The following spell is one I created for times when you have to take care of Mercury-ruled business during a retrograde. With this spell, we
"Common astrological wisdom is to avoid big life changes during Mercury Retrograde, especially if those changes involve travel, contracts, and/or spending money. Weâre often told to avoid things like buying/renting a home or starting a new job during this time. But how many of us can realistically put our lives on hold for several weeks until Mercury is direct again?
If my lease is about to be up on my apartment, I canât afford to wait to look for a new place. If I recently lost my job, I canât afford to wait until the retrograde is over to apply for a new one. If I have a family member in the hospital on the other side of the country, Iâm going to get on that plane, no matter what the planets are doing. At the very least, most of us will probably have to send an important email at some point during Mercury Retrograde.
The following spell is one I created for times when you have to take care of Mercury-ruled business during a retrograde. With this spell, we can work with this planet as an ally instead of fighting against it. If weâre very clever, we can even make that retrograde energy work for us instead of against us!"
From Midsummer, we move to Lughnasadh in early August. Also called Lammas, this is the first of the three harvest holidays. Much of what youâll see associated with this holiday involves bread, bread, and for a change of pace, more bread and also corn. But there are also associations with field games, music, crafts, artistry, games of skill, self-expression, wishmaking, and the first fruits of the harvest. Itâs another holiday for picnics and bonfires, so keep that in mind when youâre planning your festivities.
Itâs probably easiest to talk about the food first, since thatâs a big part of this holiday. Lots of witches bake bread of some sort for Lughnasadh, in observance of the grain harvest. This would be a great time to put that sourdough starter to use, if you made one. But donât limit yourself to bread alone! Late summer fruits and vegetables are also coming into season and that gives you plenty of options for kitchen witchery. Check your local farmerâs market or produce stand for whatâs available, or see whatâs in season for your area, since this will vary from region to region.
You can make jams and preserves, try your hand at winemaking or brewing beer, make a vegetarian or fruit-based dish, or cook over an open fire, if you have the option. You should be able to harvest things from your garden as well, since it will be producing by this time, and this is another great holiday for visiting pick-your-own berry patches and orchards. If you can, share what you harvest or make with friends and neighbors. This is a time to remember your circle and your community as well. None of us stand alone, and we are stronger when we stand together and nurture those bonds.
Make decorations with wheat stalks and corn husks, and thank the fields and the sun for their bounty. Just like on Midsummer, you can hang ribbons and paper wishes from trees and shrubs if you like. Iâm also partial to (very carefully) gathering brambles, rose thorns, and holly hedge cuttings for use later in the year around Lughnasadh. Itâs a tricky, prickly business, but they come in very handy when youâre preparing magical protections for the home.
If you can have a small bonfire or have the opportunity to light up a cauldron or a burning bowl, you can throw incense or paper wishes into the fire. If you like, you can also throw paper packets containing your regrets into the fire, symbolically ridding them from your life and freeing you to move forward.
If the weather allows, have a field day! Play games, have a cookout or a barbecue, play music, and enjoy yourself. Celebrate the abundance that the first harvest brings into your life and all the hard work youâve done so far in the year. Provided that your circle can gather, maybe have an informal tournament with games of skill and chance. For those of you who just went, â-gasp- Trivia contest!â youâre right on the mark. That carnival atmosphere comes into play again for Lughnasadh, so have a little fun with your near and dear.
Handicrafts and the arts are also celebrated at Lughnasadh. Itâs a good time to start that new project youâve been meaning to do, or to try your hand at a new skill.
This is also a time to begin reaping what youâve sown and to examine your own progress since the beginning of the growing season. Meditate on how your personal projects are going. What progress have you made toward your goals? What have you learned so far this year? What promises have you kept, which ones could use more dedication, and which ones fell by the wayside?
How have your actions, for good or for ill, affected the direction of your path? What have you sown that is now coming to fruition? What is still budding? What has yet to manifest? What might require more of your attention?
Meditate also on self-expression. How well do you communicate with others? What would you like to improve? Are there boundaries that you need to clarify or reinforce? How much are you allowed or able to be your truest self? What do you long to be able to do or say or express differently?
