Setting Intentions for the Springtime

Hello Friends, 

I  hope this finds you well and safe. The blustery March winds are blowing here in Maine, like a last gasp of winter. The tiny tips of purple snowdrops are just starting to peek out of the ground and the daffodil leaves are tall and stately, but not quite ready to reveal their flower petals. 

I’ve been reading up on the history of Beltane and thinking about some ideas for printables and perhaps another course, like the Ostara Course so many of you enjoyed. I also thought it would be great to hear from some of you, about what kind of content you enjoy or would like to see more on Mabon House. So, if you have a couple of minutes I would love to hear from you. I’ve put together this short anonymous questionnaire/poll, to make it easy to share your ideas for Mabon House.  

This week’s printable is a Spring Intentions Worksheet. I like this worksheet because it reminds me to make time in my schedule to do things I enjoy. My daughter recently returned to Maine after living out of state for the past two years and we’ve been planning some fun day trips to take now that the weather is warming up. But our work schedules are opposite each other, so if we don’t set aside time NOW to plan for our trips, they won’t happen. 

Grab your free Spring Intentions Worksheet

Here’s what I added to my worksheet: 

I want to be, do and have: I want to be consistent in my writing practice, do more physical activity to help reduce anxiety and stress, and have more fun and adventure in my everyday life. 

I want to spend more time doing the following: writing for fun, walking outside, visiting with my family, getting out and about to visit new places. 

I want to spend less time doing the following: Working on the computer and screen time.   

Fun activities I want to do this season: Visit some antique stores along the coast, picnic at the beach, go hiking and do some kind of writing retreat. 

After reviewing my answers, I decided the theme of my springtime intentions is Adventure. Which feels really good after two years of being home most of the time. I’d love to hear about your springtime intentions and adventures.  

I hope the flowers are blooming in your corner of the world and you are able to have some springtime adventures of your own. I’ll see you next week! 

Recommended Reading

Seven Thrift Ideas for Your Wheel of Year Celebration

The Wheel of the Year sabbats are opportunities to pause and celebrate the changing of the seasons, both within and around you.  When you are just starting out, it can feel like you have to buy all.the.things in order to celebrate each sabbat properly. You may need certain items like candles or vessels, or fabric in a specific color that corresponds with that sabbat. Or maybe you are throwing a dinner party and need additional place settings and serving dishes. Thrift stores, charity shops and even yard sales are all great places to stock up on items for your Wheel of the Year celebrations. 

Anyone who’s been following along on my Instagram knows that I love thrift store finds. Most of my home decor is thrifted or second hand finds. I love thrifting because it's affordable and more sustainable than buying new. I can often find higher quality items than what is available in local box stores. 

Here are seven things that you can usually find for pennies on the dollar at your local thrift store:

Candles

I often find nice quality candles, new in the original packaging at my local thrift store. Candles are useful for altars, centerpieces or add a specialness to an ordinary day.  Imbolc especially embodies candles as part of its celebration.  

Dishes

A beautiful table doesn’t have to cost a lot of money (looking at you Pottery Barn).  I love (and I mean LOVE) picking up vintage dishes whenever I’m thrifting. I am especially partial to Blue Willow china because it’s easy to find and adds an instant charm to any meal. Plus it reminds me of Jessica Fletcher’s kitchen from Murder She Wrote.  

Along with place settings, I have scored most of my nice serving dishes from my local thrift store, including mixing bowls, various size platters, small serving vessels and pitchers.   

Table Linens

Along the same lines of thrifted dishes, thrifted table linens are an easy and inexpensive way to dress up your dinner table. Along with vintage tablecloths and napkins, I often pick up handmade doilies and dresser scarves to use throughout my house or on my altar, if I am setting one up. 

Picture Frames 

I love adding framed printable art and quotes to my seasonal decor.  It’s usually free or very low cost and easy to swap out as the seasons change. To make my thrifted frames look more cohesive, I’ll often give a mismatched collection a coat of spray paint. And whenever I find an oversized frame (bigger than 8x10) I’ll grab it, because they are harder to find and surprisingly pricy to buy new.  

Baskets

Woven baskets offer beauty and function for your entire house. I use them for holding bread on the dinner table, to store magazines or craft projects and corral clutter in my office. In the autumn, to celebrate Mabon, I like filling small baskets with dried flower bouquets from the garden and placing a larger basket of fresh red apples on our kitchen counter. 

Faux Greenery 

Not everyone has ready access or a budget for fresh flowers and greenery, especially in the winter months. Thrift stores are an excellent place for scoring gently used fake plants, picks and flowers. I use faux greenery to add a little color and texture to places in my house where real plants won’t make it, such as my kitchen which gets little direct sunlight.  For my Wheel of the Year celebrations, I will add faux greenery for sabbat decorations. 

Now, some might argue that using fake greens goes against the very essence of a nature based spiritual path. I argue that it is the intent that you have when using any item, real or fake. Plus I feel it's a bit elitist to assume that everyone can pick up a fresh bouquet of flowers for their Wheel of the Year celebration. I say do what you can, where you are, with what you have.   

Clothes 

Easily half of my wardrobe is thrifted. If you are looking for a special outfit for your Wheel of the Year celebration, thrift stores and consignment shops are a great place to look. ThredUp is another resource, if you don’t live near any good quality second hand clothing stores. I wrote a whole post on how to shop online for thrifted clothes. Buying second hand clothes is one of the best ways to avoid fast fashion and reduce the environmental footprint of your wardrobe.  

As you plan for your next Wheel of the Year celebration, I hope that these tips have helped inspire you. Be sure to visit the Member’s Library for Free Wheel of the Year Printables, calendars, art and more!