The Sabbat of Imbolc approaches – the days are getting lighter and animals slowly emerge from their time of rest in the womb of the earth, showing us that it is time to start getting on with the year. In eastern Canada, we’re halfway through the wonderful, quiet, ethereal period between the end of the old sun year and nature’s reawakening in spring. In the more temperate climate of the British isles, where the ancient Celts celebrated Imbolc, drifts of white snowdrops and tiny purple crocus now cover the ground, signaling the reawakening of the land.
Here, there will be no sign of rebirth in vegetation for another month or so as the earth is still freezing under thick layers of snow and ice. But the light has returned and the sun’s reflection in the snow transforms the world into a bath of light that can heal, cleanse and energize our frozen bodies. And the animals are waking up, challenging the elements – if you’re lucky you can glimpse a mighty owl scouting for a sufficient nesting site.
It is time to prepare for the year ahead by setting intentions and begin the work to attract and manifest positive energies and changes in our lives.
Choosing intentions
Attracting love and happiness does not necessarily mean to manifest a lover. For me, right now it means to draw in a loving perspective on life, the world, myself and other people. To improve my capacity to give and to receive love. I think this is a foundational requirement for happiness, to show up in the world with a firm belief in and attitude of love. After all, our beliefs control our experience of reality to a great extent.
Since this year’s spiritual theme and element is fire, and especially the fire of the hearth and home, I’m experimenting with more kitchen witch-type rituals, such as infusing everyday objects with intention and letting magic and spiritual work happen through mundane tasks. Historically, there is no such thing as mundane tasks, the ancient and medieval world were steeped in spiritual meaning and everyday life and tasks were imbued with magical purpose. Physical objects and acts corresponded to concepts and energies in the metaphysical realms and this idea that “like produces like” is the essence of the sympathetic magic we’re trying to ignite by making soap.
These soaps have several layers of meaning, borrowing from well-known cultural and religious correspondences. Since I believe in the power of myth and collective stories, I think that correspondences that became part of the mental images of whole societies and have been used throughout the ages carry a lot of magical potence. By choosing to work with these types of correspondences, you can strength not just from your own faith, but from the beliefs of millions of people who practiced sympathetic magic before you.
First, the idea of making soap fits with the season’s theme of cleaning and cleansing. When using the soap you remove unwanted energies while drawing in new, healthy vibrations. What better way to start the year then to draw in love and happiness? These are the ingredients I chose to manifest this intention:
Goats milk: Milk is an ancient symbol of life, love and abundance. In magical terms, this rich, nurturing drink can be used to enhance the ability to give and receive love. It is also symbolic of the mother’s milk which is readily available for the sheep born around Imbolc. Goats Milk is an excellent ingredient in soap as it is soothing and hydrating for the skin.
Honey: Often appearing together with milk as a symbol of love and abundance. The world’s oldest sweetener enjoyed divine status in many ancient cultures. The Greeks and Romans offered honey to the gods and ate it to maintain youth and acquire eloquence. From a medicinal point of view, honey has healing, antibacterial and exfoliating properties.
Vanilla (essential oil or essence): A classic aphrodisiac that was considered so potent during the middle ages that it was forbidden for priests and monks to consume.
Dried rose petals: There is no greater symbol of love than roses. Being attuned to the element of water, this gorgeous, fragrant flower brings calming, soothing and uplifting energies to relationships (including your relationship to yourself).
Everyday Magic 