Hi I'm a baby witch and I have a question

[scryhard]

❦ Offerings, Exchanges, and Magical Ecology

Nothing is free and that’s not a punishment, it’s a relationship. You’re in an energetic ecosystem now

Magic doesn’t happen in a vacuum. (I mean, it can, but then you’re just yelling into the void and hoping the void Venmos you back.)

Real magic happens inside relationships. Between spirits, ancestors, land, elements, and the invisible threads that stitch the whole weird haunted tapestry together. And like any relationship worth its salt, this one runs on reciprocity. No ghosting allowed. Translation: energy only moves if everyone’s on board. Consent is the real magic word.

Cue the offerings. This is where you actually give back, not just take. Not bribes. Not emotional blackmail for the astral plane. Not payment for services rendered. And definitely not "sacrifices" in the Judeo-Christian morality sense of suffering is currency (it's not). Offerings are ecological gestures. Little magical handshakes that say: I see you. I feel this connection. Let’s keep the current flowing.

It’s about relationship, resonance, and return. Not a cosmic vending machine. No refunds, no snack-sized miracles.

❂ What Is an Offering, Really?

An offering isn’t just leaving snacks on an altar like you’re trying to bribe the local raccoon king. It’s a gesture of recognition. A magical “hey, I see you” with better snacks.

It says: ✦ I see you. ✦ I value this connection. ✦ I am not here to loot the spiritual ecosystem like a colonizer in a crystal shop.

Offerings are the punctuation marks in your magical group chat. They mark the moment, full stop. They open the circuit. They close the spell. They say “thank you,” “I’m listening,” or “please don’t haunt me again.” They also re-balance the scales.

In folk magic, healing, and necromancy, offerings are not optional. They’re required circuitry. Ritual wi-fi is not free. Pay your energetic bill or get disconnected.

If you take energy (from the land, a plant, a spirit, a dead thing, or the vibe of a crossroads at 3 a.m.) there has to be a return current. Otherwise, the system just leaks all over your life. Or worse, it slams shut like a laptop during a haunted Zoom call and refuses to reboot.

Offerings are not about payment. They’re about partnership. Like a magical group project, but with less passive-aggressive emails.

It's a conversation. Not a transaction.

⚖︎ Offerings Are Not Bribes

This cannot be stressed enough without launching it into the astral plane: Offerings are not bribes. You are not spiritually Venmoing a deity in hopes they’ll grant your wish faster.

An offering is not about buying favor or tricking a spirit into doing your bidding. That’s not magic. That’s just coercion with extra glitter. Spirits, ancestors, and land are not vending machines, no matter how many quarters you throw.

A real offering is rooted in respect, context, and consent. It’s not “What do I give so I get what I want?” It’s: ✦ What honors the exchange that just happened? ✦ What supports the relationship I’m in with this being or place? ✦ What helps keep this energy moving in a way that feels right?

In a lot of traditions, offerings are part of a relational debt system. Not like student loans, more like sacred IOUs. If you eat the fruit, you feed the tree. If you take the water, you bless the spring. If you ask the dead for help, you better bring more than good vibes and a vague thank you.

It’s not about appeasement. It’s about keeping the current flowing, not letting shit get stale. The system breathes better when you actually breathe back. Exhale, witch.

⚘ Offerings in Magical Ecology

In animist and land-based systems, offerings aren't optional side quests.

They’re part of the actual ecosystem of power and presence. You don’t just walk up to a tree, a stone, or a river go *yoink*. You ask. You wait. You listen.

And if the answer is yes. You give something in return. Not because the cosmic fine print says so, but because that’s just how healthy relationship works. Emphasis on healthy.

Offerings might be:

water

tobacco

song

a breath

a handful of your hair

a coin

a whispered name

your weird little silence, offered with full sincerity

The land is not fooled by your spiritual theatrics. It knows the difference between a real conversation and a performative TikTok ritual.

This isn’t about ticking off a spiritual checkbox. It's about reciprocity with a living world that remembers everything.

Speak to the land like it’s eavesdropping. Because it is.

꩜ Traditional vs. Intuitive Offerings

Traditions are like spiritual IKEA instructions. Fewer hex keys, more ancestral side-eye.

They’re not just random rituals yanked from the cosmic bingo bag. They’re cultural patterns shaped by centuries of relationship and respect. They show us what offerings work in very specific spirit-ecologies:

Bread and milk to the fae

Rum and cigar smoke to the dead (they earned it, let them vibe)

Coins and red cloth to crossroads spirits

Copper and blood for river deities (respect the current or get dragged)

Picking up trash at the beach for the ocean spirits

These aren’t just aesthetic choices. They’re ritual syntax. It’s a coded language between world and being. You’re not just feeding the spirit, you’re speaking their dialect.

But what if you don’t have access to those traditions? Or what if you’re in a place where that offering doesn’t make sense? Welcome to the Intuition Zone.

Ask: ✦ What does this spirit actually ask for? ✦ What would honor this place, right now? ✦ What can I give that feels real. Not performative, not copied, not guilt-driven, but real?

Listen. Offer. Adjust. Repeat. Like a magical feedback loop with more snacks.

⚛︎ In behavioral economics and ritual studies, the idea of "costly signaling" (Zahavi & Zahavi, 1997) shows that sincere offerings are often costly because they demonstrate commitment. Ritual actions carry social and emotional weight when effort is visible. Magic follows similar logic: energy spent = meaning demonstrated.

🜂 Offerings Are Energetic Nutrition

Some spirits do not want snacks. They want story. Or fire. Or weird little songs you make up on the spot at 2 a.m. with three brain cells and a candle stub.

Some ancestors would much rather you donate to a local food bank than leave them stale cookies. Some land spirits do not care about your artisanal incense if you just stepped over a pile of trash to burn it.

The point: don’t assume. Ask. Listen. Adjust.

And when in doubt? Offer your presence first. Literally just show up. Put down your phone. Pay attention. The listening itself is part of the offering.

The vibes know if you’re actually present or just ticking a ritual box before DoorDashing a latte. No faking it.

⚛︎ In ecology, mutualistic relationships are shaped by reciprocal resource exchange. Like, bees and flowers, gut flora and humans. The more reciprocal the interaction, the more resilient the system. Magical ecology operates the same way.

⚒︎ Building Your Own Ethics of Exchange

This isn’t about rules. No one's handing out gold stars for correct witchcraft.

This is about responsibility. And vibes. But mostly not being a magical freeloader.

Start here: ✦ Who am I in relationship with? (the land, the spirits, the dead, the gods, the neighborhood raccoon...) ✦ What do they give me? ✦ What do I give back? ✦ Do I ask before I take? ✦ Do I listen before I speak? ✦ Do I clean up after myself, or do I spiritually litter like a frat boy left alone in the woods?

Because here’s the deal Your offering is part of your magical signature. It’s how the world remembers you.

You can leave trash or honey. You can echo beauty, or leave behind the energetic equivalent of a broken vending machine that ate your last quarter.

Offerings aren’t just about ritual. They reflect how you show up. Magically, politically, ecologically, emotionally, socially, and cosmically.

Basically: do you come correct, or do you show up like that uninvited guest who raids the fridge and ghosts the host?

⚠︎ What Happens If You Don't Offer?

Sometimes… nothing happens. You just vibe. The spirits vibe. Everyone minds their business. And sometimes everything falls apart like a cursed IKEA shelf. Hex key not included.

Some traditions say spirits stop responding. Some say the magic backfires. Some say the energy just clings to you like glitter you forgot to cleanse. (If you’ve ever had a spell haunt you instead of completing, you already know. Enjoy the lingering buzz of Unfinished Business.) Most of the time, it’s not about punishment. No one’s smiting you for skipping the wine and bread.

It’s about imbalance. A closed loop that never got the exhale. The spell equivalent of holding your breath until you pass out. A magical circuit with no off switch.

You put out the energy but forgot the grounding wire, and now the energy is doing you.

⚛︎ In energy systems, feedback loops without regulation cause overload, decay, or system crashes. Spellwork is no different. Without a proper release or rebalancing gesture, energy stagnates, boomerangs, or slowly eats your brain like forgotten psychic malware.

✆ Listen First. Then Offer.

At the end of the day, offerings are built on attention. Not aesthetics, not bribery, just actual presence. Not glitter. Not aesthetics. Not bribery. Just good old-fashioned, witchy mindfulness.

You are not the main character of the magic. Sorry. You are not the chosen one. You’re just a node in the energetic group project of existence.

You’re part of a field. An ecosystem of seen and unseen intelligences. A giant occult LAN party where every spell pings off something else.

Energy does not float through the void like a sparkly anime attack. It moves through relationship. Through space. Through response.

Your offerings are how you remember that. They’re your RSVP to the spirit party. They mark your spot in the system. Not as a controller. Not as a boss. But as a participant who actually showed up, listened, and brought snacks. The good kind.

❣︎ Closing Spell Thought

You don’t need to offer something huge and dramatic. You don’t need to yeet a gold chalice into a lake while ugly-crying under a full moon. You just need to offer something real.

A true offering is not about grandeur. It’s about presence. It’s about saying: “Hey, I’m here. I care. This means something.”

A real offering is: ✦ Felt. ✦ Sincere. ✦ Attuned. ✦ Context-aware. ✦ Relational.

Not a payment. Not a performance. Not a spiritual vending machine where you insert three candles and get a boyfriend. (If only.)

It’s a promise. To stay in right relation. To listen when you don’t have the answers. To give when you’ve taken. To make magic that moves with the world, not bulldozes through it like an arcane monster truck with no brakes.

Be the kind of witch whose presence feels like a blessing, not a cosmic warning label. Or at least be someone the land spirits don’t side-eye when you show up. Low bar, but worth aiming for.

