Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities

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Cerredwen	Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	Lead	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/11/06 07:15 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : pagan, paganism, witch, witchcraft, wicca, magick, ritual, spells, rite, blessing, druid, druidism, celtic, old ways, info, lore, sabbat, wheel of the year, wheel of life, crafts and activities, crafts, activities, meditations, imbolc, candlemas Imbolc Crafts Brigid's Cross Materials: a handful of long wheat stalks clothespins thread and needle Directions: 1. Soak wheat stalks in warm water for about half an hour until theyre pliable. 2. Fold one stalk of wheat in half, leaving the kernels sticking out. 3. Fold another one the same way and thread through the first one. (It now looks like a long "L".) 4. Fold the third the same way and insert through the second wheat stalk. (It now looks like an L with a tail.) 5. Fold and insert the fourth stalk through the third. 6. Use the clothespins to help keep the shape as you weave more wheat. 7. Continue folding and threading the wheat stalks until you have several stalks of wheat woven through each "arm". 8. Allow it to dry with the clothespins in place. 9. Using the thread and needle, sew the stalks together. Kid Friendlier Version of a Brigids Cross Materials: pipe cleaners string or yarn Directions: 1. Make a bundle with 6 pipe cleaners and bend them in half. Tie the ends all together with a piece of string. 2. Lay the pipe cleaner bundle on the table in a vertical position, with the tied end on the top. 3. Make a second bundle, again using 6 pipe cleaners, and bend them in half. 4. Before you tie the ends this time though, slip it through the middle of the other bundle so that they're linked. 5. Now tie the ends and lay this second bundle down in a horizontal position with the tied ends pointing to the right. If you did it right your shape should look like the letter "L". 6. Now you're going to repeat the procedure. Make a bundle with 6 pipe cleaners, bend them in half and, before you tie them, slip them through the middle of the horizontal bundle, just to the right of the first bundle. This batch should be in a vertical position, with the tied ends on the bottom. 7. The last step is to make one last bundle, slipping it through the middle of the batch you just laid down, only this one goes horizontally to the left. Now tie the ends. You should now have an upside down "L" linked through your right side up one. Priapic Wand Materials: small tree branch acorn brown thread yellow, green, and gold 1/4" ribbon small gold/silver jingle bells Directions: 1. Select a small branch about 1/2" to 3/4" in diameter. Cut top end flat. 2. Approx. 1/2" below top score a groove with a sharp knife. 3. Take 1' long piece of string/thread and tie in groove. 4. Take another 1' piece of thread and tie in groove on opposite side of branch. 5. Place acorn at top of branch (at the flat end) and adhere with some glue. 6. Now pull the string up over the cap and wind once around acorn. Repeat with all 3 other pieces of string. 7. Pull strings back down to the groove in the branch and tie off. This will hold the acorn in place. 8. Decorate the branch by wrapping it with the ribbons, leaving enough length at top for streamers. Tie gold/silver jingle bells to the ends of the ribbons. Candle Wheel Materials: craft wreath eight white candles ivy leaves or vines glue gun 1. Either drill thick holes into the wreath so that candles can be placed inside or just secure them with screw-bottom candleholders or using the glue gun. 2. Place the ivy leaves around in a decorative fashion. The eight candles are symbolic of the eight spokes of the year, and spinning the circle into motion at Imbolc is important. In ritual, the candles can be lit with a cauldron or bowl placed in the middle of the candle wheel. Brigid's Bed Materials: basket, box, doll cradle or similar item padding to make receptacle like a bed figure to represent the goddess Brigid figure to represent the God (optional) Directions: 1. Dress up the basket, box, cradle or other item youve selected to make a bed. Make it comfortable and decorate it as you wish. 2. Make a figurine to represent Brigit. This can be made with a bundle of oats, rushes, straw, or any grain or craft material fashioned into a loop or slightly human shape. You can even use a doll. It can be simple or ornate, and can even can dressed, preferably in white (to represent the Maiden). If you like, you can make a god figurine as well. Start a new tradition in your home. Place the Brigid's Bed in the most inviting, warmest place in the house and imagine that Brigid will really visit on Imbolc. Leave an aromatic, hot snack out for her by the bed. Invite the spirit of the Goddess to inhabit the bed and ask for her blessings of fertility and healing. Put the dolly in the bed and if you wish, offer the company of the God. Add nuts to the bed to stimulate fertility. In the morning, surprise your children with a small gift that Brigid has left for them. The Bride can also be placed outside then. There she forms an amulet of prosperity, fertility and protection, which can remain till after Samhain. In her book, Ancient Ways, Pauline Campanelli suggests you return The Bride to earth before Yule. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~ Last Edited By: Cerredwen 12/26/08 03:14 PM. Edited 1 time.
