Imbolc, “IM-bulk” is a pagan holiday with many names. One of the Sabbats, it is an ancient festival generally celebrated on January 31, February 1, or February 2. It is also known as Candlemas, Brighid (“breed/bride”), and Oimelc (“EE-mulk”), which means ewe’s milk. It is the time of year halfway between December 21, the winter Solstice (Yule), and March 21, the spring Equinox (Ostara). Imbolc is in the middle of winter, but is the optimism of spring. The Egyptians and the Romans also celebrated this time, as it was the earth goddess giving birth to the Sun God. The time to ready seeds for the planting of food. A time of planning weddings, love, and romance. Days are getting longer, and hope is renewed. The celebration is to light candles. Night of white candles turns the darkness into light.
Spring Equinox, Ostara, Eostre, Easter, Vernal Equinox
By Tara Sutphen
Spring Equinox is March 20, 2025 and marks the mid-point of the Waxing Year, the nights and days are balanced once again; the time when Kore, (Persephone) was believed to have returned from the Underworld where she had ruled throughout the Winter. The spark of light, born at Winter Solstice has reached maturity, and from here onwards, the days progressively grow longer than the nights.
Western culture proclaims this the first day of Spring. Older traditions called the Spring Equinox, Ostara; the time of the festivals of the Grecian Goddess, Eostre, and the Germanic Ostara, both fertility Goddesses of Dawn. These influenced the naming of the modern-day Easter Holiday. New greenery bursts forth from sleeping seeds in the countryside, as metaphorically, pagans also plant their own seeds for future goals, future projects and growth at this time. Decorated eggs, being symbols of fertility are symbolic of Ostara.
In days gone, Europeans gave gifts of decorated eggs to new brides, in the hope that they would bear many children. Similarly, bowls filled with eggs were given to farm workers by the farmer’s wife, to ensure a rich harvest. Most all cultures see the egg as a symbol of Life; the actual home of the Soul. In Russia, decorated eggs are still given as gifts to loved ones and buried in graves to ensure rebirth. The women gathered the eggs only from hens which were around a rooster and decorated them, allowing no one to watch them work as they transferred the goodness of the household to the designs on the eggs, thus keeping evil away. Dyes were mixed to secret family recipes and special blessings placed on each egg.
Colors of Ostara Eggs:
White:
Purity
Yellow:
Wisdom, a successful Harvest, or Spirituality
Green:
Spring, rebirth, wealth, youth, growth, happiness
Blue:
Good health, clear skies
Orange:
Power endurance, ambition, courage
Red:
Happiness, hope, passion, nobility, bravery, enthusiasm, love
Brown:
Enrichment, good harvest, happiness
Purple:
Faith, trust, power
Pink:
Success, friendship, love
Black:
Remembrance
Lore:
The custom of eating Hot Cross Buns also has pagan origins. The Saxons ate buns that were marked with a cross in honor of Eostre; Ancient Greeks consumed these types of buns in their celebrations of Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, and the Egyptians ate a similar cake in their worship of the Goddess Isis.
There are conflicting ideas as to what the cross symbol represents. One suggestion is that it is a Christianisation of horn symbols that were stamped on cakes to represent an ox, which used to be sacrificed at the time of the Spring Equinox. Another theory relates to
—Moon worship; the bun representing the full Moon, and the cross, its four quarters. Christianity gave new meanings to the symbolism of the buns, saying the cross represented the Crucifixion Cross. Thus, superstitions arose crediting these buns as being charms against evil, so after Good Friday, people would save one or two of them to hang in their homes as amulets. During the festival season and indeed, for a long time afterwards, fishermen would carry these Easter buns in their boats, for protection.
The Spring Equinox defines the season where Spring reaches it’s peak, with the powers of light increasing. The God of Light, (Llew), now gains victory over his twin, the God of Darkness. Llew was reborn at the Winter Solstice and is now old and strong enough to vanquish his rival twin and mate with his Mother Goddess. The great Mother Goddess, who returned to her Virgin aspect at Imbolc, welcomes the young Sun God’s attentions and conceives a child. The child will be born nine months from now, at the next Winter Solstice, when the cycle closes, only to begin anew.
The Easter Bunny is another symbol which has obvious links to fertility, rebirth, and the abundance of life which is evident in Spring.
