Lorri@Mabon_House 3/2/22 Lorri@Mabon_House 3/2/22

Slow Living Guide for Imbolc & Ostara

Welcome to Part Two of the Mabon House Guide to Slow Living: Imbolc & Ostara. You can read Part 1 - Samhain & Yule here.

Imbolc & Slow Living

Imbolc marks the midpoint of winter. The days are steadily growing longer and the sun is getting stronger. In ancient cultures Imbolc was a time to celebrate Brigid, Celtic Goddess of crafts, learning and healing. Early Celtic celebrations included lighting fires to warm the frozen land, hanging a four cornered Brigid’s Cross above doorways to bless and protect a home, and practicing weather divination as a way to predict the future. Similar to the idea of Groundhog’s Day, ancient Celts would listen for a lark to sing on Imbolc. If they heard the bird, it meant that the God had returned to the Goddess and spring would be early.

With lengthening days and more sunlight, Imbolc offers a time for clarity. You have rested through the early part of winter following Samhain and spent time with friends and family during Yule. Now is the time to plan and start moving toward your goals and cultivate a lifestyle that fulfills you. Take time to refine and reconnect to your daily practices, whether that is journaling, movement, meditation or other activities that nurture your spirit. This is a time to explore what you need to do and learn in order to fulfill your passion and purpose. Follow along on Pinterest for more Wheel of the Year Inspiration

Ostara and Slow Living

Ostara is the celebration of the Spring Equinox. Day and night are equal in length and from this point forward the days are longer and the air warmer. Like animals coming out of hibernation and the trees stirring with sap and buds, our natural inclination is to do more. This is a good time to take advantage of the warming temperatures and soak up the spring air after a long winter. Take note of how nature is changing. What is blooming? What is growing in your corner of the world?

After the rest period of winter it can feel good to move and be busy once more. And while Ostara is a time for more action and more activity, there can also be pressure to do.all.the.things when spring arrives. There's a rush to clean up the yard, spring clean the house, get your summer wardrobe ready, go on a vacation, etc… Spring cleaning, decluttering, and digging in the dirt are all great Ostara slow living activities, but ultimately slow living during Ostara (and the rest of the year) is about following your unique cadence, your natural rhythm.

10 ways to Live Slowly & a Free Checklist

You do not have to cross off a giant to-do list or produce Pinterest-worthy flower beds to enjoy the beginning of springtime. The season of Ostara is a good time to choose some projects that will bring you joy, not stress. Perhaps start a container garden on your front porch, rather than a giant ground garden that will take you all summer to maintain. Or apply a fresh coat of paint for your favorite spaces in the home, rather than a full remodel. Or prepare a special Ostara meal with fresh springtime ingredients, rather than hosting a large gathering.

Going inward, Ostara is a good time to set some intentions for yourself. Just as you take action around your home, what actions should you be thinking about in other areas of your life? What kind of actions will help uplift you? Bring you more joy? Help move you in the direction you want to go? This could be a continuation of what you started during Imbolc or something new in your life.

Looking for some Ostara Inspiration (I mean, who isn’t?) Be sure to check out the free Mabon House Ostara Course.

Lorri@Mabon_House 1/25/22 Lorri@Mabon_House 1/25/22

5 Easy Thrift Ideas for Celebrating Imbolc

Celebrating Imbolc doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming. There are many ways to celebrate Imbolc using what you have on hand. However, if you do decide to buy things for Imbolc or any other Wheel of the Year holiday, starting at your local thrift store can save you money and is often more sustainable than purchasing through big box stores. Here are five items to look for at the thrift store for your Imbolc celebration.

Art Supplies

Imbolc is associated with the Celtic Goddess Brigid, who was the goddess of craftsman. So making some arts and crafts is a great way to celebrate in her honor. Look for paper, garbic, yarn at your local thrift store. These items are usually pennies on the dollar over buying new. You can use your thrifted art supplies to make Imbolc crafts like a Brigid's Cross or a corn dollie. You could also create a junk journal or add materials to a grimoire. To help you get started I’ve curated some Imbolc craft ideas on Pinterest.

Baskets

Baskets are always a good thing to look for at thrift stores. You can use them all year long for decorations and storage. Baskets can be used to hold bread and rolls, which are popular foods to make during Imbolc. You can fill a wicker basket with freshly cut winter greens for an easy winter centerpiece. Or use thrifted baskets to hold all your Imbolc arts and crafts or altar items, until you are ready to use them.

Candles

Imbolc marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox and the return of the light and it’s most well known symbol is a candle. Candles from the thrift store are usually inexpensive and often brand new, still in the wrapper. You can use thrifted candles for your altar, if you put one up, or as decor around your home.

You can also do a simple Imbolc ritual with a candle by selecting a word that has meaning to you or is something that you want to implement in the coming seasons (i.e. simplicity, abundance, love, etc…). Carve the word onto the side of your candle. Light the candle on the night of Imbolc and meditate on what you want to be, do or have as the candle burns down.

Linens

Table linens including tablecloths and napkins can add a sense of occasion to a simple Imbolc dinner. Look for linens that are white, pink, gold or red - the colors associated with Imbolc.

Dishes

As with table linens, china dishes are an easy way to dress up your Imbolc celebration. Vintage dishes are especially pretty when mixed and matched. Plus, they are one of the most inexpensive items to buy at a thrift store.

Imbolc is a time to celebrate the coming spring as well as the quiet stillness of winter. Creating some cozy spaces in your home, with simple activities is one of the best ways to celebrate this turn on the wheel.

Lorri@Mabon_House 1/17/22 Lorri@Mabon_House 1/17/22

The Season of Imbolc and the Goddess Brigid

Here in Maine we are expecting our first big snow storm in a few days and the winter air is full with anticipation. I’ll spend some time later today filling the woodbox on my back porch, emptying the ashes from the woodstove and checking my pantry to see if I should pick up any groceries before the snow descends.

Winter storms in Maine are not that big a deal. It’s just part of living here. But I do find comfort in preparing ahead of time. There is a wonderful sense of hominess and security when I top off the woodbox or have a bucket of ash ready to spread on slippery steps. Unlike summer, when the days are long and hot and the work in the garden seems to never end, the cadence of winter is more my natural pace. A burst of energy to get things done, with a promise of hot tea and rest by the fire when I am finished.

Snowstorms aside, I’ve been thinking about springtime and what I’d like to accomplish this year, both in my gardens and in other areas of my life. For this is the season of Imbolc, when we can plot and plan, as well as pause and rest. To celebrate, this week I’m sharing a post about the History of Imbolc and the Goddess Brigid.

Along with the free Mabon House Imbolc Celebration Guide in the Members Library, this week’s free printable is a new word art print that I created to remind myself that ebb and flow, change and constancy, are all part of life’s balance.