Part Ⅳ of Occult Mechanics 𝟷𝟶𝟷

✍︎ Further Reading & Sources

On Offerings & Reciprocity

Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer

Sacred Balance, David Suzuki

The Other Side of Eden, Hugh Brody

The Gift, Lewis Hyde

Indigenous Methodologies, Margaret Kovach

The Spell of the Sensuous, David Abram

On Ritual Exchange & Symbolic Economy

Marcel Mauss, The Gift

Zahavi & Zahavi (1997), The Handicap Principle

Tambiah, Stanley, The Magical Power of Words

On Magical Ecology & Animism

Graham Harvey, Animism: Respecting the Living World

Tyson Yunkaporta, Sand Talk

Toko-pa Turner, Belonging

On Neurobiology & Systems

Polyvagal Theory, Stephen Porges

Feedback Control Systems, Ogata

Mutualism in Ecology, Bronstein (1994)

[moirasgrimoire]

13 Rules When Working with Spirits

1. Always begin with protection. Circle, salt, prayer, guardian. Whatever your tradition teaches — begin there.

2. Be respectful, not fearful. Fear clouds the mind. Respect sharpens it.

3. Know who you're calling. Not all spirits are who they claim to be. Names hold power — and risk.

4. Don't demand. Invite. You are not their master. You are a guest in their presence.

5. Offer before you ask. Give water, incense, light, or words — a sign that you understand reciprocity.

6. Speak with intention. Every word is a blade or a bridge. Choose carefully.

7. Not all spirits want to help. Some are tricksters. Some are wounded. Some are bound to old grief. Learn discernment.

8. Record everything. Your memory fades. Their messages don’t.

9. Don’t bargain what you can’t give. No soul, no life, no years. Be firm in your boundaries.

10. Cleanse after every contact. Even the kindest guest leaves a trace.

11. Don’t open doors you can't close. Not every ritual needs to be performed. Not every spell needs to be spoken.

12. Your bloodline walks with you. Ancestors see what you do. Act accordingly.

13. If something feels wrong — stop. Your instinct is your first line of defense. Trust it.

[hexpositive]

Hex Positive, Ep. 054 - Witching With Your Local Biome

Spring has sprung at HexPos Central, but no matter what the weather looks like outside, there are dozens of species of plants to discover in your local biome. Grab your basket and field guide and take a walk through this month's study exercise, where you'll learn to observe, identify, and find magical uses for local flora.

(Listen to the end for commentary from Creative Director Havoc!)

Events:

Critical Thinking Witch Collective - Spring Free Brew

The Witches’ Table Discussion Group - Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia (USA)

Historic Hilton Village / Styx & Stones - First Fridays Pink Moon Market

River City Witches / Diversity Richmond - Oddities Witch Market

Visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop on Shopify and check out this month’s featured items and Upcoming Events. Make sure you also visit the Redbubble page for even more cool merch!

Check my ⁠⁠Wordpress⁠⁠ for full show notes, as well as show notes for past episodes and information on upcoming events. You can find me as @BreeNicGarran on Instagram and WordPress, or as @breelandwalker on tumblr. For more information on how to support the show and get access to early releases and extra content, visit my ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠.

Proud member of the ⁠⁠Nerd and Tie Podcast Network⁠⁠

MUSIC CREDITS

Intro & Outro – “Spellbound” & “Miri’s Magic Dance”  Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

[scryhard]

☸︎ The Witch’s Year: Sabbats, Chaos Rites & Calendars That Don't Suck

This is a living series about time, seasons, and why your soul keeps running laps like a hamster on espresso.

There is no One True Witch Calendar. Never was. We made it up. But like, on purpose.

The modern “Wheel of the Year” is basically a remix of Celtic fire festivals, Anglo-Saxon seasonal rites, and Wiccan fanfic from the last century, all mashed together like a ritual fruitcake. And honestly? That’s just culture doing its weird, composting thing. Let it rot. That’s how you get soil, so it’s not always bad.

Nobody’s grading you on how “authentic” your sabbats are. What actually matters is that your rituals mean something to you. That’s it. Witches don’t just vibe. We ritualize. We make time weird on purpose.

☉ The sun returns? Light the damn candle. ☽ The moon wanes? Bury the spell jar. ⚶ Your spine starts vibrating on a Tuesday in August? That’s a holy day now, babe.

This series will not tell you which color candle to buy at Michael’s, or how many jars you need to hoard before you unlock level two witchcraft... well possibly the former This is not “8 Holidays You Must Do or You’re Not a Real Witch.” This is a deep dive into how witches have shaped time into meaning, and how you can do it too.

What is a Sabbat, Really? Where we talk about etymology, folk vs Wiccan calendars, cultural approximations, and why Sabbats are not universal.

Upcoming Sabbat Guides Each major sabbat gets its own post. Expect themes, spells, plants, rituals that make your neighbors nervous, and hacks for chaos witches, city witches, and the magically feral.

Yule / Winter Solstice – Sacred darkness, root magic, midwinter spells

Imbolc – Fire in the belly, Brigid’s well, milk rites

Beltane – Boundary-crossing, faery nights, ecstatic fertility weirdness

Making Your Own Sabbats Because not everyone lives in a moody European forest, has access to actual woods, or wants to cosplay the summer solstice when it’s literally snowing outside.

Make your own:

Body-based rites (first blood, surgery, recovery)

Lunar chaos calendars

Feast days for your dead grandma or your inner monster

“It rained for the first time in months” festivals

The Witch’s Year in Practice Altars that rot on purpose. Bones that track the seasons. Plant logs, ritual journaling, and throwing a sabbat feast for one. You’re still valid if your coven is three houseplants and a cat with strong opinions.

Special Topics

“The Witch’s Feast” — Kitchen magic by season

“Animal Festivals” — Honoring migration, hibernation, and horny moose season

“Astrological Sabbats” — When Leo season hits like your personal midsummer

“Sabbats of the City” — Because the subway is an underworld journey

“The Lost Wheel” — Ancient ritual calendars that didn’t survive colonization but still echo

This isn’t a closed circle. It’s a living spiral, smudged, scribbled, and always a little feral. You can join in winter. You can join after harvest. You can miss five posts and show up for Mabon wearing a hat made of moss. You're still on time.

You don’t have to follow the Wheel to be a witch. But you do have to listen to time the way a forest listens to rot, the way a bruise listens to the coming storm.

☸︎ Follow the tag #The Witch’s Year to stay updated. Bring snacks. Burn something on purpose. The calendar is already on fire. Let’s make it weird.

[hiswitchcraft]

Secret Witch Masterpost

General Guides

[Secret Witches Guide To Concealing Your Craft] [Broom Closet Solutions] [Broom Closet Witchery] [If You’re A Secret Witch] [Big Broom Closet Post - Part 1] [Big Broom Closet Post - Part 2] [How To Hide Your Witchy Ways] [Thriving In The Broom Closet] [Little Things For Witches Who Keep Quiet About Their Craft] Specific Stuff [Secret Witch Ideas For Moving] [Warding While Watched - A Secret Witch’s Guide] [Sigil Charging For Secret Witches] Tips [Secret Witch Tip] [Secret Witch Tip] [Secret Witch Tips] [Secret Witch Tips] (Different post)  [Subtle Witch Tips] [Tips For Discreet College Witches] [Tips For Life In The Broom Closet] Spells [Low-key Spells] [Enchantments For The Subtle Witch] Sabbats [Subtle Yule Witching - 1] [Subtle Yule Witching - 2] [Subtle Yule Witching - 3] [Subtle Witch Tips - Lammas] [Subtle Witch Tips - Last New Moon Before Samhain] [Subtle Witch Tips - Samhain] Altars [Secret & Covert Altars] [Tip For Closeted Witches Who Can’t Use A Dedication Altar] [Altar Ideas For Secret Witches] [Altars on a budget] Divination [Playing Card Divination] [An Introduction To Divination With Playing Cards] [Playing Card Fortune Telling - Card Meanings] Supplies (Some of these are for witches on a budget, still useful) [Acquiring Discreet Supplies] [Inexpensive items for you craft] [Common spell items] [Witch on a budget] Other [Apps For Witches] [Witchy iOS Apps] [Witchy Uses For Your Phone For The Frugal Or Secret Witch] [Jar Alternatives]

[hiswitchcraft]

New Witch Resources

I’m gonna say it again, I made a google doc full of online resources for new witches! 

See see see it’s absolutely packed with good stuff! We’re talking PDFs, small businesses to get books from, and tons of links. Please go check it out! And remember my DMs are always open if you have any or many questions 💕

[hiswitchcraft]

Ahhh we hit 2000 notes yay! Remember my dms are always open if you guys need specific resources or help.

[the-mortuary-witch]

WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SABBATS

IMBOLC (CANDLEMAS)

Bake anything with blackberries or seeds.

Use the colours white, light yellow, green, gold, silver, lilac, pale pink, and purple in your decor and outfits.

Light a bonfire or candles to represent the returning light.

Plant seeds or bulbs to symbolize the rebirth of nature.

Honour deities associated with Imbolc, such as Faunus, Eros, Oak King, Green Man, Pan, Cupid, Aenghus Óg, Brigid, Demeter, Hestia, Vesta, Aphrodite, Ceres, The Morrigan, Venus, Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aradia, Athena, and Minerva.

Make a Brigid's Cross, or other handcrafted decor, with herbs and/or other natural materials.

Perform a blessing of your home to let go of the past year.

Set up an altar or sacred space to honour the Celtic goddess Brigid, associated with Imbolc.

Make Brigid's Bed, a traditional ritual of placing a straw/cloth Brigid doll in a basket or box before placing it on your home’s hearth with offerings of food or cloth left out to bring in Brigid’s blessings (signs of her visit, such as disturbed rushes or marks in the hearth ashes, are sought as confirmation of her blessings.)

Connect with nature and spend time outside to honour the changing season.

OSTARA (SPRING EQUINOX)

Participate in fertility rites and rituals to celebrate the coming of spring and the planting season.

Honour deities associated with Ostara, such as Mars, Ares, Green Man, Apollo, Pan, Cernunnos, Oak King, Týr, Odin, Osiris, Dagda, Adonis, Ēostre, Aphrodite, Isis, Gaia, Athena, Minerva, Cybele, Persephone, The Morrigan, Dementer, Flora, Astarte, Hecate, and Freyja.

Create baskets filled with seasonal treats and decor for loved ones.

Decorate your altar or sacred space with symbols of Ostara, such as flowers, eggs, bunnies, daffodils, and pastel colours.

Clean and cleanse your home and space, releasing old habits and welcoming new beginnings.

Plant seeds or herbs for new growth and prosperity.

Go for a nature walk or hike.

Participate in an egg hunt or egg rolling, traditional Ostara games.

Celebrate the coming of spring with those you care about by sharing a meal.

Perform a protection spell or ritual to honour the increasing light and longer days.

Create a spring bouquet or wreath by using flowers like daffodils, crocuses, and other spring blossoms.

Practice self-care rituals to nourish and rejuvenate your mind and body.

BELTANE (MAY EVE)

Celebrate the fertility of the earth with bonfires and rituals honouring the fire god, Belenos.

Make a maypole and decorate it with colourful ribbons.

Participate in a maypole dance, a traditional celebration of fertility and joy.

Make a wish list and tie it to a tree on Beltane eve.

Honour deities associated with Beltane, such as Pan, Belenus, Oak King, Green Man, Cernunnos, Dionysus, Bacchus, Priapus, Faunus, Eros, Ra, Freyja, Aphrodite, Flora, Brigid, Persephone, Hestia, Astarte, Lilith, Juno, Diana, Hera, Artemis, Epona, and Bastet.