Keep in mind that progress, education, and recovery do not happen in straight lines or have constant upward trajectories. Be patient with yourself. You may not be exactly where you thought youâd be, but youâre still further along than you were. Even a single step forward counts, and itâs okay to stop and rest if you need to.
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I just moved into a new place, so most of my altar stuff is still all boxed up. So this is all Iâve got for the summer solstice. But I think the gods and ancestors and local spirits will understand.
Today, I did a binding spell for a friend of mine. Sheâs being lowkey stalked by an ex, and sheâs taken all the practical steps she can, and it seems like itâs already working but more protection canât hurt. Fuck off dude, you will not get near my friend.
Beltane comes next, that little threshold holiday between late April and early May, the âspring flingâ of our year. Mayday festivals have been around for centuries. Mentions of similar celebrations date back to the Roman Floralia and the Greek Maiouma, which is recorded as far back as the 2nd century BCE in the reign of Emperor Commodus. We also see similar festivals with things like bonfires, dancing, sweetheart rituals, and Maypoles all over Europe, and particularly in the British Isles. In some places, itâs connected with the Feast of St. Walpurgis (most notably the German Walpurgisnacht), and in others, itâs evolved into a kind of warm-weather romp that celebrates the month of May and the full flower of springtime. So thereâs a lot of room for interpretation and a lot of activities to choose from if youâre celebrating this holiday as a secular witch.
The overarching theme of the day is definitely love. Love magic, sex magic, love divinations, marriage predictions, renewing of vows...itâs all there. Thereâs a reason besides the weather that May is the most popular month for weddings, and this might be part of it. So if youâre of a mind to work with any of that, DO IT. Cast spells to find love, attract a sweetheart, reconnect with your current partner, or if youâre single, maybe have a fling. Bring a little extra romance into your life. Just make sure you observe consent and common sense, and practice safe SEX as well as safe hex.
If youâre not interested in any of that, you can also work magic for self-love. Often in our conversations on love magic, we leave out that all-important relation with ourselves. Beltane is a great time to rediscover this. It can be a celebration of yourself and your own power and your own journey. Pamper yourself a bit. Have a home spa day, take a ritual bath, do whatever it is that makes you feel strong and gorgeous. Because spoiler alert - you ARE strong and gorgeous. A-bip-bip-bip...yes you are. Yes. You ARE. Even when you donât feel like it, youâre an amazing person and the world is a better and more interesting place because youâre in it. So celebrate all the things you love about yourself - your mind, your creativity, your skills, and particularly your body, even if itâs uncooperative or a work in progress. Celebrate your strength and your ongoing metamorphosis into the person you want to be. Whether that journey is mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical, you are not the same person you were last year, and your progress deserves recognition.
Celebrate your communal and familial bonds as well. Connect with the people who make you feel loved and cherished and uplifted. If you canât attend a party, maybe have a virtual game night or a socially-distanced movie marathon. If youâre working on coming out of your shell, this is a good time to maybe take a step in that direction, even if itâs just a small one.
This is a festival of flowers and fire, fertility and fun, so anything you want to do that involves any of those things would be appropriate. Have a bonfire, if you can do so safely, or light up some candles. Make flower crowns or garlands. Add greenery to your home decor. If you havenât already planted your garden, or if your starter sprouts are ready and the final frost has passed, get them in the ground. Do some growth magic to help them along. Dress in something that makes you happy and comfortable. Put on your favorite music, dance around the house, and sing like youâre on your very own Broadway stage. Make your favorite foods, maybe experiment with making wine or beer or short mead if youâve ever wanted to give that a shot. Make candied flowers or candied fruit peel.
Go on a picnic, if the weather allows it. If youâre partial to wildcrafting, gather wild herbs and flowers for your magic, always observing permission to harvest and best practices for your local ecosystem. That means whatever you want to pick, make sure youâre allowed to do so, whether on a spiritual level or on a practical one. Donât go raiding state parks or your neighborâs flower garden; you probably donât have permission to take plants from these places. Take only what you need and donât pick anything you canât properly identify or anything thatâs endangered. Make sure you label everything too; it saves time later and helps you remember what youâve picked. I suggest bringing a pocket field guide to local flora to help you out. And while youâre out there, hug your favorite tree. If you have trees or shrubs on your property, decorate them with ribbons and streamers, give them a good drink of water, and thank them for all the oxygen. (Just make sure you take these decorations down and dispose of them properly before they become litter.)