Eostre was a playful Goddess whose reign over the earth began in Spring when the Sun King journeyed across the sky in his chariot, bringing the end of Winter. Eostre came down to Earth then, appearing as a beautiful maiden with a basket of bright colorful eggs. Eostre’s magical companion was a rabbit who accompanied her as she brought new life to dying plants and flowers by hiding the eggs in the fields.
Traditional Foods:
Dairy foods
Leafy Green Vegetables
Nuts such as Pumpkin
Sunflower
Pine
Hot Cross Buns
Flower Dishes
Sprouts
Herbs and Flowers
Jonquils
daffodils
Woodruff
Violet
Gorse
Olive
Peony
Iris,
Narcissus
spring flowers.Incense
Jasmine
Rose
Strawberry
FloralsSacred Gemstone
Jasper
Recipes:
Hot Cross Buns
1/4 cup apple juice, beer or rum
1 cup raisins, dried currants, or dried cranberries
1 1/4 cups milk
3 large eggs, 1 separated
6 tablespoons soft butter
2 teaspoons instant yeast
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
4 1/2 cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
Glaze:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon milk
Frosting:
1 cup & 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4 teaspoons milk
oven 375*
20 mins
Beer Bread
Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups flour
4 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 package active dry yeast
1 cup beer or apple juice
1 tablespoon butter
2 1/2 tablespoon honey
1 egg
9×5 Bread Pan
Dry Ingredients
Mix the flour, sugar, salt, and yeast
Beer or Apple juice and other ingredients
warm the beer/ingredients on the stove.
Add egg last – cover & let raise 30 mins.
Kneed on flour surface, cover & let raise another 20 mins
Grease pan: place in pan, cover & let “another” 20 mins
Oven 375*
30-35 mins
Lavender Goat Cheese Figs
6-10 figs
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1/4 cup goat cheese
1/4 teaspoon dried lavender
1/2 tablespoons honey
cut figs in half, spoon in cheese/lavender mixture
Vegetable Tart
1 Puff Pastry
Spread out and brush pastry with olive oil
Lightly cook in oven
Cook vegetables of choice and garlic for the tart
Add them onto the oven baked pastry
Add your cheeses – parmesan and mozzarella
Lightly cook in oven and brown
Cut and serve
Irish Soup
Sautee’
1 onion
2 leeks
garlic
Add
3 carrots
3 potatoes
2 containers vegetable broth or chicken broth
Cook on stove top or crockpot until carrots and potatoes are soft
Imbolc “IM-bulk” is a pagan holiday with many names. One of the Sabbats, it is an ancient festival generally celebrated on January 31, February 1, or February 2. It is also known as Candlemas, Brighid (“breed/bride”), and Oimelc (“EE-mulk”) which means ewe’s milk. It is the time of year halfway between December 21, the Winter Solstice (Yule), and March 21, the spring Equinox (Ostara). Imbolc is in the middle of winter but is the optimism of spring. The Egyptians and the Romans also celebrated this time, as it was the earth goddess giving birth to the Sun God. The time to ready seeds for the planting of food. A time of planning weddings, love, and romance. Days are getting longer and hope is renewed. The celebration is to light candles. The night of white candles turns the darkness into light.
Autumn Equinox, 2nd Harvest, September 20/21/22 September 22, 2024 (Almanac) Mabon, (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, or MAH-bawn) is the Autumn Equinox. The Autumn Equinox divides the day and night equally, and we all take a moment to pay our respects to the impending dark. We also give thanks to the waning sunlight, as we store our harvest of this year’s crops. The Druids call this celebration, Mea’n Fo’mhair, and honor the The Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees.
Offerings of ciders, wines, herbs and fertilizer are appropriate at this time. Wiccans celebrate the aging Goddess as she passes from Mother to Crone, and her consort the God as he prepares for death and re-birth. Various other names for this Lesser Wiccan Sabbat are The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Equinozio di Autunno (Strega), Alben Elfed (Caledonii), or Cornucopia.
The Teutonic name, Winter Finding, spans a period of time from the Sabbat to Oct. 15th, Winter’s Night, which is the Norse New Year. At this festival it is appropriate to wear all of your finery and dine and celebrate in a lavish setting. It is the drawing to and of family as we prepare for the winding down of the year at Samhain. It is a time to finish old business as we ready for a period of rest, relaxation, and reflection.