Create a flower crown or wear one made of wildflowers to honour the faery folk and fertility spirits.

Perform a ritual to bless your home for fertility, love, transformation, new beginnings, and/or protection.

Jump over the Beltane bonfires, symbolizing jumping over obstacles and embracing new beginnings.

Have a picnic or gathering with friends and family to celebrate the abundance and growth of the season.

Create a sacred space or altar for Beltane, decorat with flowers, herbs, and other nature-related objects.

Go for a walk in the woods or a natural setting and connect with the beauty and/or energy of the season.

LITHA (SUMMER SOLSTICE/MIDSUMMER)

Participate in a bonfires or lighting a sacred fire.

Collect herbs and flowers, especially ones associated with the sun, such as calendula, yarrow, and St. John's wort, and make a solstice garland.

Dance around the bonfire or engage in other traditions associated with the Summer Solstice, such as singing and drumming.

Have a solstice feast, filled with summer bounty, seasonal foods, and family.

Celebrate in the natural world, go for a walk, or have a picnic.

Honour deities associated with Litha, such as Belenus, Green Man, Sol, Apollo, Helios, Lugh, Baldur, Ra, Zeus, Oak King, Horus, Dionysus, Aten, Loki, Jupiter, Thor, Cernunnos, Brigid, Hel, Amaterasu, Hestia, Juno, Hera, Gaia, Sulis, Aphrodite, Danu, Áine, Freyja, Bastet, Hathor, Sunna, Flora, and Vesta.

Start summer resolutions. 

Consider planting a vegetable garden for autumn, or add to your flower garden. 

LAMMAS (LUGHNASADH)

Baking bread. 

Crafting corn dolls. 

Pick wild flowers. 

Honour the earth and the cycles of nature. 

Perform solar magick. 

Give thanks to the spirits and/or deities for the beginning of the harvest season. 

Collect and honour the first fruits of the harvest, such as grains, corn, and apples.

Hold a harvest festival or feast, sharing the bounty of the land with family and friends.

Make a Lughnasadh altar or shrine with symbols of the harvest, such as corn, grains, and apples.

Participate in a traditional Lughnasadh celebration, such as a harvest dance or ritual.

Honour deities associated with Lammas, such as Adonis, Gofannon, Hades, Hephaestus, Lugh, Green Man, Mithras, Ninurta, Odin, Ceres, Osiris, Set, Helios, Thor, Vulcan, Loki, Dionysus, Vertumnus, Apollo, Xiuhtecuhtli, Danu, Tailtiu, Persephone, Demeter, Freyja, The Morrigan, Anu, Cailleach Bheur, Arianhod, Ceres, Inanna, Corn Maiden, Isis, Cybele, Ops, Pomona, Brigid, Proserpina, Rhiannon, and Cerridwen.

MABON (AUTUMN EQUINOX/FALL HARVEST)

Gathering herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods.

Make a corn dolly or a straw figure as a reminder of the abundance of the harvest.

Perform a ritual to honour the balance of the seasons and thank the gods and goddesses for their blessings.

Spend time writing in your journal. You could reminisce about your summer experiences, reflect on the shifts you feel with the changing season, contemplate what you're ready to release, express gratitude for the blessings in your life, etc.

Adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honour those who have passed over.

Honour deities associated with Mabon, such as the Green Man, Loki, Freyr, Osiris, Dionysus, Thoth, Hermes, Thor, Mabon ap Modron, Donn, Hades, Dumuzi, Cernunnos, Demeter, Persephone, Ceres, Freyja, Hestia, The Morrigan, Pomona, Epona, the Muses, Inanna, Banba, and Autumnus.

Participate in a nature walk or ceremony, taking time to connect with the natural world and the turning of the seasons.

Enjoy your favourite fall beverages. 

Make a gratitude list or write a gratitude letter, expressing your appreciation for the abundance and beauty of the harvest season.

Connect with nature. 

Bring the beauty of fall indoors by decorating your home with seasonal touches. 

Make wine.

Performing a gratitude or release ritual. 

SAMHAIN (ALL HALLOWS/FINAL HARVEST)

Carving sigils, runes, or symbols into pumpkins that you want to attract into your life.

Relax and watch some horror movies. 

Treat yourself to sweets. 

Participate in a haunted house, hayride, or corn maze event.

Declutter/organize your home. 

Honour deities associated with Samhain, such as Hades, Lucifer, Donn, Odin, Loki, Dagda, Cernunnos, Osiris, Anubis, Belenus, Arawn, The Morrigan, Hecate, Cerridwen, Persephone, Brigid, Hel, Santa Muerte, Lilith, Badb, Cailleach Bheur, Kali, Bastet, Nephthys, Durga, Arianrhod, and Baba Yaga.

Ethically collect animal bones or feathers to honour the natural cycle of life and death.

Decorate your home with Halloween or Samhain-themed decor to welcome the energy of the season.

Gathering friends and loved ones for a Samhain feast, feasting on symbolic foods like apples, pumpkin, corn, etc. Leave an empty place at the table with food and a photo of the deceased, inviting their spirit to join you.

Visit a local pumpkin patch. 

Try scrying or mirror gazing, divination is especially powerful when the veil is thin (all of October especially, and in November too).

Go to a harvest festival or carnival.

RESPECTFULLY visit a graveyard or cemetery.

Watch your favorite spooky/witchy movies to awaken Samhain's energy.

Do a simple releasing spell: take a leaf, focus on something you want to let go of, crush it gently, and then release it into nature.

Add photos of your ancestors or deceased loved ones to your altar.

Bake Samhain treats (soul cakes, barmbrack, Colcannon, pies, or anything that contains apples or pumpkin) with your desired intentions and positive energy.

Wear Samhain colours in your clothing, makeup, or nails (orange, purple, white, black, brown, and/or gold).

Use crow feathers or crow motifs to honour death and transformation.

YULE (WINTER SOLSTICE/MIDWINTER)

Burn a Yule log. 

Make an evergreen Yule wreath.

Decorate a Yule tree. 

Make a Yule wish list or a Yule resolution, as Yule is a time of reflection and intention setting.

Practice Yule carol singing, participating in a community sing-along, or carolling event.

Celebrate in candle light. 

Give back to nature. 

Exchange nature-based gifts. 

Host a feast for those you love with foods associated with Yule, such as: roast goose, spiced cakes, cinnamon-flavored cakes, ginger tea, hot apple cider, wassail, seasoned soups, spiced buttermilk bread, nuts, apples, honey, oranges, dried fruits, turkey, roasted meats, mincemeat, eggnog, chocolate, roasted chicken, roasted capon, roasted partridge, roasted suckling pig, venison offal, rabbit stew, fruit mince pies, sugar cookies, grog, spiced cider, mulled wine, plum pudding, marmalade cakes, chocolate biscuits, fruit pies, tarts with nuts, Yule Log cake, bread pudding, roasted nuts, gingerbread, potato latkes, Yule ham, and hot cocoa (these are just suggestions for traditional Yule foods, but feel free to eat or drink anything you like.)

Participate in a Yule spell or ritual, asking for blessings and protection for the coming year.

Honour deities associated with Yule, such as Baldur, Dionysus, Cernunnos, Odin, Holly King, Mithras, Green Man, Oak King, Loki, Apollo, Horus, Saturn, Osiris, Cronus, Amaterasu, Athena, Hecate, Demeter, Cailleach Bheur, Skaði, Frigg, Freyja, Brigid, Hestia, Isis, and Perchta/Berchta.

Decorate your home with evergreen boughs and wreaths, representing the evergreen nature of the sun and eternal life.

Participate in an outdoor activity, like sledding or ice skating, to honour the winter season.

[witchofthewildwood]

accessible ways to celebrate Imbolc last minute ｡𖦹°‧

enjoy a charcuterie board with cheeses and breads

put out a scarf the night before Imbolg to be blessed by Brigid’s healing powers

collect snow to make snow water

make a Brigid’s cross out of whatever you have available — paper, straw, grasses, wire, pipe cleaners, anything

light a candle and watch the flame dance

pray to Brigid, thank her for her blessings

bundle up & go on a walk—try to notice/find any speck of green or new buds growing

make tea with honey & milk, toast with butter

journal or reflect on growth or healing, what it means to you, ways you’d like to grow/heal, aspects in your life you’d like to grow/heal

take a bath and soak for a while—cleanse yourself of any negative energy that’s attached itself to you

clean your space on Imbolg or prior, if you can!

(full Imbolg post here)｡𖦹°‧𖦹ׂ ₊˚⊹⋆

**these are modernized adaptations of ways to celebrate inspired by the lore and language surrounding Imbolg/Imbolc, in an attempt to make observing the day accessible to the average person! :)

[madamlaydebug]

[xo-kosmickisses-xo]

Altars That Evolve With the Seasons

Hello Beautiful Souls,

There's something deeply unsatisfying about a static altar. You set it up with care, arrange everything just so, and then... it sits there. Gathering dust. Looking the same in July as it did in January. The seasons turn, your life changes, the wheel keeps spinning, but your altar remains frozen in time like a museum display.

If that bothers you, good. It should.

A living practice requires a living altar. And nature herself is showing you exactly how to do this—nothing in the natural world stays the same year-round. Trees don't keep their spring blossoms through winter. Animals don't maintain summer behaviors in the cold. The earth herself transforms constantly, and your altar can too.

Why Seasonal Altars Matter

Working with the seasons isn't just about being witchy or following tradition. It's about staying connected to the actual rhythm of the world you live in.

When your altar reflects the season, you're:

Staying present. A seasonal altar keeps you aware of where you are in the year's cycle. It's easy to lose track of time, especially if you work indoors or live in a climate-controlled bubble. Your altar becomes a tangible reminder: this is autumn, this is the time of harvest and release.

Working with available energy. Each season carries different energy. Spring is about new beginnings and rapid growth. Summer is full power and abundance. Autumn is harvest and letting go. Winter is rest and inner work. When your altar aligns with the season, you're working with the prevailing current instead of against it.

Keeping your practice fresh. Honestly, changing your altar regularly keeps witchcraft from becoming stale routine. It gives you regular opportunities to reassess, refresh, and re-engage with your practice.

Honoring the cycle. If you work with any earth-based spirituality, acknowledging the seasons is fundamental. Your altar becomes a physical representation of your relationship with the turning wheel.

The Basic Seasonal Shift

You don't need to completely tear down and rebuild your altar eight times a year (though you can if that calls to you). Sometimes the shift can be subtle.