Cerredwen	Re: Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	#1	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/17/06 06:36 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Brighid's Crosses Materials: Dried Wheat Stalks Brown Thread. Instructions: These crosses were exchanged as symbols of protection. They are easy to make and not at all time consuming. Take eight stalks with sheaves still attached. Place four stalks on flat surface with two sheaves at the top and two sheaves at the bottom. Measure approx. 6" of stalk between the sets of sheaves and cut off excess. Tie all four stalks together with the brown thread, first under the top sheaves, then above the bottom sheaves. Cut off excess thread. Repeat this procedure with the other four stalks, shortening the length between the sheaves to 4". Carefully separate the first set of stalks (two in front and two in back) and slip the second set through approx. 1" from the bottom of the top sheaves. Tie some thread in a knot just under the arms of the cross. Take the excess ends and diagonally wrap the thread over the opposite corresponding arm and back to the knot. Tie off in back and cut off excess ends. Let the children hand these Brighid's Crosses out to guests. Bride's Bed Materials: A Box Colored Construction Paper White, Yellow, Green, and Red Tissue Paper White Flowers or Cotton Balls Glue Paint Brush Crayons Scissors Glitter. Instructions: This is a great little activity for the smaller children in the household, and they too can boast of helping with your altar decor. Paint one side of the box at a time with a bit of glue, not too thick, just enough to adhere green tissue paper. Cover the entire outside of the box with the green tissue paper. Cut a 2" wide strip of colored construction paper the length of the sheet (11"/14" . Let the child draw symbols and pictures that reminds them of Spring, the Goddess, brides, and weddings on the strip. Cut the white and yellow tissue paper into 2" diameter circles. While you are doing this, allow the child to draw pictures and symbols on the box with glue, and sprinkle with glitter. Place finger in the middle of a tissue square and draw up tissue around finger. Give a slight twist to crinkle paper into a flower shape. Remove finger and adhere to box and decorated construction paper strip with a dab of glue. Remember to leave about 1-1/2 inches on each end of strip. Attach these ends to the inside of the box with some glue. Let dry. Fill with white flowers or cotton balls. Tell story to children of how the Maiden is a Bride and that the Earth is her Bride's Bed. Brigid's Cross Corn Dolly Below are three methods for making Brigid's Crosses. Hopefully, one will work best for you. Materials: Rushes are the traditional material for the St. Bridget's Cross. All materials should be blessed before construction. If you use rushes be sure to keep them wet but not too wet as they will mold and rot. To avoid the mess I have found that ordinary plastic drinking straws left in their white wrappers are just fine. Use rubber bands to tie up the ends. I generally use 9 straws and 4 rubber bands, however, any number may be used. Size does not matter. Generally crosses are made from pieces of rush that are about 8-12 inches long. Some jewelers, however, make them in the size of earrings. Method 1: How to make a Traditional St. Bridget's Cross (In Gaelic: Cros Bhrighite) After searching for many months I finally broke down and purchased a cross from the traditional Irish-American gifty shop. I took it apart and found the simple secret of the design. The process does wonderful things for busy fingers and is great with story telling! 1. Find 9 8-12 inch rushes, swizzle sticks or drinking straws and 4 small to medium sized rubber bands. 2. Hold one of the rushes/straws vertically. 3. Fold a second straw in half horizontally over and at a right angle over the center of to the first straw with the second straw projecting to the right. Snug the inside of the bend right up to the first straw at its center. 4. Grasp the center overlap tightly between thumb and fore-finger. 5. Turn the two straws held together 90 degrees counter clockwise (left) (the two ends of the second straw will be projecting upwards.) 6. Fold the third straw in half over both parts of the second straw horizontally from left to right and snug the inside of the fold up against the center and the second straw. Hold tight. 7. Holding the center tightly! Rotate all straws (the entire assembly) 90 degrees counter clockwise. (left) 8. This time the bottom half of the first straw will be projecting upward. Fold a new straw in half over and across all straws projecting upward. 9. Snug the straw tightly against the center and against the vertical straws. 10. Holding the center tightly rotate all straws (the entire assembly) 90 degrees Counter clockwise. 11. Fold a new straw in half over all vertical straws from left to right and snug up to center and to the right. 12. Repeat the process of rotating all straws (the entire assembly) 90 degrees to the left and folding the new straw over until all straws have been used. Remember: Hold tight to the center. 13. When the last straw has been used snug all straws to center being careful to hold tight to the last straw folded. 14. Secure the last arm of the cross with a rubber band or if using rushes platted straw or string. Then secure each other arm. 15. You may paint the drinking straws but be careful as wet paint will dissolve the thin paper covering. Place rushes on a flat surface to dry. You may wish to seal the rushes when dry with a paint of your choice. Method 2: This method produces a cross in a form which is much like the Eye of God and as such it brings to mind the antiquity of the Celtic Traditions of Ireland. Materials: Two sticks and either rushes or wire or paper twist. Heavy gauge electrical wire (I use green!) makes for a great re-usable cross which can be re-constructed for each session. I start the cross and pass it through the class audience for completion. 1. Secure two sticks together at right angles. (I use string or tape). 2. Pull rush or wire from center attachment under the X in the top image over the top across the center to the left. 3. Then under the bottom left spoke then over the upper left spoke then curve back under it and continue in a clockwise direction (to the right). Ideally there should be a few inches of stick remaining exposed on each spoke. It should resemble a cross more than an eye of god. (Source: Lettice Sanford Straw Work and Corn Dollies) Method 3: This method produces a cross much like that of Method 1. For some reason this method seems to be more archaic than method 1. 