Imbolg marks around halfway between the Winter Solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox (Oestara). The Festival associates with the Goddess Brigid, she is the Goddess of healing, childbirth and unity and she is also known as the goddess of fire.
Imbolg derives from the old Irish words 'in the belly', this refers to nature re-seeding and becoming pregnant. Imbolg celebrates the lengthening of days and the early signs of Spring. The celebrations often involve bonfires, hearthfires, special food, divination and candles.
Blessed Be.
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Wednesday 21 December 2011
Winter Solstice - 21st to 22nd December
The Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year but also the longest night of the year, it generally occurs around the 21st-23rd of December and it has been celebrated since the first days of Stonehenge; possibly even before then.
Winter Solstice also marks the time when light is returning, the cycle of the year is turning back to the times of Spring and new life. For some, the Winter solstice is also known as Yule. It was tradition in Europe to keep a special log in the home to promote health and prosperity, this Yule log is placed on your hearth to burn for twelve nights in that Season. Afterwards it is kept in your home to serve as a reminder of the times that have passed. Some prefer to bake a Yule log, there are many varieties and it is entirely up to you. You can serve it at a special Solstice dinner.
Other things to do on the Winter Solstice:
If you haven't already, put up your Christmas tree and decorate it with your family. Traditionally, you would decorate your tree with things you want in the year to come. Decorating it with holly, is thought to help women conceive, while decorating it with a theme of red honors the Sun King's return and the longer day-light hours.
Bake a Yule log with your family, children will love this activity.
Go for a walk in a nearby park.
Plan games and activities with the children, give the games a Yule theme.
I wish everyone a very Happy Yule, I hope this blog gave you a few ideas and thank you for reading.
Winter Solstice also marks the time when light is returning, the cycle of the year is turning back to the times of Spring and new life. For some, the Winter solstice is also known as Yule. It was tradition in Europe to keep a special log in the home to promote health and prosperity, this Yule log is placed on your hearth to burn for twelve nights in that Season. Afterwards it is kept in your home to serve as a reminder of the times that have passed. Some prefer to bake a Yule log, there are many varieties and it is entirely up to you. You can serve it at a special Solstice dinner.
Other things to do on the Winter Solstice:
If you haven't already, put up your Christmas tree and decorate it with your family. Traditionally, you would decorate your tree with things you want in the year to come. Decorating it with holly, is thought to help women conceive, while decorating it with a theme of red honors the Sun King's return and the longer day-light hours.
Bake a Yule log with your family, children will love this activity.
Go for a walk in a nearby park.
Plan games and activities with the children, give the games a Yule theme.
I wish everyone a very Happy Yule, I hope this blog gave you a few ideas and thank you for reading.
Sunday 30 October 2011
Autumn soup
A lovely soup to have on a chilly Autumn day...
Ingredients
2 vegetable stock cubes
1 curry stock cube
1 bunch of Coriander finely chopped
3-4 oz of pumpkin
1 marrow diced
4 carrots
3 sweet potatoes
1 onion
1 tablespoon of butter
Method:
Cook everything together in a large pot of boiling water until everything has reduced and cooked, then pour out the soup into a sieve (make sure you catch the liquid underneath into a bowl). Then mash the softened vegetables, put the mashed veg back into the soup and cook until it has further reduced to a runny-thick consistency. This soup is really good served with garlic bread.
Tip: Once served into bowls, lightly pour cold single cream over each soup serving. It adds a lovely flavour and looks great if done in a little swirl.
Ingredients
2 vegetable stock cubes
1 curry stock cube
1 bunch of Coriander finely chopped
3-4 oz of pumpkin
1 marrow diced
4 carrots
3 sweet potatoes
1 onion
1 tablespoon of butter
Method:
Cook everything together in a large pot of boiling water until everything has reduced and cooked, then pour out the soup into a sieve (make sure you catch the liquid underneath into a bowl). Then mash the softened vegetables, put the mashed veg back into the soup and cook until it has further reduced to a runny-thick consistency. This soup is really good served with garlic bread.
Tip: Once served into bowls, lightly pour cold single cream over each soup serving. It adds a lovely flavour and looks great if done in a little swirl.
Pumpkin Pie
A classic for Halloween and very easy to make...