Colors: This is the easiest change. Swap your altar cloth, candles, or decorative elements to reflect seasonal colors.

Spring: pastels, fresh greens, yellows, light blues

Summer: bright colors, golds, oranges, vibrant greens

Autumn: deep reds, oranges, browns, burgundy, gold

Winter: whites, silvers, deep blues, evergreen, black

Natural elements: Bring in what's actually happening outside your window.

Spring: fresh flowers, budding branches, robin's eggs (fake or real shells), seeds, rainwater

Summer: seashells, bright flowers, sun-dried herbs, fruits, sand

Autumn: fallen leaves, acorns, pine cones, dried corn, apples, gourds

Winter: evergreen branches, snow (if you have it), bare branches, pinecones, holly, birch bark

Scents: Change your incense, oils, or candle scents seasonally.

Spring: floral, fresh, light—jasmine, lilac, rain

Summer: bright and warm—citrus, mint, grass, ocean

Autumn: earthy and spicy—cinnamon, clove, cedar, apple

Winter: deep and grounding—pine, frankincense, myrrh, peppermint

Building a Wheel of the Year Altar

If you follow the sabbats (the eight seasonal holidays in many pagan traditions), you can build your altar shifts around these turning points.

Imbolc (February 1-2) - Early Spring The first stirrings of spring. Themes: new light returning, early hope, purification, inspiration.

Altar additions: White candles (lots of them), Brigid's crosses, seeds for planting, snowdrops or early spring flowers if available, milk or cream, poetry or creative writing, anything related to fire and water together.

Ostara (Spring Equinox, March 19-22) - Full Spring Balance of light and dark, explosive growth beginning. Themes: fertility, balance, new beginnings, rebirth.

Altar additions: Eggs (decorated or plain), spring flowers (daffodils, tulips, crocuses), rabbits or hares, pastel colors, seeds sprouting, representations of balance, butterflies.

Beltane (May 1) - Late Spring/Early Summer Peak fertility, passion, life force at its wildest. Themes: sexuality, passion, vitality, union, fire.

Altar additions: Fresh flowers (especially roses and hawthorn), ribbons, honey, anything red or green, phallic and yonic symbols if that's your thing, maypole imagery, fire.

Litha (Summer Solstice, June 19-22) - Peak Summer Longest day, maximum light and power. Themes: abundance, power, success, male energy, the sun at its height.

Altar additions: Sunflowers, yellow and gold everything, sun symbols, solar deities, honey, mead, fresh fruits, herbs at their peak, feathers, representations of fire and light.

Lammas/Lughnasadh (August 1-2) - Early Harvest First harvest, particularly grain. Themes: gratitude, sacrifice, skill, craftsmanship, first fruits.

Altar additions: Bread (especially if you bake it yourself), wheat, corn, grains, golden colors, the first harvest from your garden, beer or ale, corn dollies, scythes or sickles.

Mabon (Autumn Equinox, September 21-24) - Full Harvest Balance again, but this time tipping toward darkness. Themes: gratitude, balance, preparation, reflection on what you've grown.

Altar additions: Apples, vines, gourds, corn, autumn leaves, acorns, wine, pomegranates, balance scales, cornucopias, rich reds and golds.

Samhain (October 31-November 1) - Death/Ancestor Time The veil is thin, the year dies, ancestors are close. Themes: death, ancestry, divination, endings, the spirit world.

Altar additions: Photos of deceased loved ones, skulls, black candles, pomegranates, apples, divination tools, autumn leaves, representations of death deities, offerings for the dead, carved pumpkins.

Yule (Winter Solstice, December 19-22) - Deepest Winter Shortest day, death and rebirth of the sun. Themes: rebirth within darkness, hope, rest, the return of light.

Altar additions: Evergreens, holly, mistletoe, pine cones, Yule log, candles (especially red, green, white, gold), representations of the sun, bells, winter berries, cinnamon sticks.

Beyond the Wheel: Working With Actual Local Seasons

Here's something most Wheel of the Year content won't tell you: if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, the traditional dates are reversed. If you live in a tropical climate, you might not have four distinct seasons at all. If you live in the desert, your seasons look nothing like the pastoral European model most sabbat descriptions assume.

The most powerful seasonal work aligns with what's actually happening where you live.

Pay attention to your local reality:

When do the rains come where you live?

When does it get truly cold or truly hot?

What grows and when?

What are the animals doing?

When do the local plants bloom, fruit, or go dormant?

Build your altar shifts around these actual observable changes, not a calendar that might be irrelevant to your bioregion.

If you live in Southern California, your "spring" might be the brief green period after winter rains. If you live in Minnesota, spring might not feel real until late April. If you live in Florida, you might work with wet season/dry season rather than traditional four seasons.

Practical Tips for Seasonal Transitions

Don't wait for the exact day. You can start transitioning your altar a week or two before the official sabbat or season change. Nature doesn't flip a switch at midnight—why should you?

Keep a core that stays constant. Not everything has to change. Maybe your main deity statue, your pentacle, your chalice—these can remain while seasonal elements rotate around them. This creates continuity while still marking change.

Save seasonal items. Get a box or bins for each season. When you take down your autumn altar, pack those leaves, gourds, and orange candles away for next year. This makes the transition easier and less expensive over time.

Forage responsibly. If you're bringing in natural items, take only what you need, never from endangered plants, and be aware of local regulations (some parks prohibit taking anything, even fallen items).

Let things die. If you have fresh flowers or plants on your altar, let them naturally wither and die as part of the seasonal cycle. There's magic in decay too. When they're fully done, compost them or return them to the earth.

Document the changes. Take photos of your altar at each season or sabbat. Over the years, you'll build a visual record of your practice evolving. It's also helpful for remembering what worked and what didn't.

Minimal Effort Seasonal Shifts

Not everyone has the time, energy, or space for elaborate seasonal altars. Here are stripped-down versions:

One candle method: Keep the same basic altar year-round, but change only the candle color to match the season. Light it regularly and let the color itself hold the seasonal energy.

Nature walk method: Once per season (or sabbat), go outside and collect one item—a leaf, stone, feather, whatever calls to you. Add it to your altar. That single item represents the entire season. At the next turn, return it to nature and find a new one.

Color cloth method: Have four pieces of fabric in seasonal colors. Drape whichever one is appropriate over your existing altar. Everything else stays the same.

Rotating central piece: Keep your altar mostly static, but have one central position that changes—a figurine, a large candle, a bowl of seasonal items. Only that one thing shifts with the seasons.

When Your Practice and the Season Align

There's something powerful that happens when you work magic that's in harmony with the season's energy.

Spring magic: New projects, new relationships, planting seeds (literal or metaphorical), cleansing, renewal, creativity, hope.

Summer magic: Success spells, confidence, abundance, passion, protection (the sun protects), empowerment, solar magic, manifestation.

Autumn magic: Gratitude work, banishing what didn't serve you, preparing for hard times, preserving resources, wisdom, reflection, letting go.

Winter magic: Rest, dream work, inner journeys, ancestor work, shadow work, planning for spring, death and rebirth, introspection.

When you cast a spell for new beginnings in spring while your altar is full of spring energy and the actual world outside is greening and growing, you're working with a triple amplification. That's efficient magic.

The Altar as Teacher

A seasonal altar teaches you to pay attention. When you commit to changing your altar with the seasons, you have to actually notice when the seasons change. You have to look outside. You have to observe.

This makes you a better witch. You become someone who knows when the first frost comes, when the robins return, when the light starts to shift. You become someone who lives in relationship with time and nature rather than just moving through a series of identical climate-controlled days.

Your altar stops being decoration and becomes a conversation with the living world.

And that's when the real magic happens—not in the perfect arrangement of seasonal gourds, but in the awareness that you are part of something vast, cyclical, and constantly transforming.

Let your altar transform too.

Blessed Be.

[esoteric-chaos]

Imbolc - Spoonie Witch Friendly

Imbolc is usually celebrated between February 1st & 2nd, in the Northern Hemisphere (In Southern hemisphere around August 1).

Imbolc is a fire festival celebrating the home, hearth, and the halfway point between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.

Is is the celebration of the return of the light and sun. A great time to honour the coldest days and the arrival of spring.

Imbolc Correspondences

Colours

White

Gold

Silver

Pastel Colors

Herbal

Rosemary

Basil

Bay leaves

Cinnamon

Myrrh

Hay

Chamomile

Angelica

Lavender

Daffodil

Blackberry

Willow 

Edibles

Blackberry

Root vegetables

Dried fruits

Stews

Mead

Fermented foods

Grains

Dairy (specifically ewe's milk)

Cider

Herbal tea

Canned foods

Oats

Animals

Deer

Cow

Sheep

Lark

Swan

Bear

Wolves

Groundhog

All burrowing and hibernating animals

Crystals

Gold

Silver

Brass

Amethyst

Moonstone

Garnet

Ruby

Symbols

Candle flame

Seeds

Besom/broom

Brigid’s cross

Serpent

Sheep (due to Imbolc’s association with ewe’s milk)

White flowers

Snowflakes

Flowing water and springs

Sunwheel

Star

Evergreens

Spiritual meanings

Creativity

Awakenings

Introspection

Fresh beginnings

Perseverance

Patience

Renewal

Revision

Healing

Frugality

Self-care

Youth

Scents

Cinnamon

Rosemary

Basil

Cedar

Mint

Gods / Goddesses / Spirits

Brigid (Celtic)

Aphrodite (Greek)

Bast (Egyptian)

Ceres (Roman)

Cerridwen (Celtic)

Gaia

Hestia (Greek)

Vesta (Roman)

Venus (Roman)

Athena (Greek)

Demeter (Greek)

Persephone (Greek)

Aenghus Og (Irish)

Eros (Greek)

Faunus (Roman)

Pan (Greek)

Cernunnos (Celtic)

Osiris (Egyptian)

Asmodeus (Demon, personal UPG)

Need some suggestions to celebrate? I got you covered.

High energy celebrations and ritual

Astral projection/travel

Divinations

Cord cuttings

Create a Brigid’s Cross

Gardening (best time to start to plant seeds)

Make resolution(s) and goal(s) for the year ahead (I'll fight to the DEATH about my personal opinion that this is a better time for resolutions than New Years itself. Best time for renewal and goal setting)

Ritual to say farewell to winter

Make bread

Spring clean! It’s the best time for it

Low energy celebrations 

Starting a manifestation journal

Burning a bay leaf with manifestation on it

Planning in your planner

Lighting a candle in honour

Make a cup of tea

Practice self care

No spoon celebrations 

Prayer

Putting on sun lamp

Greet the sun at sunrise

Rest

How you celebrate the holiday does not matter. You can choose to do any activity that feels right. These are only suggestions and remember that you're enough no matter what.