Symbolism of Mabon: – Second Harvest, the Mysteries, Equality and Balance.
Symbols of Mabon: – Wine, gourds, pine cones, acorns, grains, corn, apples, pomegranates, vines such as ivy, dried seeds, and horns of plenty.
Foods of Mabon: – Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Incense of Mabon: – Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage.
Colors of Mabon: – Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold.
Stones of Mabon: – Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates.
Activities of Mabon: – Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering a ritual pouring to loved ones —Flowers and trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.
Spellworkings of Mabon: – Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence. Also those of harmony and balance.
Deities of Mabon: – Goddesses-Modron, Morgan, Epona, Persephone, Pamona and the Muses. Gods-Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, and The Green Man. Mabon is considered a time of the Mysteries. It is a time to honor Aging Deities and the Spirit World. Considered a time of balance, it is when we stop and relax and enjoy the fruits of our personal harvests, whether they be from toiling in our gardens, working at our jobs, raising our families, or just coping with the hussle-bussle of everyday life. May your Mabon be memorable, and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing!
Recipes: Salad Fixings—-Lettuce: any kind Add:
Sliced radishes
Shelled edamame
Cucumbers
Onions
Mushroom
Tomatoes
Peppers
Sliced fruit, like pears, apples, and mangoes
Berries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
Grilled salmon
Roasted garlic, Wild rice, quinoa, or other whole grain
Beans, like pinto, garbanzo
White beans
Celery
Italian Parsley
Wheat berries
Fresh basil (especially nice with a deep balsamic vinegar)
Nonfat ricotta cheese (a little goes a long way)
Scallions
cabbage
Grilled chicken breast
tofu
Roasted beets
bell peppers, thinly sliced
Dill
Any Dressing of your choice. Autumn Apple Cider Chicken or Vegan Soup
Chicken (optional) cooked using pam spray, browned in cast iron skillet (preferably)
cut into cubes for soup pot
In big soup pot or crockpot
3 cups apple cider or juice
1 carton reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons himalayan salt (optional)
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 medium carrots, cut into pieces
3 celery ribs, cut into pieces
2 medium onions, cut
Sweet Potatoes & Ground Turkey or Vegan Casserole
5 sweet potatoes or yams, cooked-peeled-cubed
Saute’
1 or more pounds ground turkey (optional)
1 medium onion, chopped
5 Green Onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup low sodium tomato paste
1 cup low sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan salt
1/4 teaspoon peppe
Add the sweet potatoes or yams, cooked-peeled-cubed
Dash crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Minced fresh mint (optional)
South of the Border Casserole
4 cups uncooked pasta shapes (whole wheat/ gluten-free)
4 cups vegetable broth or water
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 oz) diced low sodium tomatoes, undrained
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen corn, thawed
1 can (10 oz) enchilada sauce
Add –
1/2 cup shredded cheese
Combine in pot, bring pasta and ingredients to al dente and sauce has thickened slightly, 12-15 minutes. Add cheese, melt in the oven and serve Apple-Cranberry Pie
Dough for 2 – pies with lattice tops
2-1/4 cups sugar or Monk sugar (same evalent)
1/3 cup whole wheat flour or rice flour
pie filling –
tart apples, peeled-sliced (about 8 cups)
3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tsp grated orange zest
1-1/2 tsp nutmeg
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
6 cups frozen or fresh raspberries
Bake 375* 45-50 minutes Hot apple cider — In a medium-size bowl mix sugar or honey, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, mace, and nutmeg. Heat the apple cider until hot, add 1 to 2 teaspoons to the apple cider Repost Enquire: Sessions & Seminars +1-310-303-8188 Taraappointment@gmail.com
The Full Flower Moon (Native American) at 2* Sagittarius will culminate, on May 23, 2024, 6:53 am PDT/9:53 am EDT (Farmers Almanac).
This Full Flower Moon is about compromising with collaborators through professional or personal relationships. This could be learning from others as well. It’s the alignment of minds. Use your intellect and wisdom to create ideas that have an opportunity to come to fruition. Implementing how to join forces with friends, co-workers, and family, using skills and tools to help yourself and others achieve the next steps or goals. Whether it is a career move or a personal one, positively influencing others to make progress. There is a proactive and considerate way towards beneficial outcomes.
