The Witches' Compendium: Imbolc by Tenae S.

The Witchesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Compendium: Imbolc By Tenae S. The Witch of Howling Creek

Copyright Information The Witches' Compendium: Imbolc is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Feel free to share the content in any way you like, just please credit when you do. Disclaimer The author of this e-book has used their best efforts in preparing this e-book. The author makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this e-book. The information contained in this e-book is strictly for educational purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in this e-book, you are taking full responsibility for your actions.

Tenae S. is a practicing kitchen witch from the West Coast of the United States where she lives on a small farm known as Howling Creek. She enjoys emphasizing her Celtic heritage in her craft and celebrating the Sabbats and Esbats throughout the year. She writes â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Witch of Howling Creekâ&#x20AC;? blog and is the founder and editor of the free emagazine Pagan Living.

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Table of Contents 1

Foreword

Hearth & Home 3

Decorating with Natural Materials

Decorating for Imbolc

Magick & Witchcraft 7

Imbolc Correspondences

Imbolc Solitary Ritual

Ice Moon Ritual

Spell to Purify the Home

Honor & Celebrate 12

Ways to Celebrate

Teacup Chandelier Craft Project

Fete & Feast 15

How to Compose a Cheese Platter

Tea Magick

Imbolc Menu & Recipes

Foreword Imbolc is often considered one of the “forgotten Sabbats” as it tends to slip through the cracks of life. I think one of the reasons for this is that many witches simply don’t connect with the Sabbat because it can be difficult to understand. Imbolc has its roots in old farming practices: weather divination to determine when to plant the crops, the start of lambing season, etc and these just aren’t ideas most modern people are familiar with. Despite its somewhat confusing nature, Imbolc is still one of my personal favorite Sabbats. Put aside the outdated aspects of the holiday for just a moment and see the crocus buds pushing through the cold ground, see the shimmer of moonlight on freshly fallen snow, see the pitter patter of raindrops in the puddles. Isn’t it beautiful? I hope the ideas in these pages will help you share my love for this simplest of Sabbats.

Tenae S., The Witch of Howling Creek

Hearth & Home

Decorating with Natural Materials Natural materials are abundant in every part of the year and winter puts all the symbols of Imbolc right at your fingertips: early blooming flowers, ice, dairy products, snowflakes and beeswax. Each offers a unique opportunity for infusing the home with the winter season.

Early Blooming Flowers

Ice

Early blooming flowers such as narcissus (paperwhites) and snowdrops are perfect symbols of Imbolc, heralding the coming spring. Plant a few such flowers in simple baskets or white pots and place in a kitchen window.

Icicles and ice may not make for long-lasting decorations but there are many fun crafts that can be made with frozen water including votive holders. Freeze herbs such as lavender into the mold for an especially magickal candle holder at your Imbolc ritual.

Dairy Products

Beeswax

Dairy products are not necessarily the first things that come to mind in terms of decorations but they are deeply connected to Imbolc. Consider using old glass milk bottles or butter molds on your altar or as a pretty kitchen vignette.

Candles and fire are an important part of Imbolc and there are none more magickal than those made from beeswax. This natural material is both awe-inspiring and beautiful. An array of different sizes and shapes of beeswax candles would be an excellent decoration on an altar or mantelpiece.

Snowflakes Paper snowflakes are a fun project that is appropriate for all ages and can be hung up in a window or from a chandelier as lovely winter decoration.

Decorating for Imbolc Not all decorations come from nature so here are a few more ideas (and information) about how to decorate for this midwinter Sabbat: 

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The number one decoration for Imbolc is by far the simplest of any holiday: candles. As one of the Fire Festivals, flames and candles are very important to Imbolc (in fact, the Christian version is even called Candlemas.) Simply fill your home with candles of all shapes and sizes (just be extremely careful with all that fire!) Imbolc has several themes but, as mentioned previously, one is associated with old country practices involving springtime livestock: dairy products. Honor the sheep, goats and cows that supply us with our daily milk and butter by putting together a wildflower (or florist-picked) arrangement in an old milk bottle and displaying it in your kitchen or on your altar. Another theme that goes along with Imbolc is the weather, which tends to be a bit tempestuous this time of year. Honor the raindrops by decorating in shades of grey, whether it be a new throw pillow, a tablecloth on your altar or even a fresh new accent wall. The Celtic goddess Brighid is often associated with Imbolc so decorate with her symbols, including bells and St. Brighid’s Cross. Begin bringing out your spring decorations – after all, Imbolc is the Pagan first day of Spring!

Magick & Witchcraft

Imbolc Correspondences Every Sabbat has colors, spices and other items associated with it, most of which are based on the natural world and the current season. These items are particularly magickal around the time of the Sabbat and are a great place to start when designing rituals and spells. Colors:

White Red Yellow Silver Pink

Stones:

Amethyst Garnet Onyx

Herbs, Plants & Spices:

Basil Clover Heather Willow All yellow flowers

Imbolc Solitary Ritual Sit skyclad or loosely clothed. Light one or more white, red or yellow candles, focusing on cleansing your life of negativity. Stand to place and light a small votive candle (contained in a votive holder) in each window of the house, anointing the glass with salted water or moonwater to purify. Take a bite of buttered bread and a sip of tea, alternating until gone. Blow out the altar candles; leave the window candles in place until they burn themselves out (do not leave them unattended, however.) Blessed Be.

