loved vehemently by her followers is readily apparent if you simply take a look at all the ways they appealed to her for assistance in their lives.  As I mentioned above, she is the Goddess of all crafts, poetry, hearth, home, and healing.  She is also the goddess of augury, which is divination through auspices and omens.  She is also a triple goddess ruling over all stages of a woman's life (the maiden in her youth, the mother in her prime, and the crone in her wisdom).  She has dominion over two elements.  She is a water goddess and a fire goddess.  She is a goddess of protection.

Blacksmithing has been called "the King of Crafts," and, while Brigid claims blacksmithing under her authority, she is not a blacksmith, herself.  That role is filled by Goibnu and Govannon in the Celtic cosmology.  She is, however, the source of inspiration that fuels the blacksmith's creativity and artistry, which brings us to another of her many talents: Brigid is a muse extraordinaire.  She grants creativity and inspiration in all the arts.

As you would expect from a muse, Brigid was known as "the fire in the head" of many storytellers, writers, poets, singers, composers, musicians, historians, and genealogists.  She has been known to grant great skill with an artistic ability to complete novices.  She was said to have done this with the sons of the Chieftain of County Limerick, who became great composers, bards, and harpists to many kings of Ireland.  If you desire to develop your own artistic abilities, there is no one better to connect with than Brigid.  Now is a perfect time to make that connection.

Her role as a goddess of hearth and home and her role as a goddess of protection seem to merge in many of her myths.  Her role as Goddess of the hearth extends back to her role as patroness of blacksmiths.  They saw her as the very forge and as inspiration, itself.  In fact, Brigid was seen most often connected with the actual fire.  She was seen as a fierce protector of women, children, and animals--all elements of "home."    

While the Goddess's role in this sabbat is undeniable, many Pagans forget about the God during this time of year.  As the Wheel of the Year turns, we follow the God's growth, and, in doing so, we learn more about our own nature.  He was (re)born at Yule.  He grows stronger at Imbolc as he ventures into adolescence.  This is the time when the God will be initiated, and, as such, it is also an excellent chance for Pagans to affirm their commitment to their chosen path through initiations into a tradition or self-dedications to the God and Goddess.  The God will meet the Goddess as an equal during Ostara, and they will unite in sexual union for the first time at Beltane.  Their courtship follows the natural cycles that rule over our own lives as well.  As winter fades away to spring, our own metabolisms kick into high gear.  We become more active, and so does the natural world around us.  There is beauty in the male mysteries associated with this holiday.  They are the promise of youth and the joys of wild abandon.  As modern day Pagans who are attempting to reconnect with ourselves and our communities, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the gifts the God brings to us during this sabbat.

Regardless of whether you focus on the gifts brought to us by the Goddess or the God at this time of year (or both), you will deal with issues of authenticity, of possibility, and of family and community.  What better way to strengthen family ties than through cooking?  Traditional Imbolc meals consisted of foods that honored hearth and home: breads, grains, and vegetables stored for winter, such as potatoes and onions.  Dairy is also traditionally associated with Imbolc, because this was the time of year when cows and ewes began lactating to feed their young.

Since my main focus as a Witch is hearth and home magicks, I am always tickled pink to talk about cooking foods and giving the family a reason to gather around the table.  Try some of these recipes at your next Imbolc celebration (or any ol' Tuesday, just because you feel like it).  I'm sure you'll enjoy them . . . and your guests will too.

Granny's Irish Scones
For cakes and ale, try serving scones this year.  The guests at your ritual will be glad you did.

I think the Irish Goddess would approve.  Don't you?

16 oz. self-rising flour
4 oz. Margarine
3 oz. Sugar
milk

2 eggs

5 oz. raisins or currants
1 tsp. baking powder

Mix flour and margarine together with your fingers until the mixture is fine; add sugar, raisins and baking powder.  Beat eggs and add.  Pour in enough milk to make mixture into a sticky dough (not too wet).  Lift out onto a floured board and flatten out to 1 1/2″ thickness and cut out scones with a biscuit cutter.  Place 6 on a greased baking sheet and brush tops wit ha little beaten egg (this helps them to brown).  Bake 15 minutes in a preheated 400° oven.

French Toast à l’Orange

If you have company staying over the night before the sabbat, as many of us do, you can always make them french toast in the morning.  Here is a wonderful version that will be good for your waistline as well as your soul.

