— Aure Vives, From ‘km ⇢ Xo’

rose quartz

melysanna for lemongrace 🥺✨

When he thinks you're lighting candles to be sweet and romantic but you are actually about to sacrifice him

A Complete Guide to Celebrating Imbolc

Date: February 1st – 2nd Themes: Renewal, light, fertility, inspiration, purification Deity Association: Brigid (Celtic goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft)

1. Understanding Imbolc

Imbolc is a Celtic festival marking the halfway point between the Winter Solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox (Ostara). It celebrates the first signs of spring, fertility, purification, and the returning light. Traditionally associated with Brigid, Imbolc is a time to cleanse, set intentions, and welcome inspiration.

2. Preparing for Imbolc

Declutter and Cleanse Your Space

Do a deep cleaning of your home (similar to spring cleaning) to invite fresh energy.

Use smoke cleansing (sage, rosemary, or incense) to purify your space.

Open windows and doors to let in fresh air and new energy.

Create an Imbolc Altar

Colors: White, red, green, gold

Symbols: Candles, milk, seeds, flowers, Brigid’s Cross, lambs, sun imagery

Crystals: Amethyst (intuition), citrine (light), garnet (passion), clear quartz (clarity)

Herbs & Plants: Chamomile, bay leaf, rosemary, snowdrops, and early spring flowers

3. Traditional Imbolc Rituals

Lighting Candles

Since Imbolc is a fire festival, lighting candles symbolizes the returning sun. You can:

Light a candle in every room at sunset.

Arrange candles in a circle and meditate on the growing light.

Use a red, white, or gold candle to represent Brigid’s presence.

Brigid’s Blessing & Invocation

Invocation of Brigid: "Brigid, goddess of hearth and home, Bless this space where I now roam. With fire and light, your warmth impart, Renew my spirit, heal my heart."

Leave a piece of fabric outside overnight to absorb Brigid’s blessings, then use it throughout the year for healing or protection.

Water & Milk Offerings

Pour fresh milk or water outside as an offering to Brigid and nature spirits.

Place a small bowl of milk on your altar as a symbol of nourishment and fertility.

Fire & Candle Ritual

Write your intentions or wishes for the year ahead.

Burn them in a fire-safe bowl or fireplace while focusing on renewal.

Meditate on the warmth of the flame, visualizing the return of light and inspiration.

4. Imbolc Feasting & Food

Traditional foods focus on dairy, grains, and warming spices:

Milk-based foods (cheese, butter, custards, yogurt)

Breads & grains (oatcakes, bannocks, soda bread)

Spiced foods (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)

Herbal teas (chamomile, peppermint, rosemary)

Hearty stews with root vegetables and lamb

Imbolc Recipe: Honey Oat Bannocks

Ingredients:

1 cup oats

1 cup flour

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp baking soda

2 tbsp butter

½ cup buttermilk

2 tbsp honey

Instructions:

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.

Cut in butter until crumbly.

Stir in buttermilk and honey to form a dough.

Roll out and cut into rounds.

Cook on a greased skillet over medium heat until golden.

5. Imbolc Activities

Make a Brigid’s Cross

Weave a Brigid’s Cross from straw, rushes, or paper.

Hang it over doors or hearths for protection and blessings.

Plant Seeds or Bulbs

Start indoor herbs or flowers as a symbol of new beginnings.

Snowdrops, crocuses, or daffodils are perfect for Imbolc.

Divination & Reflection

Use tarot, runes, or scrying to gain insight into the year ahead.

Journal about your goals, creativity, and what you wish to manifest.

Outdoor Nature Walk

Look for signs of early spring: budding trees, returning birds, or sprouting flowers.

Gather natural items (fallen twigs, stones) for your altar.

6. Closing the Celebration

Gratitude Ritual

Thank Brigid and the spirits for their blessings.

Bury or compost food offerings to return energy to the earth.

Snuff out candles (rather than blowing them out) to preserve the magic.

Meditation & Quiet Reflection

Sit in stillness, embracing the warmth of the candlelight.

Focus on inner renewal and the new cycle ahead.

7. Modern Ways to Celebrate Imbolc

Take a warm cleansing bath with herbs like rosemary and lavender.

Donate to a charity (honoring Brigid’s healing and generosity).

Write poetry or create art to invoke creativity and inspiration.

Craft a protection charm using red and white thread.

Final Thoughts

Imbolc is a time of hope, renewal, and inspiration. Whether through fire rituals, feasting, crafting, or quiet reflection, embracing the light within and around you is the true essence of this festival.

Blessed Imbolc! 🌿🔥

Making Dream Sachets

These dream pillows or sachets can be used with different intentions. For dreams, to stop nightmares, for prophetic dreams, protection, etc. Below are a couple of the recipes that you can use to create your own sachet!