1. Tie nine straws together at their ends. 2. Spread them as shown with the tied end facing down (three to the right and two each other direction). 3. Fold the front straw of the three under the other two. 4. Bring it up and over to be alongside the two at the nest corner. (Source: Joan Rendell, Your Book of Corn Dollies.) May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	#2	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/22/06 01:15 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	When Darkness Falls: Cooking and Heating in Winter as Our Forebears Did By Catherine Harper As I write this, we are in the midst of the false spring that is so often January's mercurial gift to the Pacific Northwest coast. Around the borders of the garden daffodil bulbs are sending up small green teeth. The days are sunny and mild, and my over-wintering broccoli has started to form heads. Is it just coincidence that just as the season tries to so mislead us the seed catalogs begin to arrive? The sunset through the trees beyond my study window has painted the sky the color of salmon, and it is not yet wholly dark, though it would have been at this time only a few weeks before. It's an easy time to think of Imbolc ahead. Imbolc is a celebration of first stirrings, new beginnings, gradual lengthening of days and return of the light. In this green country by the sea, where winter's sleep is never much more than a nap, it might almost be redundant, the transition from grey, rain and green to more of the same with swelling buds. We prune the apple orchards and light a candle (the more faithfully because Imbolc is also my brother's birthday). It is a restless season, a gradually accelerating rising toward the lighter portion of the year, and as such it can be a difficult time for reflection. And yet reflection sometimes finds us, though we did not look for it. Recently, our house was without power for several days, and many of our plans were put on hold for that stretch. I was given ample opportunity to think of the passing of the darkest time -- even as winter is still with us -- and time to think of the small ways in which the light returns to us. Now, we are well set up for such occurrences, and it is not uncommon for us to heat the house and cook our dinner with the wood-burning brick oven. Similarly, we often eat by candlelight. But to fire the oven every day, banking the coals each night and then stirring them to light the fire the next morning, is something else, as it is to read and work out and clean the garage only by the light of candles and oil lamps or the short hours of daylight. What has been at most ritual, and at least conceit, becomes both drudgery and discipline. By the third day, the eyestrain from the dimmer light even of many candles was feeling ingrained. I had learned to take a hot water bottle to bed with me every night because, while the oven could heat most of the house, the master bedroom is too far, and the bed itself bitterly cold when I first entered it. We swept and washed dishes as much as possible while we still had daylight to see our work by, and brought in wood before going to bed so that it would be there to start the morning fire. Beyond the work itself, which wasn't excessive, the routine was exhausting -- some combination of the cold and the dark and the tedium of normally simple tasks leaving me stumbling with fatigue each night. And yet, in its way, it was deeply satisfying. In my magical work in and beyond the kitchen, much of what I do is creating a web of connections. I buy the food that is in season to make another link between myself and the turning of the year. I buy from local farmers to strengthen my connection to the land, and from people I know to strengthen my connection with the community. But we all live in and amongst many such webs, if not all of them so deliberately chosen. The pieces of our world -- every aspect of our lives -- is vastly interdependent, and the electrical networks are one such tangible example of the ways in which we are connected. If there is something to be learned from building and choosing to put our energy into certain connections and so reinforce them, so is there something very basic and primal about stepping aside from some of the default connections in our lives. The break from my routine, the rhythm of tending the house and heating and lighting it by our own labors, became an opportunity to step back and consider the interconnections of our lives and the routines we had taken for granted. And, of course, a chance to consider a little the lives we might be living had we been given fewer technological blessings. I think for those who are plunged into darkness less frequently by the vagaries of the weather and the electric companies, spending the occasional stretch of time without power, perhaps the length of a meal, can still be a useful exercise. It is generally assumed that those who are in the magickal community are well equipped with candles, but our uses of them do not necessarily emphasize the efficiency of lighting, so here are a few suggestions: Most people know that a candle backed by a mirror or other reflector will shed more light. A candle near a white wall will also reflect its light better than one near a dark surface. Candles much more than two inches in diameter will tend to use up the wax at the center of the candle without melting the wax on the outside, so gradually the wick and flame will drop down below the level of the outer rim of wax. This is pretty and atmospheric, but does not provide especially efficient light. On the other hand, candles of much less than one inch in diameter will burn down quite quickly, which can be useful in spell work, but is annoying for lighting purposes. Most grocery stores carry large boxes (usually of 72 candles) of Shabbos candles in their Kosher food section. These are plain white four-inch candles that are usually quite cheap, and they are less likely to be sold out during power outages. I have often seen candle jars used in outdoor rituals, but seldom seen them used indoors in the manner in which we employ them. These are versatile lanterns that can be comfortably carried or set down, provide light in all directions and are fairly kid and cat safe because they can be tipped over without ill effect. To make one, wash and remove the label from a large spaghetti sauce jar or other large glass jar. (Hot water will soften the glue that holds on the label.) Find two candles that are not taller than the jar. Light one candle, pour a few drops of its hot wax into the jar and then quickly stick the bottom of the other candle to the jar bottom with the hot wax. The jar, being glass, allows light