• 1 medium naval orange
• 1/2 cup calorie-free pancake syrup
• 1 cup liquid egg substitute
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated skim milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 8 pieces of thin-sliced whole-grain bread
• Butter-flavored nonstick cooking spray

This delicacy only has 3.5 grams of fat and 301 calories per serving.  Using a rasp or grater, remove 1 teaspoon of the zest from the orange and set aside for the bread.  Cut off the top and bottom of the orange.  Position the orange so that the flat bottom end is resting on the cutting board.  Using a sharp knife, cut the skin and the white pith off in a downward curving motion.  Continue cutting around the orange so that it is no longer surrounded by the skin and pith.  Cut the orange crosswise into 1/4-inch slices, and then cut the slices into quarters.  Transfer the orange quarters to a small saucepan over low heat.  Add the pancake syrup, and stir to combine.  Simmer for 5 minutes, and then turn off the heat and set aside.  In a large, shallow pan, add the egg substitute, the evaporated milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest.  Stir with a whisk or a fork until well-combined.  Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture. Turn to coat both sides.  Heat a griddle or a large non-stick sauté pan over medium heat.  (I use a regular pan.)  When hot, remove it from the stove just while you coat it with cooking spray.  Add the bread slices and cook, about 2 minutes each side.  Repeat with all slices.  Serve with orange syrup.

You can thank Rocco DiSpirito for introducing me to this recipe.  It can be found in his book "Now Eat This! Diet."

Rosemary Bread

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons rosemary
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 egg, beaten (optional)

Directions

1. Dissolve the sugar in warm water in a medium bowl, and mix in the yeast. When yeast is bubbly, mix in salt, butter, 1 tablespoon rosemary, and Italian seasoning. Mix in 2 cups flour. Gradually add remaining flour to form a workable dough, and knead 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Coat the inside of a large bowl with olive oil. Place dough in bowl, cover, and allow to rise 1 hour in a warm location.
3. Punch down dough, and divide in half. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly grease paper. Shape dough into 2 round loaves, and place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining rosemary. Cover, and allow to rise 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Brush loaves with egg. Bake 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients

• 3 bacon strips, diced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup half-and-half cream
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• Shredded Cheddar cheese
• Minced fresh parsley

Directions

In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Set bacon aside. Saute onion and garlic in the drippings until tender. Stir in flour, salt, basil and pepper; mix well. Gradually add broth. Bring to boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cream and hot pepper sauce; heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon, cheese and parsley.

Baked Stuffed Onion

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup uncooked long-grain rice
• 6 large Spanish onions, peeled
• 1/2 pound spicy ground pork sausage
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a shallow baking dish.
2. In a saucepan bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Slice tops off of onions. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add onions and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and remove centers of onions, leaving shell intact. Chop centers and reserve 1/2 cup of the chopped flesh.
4. Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, crumble and set aside.
5. In the reserved drippings saute green pepper and reserved 1/2 cup chopped onion until tender. Combine with sausage, egg, cooked rice, bread crumbs, oregano and parsley. Spoon mixture into onion shells and place in prepared dish.
6. Combine melted butter and paprika; brush or spoon over onions.
7. Bake in preheated oven, covered, for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Cinnamon-Streusel Coffee Cake
Ladies and gentlemen, you have Martha Stewart to thank for this last recipe.  What better way to finish off an Imbolc feast than with a cup of coffee and, you guessed it, another bread product?!

Ingredients

• For the streusel topping and center:
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• Coarse salt
• 1 1/2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped toasted pecans
• For the cake:
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Coarse salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup sour cream
• For the glaze:
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons whole milk

Directions

1. Make the streusel topping: Mix together flour, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in butter using a pastry cutter or rub in with your fingers until small to medium clumps form. Mix in 1/2 cup pecans. Refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Make the streusel center: Mix together remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 cup pecans.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Butter a 9-inch tube pan with a removable bottom. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl.
4. Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour. Continue to beat until well combined.
5. Spoon half the batter into pan. Sprinkle streusel center mixture evenly over batter. Top with remaining batter, and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Sprinkle streusel topping mixture evenly over batter.
6. Bake until cake is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Remove cake from pan, and transfer to parchment.
7. Make the glaze: Mix together confectioners' sugar and milk. Drizzle over cake, and let drip down sides. Let set for 5 minutes before serving.

Personally, I am not the world's greatest housekeeper.  I love cooking in the kitchen, but I hate the clean-up.  In fact, I am convinced it took me so long to get into cooking because the inevitable clean-up afterwards always seemed to be looming over my head.  Have you ever seen those kitchy signs that say something like "This house is protected by a thin layer of dust"?  Well if you haven't, they're a real scream, and, in my case, they tend to be true.  Unfortunately most people are unimpressed by the protective value of dust, and so it is probably a good idea to clean before you invite your family, coven, or friends over for your Imbolc celebrations.