Also please note some stuff is UPG. A great book is Year of the Witch by Temperance Alden for honouring the celebrations and if you wanted to work more seasonally. It's not wiccan based and has plenty of resources for every witch.

[dionysianivy]

𝐈𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐜

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

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What is Imbolc?

Imbolc is a festival that marks the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, occurring around February 1-2. Known as Brigid’s Day or Candlemas, it celebrates the first stirrings of spring and the return of light. The name Imbolc translates to “in the belly,” symbolizing new life, growth, and the creative potential that is awakening within the earth. It is a time of purification and renewal, where the energy of the earth begins to rise, bringing warmth and vitality to the whole world.

Imbolc is often dedicated to Brigid, the goddess of fire, healing, poetry, and craftsmanship. Brigid is associated with both the hearth and the forge, embodying the transformative powers of fire and light. As the days grow longer and the sun strengthens, we honor her influence in bringing fertility and growth to the land. The first signs of spring, such as the lactation of ewes and the appearance of snowdrops, are seen as blessings from Brigid, signaling that life is returning.

Imbolc is also a festival of light, a time to celebrate the increasing daylight through the lighting of candles, bonfires, and lanterns. As the earth begins to thaw and the seeds of spring stir beneath the soil, Imbolc offers a space for spiritual growth and creative awakening. It is a perfect time to clear away the stagnant energies of winter, refresh the soul, and prepare for the vibrant months to come. The act of lighting candles not only honors the growing light but also serves as a reminder of the inner light within us all, waiting to shine brightly in the coming seasons.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Goddess Brigid

Brigid, one of the most revered deities in the Celtic pantheon, is also known as Lady of the Sacred Flame. She is the goddess of healing, fire, smithcraft, creativity, animals, hearth and poetry, Imbolc is her Sabbat, a time dedicated to honoring her influence on creativity and new beginnings. Her symbols are fire, poetry, lambs and fertility. Brigid is often depicted with a flame emerging from her head or a serpent coiled around her, representing the powerful energy she brings. She is also a goddess of protection, childbirth, women, blacksmithing and life.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

The Return of Light and the First Signs of Spring

Imbolc marks the shift from winter to the first signs of spring. Days start to get longer, and you can feel the earth beginning to wake up, even though winter isn’t completely gone. It’s the time when the sun starts to grow stronger, and we begin to see early signs of new life. During Imbolc, many light candles or bonfires in Brigid's honor, celebrating the return of light and the growing strength of the sun as the days grow longer.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Brigid's Cross

A traditional symbol of Imbolc, Brigid’s Cross is woven from reeds or straw and represents both protection and blessings. It’s believed to offer protection from fire and lightning, making it an essential symbol of Brigid’s influence. In Ireland, it was common to hang Brigid’s Cross on the rafters of homes to invoke her protective energy.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Brigid's Flame

According to legend, Brigid lit a flame on the hill of Kildare, pledging to keep it burning in her honor. This flame was said to burn continuously, symbolizing her eternal presence and influence over the cycles of life. The fire became a sacred symbol, tended by the Brigidine Sisters for centuries, representing not just physical warmth, but the power of creativity and healing.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Magic Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Moon, Venus

Season: Midpoint between Winter and Spring

Element: Earth, Fire

Time of Day: Dawn

Tarot: The Star, The Empress, The Ace of Wands

Colors: White, Light Yellow, Green, Gold, Silver, Lilac, Pale Pink, Purple

Herbs: Chamomile, Clover, Angelica, Heather, Basil, Bay Laurel, Willow, Rosemary, Milk Thistle, Coltsfut, Lavender,

Fruits: Orange, Lemon, Pomegranate, Apple, Pear, Blackberry (Brigid's favorite fruit)

Vegetables: Leek, Potato, Carrot, Turnips, Garlic

Runes: Sowilo, Berkano, Algiz, Kenaz

Crystals: Carnelian, Amethyst, Garnet, Onyx, Ruby, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Milk Quartz

Trees: Rowan, Willow, Birch

Goddesses: Brigid, Demeter, Hestia, Vesta, Aphrodite, Ceres, Venus, Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Gaia, Aradia, Athena, Minerva

Gods: Faunus, Eros, Pan, Cupid, Aenghus Og

Dragon: Fafnir

Flowers: Snowdrops, Crocus, Daisy, Dandelion, Chicory

Animals: Lamb, Sheep, Cow, Deer, Groundhog, Hedgehog, Snake, Swan, Wolf, Bear, Boar

Magical Powers: Purification, Renewal, Creativity, Fertility, Awakening, New Beginnings, Hearth and Home, Healing, Hope, Inspiration, Cleansing, Protection

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Activities To Do:

🐑 Light candles or a bonfire to honor the return of the sun.

🐑 Make an Imbolc altar.

🐑 Rest and enjoy the midwinter season doing cozy activities.

🐑 Wear the colors of the season.

🐑 Cook or bake seasonal dishes, especially fresh bread, cheese, or other dairy products.

🐑 Make Brigid's cross.

🐑 Take a walk in nature and collect branches and stones to add to your altar.

🐑 Donate to animal shelters or send wishes for the animals born during this season, especially lambs.

🐑 Eat fresh bread or drink milk

🐑 Clean your house to invite new positive energy.

🐑 CREATE ANYTHING!! whether it’s art, crafts, edits or poetry.

🐑 Write the sigil of Imbolc somewhere visible to attract its energy( I usually do this on a piece of paper that I put on my altar or on my arm)

🐑 Take a bath with lavender or cinnamon essential oil

🐑 Read about the goddess Brigid

🐑 If it’s a sunny day, celebrate the festival of light by spending time outdoors and letting the sun purify you.

🐑 Do offerings for your deities

🐑 Dance to festive music, feel the joy of the season, and let your inner fire shine :D

🐑 Try spinning or crafting with wool to honor traditional Imbolc crafts.

🐑 Look for seasonal flowers like snowdrops or crocus and bring some into your home for decoration.

🐑 Plant seeds if the weather allows, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.

🐑 Do spells for fresh starts and set intentions

🐑 Worship Goddess Brigid or any deities you feel connected to during this time.

🐑 Read poetry to celebrate the creative energy of the season.

🐑 Make an Imbolc Magick Spell Jar

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂

Food and Drinks:

Dairy products (or vegetarian alternatives), like milk, cheese, and yogurt, freshly baked bread, muffins, waffles, blackberry jam, blackberry cakes (anything with blackberries), lemon cake, poppy seed cakes, biscuits coated in sesame seeds, dishes with bold spices, seeds such as sunflower, poppy, and sesame (for Imbolc seeds are very meaningdul), red cabbage, oats, butter, honey, garlic, scones, pancakes, crepes, pickles, cheese pie, oatcakes, bannock, mashed potatoes, colcannon, chili peppers, eggs, apple tarts, spiced nuts, roasted vegetables, hearty soups, grain-based salads, and citrus fruits, such as orange, lemon or pomelo). Don’t forget to make a wish while flipping your pancakes on Imbolc! <3

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useful sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

gifs credit: Pinterest

Tip Jar🌲

[salixsociety]

A Case Against Closed Animals

On why limiting people's spiritual access to animals might not help keep them safe after all.

Cultural appropriation remains, rightfully, a hot button topic in the pagan and magical community. For many, doing no harm to minority cultures is perhaps the single most important factor they orient their research around, and I believe it should be. With the desire to prevent cultural appropriation and eradication comes the desire to completely revoke certain majority groups' access to things - including animal spirits. But could it be that closing access to animals and their spirits is based on a misunderstanding of the purpose of closed practices? Or worse: could it be unintentionally putting those animals at risk of further harm?

What is cultural appropriation?

Cultural appropriation, often just referred to as 'appropriation' in the community, is the phenomenon of members of a dominant culture adopting elements of a minority culture without understanding or acknowledgment of the original context. This can be done intentionally, to water down a culture, exploit it, make fun of it, etc; or it can be done unintentionally. Regardless of how the appropriation is committed, it is almost unilaterally harmful. Just a few ways in which cultural appropriation harms the cultures which it affects include:

Stripping culturally significant expressions and heritage from its original meaning, thus taking away awareness of it, tokenizing or trivializing it, and suppressing it.

Exploiting cultural heritage for personal benefit, be it social, economical, or otherwise, which can give feelings of exploitation and loss.

Perpetuating stereotypes and misunderstandings about the culture of origin.

Reinforcing preexisting power imbalances between the dominant culture and the minority culture, for example by symbolically stripping the minority culture of its autonomy, mocking it, or forcing assimilation through adopting their culture into the majority culture.

Cultural appropriation is next to impossible to concisely cover in a few paragraphs, so I implore the reader to do their reading of indigenous and other minority voices speaking on cultural appropriation and the associated harm. Nevertheless I wanted to lay this out for the sake of background context, to build the rest of this post off of.

What are closed practices?

Following our newfound understanding of what appropriation is, we can understand what closed practices are. Closed practices refer to any kind of cultural heritage that members of that culture completely close off to outsiders, and restrict the access of. This can be, and often is, to prevent cultural appropriation, but it can also be done for other kinds of cultural preservation, or based on initiatory custom. Closed practices are not limited to indigenous or other minority cultures. Dominant cultural practices can also be closed, like Catholicism, which requires catechism and baptism to enter.

In the case of minority cultures, practices are generally closed to conserve them and keep them safe from various forms of colonization or eradication. The most famous example in the community, I would argue, is smudging. Smudging is a practice among select Indigenous American communities that involves the burning of herbs and resins to generate smoke with them, which is used for spiritual purposes within their cosmological paradigm. Most notably, they use white sage (salvia apiana), an herb that grows only in Southwestern North America. 'Smudging' has been appropriated into various New Age and neopagan practices in recent decades, and has been the subject of much controversy. Rightfully, the Native Americans whose heritage smudging belongs to call this appropriation - smudging is something that only makes sense in their own religious behavior, and it's being misrepresented as a universal smoke cleansing practice that has a fundamental place in these predominantly Euro-Western spiritualities - most of which have their own smoke cleansing practices completely unrelated to smudging, which was never meant to be cleansing in the first place, according to most. Moreover, neopagans and New Agers using white sage are using an herb that has no roots in their beliefs, and is now being illegally poached from its natural habitat for commercial use. Not only is this restricting Natives access to the herb, it's also rapidly causing its populations to decline, and causing it to enter endangerment.

So why not close animals?

