Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Imbolc Sabbat Index: Craftings, Cleansings, and Rituals for a Witch’s High Winter

Imbolc Sabbat Index: Craftings, Cleansings, and Rituals for a Witch’s High Winter

Last updated on: January 25, 2019 at 1:03 pm by Heron Michelle

Imbolc Sabbat Index: Craftings, Cleansings, and Rituals for a Witch’s High Winter 2019-01-25T13:03:51-04:00 Heron Michelle

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Imbolc (im’-molk), is the Witch’s grand sabbat of High Winter. I celebrate the peak of the winter season when the sun reaches 15 degrees Aquarius, which falls sometime during the first week of February. To discover the date that occurs this year, check out archaeoastronomy.com. In the Sojourner Tradition of Modern Witchcraft, this holiday is when we re-dedicate ourselves to the Great Work of Magick both personally and as a coven.

Altar Pentacle Wreath dressed for Imbolc, with dedication candle to the Element of Water – photo by Heron Michelle

Imbolc Season is for Cleansing Away the Old, and Preparing for the New

The waxing tide that kicks off at Yule and leads up to Imbolc is the season of preparation for the next Great Work. As we get into the airy sign of Aquarius, we perform home cleansings to clear the air. We clean and sharpen the old magickal tools, and we consecrate any new tools that we’ll for our new endeavors.

These oil and incense recipes can be blended to aid in the Home cleansing ritual linked below, and then for using during your solitary or coven Imbolc rites. link to home cleansing ritual, of click image below.

Imbolc Anointing Oil

1/2 oz. bottle.
6 drops Lavender Essential oil
3 drops Lemongrass Essential oil
fill to top of bottle with sweet almond oil
chips of any stones of Aquarius you have on hand.

Imbolc Incense

1 T. Powdered White Pine, Air, Aquarius
1 T. Powdered Benzoin Resin, Aquarius
1 T. Lavender, Air, Venus, Goddess
1 t. Meadowsweet, Air
1 t. Bay Laurel: Purification, healing, protection, Aquarius
1 t. Willow bark: moon, Venus, healing, Aquarius
I add stone chips to incense blends as well, to keep them charged. See above for suggestions.

Preparing for Imbolc: Home Cleansing Ritual

Imbolc Celebrates the Goddess Brigid through Traditional Crafts

“As witches prepare for the Grand Sabbat of Imbolc, it is customary to weave a Brigid’s cross out of reeds or grasses, as a talisman of blessing, and an amulet against disease in the household. This bit of folk-magick comes to us from the Celts, and the traditions associated with Brigid (1), who is venerated by pagans as a Goddess and by Catholics as the Patron Saint of Ireland.”

I keep my Brigid’s Cross hanging on the back of my front door all year long! link to instruction, or click image below.

Preparing for Imbolc: Weaving a Brigid’s Cross

Imbolc and Lammas form a Polarity Balance

“Imbolc and Lammas hang in this balance on opposite sides of the Wheel of the Year. I think it is just as important to honor the squishy, innocent “naive pledge everything for love” side of the polarity during the Imbolc season, as it is to honor the stark, heartbreaking, “maturely sacrifice everything for love” at Lammas. From this tension, the genre of macabre Gothic romance was born. No matter how you celebrate, or not, I don’t recommend mocking or discounting the Love Goddesses, because they can kick some booty, too. Sometimes they love us with a kiss, other times a spanking. mmmhmmm <winks>” Link to the solitary self-love ritual, or click image below.

A Valentine’s Love Spell

At Imbolc we Dedicate to The Great Work of Magick

“Our coven engages in the Great Work of Magick – which is a dedication to personal enlightenment, as a means of progressing society through Divine Love. As witches grow in wisdom, and experience, we see that inner light radiating outward as a ripple effect through the interconnected fabric of existence. So, Imbolc is when we all dedicate to both a personal intention, and also to a Coven-wide intention that will aid in the advancement of our society.” link to learn more, or click image below.

Imbolc Ritual: Dedicating to the Great Work of Magick

Imbolc Celebrates the Purity of Love: Chocolate = Love

“I’ve often make these two cake recipes together as a Yin and Yang complement to each other. They are like the bride and the groom cake, but opposite the traditional way of thinking about it the flavors. The depth of the milk chocolate cake being like the earthy dark, underworld goddesses and magick and mystery. The lightness of the white chocolate and raspberry cake being like the bright, sunny Sky Gods of the heavens.” Link to recipes, or click the image below.

Witchin’ in the Kitchen: Yin and Yang Chocolate Cake Recipes

However you celebrate Imbolc this year, may these high tides of Winter bring you the peace, hope and readiness to enjoy this Turning of the Wheel most effectively.

Imbolc Blessings,

~Heron

Arts, Crafts & Cooking

The Sojourner Tradition of Modern Witchcraft

About Heron Michelle

Heron Michelle is a witch, priestess, mom, artist and shopkeeper living in Greenville, North Carolina. Connect with her on Facebook: Witch on Fire: Heron Rising Services, and follow her on Twitter @HeronMichelle13. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

January 24, 2019

The Blue Moon Debate: An Astrological Blue Moon in April 2019

Next Post

January 30, 2019 A Witch's Book of Mirrors: Reflections to Build Critical Thinking Skills

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Arts, Crafts & Cooking Business Cermony and Liturgy Columns Comedy Community Death Elemental Witchcraft Health and Wellness Holidays Interfaith Life Love, Sex & Relationships Magic or Magick Nature Politics Prayers, Poems, Blessings & Stories Recipes Rites of Passage Ritual and Practice Science and Research Shopkeeper Saga Technology Theology, Ethics, Philosophy Uncategorized Witch on Fire

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 November 2025 September 2025 August 2025 May 2025 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 April 2022 March 2022 December 2021 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the result of Jesus meeting the Gerasene demoniac?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A storm calmed Bread multiplied A man healed of leprosy Demons cast into pigs