Aside from the aesthetic value of a good cleaning, there are some wonderful magickal reasons to clean your house.  First and foremost, you will be releasing and removing all the negative build up that has occurred in your space while you have been shut in for those cold winter months.  Second, it will help you connect on a deeper level with your house.  Many home protection spells can be performed through cleaning methods, so it serves as a way to prevent negativity from coming back in once you have removed it initially.  Finally, it makes the rest of your magick more effective, because you are not fighting the clutter and dirt.  Everything (even the dirt) has energy.  You don't want it mucking up your magick.

It's unfortunate but true: before you can get down to the magickal cleaning of your house, you have to focus some time on the mundane tasks you normally associate with cleaning.  Scrub the floors, wash the windows, do the dishes, the laundry, change the sheets, you know . . . that stuff.  Once you have the physical space in order, you can begin working on the energetic feel of your home.  Here are some good starting places.

A common tool in the witch's magickal house cleaning tool kit is Florida Water.  It is a versatile recipe that can be used for a variety of functions from cleaning and protecting your house to purifying your own aura.  There are many recipes out there, so if you don't like this one, search for others.  You will not be disappointed.

 Florida Water

Spiritual Cleaner & Protective Agent

Two cups vodka or other alcohol

Two tablespoons Orange Flower water or hydrosol

One tablespoon Turmeric powder

One-quarter teaspoon finely ground Orris Root

Twelve drops essential oil of Bergamot

Twelve drops essential oil of Lavender

Six drops essential oil of May Chang

Three drops essential oil of Rosemary

Two drop Rose Attar

Two drops Neroli

Shake this formula vigorously to distribute the powder

Florida Water may be added to virtually any cleansing bath or floor wash formula as an added enhancement.  It is for external use only.  Do not consume.

Florida water is not only good for cleaning your floors.  It can provide the same benefits when applied to windows and other surfaces as well.  There is virtually no end the amount of uses you can find for it if you're creative.

The good here is that you do not have to clean every surface twice.  If you use the Florida water the first time around and you focus your intent, you can combine the mundane and the magickal cleaning into one simple step on most of your projects.

After you have the nitty-gritty taken care of, you want to focus on some of the niceties.  Freshen up the air.  If you choose to try any of my Imbolc recipes, your cooking will handle a large portion of that.  If not, there are other things to do.

One simple way to do this is to open up doors and windows (if you live in a part of the world where you can do that.)  Today was 67 degrees here, in the Tar Heel State, but if you are still experiencing snow fall, this may not be an option for you.  

If you have a small pan, crock pot, or potpourri heater, you could always scent the air with dried lavender by steeping the herbs in a cup of water and allowing it to simmer with the lid off.  Lavender is good for  love, friendship, peace, happiness, protection--all excellent things to fill our homes with.  If, however, you do not like the smell of lavender, you could also consider doing the same thing with cinnamon, which is good for creating a happy home, safety, healing, protection.  It is the ultimate hearth and home spice.

While it doesn't smell as "pleasant" as lavender or cinnamon, it is one of the best ways to purify and cleanse the energy of a space.  My recommendation would be that you do this after the mundane cleaning and before scenting the air with either the lavender or cinnamon.  However, if you like the smell of sage, you can do it any time.


You could also cleanse the space with sound.  I have a beautiful set of wind chimes on my back porch, and when they sing in the breeze, I always feel peaceful and more centered.  Soft, instrumental music can also be employed to the same effect (as can nature sounds, like running water).  Haven't you ever noticed that serene, peaceful feeling you get when you walk into a spa or yoga studio and you hear the soft music playing in the background.  It's not loud enough to still your attention, but its presence is always recognizable if you turn your attention to it.  You can mimic the same effect in your own home to change the mood and feel of the place according to your passion in the moment.


Once your space feels the way you want it to, and you feel comfortable and secure, why not consider taking care of yourself?  After all, if you don't mitigate your own stress levels, you will only have to go through the whole cleansing process again more quickly the next time.  By pampering yourself on a regular basis and keeping up with the progress you have made by trying out these suggestions, you won't have to work so hard next time you want to set your house to rights.

Why not pour yourself a cup of peppermint tea and take a bath?  Peppermint is good for purification, healing, and soothing.  


