In the wheel of the year, Imbolc is the festival of lights; the time between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, usually February 1st or 2nd. As we move through Winter, we can sense the promise of Spring. This is the quickening of the year; a time to honor our fertile creativity, in all aspects of our lives.
To honor the festival of lights this year, I made a winter pentacle wreath to use as an altarpiece and candle holder. I also want to be able to hang it on my wall when not in use.
Supplies:
A base - I used a store-bought, flat birchwood 12” pentagram. I’d been wanting one for a while and felt like this ready made shape would best suit my needs. For other options, you could weave a few strands of jewelry wire, or sticks together to form a circle. This one came in a natural light birch, and I dyed it with walnut ink.
Decorations - seasonal leaves, herbs, beeswax, glitter, anything else you want!
Water-based craft glue (if needed)
Instructions
Start with a base: you can weave one from a few strands of jewelry wire, or purchase one. Set up your work on a surface that can get messy - lay out some newspaper or a drop cloth.
Choose your decorations! Found, or store-bought is fine.
Typical herbs & other plants associated with Imbolc are: Blackberry, basil, bay, clover, heather, iris, rosemary, violet, ginger, willow, evergreen.
Colors related to Imbolc are: gold, white, green, red.
I tapped into my collection of oak leaves left over from last year’s summer solstice ritual. I also included tree moss (for crossing thresholds and healing), Mugwort (to aid in scrying), rose petals (for portals, divination, and protection). Get creative and use what inspires you and aligns with your intention.
I typically prefer wire and leather wrapping, or using beeswax to secure elements when I create tools. Wrapping and dripping are such meditative processes. During the repetition we get to focus and internalize our intentions.
If you’re wrapping, you can secure the leaves and any other decorations to the ring by wrapping a base layer, following one direction. Then continue around until you have the desired layers and thickness. I chose to secure my herbs with wax. I lay a loose layer of herbs and slowly dripped my beeswax candle, holding it about 6 inches above the base. Like anytime you work with an open flame, be VERY aware of your surroundings and never leave a candle unattended. I also usually keep a glass of water nearby when I’m getting creative with candles, just in case.
If using a lot of smaller elements that aren’t possible to wire wrap, you can use small amounts of the craft glue to secure to the base. I like water based glue for ritual tools, to maintain a less abstracted connection to the elements.
Listen to music or just focus on whatever spirit, intention, vibe, you want to imbue in the piece. The time and space we create around these rituals help us clear our minds, focus our intentions, and manifest our ideas. Move around the circle of the wreath add more or remove as needed! I strategically left four areas empty, leaving space for candle holders.
When finished, anoint with any ritual oils and cleanse in your preferred way. I usually cleanse my tools with Palo Santo smoke, then leave the tool in the moonlight overnight. Sound baths are very powerful, too.
Enjoy! Treat your tools with respect, cleansing periodically and storing with care. When not on my alter or used in ritual work, I hang mine on the wall.
