Imbolc starts (Feb 2)

By February, most of us are tired of the cold, snowy season. Imbolc reminds us that spring is coming soon, and that we only have a few more weeks of winter to go. The sun gets a little brighter, the earth gets a little warmer, and we know that life is quickening within the soil. There are a number of different ways to celebrate this Sabbat, but first, you may want to read up on:

Rituals and Ceremonies
Depending on your particular tradition, there are many different ways you can celebrate Imbolc. Some people focus on the Celtic goddess Brighid, in her many aspects as a deity of fire and fertility. Others aim their rituals more towards the cycles of the season, and agricultural markers. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying -- and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

Imbolc Magic
Imbolc is a time of magical energy related to the feminine aspect of the goddess, of new beginnings, and of fire. It's also a good time to focus on divination and increasing your own magical gifts and abilities. Take advantage of these concepts, and plan your workings accordingly. Because of its proximity to Valentine's Day, Imbolc also tends to be a time when people start exploring love magic -- if you do, be sure to read up on it first!

-The Crafty Witch

Adorable Holiday Finds (part 1 of 3)

We are always rushing around for the holidays whether its to see family, partake in festive activities or to get that last minute shopping in. Oh did I even mention the decorations, and the supplies you need to make your home the biggest with "holiday cheer" - one thing on everyone's mind is "How much is this all going to cost me?" Well what if I told you that you could get adorable holiday finds for a fraction of the cost - what if you could get these holiday finds for $1! Im here to save you some money during the holiday, because lets be honest, we could all use the extra dough. All these holiday finds can be found at your local Dollar Tree for yeah you guessed it, $1.

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Luminessence Cinnamon Stick Mini Glass Apothecary Jar Candles, 3 oz.


The succulent aroma of cinnamon creates a wonderful holiday scent! Apothecary candles are perfect for scattering candlelight at banquets, receptions, outdoor parties, and more. Plus, glass container helps protect flame from extinguishing.





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Luminessence Peppermint Mini Glass Apothecary Jar Candles, 3 oz.


The sweet aroma of peppermint creates that wonderful scent of the holidays! Apothecary candles are perfect for scattering candlelight at banquets, receptions, outdoor parties, and more. Plus, glass container helps protect flame from extinguishing.



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Christmas House Decorative Wooden Nutcrackers, 9"


Nutcracker soldiers stand at the ready to greet all your holiday guests! A traditional symbol of the season, detailed wooden nutcrackers are a classic addition to table settings, centerpieces, mantels, and more. The troop is highly decorated with accents of glitter, feathers, fur, gemstones, and gold rope, plus each has a back lever that moves his mouth. ($1 each)


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- The Crafty Witch

DIY Monday - Glitter Bats

These Glitter Bats are so fun to make and they are so adorable, if you are making these with your kids I do want to tell you it can get a bit messy (with the glue and glitter) but otherwise it is a fun project for you and your young ones!

Best of all this project will only cost $5.00!

What You'll Need:

• Foam Craft Balls

• Plastic Sandwich Bags

• Craft Glue

• Paint Brush

• Glitter in Various Colors

• Black Plastic Plates

• Scissors

• Googly Eyes

• Thread or Fishing Wire

• Crafting U-Pins

*All items italicized are item you probably already have around your own home.

*All items underlined are optional

Easy Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Put glitter colors into separate plastic sandwich bags.

2. Using a paint brush, cover a foam craft ball with craft glue

and drop it into a bag of glitter. Shake the ball around until it’s

covered with glitter, then remove it from the bag and set aside

to dry. Repeat these steps with each foam craft ball.

3. Using the patterns to the right as stencils, trace the wing shapes

onto black plastic plates and cut them out.

4. When the glittery foam balls are dry, stick a bat wing into each

side, pressing firmly to make sure they’re secure in the foam.

5. Glue two googly eyes onto each bat.

6. Using thread or fishing wire, tie a loop for hanging and attach it to the foam bat ornament using craft U-pins.

7. Hang them on your spooky tree or around the house and enjoy!

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I did mine a little differently but both ways are acceptable. I painted all my bats black and then just sprinkled some of the colored glitter on top of them while they were at the point where they were still not quite dry. (I found for our purpose of DIY Under $5 that it just wasn't possible for the amount of glitter that was given. To follow the Dollar Tree steps I would recommend maybe buying 2 or 3 bottle of glitter depending on how may bats you want to make) then I followed the directions up until step three, I used black construction paper I had around my house for the bat wings. To apply I folded the edge of the paper and glued that to the bat.

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Here is also link for those of you how would like to have a print out of the directions - it will take you to the Dollar Tree site where you can print out a PDF!

Go For PDF!