Bridging Sachet: To create a bridge between this world and the next

Allspice

Anise

Cinnamon

Blue

All Saint's Sachet: To bring forth psychic power or for healing

Cinnamon

Tonka bean

Patchouli

Vanilla

Lavender

Gardenia

Vetiver

Ancient Shrine Sachet: To increase clairvoyance powers and connect with the underworld

1 part Cinnamon

4 parts frankincense

4 parts sandalwood

To see past lives

Anubis Sachet

Cinnamon powder

Low John

Cedar oil

Orris oil

Myrrh

Blue

Astral Travel Sachet

3 part sandalwood

3 part Benzoin

1 part mugwort

1 part dittany of Crete

1 drop Bergamot

Or

Orange oil

Lemon oil

Frankincense

Myrrh

1 drop Bergamot

Aunt Sally's dream Sachet: To induce prophetic dreams, events to come, numbers, love

Licorice

Cinnamon

Cardamom

Coriander

Bruno's Curse Sachet: For psychic and physical protection

2 parts frankincense

1 part sandalwood

1/2 part rosemary

Mystic Veil Sachet: For dream walking and telepathy

Gum mastic

Cinnamon

Sandalwood

Clove

Myrrh

Prophetic dream oil: Heat. Apply to temples

1/2 cup olive oil

Pinch Cinnamon

Pinch nutmeg

1 tap anise

1 drop Bergamot

Fiery Wall of Protection Sachet: Protects and handles every sort of threat. From spells or negative entities while asleep. Also calls upon good health.

Dragon's blood

Frankincense

Myrrh

Salt

Red or purple

Health Sachet: To place under a sick person's pillow or for protection when there is illness in the house.

2 parts myrrh

2 parts sandalwood

1 part sage

1 part rosemary

1 drop Bergamot

Purification Sachet: To purify the mind, body, and spirit every morning

2 parts sea salt

1 part cinnamon

1 drop Bergamot

Dove's Blood Sachet: To bring peace of mind and happiness. Also mends hearts.

4 parts dragons blood

Rose oil

Bay oil

White, red, purple

Dream Traveling:

Hibiscus

Mugwort

Dandelion

Star anise

Thyme

Yarrow

Jasmine

Cinnamon

Elecampane

Protected:

Nutmeg

Sage

Valerian

Clove

Sandalwood

Eucalyptus

Basil

Bay leaf

Lavender

Carnation

Clove

Quiet Slumber:

Chamomile

Lavender

Sage

Passionflower

Anise seeds

Chamomile

See The Future:

Mugwort

Rosemary

Bay leaf

Chamomile

Ecelcampane

(Elfdock)

(Yellow starwort)

Flax

Hemp

Nightmares's Bane:

Angelica

Burdock

Juniper

Mullein

Valarian

𝐋𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚

What is Lupercalia?

Celebrated on February 13th - February 15th, Lupercalia was an ancient Roman holiday dedicated to the god Faunus, the wild horned spirit of nature, and the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. The festival is believed to have far more ancient origins than its association with these mythical figures, likely stemming from earlier fertility rites and purification ceremonies.

The name of the festival, Lupercalia, is derived from the Latin word lupus (wolf), tying it to the legend of the she-wolf who rescued and nursed Romulus and Remus in the cave known as the Lupercal. This cave, located on Palatine Hill, became the heart of the festival’s rituals, emphasizing the protective and nurturing symbolism of wolves.

At its core, Lupercalia celebrated the themes of fertility, purification, and the harmony of nature. It honored two deities: Faunus, the primordial spirit of wild nature and fertility, and Juno Februata, the aspect of Juno associated with purification and the passions of love. The name "February" itself originates from Februare (to cleanse) and Juno Februata, underscoring the month’s ties to this festival.

The festival began with sacrifices of goats, symbolizing fertility, and dogs, representing purification. These sacrifices were followed by ceremonial rituals performed by Faunus’ priests, known as the Luperci. After consuming the sacrificial meat, the Luperci smeared themselves with the blood of the animals and dressed in strips of goatskin, referred to as "Juno’s cloak." They then ran through the streets of the Palatine Hill, carrying whips made from goatskin called februa.

Women who wished to conceive strategically positioned themselves to be struck by the whips, believing this act would enhance fertility, ensure conception, and guarantee safe childbirth. This ritual also served as a broader purification rite for the community, cleansing it in preparation for the coming New Year, which in the Roman calendar began at the vernal equinox.

The nine days of Lupercalia, from February 13th to the 21st, were believed to be a liminal time when the souls of the dead wandered the earth. Offerings of food and drink were left for them, with the living honoring the spirits as part of the festival's traditions.