This is not the time to feel ineffective, meek, or unmotivated; as others are set in place to help through struggles. Whether through listening to common sense, polishing your skill set, or being open to your elder’s/mentors’ suggestions. Throughout this month, stop to listen often, take notes, and proceed effectively.
Reflective Comprehension:
Comprehend Deeper Understanding
Shift your Mindset
Be Collaborative
Practice humility
Thorough Listening
Reflect on how it applies to you
Don’t interrupt
Be open to receiving the whole message
Relax and appreciate listening
Come to a comprehension
What brings you value
How can you add value
Implement the best advice
Be Present
When you actively move towards becoming knowledgeable or successful, you allow your life to flow in a fulfilling direction. When you are collaborating, it must be a win-win with others. That can be as simple as listening, always using your gut instinct, and not doing anything against the moral code. Allow yourself to make wise choices.
Journal Questions:
Are you constructive or destructive:
About yourself
Or others
Family
Friends
Work arena
Neighborhood
City
State
Country
World
Are you trying to be invisible – or are you outwardly visible?
Are you seen as Constructive or Destructive?
House
Love
Family
Parents
Mate
Children
What do you want and why
Constructive or Destructive
Love
Career
Job
Health
Relationships
Friendships
Happiness
Exercise
How can you change: List 3 things if not 3 sentences
Love
Career
Job
Health
Relationships
Friendships
Happiness
Exercise
Your Aspirations:
Spiritually
Emotionally
Intellectually
Materially
Physically
Relationships, friendships, and work can become less uncomplicated with shared enthusiasm. Patience is a virtue, especially when listening to others’ wisdom and expertise. We learn how to achieve together in tandem. A lovely heart begins with ourselves and extends toward the goodwill of others. Trusting our intuition is a big component. Not everyone has your best interests at heart. But you can; by having the best intentions for others. It is important to live our truth… our progress is to regain our livelihood every day. It is a part of our fate and purpose to be the best we can be.
—— “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Beltaine is the “Celebration of the Light”,the light time of the year. The dark time being remembered by Samhain. May 1 is the day in the middle of the spring and the summer equinox’ (10* Taurus). May Day is the time for love and the happiness of summer on it’s way.
Beltane | Beltaine is a celebration of the union of souls, The union of minds, and the union of bodies. The earth mother calls her progeny to replenish the earth. Flowers decorate hair and everywhere. Maypole ribbon dances, with two circles interweaving around a decorated tree or pole, clockwise dance circles. Bonfires or candles to spark the sacred fire of union and fertility.
Druids and Pagans raised the Beltaine fires on hilltops on May Eve, the fires were lit in order to bring the sun’s light down to earth. Earth awakening from it’s long winter nap and the flowers are in bloom and frolicking abounds. Joy alights your body, mind, and spirit, the colors become brighter, you see the best in everyone, casting away all worries and doubts you collected over the winter time.All nightmares become daydreams of love, hope and harmony.
Beltaine or Beltane is an anglicization of the Irish “Bealtaine” or the Scottish “Bealtuinn.” — “bel,”brilliant”, “tene” “fire”
Things to do on Beltaine alone or with a group
Create a Beltaine circle or group
Buy or Pick flowers
potluck
maywine (alcoholic or non alcoholic)
Candles, Fireplace, Bonfire — Lighting a fire with a blessing
May pole (you can use a tree if you don’t have a pole) garnish w. greenery and flowers – tie long ribbon
If you create a May pole, make lots of wishes while you walk clockwise into your future, and at the end of wrapping the ribbon say a blessing for yourself and end with “to love and be loved, So it is”. If the tree/pole ribbons pretty and sturdy enough you could leave until Samhain.
Some of the questions that you can ask your friends or family are:
What were the highlights in your winter? Everyone must come up with at least one if not several highlights. What are the dreams to enliven your spring and summer? Every one should convey their intentions for the summer.
Making Maywine
Ingredients
• 2 bottles of dry white wine
2 cups strawberry liqueor
Non-Alcoholic version: Substitute sparkling water and grape juice, sparkling water and apple juice
• 5 thin orange slices
• and/or
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 12 sprigs of woodruff
• 1 teaspoon sugar (more or less, as preferred)
• Edible flowers (to be added after all ingredients have been mixed together)
Directions
Soak the dried woodruff overnight in the wine.