So far, I've made it seem like I am a huge proponent of limiting the access members of dominant cultures have to endangered cultural heritage (because I am), so why am I making this post against doing the same thing by closing animals? And to explain that, I'd like to return to the white sage example as a medium to make this make sense. We have to ask ourselves: why are smudging and white sage closed? What are the differences and commonalities between the two? White sage and smudging are, after all, not the same thing - even if they are often conflated.

Smudging is a practice. It is cultural heritage that originated with and belongs to the Native Americans whose land white sage grows on. They developed it alongside all their other beliefs and practices, it's theirs by right. Smudging is closed because, as a general rule, Native American spirituality at large is closed to outsiders for the sake of its preservation, and smudging is part of that belief system. White sage is a material. It is unique to the land that Native Americans are indigenous to. Plants can be cultural heritage, for example in the case of individual plants with cultural significance, heritage crops developed by a specific culture, and, indeed, practices that involve the usage of said plant, like smudging with white sage. For that reason, the use of white sage as a smoking agent - especially when called 'smudging' is closed, like we established. But why is the entire plant closed? I and many others would argue that white sage as a material was closed for its preservation - to try to limit the poaching being done on wild plants, and prevent it from going extinct, as well as to preserve the access to it that Native Americans should have, given it is them whose cultural practices actually revolve around it.

But would the entire material of white sage be closed if it wasn't being aggressively poached? I would say not. There are plenty of plants and materials that have a very significant role in Native American spirituality as well, that aren't closed altogether like white sage is - in fact, most plants on the American continent have uses in Native American spirituality and medicine, and they are just as open to everyone else on the continent to use, as long as they do not use their access to these materials to infringe upon the specific practices the Indigenous have that use these plants.

Ultimately, all, yes all, precolonial cultures on the planet earth have a rich tapestry of engagement with all the various materials their environment had to offer. Just as Native Americans have and had an immediate familiarity with the plants, animals, mushrooms, and natural features of their land, so did the various European cultures with their own land before (and to a degree after) Christian imperialism took over the continent. Once upon a time, awareness of one's environment and an understanding of how to use and steward it was crucial to every human's survival. In fact, I would argue that closeness with one's natural environment, wherever it may be, is a fundamental human trait and human right.

So how does this relate back to animals? Well, really, I just want the same logic as applies to white sage to be applied to animals. Just as any person of non-Indigenous descent on the American continent wouldn't be barred from going out and picking berries from the native plants, I think they shouldn't be barred from engaging with the animals on the land they live on - including spiritually. And I have a few reasons for that, which I will cover shortly. But first:

Where should the line be drawn?

I feel like nuance and critical thinking are at an all-time low in the current community of practitioners, which is no surprise given the political climate we live in. Divisiveness is a big problem among ourselves, and in my experience it happens a lot that people take any argument that so much as looks like something that backs them up in order to get out of not doing whatever the hell they want. For that reason I would like to make the following abundantly clear: practices surrounding animal spirits can and should still be closed if necessary. Just because I stand here arguing for animals at large to not be closed, doesn't mean that I don't think closed practices can center animals in any way. After all, animals are still a part of practices and other kinds of intangible heritage - things that can still be harmed through appropriation.

Cultural practices that center animal spirits, folklore about animal spirits, culturally specific animal spirits, cultural expressions surrounding animals, all of these things have the right to be closed, and I will defend those boundaries with fervor. Similarly, animals that are endangered and culturally significant to minority cultures should be able to be closed, just like white sage is - to keep them in the caring hands of those who know them best and protect them from ecological disaster.

Especially for the following section, as it centers religion and spirituality, I would also like to make a sharp distinction between culturally specific animal spirits, and animal species at large. For example, there is a big difference between the Coyote (capital C) that exists in Native American spirituality as a culturally specific literary motif and mythological figure, and the coyote as a regular animal with its own individual spirit, that anyone who lives in coyote territory could theoretically encounter. Coyote (capital C) can and should be closed if the culture of origin deems it so. That said, I do not think that coyote (no capital) should be closed altogether.

Environmental Awareness and Protection

For me personally, the biggest reason to not limit people's access to the animals around them is the ecological danger associated with it. It has long been demonstrated that a lack of understanding about how ecosystems work, the importance of wildlife, et cetera creates large scale ecological problems over time. People who have no sense of connection with their environment don't understand how the things they do harm their environment, nor why the harm being done is even of any consequence.

Whether we like it or not, European settlers have indeed colonized the Americas, and done irreparable ecological damage. But they're here now. Revoking people's access to the environment they happen to find themselves in, in an attempt to shield it from them, has been proven to not work, as people who have no care or sense of connection with the environment end up littering, exploiting it, overhunting, and cultivating deeply problematic and dysfunctional relationships with the land they're on.

The very first step towards creating a society wherein everyone understands the importance of the environment, and all of the balances, connections, and mechanisms that underpin it, is fostering a cultural climate where people feel an interest in their environment. In order to motivate people to be willing to steward the landscape, they need to feel as though they are part of it. Encouraging people to learn about the animals around them, and indeed forming bonds with them through various means, helps them to create attachments to those animals and feel appreciation and a sense of responsibility towards them, which I would argue is more important now than ever.

The Inevitability of Engagement

Barring those who are working with animal spirits they have no geographical proximity to (something we'll cover later), I think it is inevitable that people will run into the animals they share a territory with. For those who live rurally that is a much bigger theme than those who live in highly urbanized areas, but even there, nature persists and animals prove relevant to the collective culture and lifestyle.

Not only is it important in the case of engagement and interaction that the person encountering the animal has a sense of respect for it, as cultivated by awareness and the like as covered earlier. But there's also another important argument to be made that I think deserves the spotlight.

Functional Animist Theology

One thing that pre-Christian Europe had in common with Native American spiritualities, is that both continents' religions were all animistic - at least as far as I know. Animistic religions (or animism) are religions that believe that the universe (and thus all of its inhabitants) are permeated by one or several spiritual forces. They often share themes of deep interconnectedness, and believe that the spiritual forces that connect the universe affect the course of life. They often also share beliefs that things that science doesn't consider to be 'alive' still consider a kind of spiritual essence or 'soul'.

An important aspect of animistic religion, dare I say a defining characteristic, is that because all things by definition are affected by spiritual forces, means that nothing can ever be 'mundane' in the sense that modern witchcraft might create a false dichotomy between 'magic' and 'mundane'. Animistic religions believe that all things affect one another by definition, all things are connected, and all things have spirit in some sense or another - and by extension, this means that even things as innocuous as sharing land with an animal or encountering it somewhere are inherently spiritual phenomena. In much the same way as making tea with foraged herbs cannot be made a nonspiritual act in an animistic religion (because you are engaging with the spirit of the plant by engaging with the plant itself), engaging with an animal is a spiritual act, because an animal is a spirit, and you, the engager, are a spirit.

Factually, realistically, from both an Indigenous animism perspective, and a European pagan perspective, there is no way to engage with an animal that is not spiritual. Thusly, closing an animal would, if that were even possible, completely limit someone's ability to interact with that animal in any way. But in reality, it is not possible to not interact with an animal you share land with. Even if you never encountered it face to face, your presence on the land, the changes you bring about to the land, the smell you leave, the sounds you make, they all affect the animals you share territory with. If you are a pagan, you cannot live life nonspiritually, not if you truly believe in your own religion.

Would it not be so much better if we all shared a kind of respect for the natural world that makes us want to do right by it on our own, no shame nor guilt nor monetary incentive necessary? And moreover, do you not believe that creating a society in which we all respect our environment thusly, and we see all things that we coexist with as equal to us, wouldn't also make us want to respect one another and our cultures of origin?

Respectful Engagement and Intention

Lastly, it needs to be said: intention matters, and all those interested in working with animal spirits should do their due diligence. This is especially the case for working with animal spirits you bear no geographical proximity to. It's important to question your own motivations. Why do I want to work with this spirit? What about this spirit appeals to me? Can I find those same traits in an animal that is more relevant and local to me?

It happens frequently that people seek to spiritually engage themselves with animals they have no real relationship with, just because they think they're cool or mystical, and there is a real precedent here for racism and fetishization. It has happened far more often than I can count that Norse polytheists living in a city on the East Coast inquire as to whether their fylgja could be a coyote, or an English Hellenist seeking to work with a bald eagle spirit. More often than not these animals are exoticised and subconsciously associated with Native American spirituality, which retains a stereotype as being highly mystical and spiritually superior, or more powerful through its exoticism.

It is always, forever, important to question why you believe something to be relevant to you, and if there isn't a more local alternative that is actually part of your own native culture. Just as I will always advocate for practitioners of magic across the world to prioritize looking into their local traditions and local plants, you should prioritize those things actually relevant to your daily life and your environment when engaging yourself with animal spirits. Not only does it protect your local environment and traditions which are undoubtedly in significant danger, it prevents needless appropriation, fetishization, and tokenization.

Conclusion

The definition of cultural appropriation, as well as the functionality of closing practices and materials to outsiders, is something that the modern community of pagans and practitioners has not yet fully ironed out. We should call into question the difference between cultural heritage and endangered natural phenomena, and worldly features that no one should get to own. And, further, we should let our conclusions on this inform our conduct with regard to cultural preservation. Closing entire categories of animals, as opposed to just practices and heritage surrounding them, is not a productive way to attempt to protect them, and it may just end up doing more harm to the animals in question. It exposes them to ignorance and indifference from outsiders, and sets unrealistic expectations of spiritual avoidance. Ideally, all those on the planet earth would be encouraged to cultivate intentional, invested relationships with the land they live on, and use that as a foundation for functional, respectful spirituality.

----

Further reading:

"From Cultural Exchange to Transculturation: A Review and Reconceptualisation of Cultural Appropriation". Communication Theory. Richard A. Rogers.

Why Cultural Appropriation is Disrespectful

How the Rage for Sage Threatens Native American Traditions and Recipes

"Plastic Shamans and Astroturf Sun Dances: New Age Commercialization of Native American Spirituality" Lisa Aldred.

"Understanding and attributing cultural heritage values to individual plants" Pamela Smith.

“Seeds Have Stories”: Connecting Cultural Diversity and Biodiversity

Understanding the Importance of Environmental Awareness

Coyote in Navajo Religion and Cosmology

Sweetgrass and White Sagebrush: Native Plants with Medicinal Uses

Plant of the Month: White Sage

White Sage: A Closer Look

[im-a-dream-wizard]

My Personal Guide to Works pertaining to German, Bavarian, and Alpine Folk Magick

This is not an exhaustive list, just a list of sources that inform my practice. Readers will benefit from being able to read German (and sometimes Bavarian/Boarisch German).

Not all works are specific/exclusive to these folk practices and may include other traditions in addition.