Over time, the festival's elements shifted and evolved, blending with other traditions. February 14th, now celebrated as Valentine’s Day, originally marked the first day of Lupercalia, dedicated to Juno Februata and Faunus, when women prayed for fertility and blessings.

Lupercalia continued to be celebrated for centuries until it was officially abolished in 495 AD by Pope Gelasius I, who replaced it with a Christian feast day. Now, in modern times, even though Lupercalia is no longer a widely celebrated festival, it is often associated with modern Valentine’s Day or even a celebration of self-love. Today, it’s all about love, fertility, and connection. You can spend the three days of Lupercalia by offering yourself love and understanding, doing things that nurture your self-appreciation, and spending special time with your loved ones.

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Magic Correspondences:

Colors: red, white, pink

Crystals: rose quartz, milky quartz, selenite, moonstone, ruby, garnet, lepidolite, green aventurine, emerald

Deities: Juno, Lupercus, Faunus, Venus, Aphrodite, Pan, Hera, Dionysus, Eros, Freyja, Cernunnos (deities associated with love, fertility, and abundance)

Animals: dog, goat, wolf, dove, swan, dolphin, ladybug, lovebirds, horse

Flowers: lavender, roses, snowdrops, hyacinths, tulips, orchids

Herbs: cinnamon, basil, jasmine, vanilla

Fruits: figs, cherries, grapes, bananas, strawberries, pomegranate, raspberries, apples

Symbols: phallus, hearts, wolves, whips, goat

Magick: fertility and abundance spells, self-love magick, sex magick, purification

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Activities to do:

🐺 Take a relaxing long bath, and add some rose essential oil if you like

🐺 Spend time with your dog(s)

🐺 Watch some romance movies

🐺 Treat yourself to things that make you feel good, like lotions, perfume, or new clothes

🐺 Light red, pink, or white candles

🐺 Collect flowers and put them in your altar or room

🐺 Drink goat milk

🐺 Perform love, fertility, and purification spells

🐺 Give flowers to loved ones

🐺 Spend some time in your home, simply being naked because why not?

🐺 Bake heart-shaped cakes

🐺 Support dog shelters with a donation

🐺 Spend time with your lover

🐺 Listen to your favorite music

🐺 Show appreciation for your body

🐺 Take your health medicine

🐺 Decorate your space or altar with heart-shaped objects

🐺 Spend time and meditate in nature

🐺 Eat lots of chocolate

🐺 Practice yoga

🐺 Connect with deities associated with love, fertility, and purification

🐺 Drink some red wine

🐺 Dedicate a day to self-care, doing what feels healthy and good for you

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Food and Drinks:

Drink red liquids like wine, cranberry or strawberry juice, consume goat dairy, cakes, muffins, chocolate, honey, cherries, champagne, grapes, hazelnuts, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, any food with meat, apple pie, strawberries.

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

sources: Wicca: A Modern Guide To Witchcraft & Magick; Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World by Judika Illes

i am so easily impressed by trees

The Lovers

Kaja Horvat, 2024

Hecate Devotional Acts and Offerings

Devotional Acts

Magic/Sorcery/Spells

Write/cast spells

Daily practical magic

Practice divination

Bonecasting

Scrying

Make a talisman

Protection magic around your home

Have a book of shadows

Learn the history of witchcraft

Learn astrology

Learn herbology

Study the occult

Astral projection

Keep a dream journal

Moon/Night

Follow the moon cycles

Make moon water

Practice moon magic

Take a nighttime walk

Star/moon gaze

Sit in the dark and ponder your existence

Ghosts/Demons/The Dead

Leave offerings for the dead

Honor ancestors

Clean graves (PROPERLY!!!)

Visit graveyards

Leave flowers at graves

Learn local ghost stories

Tell ghost stories

Go ghost hunting

Learn demonology

Protection magic against the dead/demons

Miscellaneous

Stand/meditate at crossroads

Keep secrets entrusted to you

Walk dogs

Light candles

Shadow work 

Journal

Take a walk

Offerings

Moon water

Moon imagery

Moonstone/selenite

Keys

Locks

Herbs/plants/poisonous plants (safely)

Lighters/matches

Snake imagery

Snakeskins 

Ghost imagery

Grimoires

Pentacles

Essential oils

Dark alcohol

Books about magic, herbs, crystals, etc.

Tarot/oracle decks

Divination tools

Bones

Ouija boards/planchettes

Crow imagery

Crow feathers

Bat imagery

Dog fur

Potion bottles

Ashes

Wands

Mementos of the dead

Urns

Grave rubbings

Iron

Crossroads dirt

Cauldrons

Mortar and pestles

Pillar candles

Coffee grounds

Black teas

Garlic!!

Veils

Talismans

Birth charts

Daggers/athames

— Aphrodite is iridescence, like the shimmer of pearls and seashells, like glittering jewels in the sea