Meditate on your passions. Think about your causes, all the things that put a fire in your belly. Think of what makes you feel happy and fierce and free. Rededicate yourself to the things that matter to you, whether in your witchy practices or your personal life, or the social and political causes that you feel most passionate about.
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In late January of 2025, I joined a group of witches online to conduct a ritual for the protection and healing of our communities and for hope to sustain us though the weeks and months to come. Many wonderfully talented people contributed to this working, and I was honored to present an invocation of Brighid and to lead the portion of the ritual where we created the Web of Light.
With the permission of the rest of the circle from that evening, I want to share my portion of the ritual with all of you. (I'm not looking for notes or feedback - this was purpose-built and it exists as it was written.) The more strands in the web, the more lights in the dark, the more love and energy we can give this spell and others like it, the better.
If you feel comfortable doing so, I'd like to invite anyone who is willing to help to join in this working, either by yourself or with your circle. You can do the full blessing, invocation, and casting if you feel comfortable doing so, or just the casting alone. Feel free to invite any helpful spirits, ancestors, deities (especially fire-related), and so forth that you work with to lend their aid.
All you need for this spell is a quiet place to sit and a candle. (Live flame or LED, either is fine, and if you can't find either one, a flashlight will do.)
Perform whatever opening steps you usually do to begin a ritual (preparing the space, casting a circle, grounding and centering, etc) and when you're ready, begin.
WEB OF LIGHT
Suggested Music for the warmup:
"Brighid's Flame" and/or "Brighid" by Kellianna
"Imbolc" by Lisa Thiel
[BLESSING]
Into this sacred space, I call the light of creation, the light of inspiration, the light of healing, the light of the forge, the light of the hearthfire, the light of hope, which neither wanes nor falters, but burns bright and perpetual within and around us all. Bless those who are gathered here and may the spirits, deities, ancestors, and powers almighty that we invoke here strengthen our resolve, shield us from harm, and guide us in our workings, as we gather to do what is RIGHT, not what is easy.
[INVOCATION]
With the consent of those assembled, I invoke the name of Brighid and invite her presence in this place. Holy Lady of Cill Dara (pron. Kill Dahrah), protector of hearth and home, teacher, poet, healer, forgemaiden, flamekeeper, living link between the old ways and the new, be with us and lend us your aid.
Brigid of brightness, I bid thee welcome,
Brigid of blessing, come thou in.
Brigid of strength, I bid thee welcome,
This night and every night, this day and every day.
Brigid of the threshold, come thou in,
Brigid of the hearthfire, take your ease,
Brigid of the cook-pot, sup with us,
Brigid of all comforts, live in our hearts.
Ancestors all, I embody your legacy,
Ancestors all, I ask for your blessing,
Ancestors all, I offer Brigidâs flame
To light the needfires of deep memory.
Brigid of the timeless flame, bless your [children]:
Those who keep the circle bright,
Those whose faith has never failed,
Those who keep your name ablaze.
Brigid, lend your righteous sword
To those who work for justice,
To those who speak the truth,
To those who seek a better world.
In the name of Brigid, who empowers the oppressed,
In the name of Brigid, who released the enslaved,
In the name of Brigid, who lifts up the downtrodden,
May all our people be honored and free.
[Casting]
Tonight, we come together with courage. Tonight, we come together with hope. Tonight, we come together in common purpose, to turn our combined strength to save what can be saved, to shield what can be shielded, to heal what can be healed, to burn away what must be cleansed, and to keep the darkness of despair and hatred at bay.
Tonight, each of us is a point of light. We are the tenders of the hearth. We are the bearers of the flame which lights the way. We are the workers at the forge. We are the spark before the fire, the dancing light upon the snow, the seekers of snowdrops, the keepers of the healerâs tent, the knowers of the promise of spring.
For even as summer fades into fall, and fall into winter, so the cold and dark must one day yield to warmth and renewal. Even the longest night must end and we will see the sun rise again.
(Light your candle.)