to shine all around, and is far enough from the flame that it doesn't get hot enough to burn your hands when carried. Oil lamps are a convenient light source, but only the lamps with properly ventilated chimneys are able to provide especially bright light. In my experience the lamps burn best when the wick is at least occasionally trimmed, and the end of the wick is roughened or frayed a bit by rubbing a knife-edge across it. Oil lamps also provide much better light when their reservoirs are full than when they are near empty. Cooking I should have known when we bought a house already equipped with a fireplace, woodstove and the built-in barbeque that was later converted into my brick oven that we lived in an area where power supply could be a bit uncertain. Instead, to my surprise, six weeks later we were treated to three days in the dark with a woodstove I hadn't entirely made friends with and a foot of icy slush on the roads. But the corollary to our frequent outages is that we are well set up to deal with them, with wood stove and brick ovens, lamps, sconces and chandeliers. Most houses, and apartments even more so, are not so well prepared. Now, I assume people who already have woodstoves, brick ovens, grills, barbeques, masonry cookers and other such relatively expensive fixtures are already fairly well acquainted with their use, but a few tips anyway: If you haven't cooked over your woodstove, it's good to keep in mind that most of them that are not built specifically for cooking will provide only the equivalent of low heat from a standard burner unless you fire them very hot. You'll have better luck simmering a stew than frying an egg on them, and you might want to put a pot of water on top right off so you don't have to wait later on for it to warm. Barbeques and grills can be used year round in our mild climate, but they should be used outside if you are fond of breathing. (Though one can often use a hibachi or other small grill in one's fireplace, assuming that the fireplace is large enough to accommodate it and that the draw is strong enough.) Luckily, the lack of such amenities doesn't put you out of the running. If you would like to cook over flame, don't have wood-burning appliances and don't want to invest in expensive equipment, there are a number of low-cost options. The simplest is the tried-and-true can of Sterno or similar canned heat product. These are readily available at grocery stores and fairly safe for indoor use, unlike most camping stoves, which need a lot of ventilation and should only be used outside. For a few bucks more you can buy a collapsible Sterno "stove" from your local army surplus or camping supplies store, which will shelter the flame and support a cooking pot. The collapsible Sterno "stoves" or other similar trivets can also be used above tea lights (which are good for warming tinned soup, if less good for more serious cooking, though you can do a bit when you use more than one at a time), alcohol burners or other simple flames. We have been using our fondue burner, which is essentially a small adjustable alcohol burner with a heavy iron trivet, as a general-purpose stove, and it boils water quite readily. Fondue burners can be found at culinary stores, and other types of alcohol burners can be purchased through chemistry supply companies. Most of these improvised burners will not give you as evenly distributed heat as will most stoves, so you must either use them with thick-bottomed pots that distribute heat well on their own or make soups, sauces and other largely liquid things that will not mind the uneven heat so much. Another good standby is couscous. You can add one part couscous to two parts boiling water and then cover it and let it cook away from the flame entirely (this also makes for fairly fuel-efficient food, which is why couscous is a backpacking favorite). If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace, more options are available to you (though if you have attempted to cook over a fireplace without appropriate equipment you already know that other than hotdogs and marshmallows, your options can be rather limited). An open fire is romantic, but to cook over it effectively requires some preparation. First of all, for most things it is much more effective to cook over hot coals than open flame. So you're often best off building a fairly large, hot fire and letting it burn down before you attempt to cook over it. (For a similar effect you can use charcoal briquettes in your fireplace or add them to your wood fire.) Next, of course, you need some way of supporting your food over the fire. A spit can be improvised, but is often fairly difficult to manage, especially in modern fireplaces. For the least expensive route, one can rely on the camper's favorite of wrapping food in tinfoil and setting it among the coals and ashes (not directly in the hottest part of the fire) to cook. "Hobo stew" is a combination of meat and vegetables cooked by this method, a bit of a chancy proposition, but fun, simple, and potentially tasty. Or, most camping supplies stores sell inexpensive lightweight collapsible grills that can fit in your fireplace. These can hold pots and pans as well as grill meat and vegetables. Of course, if you want to get at all serious about cooking in your fireplace, you should at least look at what is often considered the most flexible of fireside cooking tools, the Dutch oven. It has been claimed, and to a great extent demonstrated, that pretty much any dish from the Western European tradition, and a great many others from elsewhere, can be made in a Dutch oven. The Dutch oven is a heavy cast iron pot with feet that will hold it above burning coals and a rimmed lid that will allow you to place additional coals on top of it. They come in a variety of sizes, and can be used to make anything from wedding cakes to stews to omlettes. Dutch oven cooking is a subject one could write a book about, and indeed many people have. A good place to start if you're interested in exploring it further is ww.idos.com, the home page of the international Dutch oven society. In the end, there is the eating. Almost by definition it is a dinner by candlelight, but it need not be a formal one. We hand out one bowl, spoon, and fork apiece, because bowls are harder to spill food from and more amenable to being held in one's lap while you sit in front of the fire or curl up with a blanket in the living room. Fewer dishes are a blessing when light and hot water are limited, too. Like the food we make camping, a meal cooked at home over fire is fully realized in its simplicity. Even tinned soup and crackers becomes delicious as our labors give us a more intimate connection to the food and its preparation. Fire, food and hunger are primal things. