Category Archives: Imbolc/Candlemas

Between the influence of Brigid as a triple aspected diety (one who represents all three phases of a womans life, maiden, mother, crone); her connection to weaving and other domestic arts as seen celebrated through brigid crosses and the traditions of offering bread to the land to enhance the coming agricultural season, I wanted to […]

Imbolc is the first festival in the Wheel of the Year after the Gregorian calender celebrates the New Year. It can be a time of cold where only what has been preserved was available to eat and those supplies might be dwindling so although celebration feasts are enjoyed, the meals would have been plainer than […]

I taught a goats milk soap making class last week and ended up with leftover goats milk that I used to make some doggie treats and this batch of chevre cheese. As a personal preference, I would normally choose a cow’s milk fresh cheese over goat’s milk so I was pleasantly suprised at the taste […]

Customs and traditions usually come from something that occurred hundreds or years ago, oft times thousands. Origin stories can get lost or buried under other stories and when someone asks why we blow out candles on a birthday cake or count the days to Christmas or exchange rings at weddings, we have to think and […]

Fire has played such an important role in the progressive development of our homes that I always find it interesting when new building codes in many places do not allow for actual fireplaces anymore. Over time, people moved from congregating around an open fire pit to gathering around a kitchen hearth for food and heat. […]

“And don’t think the garden looses its ecstasy in winter. It’s quiet but the roots down there are riotous” is a Rumi quote I often think about this time of the year. Usually from the perspective that while one half of the planet seems to rest, the other is just beginning first harvests at the […]

The solar calendar is a fairly modern construct, more associated with neopaganism than one single ancient tradition. Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasa and Samhain were called “Fire Festivals” before being blended into the solstices and equinoxes to create the Wheel of the Year. Taking a moment though, it is easy to understand how each celebration is an […]

Try this tasty addition to my favourites list . By using quick rising yeast it only needs to rest once. I used the oranges from last weeks post of oranges in cardamon, cinnamon and rosewater syrup but you can also use fresh sections. Baking with fresh oranges was a new thing for me and I […]

This is a good year round recipe but as Imbolc is near, I thought I would contribute a last “seed” recipe. Seeds are one of the traditional foods of this celebration, along with grains and dairy, all parts of this pinwheel recipe. Many North American recipes for poppy seeds are combined with lemon. This is […]

For over 15 years of my life I was a chandler, I produced my own line of candles, did private labeling and taught classes. I still teach although I no longer have a workshop and at this time of the year I miss being able to melt wax, wick molds and play with scent and […]