Hold the light within you. Warm, bright, everlasting, a fire which burns bright but does not consume or diminish. This is a fire which shields the helpless, which offers illumination to the lost, which gives hope to those in sorrow. Each of us alone is but a candle, but together, we are a conflagration.Â
Picture the array of us, spread out across the sleeping world, a scattering of earthbound stars twinkling in the night. Physically, we are apart, but in our hearts and in our magic, we are all a part of each other and of this world. We are the weavers and keepers of this spell, a web that spans mighty distances and connects us all. We are the beacons which will hold the darkness at bay.
Let the light of your magic spread out from you like the lines of a spiderâs web, like the roots of a tree, like the paths of a river, like the crackle of lightning. Picture it spreading across the distances between us, each strand connecting one working to another, and another, and another, strengthening with each bond, growing until the space is covered. Each of us holds a line and weaves a portion of the web, and we are blessed to know that none of us walks alone.Â
Like the roots of the trees, like the mycelium of the mushrooms, this web of light is not visible to all. Those that seek to harm, to disrupt, to oppress, and diminish, let them be blind, let them be powerless, let them find nothing. We give them NOTHING. But those who have need of us, those who need healing or shelter or knowledge or hope, we give them eyes to see. And those that see, let them light beacons of their own, until the night is bright as day and the sun comes up again.
(Extinguish your candle. If you ever feel that you need strength or hope or the time feels right to further empower the spell, light it up again.)
Suggested Music for the cooldown:
âStar Mapsâ by S.J. Tucker
(If you choose to share this ritual elsewhere, please credit me. Thanks!)
The Promise of Spring - Imbolc for Secular Witches
I am the spark before the fire
From winterâs cold, I do inspire
I am the promise of the Spring
I am the tiniest of flames
-Kelliana, âBrighidâs Flameâ
As we begin to come to the end of (an unseasonably warm) January, a tiny candle flame appears on the horizon. The beginning of February is marked by a number of âsigns of springâ holidays, among them Candlemas, the Feast of St. Brighid, Groundhog Day, and of course, Imbolc.
The religious and spiritual significance of the holiday is very entwined with the traditional activities we often see depicted online. The reed crosses, the dollies, the ceremonies, the offerings of oatmeal and milk - all of this is wonderful, but it can leave secular witches feeling left out in the cold.
So whatâs a witch to do?
The main importance of the holiday, apart from venerating the blessed Brighid or the unconquered Sun, is hope. The glimmer of new beginnings, the warm hearth in the midst of winter, and the promise of renewal with the coming spring. It is a time to evaluate where you are, to determine what can or should be cleansed from your life, and to begin planning your way forward.
If youâre inclined to divination, cast your fortune for the coming season. Contemplate your path to personal growth. What obstacles are in your path? What is holding you back from flowering and how can you either conquer it or work around it? Where would you like to see yourself this year? What changes do you need to make?
Take a day to focus on self-care. Winter darkness can be hard on those of us with depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (amongst other things). A day spent doing things that make you feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled can buoy your spirits and help get you through that winter slump. Have a home spa day. Watch your favorite movies and eat your favorite foods. Curl up with a good book. Or, if youâre socially inclined, have an outing with friends or loved ones. Visit a favorite shop or cafe. Go see a movie. Plan a date with your sweetie or your bestie. Reconnect with yourself and with the wider world in a way that brings you comfort and joy.
Start on your spring cleaning projects. Itâs a bit soon to begin airing out the house, despite the January warm spell (thanks a lot, climate change), but you can still begin clearing the clutter. Organize a closet or plow through one of those projects youâve been putting off. Scrub down your kitchen and/or bathroom - they ALWAYS need it - or clean out the fridge. Do a few loads of laundry, or just pick up whatever clutter is keeping your space from feeling relaxed and harmonious. If youâve been saying youâll get around to it, consider this your Round Tuit.
If youâve got a green thumb, start planning your spring planting. The gardening catalogs are starting to show up in mailboxes, and they can be treasure troves of inspiration. Places like Seed Savers and Burpee will even send you a free catalog if you just want to have a look. Look back on last yearâs garden. What worked? What didnât? What do you want to try growing again, and what new and exciting plants would you like to try?