I will be updating this list as I recall or find works to add to it. It is not alphabetized or organized in any specific way. If you’d like to recommend a title for this list, let me know!

Additionally, I cannot speak or vouch for any of the views or opinions of the authors. Some of these sources are certainly outdated and could potentially contain content that is offensive or bigoted, which is not something I endorse. Finally, there are some sources that are of debatable historical accuracy, so take them with a grain of salt.

Books

Pow-Wows or Long Lost Friend, John George Hohman

The Secret History of Christmas Baking by Linda Raedisch

The Old Magic of Christmas by Linda Raedisch

Night of the Witches by Linda Raedisch (a great resource for Walpurgisnacht)

Mountain Magic: Celtic Shamanism in the Austrian Alps by Christian Brunner

Alpine Magic by Christian Brunner

Pagan Christmas by Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling

Göttin Holle by Gunivortus Goos (also available in English)

Hausgeister! by Janin Pisarek, Florian Schäfer, and Hannah Gritsch

Queens of the Wild by Ronald Hutton

Witchcraft and the Shamanic Journey Kenneth Johnson

Niederbayerische Sagen by Michael Waltinger

Witchcraft Medicine by Wolf-Dieter Storl, Christian Rätsch, Claudia Müller-Ebeling (available in both English and German)

Der Heilige Hain by Christian Rätsch

Von Sonnwend bis Rauhnacht by Valentin Kirschgruber

Witches and Pagans: Women in European Folk Religion, 700-1100 by Max Dashu

Spirit Beings in European Folklore 2 by Benjamin Adamah (I encourage you to read their sources as well, it’s important to find primary sources)

Deutsche Mythologie by Jacob Grimm (English as “Teutonic Mythology”) Please take Jacob Grimm with a grain of salt.

Handwörterbuch des deutschen Aberglaubens (There’s a lot of caveats to this, as it is highly outdated, but it is still a handy resource for reference. HOWEVER, good luck finding it. You might find some volumes available online but there are very few complete reprints of this encyclopedia, at least that are affordable.)

Tiefe Wälder, dunkle Legenden by Josef Probst

Malleus Maleficarum by Heinrich Kramer (This is basically a 15th century manual to “witch hunting” and contains bigotry and a lot of factual inaccuracies. However, it has some content that can provide some insight into folk magic and superstition of the time. It is very violent and explains the torture process of those accused of witchcraft, so be warned)

Volksmedizinische Botanik der Germanen by Max Höfler

Trutmezzer by Frater Acher (Three Hands Press)

The Black Raven: A Study in the Folk Necromancy of Early Modern Germany by Alexander Cummins and Brian Johnson

Speculum Terræ: A Magical Earth-Mirror from the 17th Century by Frater Acher

The Language of the Corpse: The Power of the Cadaver in Germanic and Icelandic Sorcery by Cody Dickerson

The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil by Al Ridenour

Occult Germany by Christopher McIntosh

Journals and Scholarly Articles

Holda: Between Folklore and Linguistics by Thomas Leek

Perchten and Krampusse: Living Mask Traditions in Austria and Bavaria by Molly Carter

Divination: Mother Holle as Goddess of Seerdom by Ullrich R. Kleinhempel

Percht und Krampus Felix and Ulrich Müller

The Distribution of The Legends of Frau Holle, Frau Percht, and Related Figures by Erika Timm

Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments by John B. Smith

Holle's Cry: Unearthing a Birth Goddess in a German Jewish Naming Ceremony by Jill Hammer

Content Creators

Ella Harrison

The Witches’ Cookery

De Spökenkyker: A great resource for Silesian-German folk practice!

[thelanternsglow]

The days of Yule, The 12 days of Christmas and even The 13 days of Christmas.

Surprisingly, it’s not all partridges in pear trees.

welcome to one of the most magical times of the year! Yule isn’t just a single day; it’s a whole season of reconnecting with nature, honoring the cycles of life, and celebrating the light returning after the longest night. Whether you’re new to this or looking to deepen your traditions, each day of Yule gives you something special to focus on, from cozy nights by the fire to meaningful rituals and a sprinkle of magic.

You don’t need to follow every single day perfectly—this isn’t about strict rules. Think of it as a guide to help you flow through the season in a way that feels meaningful and fun for you. Light a candle, sip some mulled cider, and let’s dive into the 12 days of Yule!

Day 1: Winter Solstice (December 21) – The Longest Night

Theme: Rebirth of the Sun and New Beginnings

The Winter Solstice is all about the return of the light. After the longest night, the days finally start getting longer, and the sun is reborn. This is a powerful time to let go of the past and set intentions for the year ahead.

• What to do:

• Light a Yule log or candles to honor the sun’s rebirth. If you can’t have a fire, a candlelit dinner works beautifully.

• Reflect on the past year—what went well, what didn’t—and decide what you’re ready to leave behind. Write it down and burn it (safely!) in the fire.

• Make a list of intentions for the year ahead, focusing on growth, joy, and renewal.

• Why it matters:

The solstice reminds us that even the darkest times don’t last forever. Light always returns, and with it comes hope and possibility.

Day 2: Honoring Darkness (December 22) – Rest and Reflection

Theme: Embracing Stillness

After the excitement of the Solstice, this is a day to slow down and honor the darkness. Winter is a time for rest and renewal, and this day encourages you to pause and embrace the quiet.

• What to do:

• Meditate or journal about your personal “winter” moments—times when things felt dark but taught you valuable lessons.

• Take a long, cozy nap or enjoy a quiet evening with tea and blankets.

• Work on shadow work, exploring the parts of yourself you might usually ignore or avoid.

• Why it matters:

Darkness isn’t something to fear; it’s a space for healing and growth. This day reminds us to rest and honor all parts of ourselves, even the messy bits.

Day 3: Community and Kinship (December 23) – Gathering Together

Theme: Strengthening Bonds

Yule is a season of connection, and today is all about celebrating your relationships—family, chosen family, friends, and even ancestors.

• What to do:

• Host a simple gathering or share a meal with loved ones.

• Call or write to someone you haven’t connected with in a while.

• Light a candle for your ancestors and thank them for their role in your life.

• Why it matters:

This is the season for togetherness. Strengthening bonds reminds us we’re not alone, even in the coldest, darkest times.

Day 4: Hearth and Home (December 24) – The Heart of Winter

Theme: Nurturing and Protection

On this day, the focus is on your home as a sacred space. The hearth (or its modern equivalent, the kitchen) was traditionally the center of warmth, safety, and nourishment during winter.

• What to do:

• Cleanse and bless your home with incense, candles, or herbs like rosemary and sage.

• Cook something comforting—a stew, bread, or seasonal treats. Share it with those you love.

• Create a charm or talisman to protect your home through the coming year.

• Why it matters:

Your home is your sanctuary. This day reminds you to care for it and the people (and pets!) who make it special.

Day 5: Feast of Abundance (December 25) – Celebrate the Plenty

Theme: Gratitude and Generosity

The darkest days are behind us, and now it’s time to celebrate the abundance in our lives, even if it’s just the small things—food on the table, laughter, and love.

• What to do:

• Make a big feast and share it with family, friends, or neighbors.

• Give gifts, but focus on thoughtful, meaningful ones over expensive items.

• Take a moment to reflect on your blessings and express gratitude for them.

• Why it matters:

This day is a reminder that even in winter, there is still plenty to celebrate. It’s about finding joy in what you have and sharing it with others.

Day 6: Nature and the Wild Hunt (December 26) – The Spirit of Winter

Theme: Honoring the Wild and Untamed**

Winter is deeply connected to the wild spirits of nature, like the wind howling through the trees or animals surviving the harsh cold. This is a great day to connect with nature and honor the folklore of the Wild Hunt.

• What to do:

• Take a walk in the woods or any natural space, leaving offerings (like nuts or seeds) for wildlife or nature spirits.

• Learn about local winter folklore and reflect on its connection to the season.

• Connect with animal guides or meditate on the energy of the wild.

• Why it matters:

This day reminds us of our place within nature and the power of the untamed world around us.

Day 7: The Ancestors (December 27) – Honoring the Past

Theme: Connection to Heritage

Yule is a time to remember those who came before us. Your ancestors, whether they’re family or spiritual ancestors, are part of your story.

• What to do:

• Light a candle and say a prayer or blessing for your ancestors.

• Look into your family history or retell old family stories.

• Work on ancestral healing, releasing generational patterns or trauma.

• Why it matters:

We are never truly alone. Honoring ancestors connects us to a larger story, offering guidance and strength.

Day 8: Midwinter Magic (December 28) – The Veil is Thin

Theme: Divination and Manifestation

Yule is a magical time, and today is perfect for seeking guidance or working on manifestation.

• What to do:

• Practice divination—pull tarot cards, cast runes, or scry. Ask about the year ahead.

• Do a simple manifestation spell, focusing on your hopes for the coming year.

• Keep a dream journal, as messages might come through the dream world.

• Why it matters:

Winter is a liminal time, and the veil is thinner than usual. This is the perfect opportunity to seek guidance and shape your future.

Day 9: Sacred Fires (December 29) – Purification

Theme: Letting Go

This day is about releasing negativity and purifying yourself and your space to make room for the new.

• What to do:

• Burn herbs like sage, cedar, or juniper to cleanse your space.

• Write down what you’re ready to release (bad habits, toxic relationships, etc.) and burn the paper in a fire.

• Take a cleansing bath with salts and herbs.

• Why it matters:

You can’t welcome the new until you’ve let go of the old. This day is about clearing the slate.

Day 10: Renewal and Resolutions (December 30) – Looking Ahead

Theme: New Beginnings

With the year almost over, today is about envisioning your future and planting seeds for what you want to grow.

• What to do:

• Journal about your goals and dreams for the year ahead.

• Perform a ritual of renewal, like planting seeds indoors or blessing a symbolic item for your new path.

• Meditate on the energy of growth and transformation.

• Why it matters:

This day focuses on the possibilities ahead, reminding us that growth is always possible.

Day 11: Sun and Shadow (December 31) – Balance

Theme: Reflecting on Light and Dark

As the year ends, today is about acknowledging both the joys and struggles of the past year and finding balance within yourself.

• What to do:

• Reflect on both the light and dark moments of the year and what they taught you.

• Write down what you’re leaving behind and burn it in a final act of release.

• Celebrate your resilience—you made it through!

• Why it matters:

Life is a balance of light and dark. This day encourages us to honor both sides of that equation.

Day 12: New Beginnings (January 1) – The Year Ahead

Theme: Fresh Starts

The final day of Yule is all about stepping into the new year with purpose and optimism.