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	#3	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/24/06 04:01 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	13 Ways to Celebrate Imbolc By Heather Evenstar Osterman Regardless of what religion we grew up with, most of us have favorite memories of things we did every year for specific holidays. These traditions were what made our celebrations special. So what do you do when the holidays you celebrate now aren't the same ones you grew up with? How do you share the joys of Imbolc with your family? Imbolc (or Candlemas/Brigid/whatever you choose to call this celebration) falls on February 2nd and is a time to honor the quickening of the earth and the first manifestations of spring emerging from winter. This Sabbat is sacred to the goddess Brigid in particular, and is a wonderful time to acknowledge your own creativity, expand your knowledge, and practice the healing arts. Here are my suggestions to get you started developing your own family traditions! 1. Help your kids go through all their clothes, toys, and books to find the unwanted and outgrown items. Donate everything to a charity that will give the items to children who need them. 2. Collect canned goods from family and friends to give to a food bank. Yule isn't the only time people are in need. 3. Go for a walk! Search for signs of spring. Take off your shoes and socks and squish your toes in the mud. 4. Open all the doors and windows and turn on every light in the house for a few minutes. Let the kids sweep all the old energies out the doors. 5. Lead the family on a parade around the outside of your home, banging on pots and pans or playing musical instruments to awaken the spirits of the land. 6. Make corn dollies and a cradle for them to sleep in. 7. Create a sun wheel out of stalks of grain and hang it on your front door. 8. Meditate as a family. Have everyone explore what it would feel like to be a seed deep in the earth, feeling the first stirrings of life. Lie on the floor and put out tendrils. Stretch and bloom. 9. Have your children hold some herb seeds in their hands. Talk to the seeds. Bless them with growth and happiness. Fill them with love. Plant an in-door herb garden. 10. Decorate candles with stickers, metallic markers, paint and anything else you can think of! Light your candles and give thanks to Brigid for her inspiration. 11. Help your kids make a special feast! Spicy foods and dairy dishes are traditional. Try Mexican or Indian cuisine. Top it off with poppy seed cake. Drink milk or spiced cider. 12. Set a fabulous dinner table with your candles, evergreen boughs spring flowers, dragons, sun symbols, or whatever says Imbolc to you. Use the good china. 13. Let your children make their beds in a special way to represent Brigid's bed. Go camp style with sleeping bags or build a makeshift canopy! Have sweet dreams... Heather Osterman is the Family Services Coordinator for the Aquarian Tabernacle Church. For more information on pagan oriented activities and events for children and families please contact her at ATCchild@AOL.com or ATC at (360) 793-1945 between 9 AM and 9 PM. Copyright 2006 by the article's author May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	#4	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/24/06 05:23 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Bride's (Brigid) Bouquet Sachets Author Unknown Imbolc Potpourri (recipe below) 1 Yard White Netting Material Yellow and Pink 1/8" width Ribbon Scissors Potpourri is made with: 1/2 cup dried basil 1/2 cup dried chopped bay leaves, 1 cup dried Heather flowers 1 cup dried Violets 1 cup dried white or pink rosebuds Blend together in non-metal bowl. Cut netting material into 4"x4" squares. Lay out squares on a flat surface. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of potpourri in the middle of each square. Pull up all the corners to the middle of the potpourri and gather the excess material until potpourri is caught in a "bag". Give bag on twist to the right and tie off with yellow or pink ribbon. Use enough ribbon to make a small bow in the front of the sachet. Tell children how these sachets were exchanged as symbols of good luck and fertility. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	#5	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (02/02/06 06:59 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Imbolc Ideas Having To Do With Fire By Starhawk, Anne Hill, and Diane Baker Brigit Fire Whether we circle around a hearth, outdoor bonfire, or kindle a blaze in a cast-iron cauldron, in the season of Brigit we welcome the return of light. Here are some suggestions for a safe and cheerful blaze. Cauldron Fire You will need: a cast-iron pot of any size a lid that fits snugly, for putting out the fire bricks, hotplate or other heat-resistant material to set the cauldron on. Epsom salts rubbing alcohol To keep the blaze going for 45 minutes in a five quart cauldron, you need 1/2 gallon of Epsom salts and approximately 4 to 6 pints of rubbing alcohol Any cast-iron pot can be made into a cauldron with a fire of Epsom salts and rubbing alcohol. This is a very safe blaze. Once the cauldron is secured on a heat-proof surface, pour the Epsom salts in until the bottom is covered, approximately 1 inch deep. Pour rubbing alcohol over the salts until the alcohol is about an inch higher than the salts. Hold a lighted match just above the alcohol. The liquid will light and produce a strong orange flame. The flame burns cool, unlike a wood fire, and it is difficult to burn things in. When the flame gets low, cover to snuff out completely. Add more rubbing alcohol to the cauldron and relight carefully. The warmer the rubbing alcohol, the more quickly it ignites. This fire recipe leaves a significant amount of sediment in the bottom of the cauldron. For this reason, it is best to dedicate a pot strictly for cauldron use. Kindling a Fire This holiday is a good time to teach your older children how to set a fire and kindle a blaze. Most children are eager to help lay a fire, but may be too scared to light one. Using long matches often eases their fear, and with supervision they can become quite proficient at lighting fires. Children are great at gathering wood. A note of caution about burning found wood, however: Make sure you inspect the wood. Scrap plywood gives off toxic fumes, as does wood that has been painted or coated with urethane. Make sure the wood you are burning has not been coated with creosote. Creosote is a dark, often tarry preservative and is commonly found on wood washed up on the beach. Its