Start a new project. If youâre crafty with yarn and textiles, make a stashbuster project with the odds and ends youâve got sitting around. If youâre a maker of shiny things, pick up that special piece youâve been waiting to work with and make something gorgeous. Brainstorm ideas for new artwork or sculpture or costuming. Fill a few pages in your sketchbook. Fiddle around with some writing prompts and see what happens, or pull out that old piece youâve been meaning to finish. Find a creative outlet and let the ideas flow.
And if you can, watch the sun rise. There is nothing quite like the light of dawn on Imbolc day. Thereâs something peaceful about it. The sun seems to wink at you through the early morning clouds, as if to say, âSoon.â
Imbolc, also known as Candlemas or Brigid's Day, marks the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It's a time to celebrate the returning light and the awakening of the Earth.
Altar Decorations:
Candles: Imbolc is strongly associated with the element of fire. Decorate your altar with candles in shades of white, yellow, and light blue to represent the increasing daylight.
Brigid's Cross: Craft or purchase a Brigid's Cross, a traditional symbol associated with the Celtic goddess Brigid. Hang it on your altar as a protective charm.
Seasonal Flowers: Place early spring flowers like snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils on your altar. These symbolize the first signs of life returning to the land.
Herbs: Incorporate herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and cinnamon for their purifying and invigorating properties. Bundle them together with a red or white ribbon.
Seeds: Represent the potential for growth by adding a dish of seeds to your altar. Consider seeds associated with early spring crops like wheat or herbs.
Imbolc Symbols: Include symbols like lambs, ewes, and the sun to capture the essence of this seasonal transition.
Candle Holders: Choose unique candle holders or lanterns to enhance the ambiance. Consider using candle holders in the shape of suns, stars, or nature-inspired designs.
Divination Tools: Add divination tools like tarot cards or runes to your altar for seeking guidance during this transitional period.
Symbolic Stones: Integrate crystals such as citrine for abundance, aquamarine for clarity, and moonstone for intuition. Arrange them aesthetically around your altar.
Feathers: Symbolizing air and spirituality, feathers can be incorporated to invoke the energy of the season. Choose feathers from birds associated with the goddess Brigid, like swans or owls.
Artwork: Display artwork or illustrations that resonate with the themes of Imbolc. This could include depictions of Brigid, snow-covered landscapes, or symbols of growth and renewal.
Imbolc Incense: Craft or purchase incense blends with scents like frankincense, myrrh, and chamomile to fill your sacred space with a soothing and purifying aroma.
Correspondences
Goddess Brigid: Imbolc is sacred to Brigid, the Celtic goddess of hearth, home, and inspiration. Invoke her energy for healing, creativity, and protection.
Colors: White, yellow, light green, and light blue are associated with Imbolc. Use these colors in candles, altar cloths, and decorations to align with the festival's energy.
Stones: Crystals such as amethyst, garnet, and clear quartz resonate with Imbolc's energies.
Foods: Dairy products, especially cheese, and foods made with seeds like bread or muffins are fitting for Imbolc. Set offerings on your altar or incorporate them into your celebration feast.
Water: Imbolc is also associated with the element of water. Include a small bowl of water on your altar to symbolize purification.
Creativity Symbols: Imbolc is a time for inspiration and creative endeavors. Include symbols of your creative pursuits, such as a paintbrush, musical instrument, or writing quill.
Anointing Oils: Create or purchase anointing oils infused with herbs like lavender, rosemary, and frankincense. Use them to anoint candles, tools, or yourself during Imbolc rituals.
Animal Representations: Incorporate figurines or images of animals associated with Brigid, such as lambs, cows, or swans, to honor her connection to the animal kingdom.
Wheat or Corn Dolls: Craft small dolls from wheat or corn husks, symbolizing the harvest to come. Place them on your altar as a representation of the Earth's fertility.
Bell or Chimes: Hang a bell or wind chimes near your altar to symbolize the awakening of nature and the stirring of life. Ring it during your Imbolc rituals to mark significant moments.
Decorative Cloth: Choose an altar cloth with intricate patterns or symbols related to Imbolc, such as suns, wheels, or Brigid's crosses, to add a touch of magic to your sacred space.