Ice Moon Ritual Bundle up nice and warm and take a white candle, a square of white chocolate, a hot cup of tea, a small bowl and a scoop or spoon outside in view of the full moon, now in its February â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iceâ&#x20AC;? period. Set the candle in the bowl and light it. Scoop some snow or ice into the bowl around the candle and meditate on the flame. Take a bite of the white chocolate and a sip of tea, alternating until gone. Blow out the candle and gently carry the bowl of snow or ice into the house. Leave it in a window for a few hours to melt and simultaneously be infused with the magick of moonlight for an especially potent batch of moonwater.

Spell to Purify the Home Drizzle local honey over the cut side of half a grapefruit and consume for breakfast or as a snack. As you eat, set aside the grapefruit seeds. Wash the seeds, rinsing with salted water to cleanse them. Place the seeds in a sachet with sage leaves and eucalyptus. Tuck the sachet someplace centrally located in the home such as a couch cushion.

Honor & Celebrate

Ways to Celebrate Honor the aspects of Imbolc, including the coming spring and the light in the darkness, with these simple, easy activities. 

Hold a bonfire.

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Take long baths imbued with herbs or flowers.

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Make and anoint candles.

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Make homemade butter, infused with herbs.

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Leave buttered bread out for the faeries.

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Clean your house top to bottom and perform a blessing.

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Knit or crochet a wool scarf or other garment.

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Build a fort in the living room out of white sheets and twinkle lights (you’ll enjoy it just as much as the kids will!)

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String white twinkle lights outside your house for a little bit of cheer in the cold, dark nights.

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Begin planning a moon garden or vegetable garden for spring.

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Bake homemade bread, from scratch.

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Try out needle felting and make a small, stuffed lamb.

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Do a little weather divination and see if your results match Puxatony Phil’s!

Teacup Chandelier Craft Project Mismatched teacups White spray paint White satin ribbon Metal craft ring or large embroidery hoop 1. Lay mismatched teacups outside on newspaper. 2. Spray teacups with several coats of white spray paint, being sure to turn them to get all sides. Allow to dry thoroughly. 3. Wrap the metal craft ring or embroidery hoop in satin ribbon. 4. Affix the teacups at varying heights from the ring or hoop using satin ribbon and hang over a dining table or in a bedroom.

Fete & Feast

How to Compose a Cheese Platter Imbolc is often associated with dairy products of all kinds. A cheese platter is a great social way to honor this aspect of the February holiday. Cheeses come in such a vast variety of options that you can create an afternoon party focused on only cheese, bread, wine and conversation, the perfect complement to this quiet Sabbat. Cheese platters should represent a wide mix of tastes and textures. Choose 3-5 cheeses, depending on how many people you expect. A good rule of thumb is one of the following combinations: 

1 sheep’s milk cheese

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1 goat’s milk cheese

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1 cow’s milk cheese

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1 hard cheese (i.e. smoked mozzarella, parmigiano-reggiano)

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1 blue cheese (i.e. gorgonzola, stilton)

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1 soft cheese (i.e. brie, camembert)

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1 aged cheese (i.e. aged cheddar)

Pair the cheeses with a variety of crackers, sliced baguettes, breadsticks and other breads as well as fruits such as red and green grapes, sliced apples and orange segments. Nuts, meats and condiments like apricot preserves or orange marmalade also give a cheese platter interest and dimension. I like to lay out my cheeses and pairings on a large wooden cutting board with typed labels so guests know exactly what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re eating. Cheese â&#x20AC;&#x153;plattersâ&#x20AC;? can also be done on ceramic plates, raised cake plates or glass serving dishes, however.

Tea Magick All over the world, tea is a ritual. Morocco, China, Japan and England all have their own ways of preparing, serving and drinking it but no matter what, tea is essential to their daily existence. A mid-afternoon snack is always enhanced by a steaming mug of tea and breakfast just wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be the same without it. The warmth of a cup of tea is especially poignant at Imbolc, this coldest and bleakest time of the year. The preparation of tea is a ritual in and of itself, watching the color slowly seep into hot water, taking that first, tantalizing sipâ&#x20AC;Ś Because of this, it is easily integrated into cooking, magick and rituals. Depending on its ingredients, tea can have a vast array of properties from calming and soothing (chamomile) to bright and energizing (caffeinated black teas), much like herbs, stones and other items used in magick. 1. Loose leaf tea, especially those found in specialty stores where you can actually see the individual chamomile heads, rose petals or other ingredients, can easily function as a potpourri or part of a charm bag. 2. Ground up and mixed into cake batter or cookie or bread dough, loose leaf infuses your meal with a light, delicious aroma and flavor plus the magick of whatever kind of tea you used. 3. Replace plain water with lightly brewed tea when mixing potions. 4. Simply enjoy a steaming mug or icy cold glass of tea instead of wine or ale in your rituals.