Add the rest of the ingredients, stir with a wooden spoon, and let it steep for an hour or so.
Serve very cold, with edible flowers floating atop in the punch bowl.
The taste is both sweet and fruity.
American Heritage Dictionary
wood·ruff Audio Help (wŏŏd’rəf, -rŭf’) Pronunciation Key
n.
1. A fragrant perennial herb (Galium odoratum) native to Eurasia and North Africa and widely cultivated as a shade ground cover, having small white flowers and narrow leaves used for flavoring wine and in sachets. Also called sweet woodruff.
2. Any of various plants of the genus Asperula, having whorled leaves and small funnel-shaped flowers.
Woodruff is sold in the herb section at markets and nurserys..
The Full Corn Moon (Native American) at 6* Aries will culminate, on September 29, 2023, 2:58 am Pacific | September 29 5:58 am Eastern (Farmers Almanac).
This Aries Full Moon is all about Action. Hold on to your horses as you gallop into new scenes. You’ve been complacent and standing back letting your life slip by… and you’re awakening to the fact you have to take your health and well-being seriously. Isn’t your work important on a daily basis? If it isn’t, start to make plans to change what you do and how you do it. Life gives us explicit directions and instructions…
1. Take care of your health
2. Work steadily
3. Take care of others
4. Be Happy where your feet are standing
5. Love and Be Loved
6. Relationships are supposed to be Fun
7. Take a few extra minutes to do something right
8. Become Skillful
9. Smile and the World Smiles with You
10. Listen well
11. Speak productively
12. Open your heart and mind to have a great life
Journal Questions:
3-5 sentences+ for each question.
–What do you need to change, so you can move forward? –
Sentiments
Regrets
Anger
Actual person
Job
Career change
Move
House
Town
Country
Money problems
Bad habits
Health problems
Stress
Phobias
-How can you rebalance:
People problems
Money problems
Relationship problem
Health problems
Personal issues
Bad habits
Phobias
Career problems
Past choices
Stress
Overwhelmed
Where are you most ambitious:
relationships
career
job
homelife
friendships
marriage
children
beauty
exercise
eating
inside maintenance
outside maintenance
person maintenance
place maintenance
thing maintenance
Your new viewpoint:
acceptance of yourself
acceptance of others
Spending too much time on others and not yourself
Spending too much time on yourself and not on others
Forward movement toward positive activities
Forward movement toward negative activities
-Time management, how long with each:
Family
Friends
Job
Career
Money
Beauty
Health
Harmony
Things
Strangers
-When creating calmness in your life:
Breathing deeply a few times a day
Drinking more water
Taking a walk
Meditating
Praying
Writing in a Journal
Creating a solution
Creating plans
Giving Hugs
Offering Smiles
Saying nice things to people
Waving here or there to people
Enjoying a color
Enjoying nature
Enjoying architecture
Complimenting your kids
Complimenting everyone
-Can you clearly say this is what I do now and I like it or I’d like to see a change:
What are you doing now
What job will you have next year
What job will you have in 5 years
What job will you have in 10 years
Do you stay with a career
Do you change careers often
Do you like jobs
Do you like responsibility
Do you like to be a boss
Are you a good boss
Are you a good employee
What makes you happy
When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up
What is your career
What is your self-confidence
What is your earning potential
What is your verve for life
Are you a winner
Are you sometimes winning
Are you winning yet losing
Are you losing but close to winning
What could make you win
What could make you content
——
*When meditating, remember you’re going to go past your mind and its set ideas, and proceed toward the heart, taking it deeper, releasing false sentiments, and just floating in your divinity, going deeper and deeper to your very essence. Reaching into the core of your being. Shift into knowing you will begin to float in calmness and flow freely forward into divine destiny.
——“We must be willing to get rid of
the life we’ve planned, so as to have
the life that is waiting for us.
The old skin has to be shed
before the new one can come.
If we fix on the old, we get stuck.
When we hang onto any form,
we are in danger of putrefaction.
Hell is life drying up.”
― Joseph Campbell, A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living
LifeForce Activation 