-The Crafty Witch

Autumn Equinox

It is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty, because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the second harvest. On or around September 21, for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings. You may want to take a moment to read up on:

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Mabon, but typically the focus is on either the second harvest aspect, or the balance between light and dark. This, after all, is the time when there is an equal amount of day and night. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying -- and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

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Mabon Magical Herbs

Rue, yarrow, rosemary, marigold, sage, walnut leaves and husks, mistletoe, saffron, chamomile, almond leaves, passionflower, frankincense, rose hips, bittersweet, sunflower, wheat, oak leaves, dried apple or apple seeds.

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Incense

Pine, sage, sweet grass or myrrh you can also mix

marigold, passionflower, and fern, using

frankincense or myrrh as a resin for Mabon incense

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Mabon Magical Stones

During Mabon, stones ruled by the Sun will help

bring the Sun's energy to you.clear quartz,

amber, peridot, diamond, gold, citrine, yellow

topaz, cat's-eye, aventurine.

Mabon is a good time to cast spells of balance

and harmony. It's also a time of change.

Protection, wealth and prosperity spells are

appropriate as well.

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Holiday Fare

Mabon is the Witch's Thanksgiving, a time to

appreciate and give thanks to the Goddess for

her bounty and to share in the joys of the

harvest. Fall fruits, squash, gourds, pumpkins,

grains, nut breads, vegetables.

A magickal Mabon beverage: hot apple cider.

Apple rules the heart, cider alone is a self-

love potion. By spicing it with cinnamon, ruled

by Jupiter and the Sun, we are in essence,

ingesting the sunlight.

Sample menu #1: Mabon Wine Moon Cider, Roast

Chicken Rubbed with Sage, Basil, and Thyme,

Acorn Squash made with Sweet Butter, Cinnamon

and Honey, and Apple Bread.

Sample menu #2: Wine from the god and beans and

squashes from the goddess. A hearty multi-bean

soup with smoked meats (optional), including

such as cut-up mild sausage like mild Italian

or Polish.

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Mabon Wine Moon Cider

4 cups apple cider 1/2 tsp. whole cloves

4 cups grape juice additional cinnamon sticks

2 cinnamon sticks for cups, 6 inches long

1 tsp allspice

In a 4-quart saucepan, heat cider and grape

juice. Add cinnamon, allspice and cloves.

Bring just to boiling. Lower heat and simmer

for 5 minutes.

Serve with ladle from a cauldron. Makes 8 cups.

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Mabon Activities

* Make grapevine wreaths using dried bitter-

  sweet herb for protection. Use ribbons of

  gold and yellow to bring in the energy of the

  Sun, and decorate with sprigs of dried yarrow

  or cinnamon sticks.

* Make a Magical Horn of Plenty.

* Make Magickal Scented Pinecones.

* Make a protection charm of hazelnuts

  (filberts) strung on red thread.

* Collect milkweed pods to decorate at Yuletide

  and attract the faeries.

* Call upon the elementals and honor them for

  their help with (N-earth) the home and

  finances, (E-air) school and knowledge,

  (S-fire) careers and accomplishments,

  (W-water) emotional balance and fruitful

  relationships.

* Make a witch's broom. Tie dried corn husks or

  herbs (broom, cedar, fennel, lavender,

  peppermint, rosemary) around a strong,

  relatively straight branch of your choice.

* Make magic Apple Dolls: Apples are sacred

  symbols of the witch. Our holy land, Avalon,

  means Apple-land or Island of Apples. Slice

  an apple through the midsection and its seeds

  reveal the sacred shape of the pentacle.

  You will need two large apples, one for Mabon

  and one for Modron, 2 pencils and 2 dowels

  about 12 inches long, a paring knife, a glass

  or bowl of water to wash your fingers, a plate,

  and a towel to wipe your hands. Peel and core

  the apples. Carve a face in the apples. Place

  apples on a dowel and stand them in a jar

  to dry (start now). Then charge in a magick

  circle. After 2 or 3 weeks, they should look

  like shrunken heads. Make them into dolls. Use

  wheat, dried herbs or doll's hair for hair.

  Dress them in tiny robes and bring them into

  the circle, asking god/dess to charge them with

  their light.

 

  Hang these Mabon and Madron heads on a Witch's

  cord or a Mabon wreath.

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From "Celebrate the Earth" by Laurie Cabot, Green Witchcraft by Ann Moura, Llewellyn's Witches'

Calendar 1998, and The Witches' God by Janet and Stewart Farrar.

-The Crafty Witch

40 Days Till Halloween

Yep, thats right, 40 days remaining until Halloween. 

Check every-- 

Monday for my DIY Halloween Projects, everything you can make yourself and all under $5!

Wednesdays for articles Into The Paranormal and Beyond, where we talk about the unknown and gives you a different perspective on life. . . and the afterlife!

&

Fridays for Fav Halloween Movies, talking about the best Halloween movies to watch (the best from when you were a kid)


See you then


-The Crafty Witch