5. Blend your own tea, pouring your intention into it. In this case, even just drinking the tea in quiet contemplation or packaging it as a gift can be a form of magick. 6. Make a cup of loose leaf tea in a small, white cup and read your or a friend’s tea leaves. 7. Host a ‘Witches’ Tea’ and invite your coven or just a group of friends over to enjoy a little midnight brew on your best china and mismatched teacups. 8. Tea-dye white copy paper (strongly brew a few tea bags in a pot and then drag the bags over the paper to color it) for your Book of Shadows or spells and blessings. 9. Mix loose leaf tea into homemade soap for ritual preparation or just luxurious baths. 10. Brew tea, especially those handmade with magickal intention, on the stove or fireplace so that it perfumes your entire house.

Imbolc Menu & Recipes Serve this unique, delicious menu filled with the flavors of winter and bright, cheerful colors of the coming spring at an Imbolc feast (or any other late winter special occasion!) Penne with Mushroom Pesto Yellow Carrot Ribbons Simple White Bread Honey-Yogurt Panna Cotta

Penne with Mushroom Pesto Recipe adapted from Epicurious.com 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 10-ounce package fresh white mushrooms, chopped fine (preferably in a food processor) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon medium-dry Sherry 1 garlic clove, minced and mashed to

a paste with ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup pine nuts ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan ½ cup packed fresh basil leaves, washed well and spun dry 1 pound penne rigate (ridged penne) or other tubular pasta

In a 6-quart kettle bring 5 quarts salted water to a boil for pasta. In a 10- to 12inch non-stick skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté mushrooms with Worcestershire sauce, Sherry, and salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until liquid mushrooms give off is evaporated and mushrooms begin to brown, about 10 minutes. In a food processor purée mushroom mixture with garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, and remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Add basil and blend until chopped fine. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain pasta. In a large bowl whisk together pesto and 2/3 cup reserved hot cooking water. Add pasta and toss well, thinning pesto, if necessary, with remaining reserved cooking water.

Yellow Carrot Ribbons Recipe adapted from Epicurious.com 4 long slender yellow carrots, peeled Âź cup butter 1 tablespoon lemon peel, finely grated 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated Run vegetable peeler down length of each carrot, shaving into ribbons. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add lemon peel and ginger; stir 1 minute. Add carrots and bell peppers. SautĂŠ until just tender, about 5 minutes.

Simple White Bread Recipe courtesy of BHG.com 5 ¾ - 6 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 package active dry yeast 2 ¼ cups milk or buttermilk 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon butter or shortening 1 ½ teaspoons salt In a large mixing bowl combine 2-1/2 cups of the flour and the yeast; set aside. In a medium saucepan heat and stir milk, sugar, butter, and salt just until warm (120 degree F to 130 degree F) and butter almost melts. Add milk mixture to dry mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for 30 seconds, scraping the sides of the bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in as much of the remaining flour as you can. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes total). Shape dough into a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double in size (45 to 60 minutes). Punch dough down. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Cover; let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, lightly grease two 8x4x2-inch loaf pans.

Shape each portion of dough into a loaf by patting or rolling. To shape dough by patting, gently pat and pinch each portion into a loaf shape, tucking edges beneath. To shape dough by rolling, on a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 12x8-inch rectangle. Starting from a short side, roll up into a spiral. Seal with fingertips as you roll. Place the shaped dough in the prepared loaf pans. Cover and let rise in a warm place until nearly double in size (30 to 40 minutes). Bake in a 375 degree F oven about 40 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when you tap the top with your fingers. (If necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 10 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning.) Immediately remove bread from pans. Cool on wire racks. Makes 2 loaves (32 servings).

Honey-Yogurt Panna Cotta Recipe courtesy of MarthaStewart.com 2 cups heavy cream ¼ cup sugar 1 vanilla bean (or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract) 1 envelope (1/4 ounce) unflavored gelatin 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt ½ cup honey, plus more for serving 1/8 teaspoon salt Place cream and sugar in a medium saucepan. With a paring knife, split vanilla bean lengthwise; scrape out seeds, and add to cream along with empty pod (if using vanilla extract, add to yogurt mixture in step 4). Bring cream to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cover pan, remove from heat, and set aside to steep, at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place 1/2 cup cold water in a small bowl, and sprinkle gelatin over water; set aside to soften, at least 5 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk yogurt, honey, and salt until combined; set aside. Return cream to a boil. Remove from heat, and immediately stir in softened gelatin until dissolved. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into yogurthoney mixture; mix until combined.

Divide mixture among eight 4- to 6-ounce ramekins. Chill until firm, at least 4 hours and up to 2 days. To serve, unmold each panna cotta from its ramekin: Run a paring knife around the top inner edge of ramekin, then dip bottom of ramekin in a bowl of boiling water for 10 seconds. Invert ramekin onto serving plate. Holding ramekin tightly to plate, shake firmly to release panna cotta. Drizzle with honey before serving.