• What to do:

• Perform a ritual to welcome the year, like lighting a candle and speaking your intentions aloud.

• Have a celebratory meal to mark the end of Yule.

• Set your intentions for how you want to grow and thrive in the months ahead.

• Why it matters:

This day ties everything together, focusing on how you’ll carry the energy of Yule into the rest of the year.

Yule is ultimately about connection, reflection, and renewal, with each day offering a chance to deepen your experience of the season.

And that’s Yule in all its glory—12 days of light, shadow, celebration, and reflection. The beauty of this season is how it brings us back to what truly matters: connection, gratitude, and honoring the cycles of life. Whether you celebrate every day or just pick a few that resonate, Yule is about creating space for magic, meaning, and a fresh start.

So take a deep breath, embrace the coziness of winter, and carry the energy of Yule with you into the new year. After all, the light is growing stronger every day—and so are you. Happy Yule!

Tbe 12 and 13 days of Christmas

When people talk about Yule or the 12 Days of Christmas, it’s easy to get them a bit mixed up. Both are winter celebrations, they both last around 12 days, and they’re all about light, feasting, and making it through the darkest time of the year. But while they might seem similar on the surface, they come from very different roots.

Yule is a much older tradition, tied to nature, the Winter Solstice, and ancient pagan customs. The 12 Days of Christmas, on the other hand, come from Christian celebrations of Christ’s birth and Epiphany. Over the centuries, though, the two have ended up sharing a lot—probably because they both focus on the same thing: hope, light, and warmth in the heart of winter.

In this piece, we’ll break down the days of Yule, explore how they connect (or don’t) with the 12 Days of Christmas, and look at how the spirit of these traditions lives on today. Whether you’re all about the Solstice vibes, the carols and gifts, or a bit of both, you’ll find something to celebrate here. Let’s dive in!

The traditional 12 Days of Christmas run from December 25th (Christmas Day) to January 5th (Twelfth Night), with the final day being Epiphany (January 6th). This period is part of the Christian liturgical calendar, celebrating the birth of Christ and culminating in the visit of the Three Wise Men to baby Jesus. It’s a time of feasting, reflection, and community, marked by specific religious observances and cultural traditions.

Here’s a breakdown of what the 12 days are about, starting with Christmas Day:

Day 1: Christmas Day (December 25th)

The big day itself! Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. This day marks the start of the Christmas season in the Christian tradition, and it’s often spent in church for a special service and with family for meals and gift-giving. In many cultures, it’s a day of rest, reflection, and sharing joy with loved ones.

Day 2: St. Stephen’s Day (December 26th)

This day honors St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. In some countries, it’s a public holiday, and the day is traditionally marked by helping the poor or reflecting on charity. It’s also a time for family gatherings, and in the UK and Ireland, it’s known as Boxing Day, where people often give gifts to those in need and enjoy sporting events like football or horse racing.

Day 3: St. John the Evangelist Day (December 27th)

This day is dedicated to St. John, the disciple of Jesus who is often considered the “beloved” disciple. Some Christian traditions focus on his writings, especially his Gospel, and reflect on themes of love, truth, and discipleship. It’s a quieter day, often for relaxation after the celebrations of Christmas.

Day 4: The Feast of the Holy Innocents (December 28th)

This day commemorates the Holy Innocents, the children killed by King Herod in his attempt to murder the infant Jesus. It’s a solemn day, remembering those who died unjustly. In some parts of the world, it’s observed with prayers for children and the vulnerable.

Day 5: St. Thomas Becket Day (December 29th)

This day honors St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered in 1170 for standing up to King Henry II. It’s a day of reflection on courage and standing up for one’s beliefs, and is particularly observed in the UK.

Day 6: The Feast of the Holy Family (December 30th)

This day celebrates the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It’s a time to reflect on the family unit and the importance of family life in the Christian tradition. It’s also a day for honoring the love and support families provide to each other.

Day 7: St. Sylvester’s Day (December 31st)

St. Sylvester’s Day marks the feast of Pope Sylvester I, who is remembered for his role in early Christianity. In many countries, this day coincides with New Year’s Eve, so it’s often a time of celebration and anticipation for the year ahead.

Day 8: New Year’s Day (January 1st)

New Year’s Day celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, in the Christian calendar. It’s a day to honor the Virgin Mary and her role in the birth of Jesus. It’s also a time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the one to come.

Day 9: The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 2nd)

This day focuses on the Holy Name of Jesus, reflecting on the power and significance of Jesus’ name in the Christian faith. It’s a quiet day of prayer and reflection, encouraging believers to call on the name of Jesus for strength and guidance.

Day 10: The Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (January 3rd)

This day honors St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. She is celebrated for her work in education and the establishment of the first Catholic girls’ school in the United States. It’s a day to reflect on service, education, and dedication to one’s faith and community.

Day 11: The Feast of St. John Neumann (January 4th)

St. John Neumann is remembered for his work in the U.S., where he became the fourth bishop of Philadelphia. His dedication to the Catholic Church and to education and immigrant communities is honored on this day. It’s a day of reflection on the importance of community service.

Day 12: Epiphany (January 6th)

The 12th and final day of the Christmas season, Epiphany celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men (or Magi) to the baby Jesus, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In many cultures, this day marks the end of the Christmas season and is a day of festivities, including parades, church services, and family gatherings. In some countries, it’s also a day for gift-giving, as this marks when the Magi gave their gifts to Jesus.

Why 12 Days?

The 12 Days of Christmas symbolically represent the period between the birth of Jesus and the coming of the Magi, and they’ve been celebrated for centuries. Over time, they’ve also come to include various regional and local traditions, from caroling and gift-giving to feasting and prayer.

So, while Christmas Day is the big event, the 12 days leading up to Epiphany are just as much about reflection, community, and the deepening of one’s faith. It’s a time to enjoy the joy of the season, share with others, and connect with the spiritual meaning behind the celebration.

Alright, so most of us have heard about the 12 Days of Christmas (and maybe that annoying song that goes with it). But what’s this about 13 days? Well, in some traditions, especially in parts of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, Christmas celebrations stretch out a little longer—because why stop at 12 when you can keep the party going, right?

The 13 Days of Christmas aren’t as mainstream as the 12 Days, but they’ve got a unique twist. They’re rooted in a mix of old Christian and pagan traditions, focusing on the transition from the darkest days of winter into the hope of a brighter year ahead. You’ll find themes of family, community, and light scattered across them, plus some quirky folklore depending on where you look.

Here’s a bit of what they’re about:

When Do the 13 Days Start?

It depends on the tradition. For some, it starts on Christmas Eve (December 24) and runs through to January 6, which is Epiphany (the day the Three Wise Men show up in the nativity story). For others, it kicks off on Christmas Day or even on St. Lucia’s Day (December 13) in Scandinavian countries, leading up to Christmas itself.

What Happens During the 13 Days?

This is where it gets interesting because different cultures do it differently:

1. Scandinavia: These days are tied to the Yule season, which blends into Christmas. They’ve got old traditions like lighting candles for St. Lucia, eating a lot (like, a lot), and keeping the spirits and trolls at bay during the darkest nights.

2. Eastern Europe: Some Orthodox Christian traditions celebrate Christmas later, on January 7, so the days leading up to that (and a bit after) are packed with feasting, church services, and family gatherings.

3. Folklore Fun: In parts of Greece and the Balkans, the 12 (or 13) days are associated with the Kallikantzaroi—mischievous goblins who cause chaos until Epiphany. It’s a time for protecting your home and keeping those cheeky creatures out.

Why 13 Days?

The idea of 13 days probably comes from a mix of ancient calendar systems, where the winter holidays were marked by the lunar cycles and the Solstice. Adding an extra day makes sense in cultures that wanted to combine the pagan Solstice season with Christian celebrations like Christmas and Epiphany. It’s that classic mash-up of old and new traditions, creating something unique.

How Do You Celebrate the 13 Days?

You don’t have to stick to a specific plan—this season is all about connection and reflection. Here are some ideas:

• Honor the Light: Light candles, make a fire, or string up fairy lights to celebrate the growing sunlight.

• Feast and Share: Use this time to cook, share meals, and be generous with friends, family, and neighbors.

• Remember Folklore: Dive into stories from your culture (or others!) about the spirits, trolls, or ancestors tied to this season.

• Reflect: Like Yule, the 13 days are a great time for letting go of the past and setting intentions for the new year.

Whether you stick to the classic 12 days, stretch it to 13, or even turn it into a whole month of celebrating, the heart of this season is about finding joy and light during the darkest time of the year. So, why not embrace it all? Light a candle, grab some leftovers, and make it a time to remember.

[liberumbrarum]

Yule Celebration

From Dorothy Morrison’s book “The Craft, A Witches Book of Shadows”

Yule Circle Notes Use a white altar cloth, and decorate with evergreens, poinsettias, rosemary, holly, mistletoe, and ivy. Use red, white, and green candles to symbolize the bloodshed of birth, the innocence of new life, and the growth process, respectively. Burn Yule Incense - a mixture of chamomile, ginger, pine, and sage. Mark the Circle perimeter with evergreen boughs, and use tiny, living, decorated trees at the Quarters. Decorations should relate to the appropriate Element. Cast the Circle using the athame. Release it using the wand.

Yule Celebration Ideas Start your celebration well before dawn, so you can be a part of the Sun’s birthing process. Kick off the ritual with an apple juice toast to the Holly King, saying something like:

Winter Day of longest night Step aside now for the light Thank you for the things you’ve brought That only darkness could have wrought

Then name all the gifts of darkness you can think of - regeneration, peace, dreams, organization, quietude, and so on - before drinking the juice.

To ensure good luck and prosperity in the coming year, anoint a bayberry candle with vegetable oil and roll it in dried chamomile. Light the candle and allow it to burn down completely.

Make a Yule log from a piece of oak and decorate it with evergreens. Light it, saying something like:

Old King, we thank You for all You’ve done For lessons learned, and victories won We must, however, bid You adieu For Your reign is finished-‘tis over and through Come forth, Young King of newest light Be born with ease; grow strong and bright Gain strength and stature in the sky Shed Your warmth on us now from on high

Be sure to save an unburned piece to start next year’s log. Save some of the ashes, too. They make terrific boosters for every type of magic. End the ritual with an orange juice toast to the Sun, saying something like:

O Newborn Sun of love and light Rise quickly now, rise high and bright Gain power in the sky above We grant you our support and love

After ritual, collect all the evergreen decorations you used there and put them away. You’ll need them at Imbolc.

↢ Back to Yule - Winter Solstice

[venusempathempresspriestess]

Daily Tarot Card Spread ~•>