fumes are toxic, and when burned, the treated wood creates a smoky, stinky blaze. Creosote is easy to identify by its smell, which resembles that of turpentine or paint thinner. Egg Carton Fire Starters You will need: paraffin wax or beeswax (old candle stubs work great for this) the bottom halves of cardboard egg cartons sawdust, pine needles, scraps of cotton material, dry pinecones, or shredded paper scissors a pot Reuse all those old candle ends in this practical, convenient fire project. Stuff each cardboard egg holder with sawdust or other flammable material. Melt the wax in a pot, over low to medium heat. When the wax is melted, carefully pour the wax into each depression in the egg cartons. Make sure the wax does not overflow. Let cool. After the wax has cooled down, use scissors to cut the fire starters apart from each other, leaving the hardened wax inside its cardboard shell. To use, set one or two fire starters in your fireplace, surround with kindling and larger wood, and light. The fire starters will keep burning long enough to light even the most stubborn logs. Fire Safety Never leave candles lit and a blazing fire unattended. It is a good idea to have a pail of water or a fire extinguisher close at hand when having a fire. If you often light fires at your home, try growing an aloe vera plant, or keep some of the pure gel on hand in the fridge, to use as first aid for burns. Fires at the beach are popular in all seasons, and eliminate some of the risks of fires in the woods or in the meadow. Few people are aware of how to extinguish a beach fire safely, however. Covering up a beach fire with sand actually insulates the coals, keeping them burning through the night. Those hidden coals will still be red-hot in the morning waiting for an unsuspecting person to step on them. Always douse a beach fire with water - seawater works as well as fresh water - until there are no more live coals. Wait for the steam to clear; then using a stick, turn over all the coals to make sure no smoldering coals remain. Candle Hat One holiday tradition in Scandinavian countries is for the girls to wear garlands in their hair that hold a circle of lit candles and bless the light's return. We've adapted this candle custom to honor the returning light for Brigit. These paper hats are a simple and safe variation. Draw an inner circle on a 9-inch paper plate, about an inch from the rim. Next draw very light lines dividing the circle into quarters. Draw four rectangular candle shapes, keeping the dividing lines as guides for the candles' centers. The rectangles will meet in the center of the plate in a small square. Cut out the candle shapes, preserving their connection to the ring at the rim. This connection serves as the base of the candle. Bend candles from their base to stand upright. Decorate candles with markers, crayons and glitter. use the discarded plate material to cut flame shapes. Color them bright flame colors, then glue or staple them to the top of the candles. Brigit Candles You will need: 1 recipe salt dough clay a bowl of water 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper, one for each candle wax paper, cut into 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheets, one for each candle tape 1 T vegetable oil toothpicks small bowl candle making supplies Honor Brigit with new special candles. These candles use molds made from coiled salt dough ropes so that each completely unique candle bears the spiral imprint of the coil. Taper Candles Make ropes by rolling salt dough clay between your hands. Each rope should be two or three feet long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. If younger children can't manage such lengths, have them make smaller segments that can be joined later with a little pressure and water. Dip your fingers into the bowl of water occasionally if the dough tends to crack. Roll the paper into a 1 inch wide cylinder and tape it shut. Around this cylinder, tape a piece of wax paper. Coat the wax paper with a thin layer of oil. Lightly moisten a salt dough rope with water. Lay the paper cylinder on its side at one end of the rope. Roll it along the dough, wrapping the rope up the cylinder until it is six inches tall. Be sure the edges of the coiled rope always touch. To provide extra support, at intervals stick several toothpicks vertically through the coils. Make a bottom for the mold by shaping another piece of salt dough into a 3/4 inch thick circle that's larger than the coiled tower in diameter. Moisten the bottom's surface, then carefully lift the coiled tower onto the bottom piece and press gently to make a seal. Pull the paper cylinder out. This slides out easily, leaving the wax paper. Remove it by gently tugging on the wax paper with one hand while you support the clay coils with the others. Inspect each part of the mold, looking for tiny cracks where melted wax could leak. Press these shut. If the coils start to sag, quickly fashion a paper cylinder around the outside of the coils and tape it closed. Trim it to the same height as the clay, so it won't get in the way when you are pouring wax. Set the mold in an empty bowl, in case wax leaks through. You are ready to pour. Pouring the wax is thrilling. Go very slowly up each level to make sure no wax is leaking through. If a leak appears, carefully pinch it shut and pour again. Insert the wick. The wax will harden within an hour, long before the clay dries. To unmold, just unwind the clay. If some sticks, soak the candle in cool water and then gently rinse off the clay. The candles have a wonderfully craggy spiral looping from bottom to top, and burn with a lovely strong flame. Beehive Candles You can also make beehive candles with great success by coiling ropes of salt dough in a small, deep bowl. A rice bowl is the perfect size. It's easier to start with making a spiral, about 3 inches across, outside of the bowl, then transferring this into the bottom of the bowl. Next coil the rope inside the bowl until you reach the top. The candle is burned with the dome side up, so the wick has to be extended through the wax at the bottom of the bowl. When the wax is firm enough to insert the wick, use a slightly larger straw than usual, and push it firmly through the candle, into the dough beneath, straight to the bottom of the bowl. The candle unmolds easily: Lift candle and mold from the bowl and uncoil the mold. Brigit Candleholder To echo the Goddess's symbol of the serpent, make this candleholder, which resembles a coiled snake. Follow directions for making a mold for taper candles, with the following differences: 1. Size your holder by wrapping a paper cylinder around whatever candle you intend to use. Remove candle before proceeding further. 