Shortcrust Pastry
4oz plain white flour
4oz butter
tsp sugar
tsp salt
cup of water
Filling
1 cup 1/2 of pureed pumpkin
8 floz of single cream
2 eggs
4-5 oz of brown sugar
1 tsp all spice
1 tsp of ground ginger
Method:
Roll out the pastry over a pie dish and fit into the corners, then mix together the filling in a bowl. Just pour the filling into the pie case and bake in a pre-heated oven at Gas mark 5/ 375degrees F for 40-45 minutes.
Shortcrust Pastry
4oz plain white flour
4oz butter
tsp sugar
tsp salt
cup of water
Filling
1 cup 1/2 of pureed pumpkin
8 floz of single cream
2 eggs
4-5 oz of brown sugar
1 tsp all spice
1 tsp of ground ginger
Method:
Roll out the pastry over a pie dish and fit into the corners, then mix together the filling in a bowl. Just pour the filling into the pie case and bake in a pre-heated oven at Gas mark 5/ 375degrees F for 40-45 minutes.
Samhain/Halloween October 31st 2011
Happy Halloween to you all!! The 31st of October is known to many people as Halloween, but it is also called Samhain, the day of the dead or just a day for spending time with family. Samhain also marks the end of the Seasonal year, when the cycle of the year finishes and starts again with All Saints day on November 1st.
Now is the time for being thankful for what nature has brought to you, for the fortune that may have come to you this year, for what you have yet to do and for what you need to improve on in the year to come.
Samhain is also the Day of the Dead, when you remember those that have passed away. Taking a walk outside is a brilliant way of clearing your head and fully appreciating the Season.
There are other ways to celebrate Samhain depending on your culture, beliefs and even time you have available to you.
Now is the time for being thankful for what nature has brought to you, for the fortune that may have come to you this year, for what you have yet to do and for what you need to improve on in the year to come.
Samhain is also the Day of the Dead, when you remember those that have passed away. Taking a walk outside is a brilliant way of clearing your head and fully appreciating the Season.
There are other ways to celebrate Samhain depending on your culture, beliefs and even time you have available to you.
- Put together a party and invite your closest friends and family, make or buy a banquet of little foods.
- Pumpkin Carving is my personal favourite, then use the insides for a homemade soup or pumpkin pie.
- Get busy in the kitchen and do some baking.
- Put together a Samhain alter and make an offering to your chosen Deity.
- Relax at home with your family and have a quiet dinner, make time for your family and have a Halloween themed movie night.
- Go for a walk and collect some fallen leaves to go on your Samhain Alter.
- Get creative and decorate your home
- Work on your Book of Shadows
Those are only a few ideas, there are millions of things you could do on Samhain. I hope everyone enjoys their day! Thankyou for reading!
Tuesday 20 September 2011
Song for Autumn
Whispering trees and chilly winds,
This is the song that Autumn sings,
Warm sun and dark mornings,
Welcome us to the time of falling.
This is the song that Autumn sings,
Warm sun and dark mornings,
Welcome us to the time of falling.
Mabon 21st-23rd September
Autumn is here! My favourite time of year because of it's colour and business. This is also the time of sacrifice. Mabon is used as a time to recognise that all things mus whither and die, but they will return in another form.
This is a good time to take a walk outside, to experience and feel the season surrounding you. Take photos of the changing leaves, watch for animals and listen to the sounds of Autumn.
Now is also the time for cleaning and preparing your home for Autumn, clean your windows, wash your curtains, clean out the fireplace and hoover. Don't forget to stock up on food, just as our ancestors used to make the Summer's harvest into jams and preserves to last through the Winter. Time is different now, and we can simply go to the Supermarket, but I still like to do it the old way.
Meditate on what the Summer has brought to you and how you plan to welcome the Autumn, how you celebrate it is of your own choosing. Making an alter, creating your own spells or leaving an offering are good ways to honour Mabon.
Happy Mabon to you all! Blessed Be.
This is a good time to take a walk outside, to experience and feel the season surrounding you. Take photos of the changing leaves, watch for animals and listen to the sounds of Autumn.
Now is also the time for cleaning and preparing your home for Autumn, clean your windows, wash your curtains, clean out the fireplace and hoover. Don't forget to stock up on food, just as our ancestors used to make the Summer's harvest into jams and preserves to last through the Winter. Time is different now, and we can simply go to the Supermarket, but I still like to do it the old way.
Meditate on what the Summer has brought to you and how you plan to welcome the Autumn, how you celebrate it is of your own choosing. Making an alter, creating your own spells or leaving an offering are good ways to honour Mabon.
Happy Mabon to you all! Blessed Be.
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