When it comes to your bath, I have always found that it is infinitely more fun to make your own sachet than to buy pre-made bathing supplies, and, honestly, considering how easy it is, I can't imagine why more people don't do it.  


First, assemble all the ingredients that you intend to use in making your bath.  (I am going to give you one option in this post, but it is far from the only option available to you.  In fact, you should feel free to look up herbal correspondences and create your own sachet recipe according to what your specific needs are.)  Add the ingredients to a large mixing bowl.  Combine the herbs with your fingers, pouring your personal power into them.


Side note: If you are new to magick and energy work, there is an easy way to feel your own personal power.  Rub your hands together (palms facing each other) for 10 seconds.  Rub them as fast as you can for the full time.  After 10 seconds has passed, pull your palms apart.  You should feel a tingling sensation between your two hands.  That tingling sensation is your personal power at work.  Mix the herbs together with your hands as they are tingling.  Think about what you want the herbs to do for you.  Ask them to help you with your goal.  Congratulations, you have poured your personal power into the mixture.  


After they are mixed, place a large handful of herbs into the center of a large piece of cheesecloth.  Tie up the ends and add it to the bath.


An excellent Imbolc bath recipe is:


3 parts Chamomile 
2 parts Lavender
1 part Catnip


Mix them all together as described above, and add them to your bath.  The chamomile will help you to relax, but it is also good for love and purification.  Catnip is in the mint family, which means that it is good for love, healing and protection in general, but it also provides beauty and happiness.  It is a wonderful herb to add to nearly any bath, because it enhances the very reason why we go to the tub in the first place.

Imbolc is one of those holidays that stirs the imagination and really engenders participation in the Craft of the Wise.  There are so many ways to celebrate it and to honor the God and Goddess as well as ourselves that there is no way we could ever incorporate all of it into one celebration.  I have chosen to focus on Imbolc and the ways to celebrate it through Hearth and Home Magick.  However, there are other paths, other methods that are equally valuable, and I would love to hear how each of you has chosen to celebrate this wonderful holiday.  

Welcome Home

In our not-too-distant past, the hedge was the very edge of the civilized world.  Today, the hedge might serve to keep the rest of society out of our personal space.  It is a barrier between them and us in this over-populated world, but to our ancestors, it was the last bastion between them and the untamed wilderness.  It was a uniting barrier that kept the community together against the untamed forces of nature.

It may seem that the hedge has done a complete 180, but, in reality, it continues to serve a similar function to the one it served in our past.  It is still a symbol of separation, a boundary between two things.  Witches use the hedge to represent the distinction between the mundane world of our civilized lives and the magickal world where we practice our craft.  It represents the calling to serve the community by looking at the things the community either can't or won't see for itself.  The witch who rides the hedge (as the phrase goes) ventures where brave men dare not go.

While the hedge may not be easily recognized as a magickal symbol by most people today, the hearth is  still chock-full of magickal associations.  Time and modern convenience have not tarnished its lustre for us.  Before the invention of the kitchen stove or central heating, the hearth was the place that people gathered together for warmth, food, and good conversation.  It was a necessity in every home.  Without it, the inhabitants would freeze or starve to death.  Today, it is a luxury feature that enhances the value of a house on the market, but many of us still choose to put a log on the fire on a cold winter night despite having the option to use central heating.  It evokes a sense of home and security that nothing else can rival.

That said, home is not about the structure you find yourself living in.  In today's world, many people live in apartment buildings where they share a roof and a foundation with countless other people.  Some people live in giant soul-less McMansions that feel cookie cutter and devoid of individual character.  Others live in quaint, little cottages.  Some people consider their homes to be the cities or states where they live, and they are not tied down to one particular structure.  Still others have lived in the same family estate for generations.

Regardless of what your idea of home is, there is one thing that is essential to it: love.  A house is nothing more than a structure of wood and stone if it is not loved or if the people living in it are at war with each other.  A city cannot feel like home if you hate it and would rather live any where else on earth.  Even the most neglected building can be rehabbed and can become a heaven from the rest of the world with a little tender love and care.

This blog is for those of you brave enough to venture beyond the hedge and to make your home there--however you see it.  Whether you want to keep the rest of the world out and learn to depend upon your own resources or whether you want to reconnect with a seemingly-lost nostalgic sense of community, I would be honored if you expanded your concept of home to include me in it.  Please come back here often.  I will speak plainly and simply about being a witch.  I may wax philosophical (as I am prone to do), and I will endeavor to provide you with useful and fun information on a host of mundane topics as well.

Merry meet and merry part until we merry meet again!

- Blackwood