2. Dough ropes should be about 1/2 inch wide and a foot long. Ifcandleholder is taller than 4 inches, use toothpicks for extra support. 3. Make the bottom by coiling a rope into a small circle. 4. After the paper cylinder has been removed, use your candle to gently test of the open end of the candleholder is large enough to accommodate the candle. If it's too small, delicately press the opening wider. If it's too large, fill in with bits of salt dough. 5. Bake the holder as directed. Turn after the first hour to be sure it does not stick to the pan. 6. Cool completely after baking. Then paint with snaky patterns, finishing with eyes on the end of the top coil. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	#6	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/12/07 02:28 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Ideas and Activities for Imbolc Author Unknown * Make or decorate candles * Brighid, the Celtic goddess of fire, healing, and poetry is considered the patron Goddess of Imbolc. Read up on her as a Celtic goddess and as her later incarnation, St. Brigit. * Burn the evergreen boughs that decorated your home during the winter holidays in the Imbolc Fires and celebrate the return of the Sun's strength and the Goddess as the Maiden. * Brighid is the goddess of poetry. Write a poem in her honor, and read it aloud during any Imbolc ritual you may have planned. * Cleanse and re-consecrate your ritual tools and clean your altar. * Go through all your herbs and discard those that are more than a year old * Weave "Brigit's crosses" from straw or wheat to hang around the house for protection * Perform rites of spiritual cleansing and purification * Make "Brigit's beds" to ensure fertility of mind and spirit (and body, if desired) * Ritually cleanse your home and start your "spring" cleaning * Make a Crown of Light (i.e. of candles for the High Priestess to wear for the Imbolc Circle, similar to those worn on St. Lucy's Day in Scandinavian countries. * Place a lighted candle in each and every window of the house, beginning at sundown on Candlemas Eve (February 1), allowing them to continue burning until sunrise. Make sure that such candles are well seated against tipping and guarded from nearby curtains, etc. If you are not able to use real candles use those candle lamps sold at crafts and department stores for the Christian Christmas season. * Buy a "salt lick" block and leave it out for the wild animals. * Make a window garden with seeds, soil, old glass jars or rinse some tuna or cat food cans, and get ready for spring! Easy items are beans, mints, marigolds. Even carrot or pineapple tops and avocado pits are fun to do. * Make a Bride doll * Make a tiny "Candle Garden" by filling a small aluminum pan with fine salt or sand and "planting" birthday candles, Hanukkah candles or even tea lights in the "garden" * Tie tiny strips of fabric in trees near a stream and ask Bride for her influence in your life. Use cotton strips and the birds will use them for nesting or they will bio-degrade over time * Play a candle game where the men stand in forming a circle whole passing a candle quickly and the women stand on the outside of the circle trying to blow out the flame. The one who succeeds gets to claim a kiss. * Meditate as a family. Have everyone explore what it would feel like to be a seed deep in the Earth, feeling the first stirrings of life. Lie on the floor and put out tendrils. Stretch and bloom. * Have a bardic circle where everyone brings poetry, songs or a short story that they have written to honor Brigid (Brigit/Brigid/story thatthe daughter of Dagda. She was the protector of the poets, the forge and the healing persons.) * Help your kids go through all their clothes, toys, and books to find the unwanted and outgrown items. Donate everything to a charity that will give the items to children who need them. * Go for a walk. Search for signs of spring. Take off your shoes and socks and squish your toes in the mud! * Lead the family on a parade around the outside of your home, banging on pots and pans or playing musical instruments to awaken the spirits of the land. * Have your children hold some herb seeds in their hands. Talk to the seeds. Bless them with growth and happiness. Fill them with love. Plant an indoor herb garden. * Make corn dollies and a cradle for them to sleep in. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen	Re: Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities	#7	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/18/07 03:46 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Imbolc Recipes The Goddess Brigid protects the 'inner flame' ~ when well tended, this flame empowers you with vitality, creativity and a passion for life. Brigid's Imbolc cakes The cakes: 2 cups flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 egg 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup golden raisins 1/3 cup honey For honey butter: 4 Tbsp softened (not melted!) butter, 1 Tbsp additional honey, sprinkling of cinnamon. Whip it all together. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all cake ingredients until well blended. Drop by heaping spoonfuls into the spaces of a muffin tin. Bake for 10 minutes, or until tops are golden and springy. Serve warm with generous amounts of honey butter! Brigit's IRISH SODA BREAD 1 1/2 cups All-purpose flour -- unbleached, enriched 1 1/2 cups Whole wheat flour -- stone-ground 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda 1 1/4 cups Buttermilk Set the baking rack in the center of the oven and place a baking stone (if available) on the rack. Preheat the oven to 375. In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Mix to incorporate. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the buttermilk. Mix quickly to incorporate the milk evenly. It may be easier to mix with the hands than with a spoon. Form the dough into a loaf shape and place in a nonstick 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2" loaf pan. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, until well browned and a skewer inserted in the center comes out dry. Remove from the oven and the baking pan. Place on a wire rack to cool. