Bridghid's Crown

I found this while surfing. I'm going to make this with my little man, since I have to use his construction paper & crayons for this. I think we'll use it as a centerpiece on the dining table instead of trying to wear it. I found this over at Free Pagan Crafts

Construction paper in 4 colours, two of which are red and yellow
Crayons
Scissors
Glue

Cut a two inch strip of paper, long enough to wrap around your child's head, plus two inches. Your child can decide what colour to make his/her crown.

Cut out 6-10 thin rectangles for the candles. 8 works well but it depends upon the size of the candles.

Using yellow construction paper, cut out as many flames as you need to top the candles. We then use the red construction paper and cut out a smaller flame to fit inside of the yellow. This is a matter of choice. Glue the flames to the candles and then glue the candles around the headband.

I'll try to post pix, if I remember to, to show you how it turned out. ☺

Imbolg Incense

For thousands of years, we've been burning dried plants and berries in our homes or outside, as part of ritual. When Imbolg rolls around, we've been cooped up in the house for a couple of months, and although we know spring is around the corner, it's not quite close enough for us to get out and enjoy just yet. Make up a batch of Imbolg incense that combines the scents of the season with the anticipation of the warmer weather to come.

Before you begin making your incense, first determine what form you’d like to make. You can make incense with sticks and in cones, but the easiest kind uses loose ingredients, which are then burned on top of a charcoal disc or tossed into a fire. This recipe is for loose incense, but you can always adapt it for stick or cone recipes.

As you mix and blend your incense, focus on the intent of your work. This particular recipe is one which evokes the scents of a chilly winter night, with a hint of spring florals. Use it during a ritual, if you like, or as a smudging incense to purify a sacred space. You can also toss some into your fire just to make the house smell like the Imbolg season.

You’ll need:

• 2 parts cedar
• 2 parts frankincense
• 1 part pine resin
• 1 part cinnamon
• 1 part orange peel
• 1/2 part rose petals

Add your ingredients to your mixing bowl one at a time. Measure carefully, and if the leaves or blossoms need to be crushed, use your mortar and pestle to do so. As you blend the herbs together, state your intent. You may find it helpful to charge your incense with an incantation or chant as you blend it. Store your incense in a tightly sealed jar. Make sure you label it with its name and date. Use within three months, so that it remains charged and fresh.

~Courtesy of About.com:Paganism/Wicca

Candlemas Hot Cocoa

I found this recipe in the 2010 Llewellyn Sabbats Almanac. I made it yesterday to see....as Rachael Ray would say, "Oh, my gravy!!" This warms you up inside & out, must be the cinnamon. Here's the recipe:

1tsp dried fennel
1/2C water
1/2C sugar
1/3C unsweetened cocoa
1/2tsp cinnamon
3C heavy cream
1/2tsp vanilla extract (real is best, but artificial will do)

In a small bowl, gently crush the fennel with the back of a spoon. Combine the next 4 ingredients with the fennel in a medium saucepan. Cook over med. heat, stirring constantly, until the cocoa is completely dissolved. Reduce the heat & simmer for about 5 minutes, occasionally stirring. Add the cream & simmer, again, for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the vanilla & simmer for 2 minutes. Pour into mugs, serves about 4-6. You can also add a shot of Sambuca if you like, the fennel was enough licorice taste for me. Top it off with large marshmallow or a dollup of whipped cream.

Imbolg Postings

Well, another year has past & a new one has arrived. I spent my day de-decorating my place, as my son is at his father's. This has always been a tradition in my family to take down our holiday decorations on the 1st day of January. When I was still living at my parents', we always did it with the Tournament of Roses Parade on TV in the background. We would occasionally stop to glance at the wonderfully decorated floats, going along the road in Pasadena, CA. I could never get over seeing the sun shining bright, looking like summer on the TV. Today, the air was chilly, the sky was overcast and as I took things down & packed them away, the snow started. Fast forward to 4 hours later, the snow is still coming down ever so gently. There is a calm in the air.

I got an email last night from my friend, Lisa, I had posted on my Facebook that Imbolg was only 32 days away. She sent me a link to a video from Lisa Thiel. So, that got me started. I know we just finished with Yule/Solstice, but as we all know, Sabbats occur every 6 weeks. I dug around in my BOS for some info on this Sabbat. I have tons of stuff on it, that I will be adding as it gets closer. I have recipes, chants, lore, crafts, etc. It was my 1st major Sabbat that I observed last year. I have plans for making a wreath this year to hang on my new front door. I will be posting a new slideshow in the upper right-hand corner with some beautiful Imbolg images I've been collecting throughout the year.

I am a blogger who will be trying to post at least once a day, but if I miss a day...no worries. That's why I have a button about "Blogging without Obligation" I don't do the whole automated blogging. It's not me. It's an impersonal way to blog. You can copy & paste info months ahead and on a scheduled date, it magickally appears. There's no personality to it. If you do it, good for you, but I think blogs should have a bit of you in it. Automated blogging is a lazy way of blogging, in my opinion. I can see using once & a while, but for all your postings??

Anyway, I'm sitting at my pc, sipping my Cranberry Green Tea, watching the snow fall. What a perfect way to start the new year off. I hope that you all had a most Blessed New Year's last night and that the Blue Moon energized your spirit.

Love & Light!! )O(
Rowan

Song To Bridghid - Lisa Thiel