The Wheel of the Year

Lighting candles to honor the Virgin Goddess, honoring the growth of the Sun God, celebrate the middle of winter, celebrate lambing, seek omens of Spring, storytelling, cleaning house, bonfires, indoor planting, stone collecting, candle kept burning dusk till dawn; hearth re-lighting. Burn incense or oil of jasmine, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, basil, and myrrh. Themes include conception, initiation, insight, inspiration, creativity, mirth, renewal, dedication, breath of life, life-path, wise counsel, plan, prepare.

• Kindle Your Inner Flame: Light a fire in your hearth or make/decorate and bless a special candle for your altar. Take some time to purify your mind, body, and soul. Then invite Brigid to spark your creativity and fan the embers of inspiration! Be sure to rake the ashes in your fireplace smooth before you go to bed so you can see Her footprints in them, in case she passes that way during the night.

• Wear Brigid’s Mantle: Leave a shawl, scarf, handkerchief, scraps of fabric, or string in a tree or bush outside your door on Imbolc Eve. Brigid’s blessing will transform them into “Brat Bhride” (Brigid’s mantle or cloak) for personal protection and health throughout the year.

• Weave Brigid’s Wheel: These charms can be made from rushes, palms, wheat, willow or even colorful pipe cleaners and can be hung above your hearth or door to protect your home throughout the year.

• Make Butter: Imbolc is closely associated with mother’s milk (ewe or sheep’s milk in particular), and the act of making butter is nothing short of magical! You could simply beat heavy whipping cream in a mixer until it “breaks,” but nothing compares to hand shaking real butter in a glass jar—it’s much easier and more fun that you might think. Be sure to support your local, organic dairy!

• Visit Sacred Springs: If you are lucky enough to have a natural spring or seasonal stream near your home, now is a great time to consecrate your body and respectfully collect Her sacred waters for magical workings. Be sure to leave an offering in reverent gratitude, such as a colorful ribbon or yarn of natural material tied to a nearby branch.

• Create a Vision Board: Grab a stack of magazines, some poster board, and start placing words and images together into a collage that represents what you’d like to attract and manifest this year. This is a great activity to help kids visualize their intentions and indentify common goals for your family. Put them in a spot where everyone can see and encourage one another!

• Start Your Spring Cleaning: Clean out your hearth, cut through the clutter, and use your besom to clear out any stagnant energy. Smudge each room, your ritual tools/altar, and open the windows to let in some healthy, fresh air!

Ostara (Spring Equinox)

Ostara is recognized between March 20-22. It falls on the vernal (spring) equinox, when the days and nights are now of equal length, and winter gives way to spring. Ostara is a name derived from the Germanic Goddess of springtime. Eostre was her name, and Eastre was her festival. The rabbit was a symbol of this Goddess, and eggs symbolized fertility and rebirth. If you were a pagan, you would use this day to welcome the arrival of spring by blessing your seeds and celebrating the renewal of life. Ostara (Spring Equinox) is considered the start of spring; flowers begin to blossom and bloom. And color returns to the Earth. Ostara is one of the only two days in the year when day and night are equal. Because of this day of symmetry, balance is one of the many magical themes for this Sabbat. All about potential: the potential for balance above and below, and the potential for growth, renewal and the possibility of new starts.

It is customary to garden, plant seeds, bless your seeds and gardens, and plant blessings. Some customs are to wear green (St. Patrick’s Day), purchase new (or up-used) clothes, celebrate the Celtic bird festival, create egg baskets, color eggs, host egg hunts, and start new projects and new planting. Themes include balance, growth, communication, invention, new growth, new projects, greening of nature and the balance of light and dark. The essences of this sabbat are strength, birthing, completion, power, love, sexuality, embodiment of spirit, fertility, opening, beginning, plant and animal fertility, and sowing. It is customary to burn incense and oils of African violet, jasmine, rose, strawberry, lotus, magnolia, ginger, sage lavender, and narcissus.