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen		#8	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/04/08 12:06 AM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Things To Do At Imbolc By Ann Moura, from Green Witchcraft Bless your candles for the coming year. Burn the Yule greens to send winter on its way. Weave Brigit crosses, ensuring the fertility of mind, body and spirit. Make the Bride's Bed using the Corn (Or Wheat) Doll made the previous Lughnassadh. (Directions: Double over a bundle of wheat and tie it near the top to form a head. Take a bit of the fiber from either side of the main portion and twist into arms that you tie together in front of the dolly. Add a small bouquet of flowers to the 'hands', and then you can decorate the dolly with a dress and bonnet.) Dress the doll in white or blue with a necklace that represents the seasons. Lay it in a long basket adorned with ribbons; on either side of the basket, and say: "Welcome the Bride both Maiden and Mother; rest and prepare for the time of the seed; cleansed and refreshed from labors behind her; with the promise of spring she lays before me." Next morning, remove the dress and scatter the wheat outdoors (or if you use corn, hang it up in a tree for the squirrels and the birds). This can be seen in terms of the Lady's recovery from the birthing bed and readiness to begin the turning of the seasons anew. The Imbolc Corn Doll represents the mother nurturing her son, who will grow and become her husband. This is the earth and the sun, which is still weak but gaining strength. Plant the seeds in garden and nurture them. Purification rituals. Brighid is the goddess of poetry. Write a poem in her honor, and read it aloud during any Imbolc ritual you may have planned. Cleanse and re-consecrate your ritual tools and clean your altar. Ritually cleanse your home and start your "spring" cleaning. On Imbolc Eve, leave buttered bread in a bowl indoors for the fairies that travel with the Lady of Greenwood. Next day, dispose of it as the 'essence' will have been removed. Place three ears of corn on the door as symbol of the Triple Goddess and leave until Ostara. Make dream pillows for everyone in the family. Send an e-card to friends who are far away. Start something arty craft. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen		#9	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/07/08 10:58 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Imbolc Kids Activity Star Windows From the book Earthways (To order visit http://www.ghbooks.com/activity/10024.html) These little windows of colored light are a special addition to a window near your Season's Garden. They also create a seasonal mood, depending on the colors and forms you choose. To the children, they are magical when placed on the window so that the sunlight shines through. You will need: Construction paper (Deep red and blue) Scissors Colored tissue paper (Gold, yellow and white) Basket or tray Pen White glue using small saucers and cotton swabs (or pencils with new erasers) or glue sticks Cut the construction paper into frames in the shape of your choice. A plain rectangle with rounded edges to soften the shape is fine; a star would be extra special, but will take longer to do. The total size is up to you, but make it no smaller than 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. The frame edge itself should be approximately 3/4 to one inch thick. Run a bead of glue all around the back of the frame near the outer edge and press a large piece of white tissue paper over it. Trim the tissue paper. Cut the yellow and gold tissue paper into star shapes, in varying sizes if you like. By folding the tissue accordion style, you can cut many stars at the same time. Place the stars in a basket or on a tray. Write the children's names on the backs of the frames (the side with the tissue paper glued on). This is the side on which they work. Give children a glue stick or have them share a small dish or saucer of glue (just put a little on the dish). They could use a cotton swab to apply the glue, but use these sparingly as they cannot be reused. You can also use erasers on new pencils to dip in the glue and dab onto the stars. The erasers can be rinsed off and reused. Using a tiny drop of glue for each star, the children cover the white tissue with stars. Encourage them to fill the surface, although the younger ones may just place a few stars on the tissue paper. It is fine to overlap the stars, as this creates interesting shapes and beautiful and surprising new colors. When they have finished, add an extra covering of white tissue as you did in step two. While not completely necessary, it provides a nice protective backing and gives the transparency a more finished look. Let the children hold them up to the light. The children are always captivated by the results. Cover your classroom windows with star windows, or send each one home so the stars shine there. This technique for making tissue paper transparencies is endlessly variable. The frames can be cut into any shape, from pumpkins (fall) to eggs (spring). Just choose the tissue paper in seasonal colors and cut the construction paper into appropriate shapes. Generally, white tissue paper is used for backing in all cases. May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~
Cerredwen		#10	[-]
Walks an Earthbased Path Posts: 11476 (01/07/08 10:59 PM) ~~Priestess of the Goddess~~ Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	For the Kids--Paper Brigid's Crown By Wendy Sheridan (This is especially appropriate for young girls, since this is the holiday for the return of the maiden). You will need: Construction paper in your child's favorite colors, and yellow and/or red, for the flames Pencil, crayon, or marker Scissors Glue (white glue or glue stick) What to do: Cut a strip of paper about 2 inches wide and long enough to wrap around your child's head. You may need to glue 2 shorter strips to get the right length. Remember to include a couple of extra inches for overlap! Draw and cut out eight thin rectangles (these are the candles) of paper. Draw and cut out eight flames and glue the flames to the candles. Draw wicks in the flames and candles. Distribute the candles evenly around the headband. Glue the candles to the outside of the headband. (You can glue it to the inside if you think your youngster will wait long enough for the glue to dry!) Depending on the age of your toddler, they can do the drawing, cutting and gluing. Even the youngest child can hold paper and have you guide her hands. http://www.musicforthegoddess.com/parent May the fruit of our lives be bound and sealed to Thee, O Mother, O Woman Eternal who holdest the inmost life of each of Thy daughters between the hands upon Her Heart ~~~~~~~~~~~ We swear by Peace and Love to stand, Heart to Heart and Hand to Hand. Mark, O Spirit, and hear us now, confirming this, our Sacred Vow. ~Druidic Prayer of Unity~

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Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities

Candlemas/Imbolc Crafts and Activities

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